James

Anderson

There is no word on the severity of the injury, but Anderson has been an afterthought in San Antonio this season and has not offered any fantasy value.

Green wasn’t expected to miss time with a stinger, and now comes word that he’s officially probable. Leonard will be a nice boost to San Antonio’s bench after getting over a calf strain, while Anderson will continue to be an afterthought in the rotation and for fantasy owners.

It’s not too surprising to see Ginobili held out against perhaps the league’s worst team, and the glut of ‘probable’ shooting guards will all be active in his place, including Danny Green (shoulder), James Anderson (hip), and Kawhi Leonard (calf). While we know the shooting guard position hasn’t been kind in fantasyland, Gary Neal has been playing well and is worth a look as a risky spot start.

Ginobili apparently went hard in 3-on-3 drills on Thursday and looked great, but we still expect him to be eased back into action if he goes on Friday. Ginobili is officially a game-time decision, and he is also helped by the expected absence of Kahwi Leonard (calf) and potential absence of James Anderson (back).

Anderson is buried in the rotation and has no fantasy value.

We’ve heard a few different reporters say that the “key contributors will be limited in minutes,” and NBA.com specifically pointed out Green and Matt Bonner in their report. That leaves Stephen Jackson as a wild card in his return to Oakland, but if he’s a “key contributor” like we think he is his minutes may also be in doubt. It appears like Mills, Diaw, Blair, Anderson, and perhaps Tiago Splitter will be the best Spurs plays, but that’s a total guess.

As with anybody on the Spurs right now, there is an inherent amount of risk in using any of them. Green, Kawhi Leonard (two points, rebounds, and assists with a steal), Stephen Jackson (12 points, full line including five steals, two blocks), James Anderson (11 points, five boards), Gary Neal (12 points, three treys), Matt Bonner (three points, one trey), DeJuan Blair (six points, three boards), Patty Mills (nine points, three treys, three assists), and Tiago Splitter (eight points, three boards) each have a case that can be made when guessing who’ll play the last two games. But that’s all it is -- a guess.

Anderson has been a lost man in Gregg Popovich’s rotation this season, and it was a mild surprise that he had his contract option declined for next season earlier this year. The No. 20 overall pick from the 2010 draft has struggled to find consistent minutes in the rotation this year and is averaging just 4.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11 minutes per game.

Somewhere around here we said he was the best play of the Spurs’ bunch tonight because he was the least likely to put up a big line. Well there you go. Anderson can fill it up, but he’ll need (and wants) a change of scenery so he can get some more run. Of course, the standard Warriors disclaimer applies when evaluating this line.

James Anderson started the second half and Danny Green replaced him when starters usually exit during the third quarter. Anderson is the sexy pickup here and could end up being big for however long Ginobili is out, following a solid month of impressing teammates and onlookers. Of course there is some risk that Gregg Popovich doesn’t provide a clear beneficiary, or overlooks Anderson for Gary Neal, but burning a pickup on Anderson is a sneaky play.