2016 FANTASY BASKETBALL WEEKLY PLANNER: NBA WEEK 10

The Bulls have been awful lately. They have lost six of their last seven games and while it looked like their defense was coming together, it has fallen off a cliff. Their offense has been pretty poor this season too. They rank 29^th with a 47.4 team effective field goal percentage and that is likely due to their atrocious 31.1% team three point percentage. All is not lost, but it’s becoming harder to find fantasy value with the Bulls. However, if they are going to figure it out, it might come this week. They have a double feature against the Pacers this week, who rank seventh in pace, plus a fantasy owners dream game against the Nets. If the Bulls’ fantasy studs can’t make value this week, it’s time to panic.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves look like they are figuring it out. They are coming into this week with two straight losses, but they have not been blown out lately and their offense is clicking behind Karl-Anthony Towns. The second year stud is having a fine December, averaging 21.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. Zach LaVine has also turned it on this month averaging 23.2 points per game. While the wins are still a work in progress, these two are starting to become Minnesota’s main scorers and it hasn’t even hurt Andrew Wiggins value. All three of these young Wolves are averaging more than 20 points per game this month, so from a fantasy perspective, it’s coming together. With a big week ahead, 20-point games from these three are going to be plentiful in Week 10.

Los Angeles Clippers

Injuries have started to hurt this Clippers team, as Chris Paul will be down for at least one game this week after missing the last two for LA. However, with a great fantasy week ahead against the Nuggets, Pelicans, Rockets and Thunder, the Clippers will be a source of some great pickups this week. Without Paul, Raymond Felton, Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford all get a nice boost, while Marreese Speights is going to have standard league value while Blake Griffin is out.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have still not figured it out on defense but their offense has been getting better and that’s all that matters for fantasy. They get two games against their rival, the Bulls this week, along with games against the Wizards and Magic. With Indiana’s defense still allowing 107.1 points per 100 possessions, they are going to be in some high scoring games and lately with their pace increasing, Jeff Teague has benefitted. Teague has scored at least 21 points in three of his last five games and has five double-doubles this month. In games where Teague shoots 50% or better, the Pacers are 7-4 and are averaging nearly 109 points per game. As Teague goes, the Pacers go and they could be going a lot this week.

Notable Four Game Weeks

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland almost made the best of the best this week, but a game against the Spurs on the road ruined that. However, outside of that game, things are looking up for the Blazers this week. They play home games against the Raptors and Kings to start the week and finish it against the Wolves. Those three teams rank 18^th or worse in defensive rating, so all of those should be pretty high scoring games.

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis is almost completely healthy as Chandler Parsons is back playing limited minutes. These Grizzlies are great for fantasy because everyone seems to be undervaluing them, but while they don’t play fast, there is still a lot of fantasy value to be had from this team this week. Parsons should start to see his minutes ramped up soon and outside of the stars, guys like Tony Allen and Zach Randolph could also see some big games in Week 10. Even though three of their four games are on the road, the Grizzlies on the road should mean their pace will increase.

Detroit Pistons

Things have been falling apart in the Motor City. The Pistons have lost five straight, Stan Van Gundy is trashing team only meetings and their defense is falling apart. However, like some other teams slumping during the holidays, the Pistons have a nice chance to turn things around this week. They play a tired Cleveland team potentially resting stars on Monday and then follow it up against three teams that are at or below .500. Jon Leuer recently came into the starting lineup too, so if he is available, pick him up.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are another team great for fantasy. If you own Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jabari Parker, you love life right now. However, even some of their role players have started becoming great fantasy values. John Henson is worth rostering in every format and the Bucks could have even more guys worth streaming in Week 10. While they are on the road for all four games, they play the Wolves and Wizards this week, two teams that rank 22^nd or worse in defensive rating. However, only one of their games will be pace-up, so that does put a slight damper on Week 10 for Milwaukee owners.

Miami Heat

Offense has been hard to come by for Miami this season, but with all of their injury issues there has been value and streaming options all over the place for the Heat. That should continue this week in a four game week. They play games against the Thunder, Hornets, Celtics and Pistons. All four will be pace-up and the games against the Thunder and Hornets should both be fast-paced.

Charlotte Hornets

It was a slow week for the Hornets in Week 9, but here in the 10^th fantasy week of the season, things should pick back up for the Hornets. They get a fantasy owner’s dream game against the Nets to start the week and while it gets tougher from there, other than their game against the Cavs to close the week the Hornets should provide a ton of points in Week 10. Charlotte is also coming in on a three-game winning streak and averaging 109 points per game. Hopefully they can parlay that into more wins and fantasy value this week.

Houston Rockets

Houston’s two juicy matchups this week are the bread that is enclosing two tough ones here in Week 10. They play the Suns and Knicks at home to start and end their week, but their other two games will be tougher against the Mavericks and Clippers. The Rockets however, are 3-0 against both those teams this week, so while they have stumbled lately, the Rockets should get back to being one of the best teams for fantasy value.

Atlanta Hawks

Other than closing the week against the Spurs, it should be a fine week for the Hawks. Dwight Howard owners will rejoice knowing that he is expected back on Monday. With games against the Wolves and Knicks to start the week, the Hawks could start by averaging over 110 points per game. With Howard out, Dennis Schroder has been a beast averaging 26.3 points per game last week. It might be a good idea to sell high on him while you can.

Phoenix Suns

It starts nice for the Suns in Week 10 against the Houston Rockets, which might be one of the higher scoring games of the season. However, after that things fall off a cliff against the Spurs, Raptors and Jazz. Phoenix might lose all four games, but one good thing going for them is their young shooting guard, Devin Booker. Booker is starting to bust out of his early-season slump. He is averaging 25.0 points per game over his last four.

Notable Three Game Weeks

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz might have the best three-game week of any team. They play the Lakers, Sixers and Suns, three teams that rank in the bottom third of the league in defense and the top third in pace. When the Jazz get more possessions per game, it always has a nice impact on their fantasy value and considering they are coming into this week losers of three straight, they are going to want to put a beat down on all three of these below .500 teams.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs may not play too fast, but they are going to be picking up the pace this week. Their three games are against teams that rank 10^th or higher in pace this season and after a beat down of the Bulls on Christmas, the best part about this week is there are no back-to-backs. As long as no one gets unexpectedly rested, the Spurs should be one of the best fantasy teams of the week.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets may be the worst team in the league, but to their credit they play hard. This helps because they haven’t been getting blown out as much lately. Even though they are coming off getting blown out, their week ahead of them could cure some of those blues. They play Charlotte, Chicago and Washington, three teams with very beatable defenses and with Jeremy Lin back, it should help them stay in games even more. With Lin on the court this season, the Nets are averaging a full six more points per 100 possessions.

Denver Nuggets

Denver starts their week against a Clippers team coming off a back to back and without two of their best three players and it just gets easier from there. After that they play the Wolves and Sixers, who are allowing an average of nearly 110 points per 100 possessions. With the Nuggets playing fast, all three of their games could end up as wins and big fantasy wins as well. Plus, if you hung onto, or bought low on Nikola Jokic, you probably think you’re the king of fantasy right now.

New York Knicks

The Knicks lost a tough game on Christmas, but their three-game week ahead of them could help with that. They are on the road all week, but they also play three pace-up games against the Hawks, Pelicans and Rockets. The Knicks are already averaging close to 97 possessions per game, so Week 10 could end up with some really high scores from New York. Considering they are coming in averaging 113 points over their last four games, load up on your Knicks this week.

Sacramento Kings

The talk around the Kings recently has been all DeMarcus Cousins, but their Week 10 fantasy outlook is something to talk about as well. Even though they finalize their week against a tough defensive Grizzlies squad, their first two games are against the Sixers and Blazers. In two games against the Blazers this season, the Kings have scored at least 120 points and Cousins is averaging an insane 44.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in those two.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are in the midst of a tough road swing but their fantasy week ahead of them does look nice. They have a tough game against the Jazz, but it’s sandwiched in between games against the Kings and Nuggets. The biggest fantasy news for the Sixers lately has been Joel Embiid, who has played at least 27 minutes per game in five of his last six games. Embiid’s play has helped the Sixers compete more often than not, but the Sixers do have a back-to-back this week on Thursday and Friday, so Embiid owners will likely only get two games out of him this week.

Washington Wizards

Don’t look now, but the Washington Wizards are starting to find their offense. With a short bench it helps consolidate fantasy value too. This should lead to a strong week from them in fantasy, as they play three games against the Bucks, Pacers and Nets. All three of them are at home and considering they are averaging more than 107 points per game at home this season, the Wizards are in for a boon week.

The Rest

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are still without Victor Oladipo and with three tough games this week it might be a week to consider fading all Thunder players not named Russell Westbrook. However, it may be tough for Westbrook owners too. They play the Heat, Grizzlies and Clippers, who all rank in the top 12 in defensive rating and the bottom half of the league in pace.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs got a huge come from behind win against the Warriors on Christmas, but things are taking a nosedive after that. Cleveland might rest some of their stars on Monday and with only three total games it could be a slow week if you own one of the Cavs stars.

Boston Celtics

According to the Eastern Conference standings, the Celtics are the third best team in the conference after a big Christmas Day victory. However, Week 10 might not be too kind to the Celtics. They have only three games and they are against the Grizzlies, Cavaliers and Heat. Two of the three are pace down games and while that shouldn’t kill them, other than Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas, it’s hard to trust some of the other guys on this roster this week.

Los Angeles Lakers

Speaking of big wins on Christmas, the Lakers took care of the short-handed Clippers over the weekend. While they only have three games this week, they could turn that momentum into some more wins if they play well. They get to stay at home all week, but against the Jazz, Mavericks and Raptors, it’s going to be tough to turn those games into fantasy value.

New Orleans Pelicans

Behind Anthony Davis, the Pelicans’ fantasy value will increasingly be centered around Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans once he gets back to close to full minutes. Evans has played well in limited minutes since his return and while he may not be ready for full minutes this week, snag him off your waiver wire if he is still available. In Week 10 the Pelicans are at home all week, but other than a game against the Knicks, it will be tough for them to have a ton of fantasy value this week.

Orlando Magic

Orlando has been trying to find some consistency lately and their offense is looking really good. They are dealing with a few injuries, but their fantasy week isn’t half bad. Even though they start it against the Grizzlies, their next two are against the Hornets and Pacers, two teams that play in the top half of the league in pace. Serge Ibaka has started looking worth his draft slot lately and if Evan Fournier is healthy, he should be in for a big week after the Memphis game.

Golden State Warriors

The only two game week on the schedule is the Golden State Warriors. With only two games, benching a guy like Klay Thompson in weekly lock formats is something to consider. They play the Mavericks and Raptors, two pretty tough opponents, so while it’s normally wonderful to own Warriors, their week ahead isn’t very appealing.