NBA Weekly Planner - Week 6

Only half the league has four game weeks as we head into the final days of November, but there are some intriguing fantasy weeks ahead for a handful of teams, even if they aren’t playing a full weeks worth of games.

The Best of the Best

Sacramento Kings

The Kings got their East Coast road trip started with a big win against the Nets and now their four-game week looks better than pretty much every team in the league. If you’re a DeMarcus Cousins owner, you’re probably near salivation with his week. The Kings start tonight against the Wizards, followed by games against the Sixers, Celtics and Knicks. All four of those teams are allowing 107 points per 100 possessions or higher.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have dropped a couple of games and are dealing with a sore knee from Blake Griffin, but for the guys who will be playing these week, their fantasy outlooks in season-long leagues look great. They get a cakewalk game against the Nets on Tuesday, followed by road games against the Cavs and Pelicans. They also get to finish their week against the Pacers at home, meaning all four are pace-up games for LA.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are playing as fast as anyone at 98.9 possession’s per game and this week they get to start their week against the Warriors and Suns, two teams playing faster than they do. Their matchup against the Pistons at home isn’t the greatest, but they finish their week on the road in Toronto. The Raptors are allowing 111.4 points per game over their last nine, making the Hawks a great buy this week in fantasy.

Miami Heat

Miami is dealing with several injuries right now, but if you’re a Josh Richardson owner you’re eyes should be lighting up. Tyler Johnson and Dion Waiters are out on Monday and Goran Dragic still doesn’t know if he is going to miss time this week. Richardson’s usage might skyrocket and against four pace-up teams, the rest of the Heat look good too. Other than a game at Utah, Miami should be in line for some increased fantasy production this week.

Toronto Raptors

Not only has Toronto’s defense been shuttering at times lately, their offense looks great. Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas make up nearly 58 percent of the Raptors scoring this season and they are scoring nearly 113 points per 100 possessions. This week they are at home for all four of their games and outside of one against Memphis, those three guys are in for huge weeks.

Utah Jazz

Utah normally isn’t a team you want to target a ton of in fantasy. They are playing at a slower pace than any team in the NBA this season, but their core four or five fantasy assets may be in for some increased production. Houston, Minnesota and Denver either play in the top 10 in pace, or the bottom 10 teams in defensive rating so far.

New York Knicks

The Knicks not only get two games against the Wolves this week, but they are also blessed with a game against a poor Sacramento defense and a fast-paced Thunder team on the road. Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis are must plays all week, as they account for 58 percent of the Knicks’ offense.

Philadelphia 76ers

Other than a game against the Magic, a slower paced and better defensive team, the Sixers once again look like fantasy gold this week. They start in Toronto, followed by home games against the Kings and Celtics, who all three rank in the bottom 12 teams in defensive rating right now.

Other Four-Game Weeks

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have a four-game week and they also may be getting back Reggie Jackson soon. He went through a practice on Monday and the Pistons are basically not confirming nor denying that he could play this week. He could be eased back in though, so he is not a target in weekly leagues yet.

Charlotte Hornets

Other than having four games and three of them being at home, the Hornets don’t have much to get excited about. However, they have started playing faster, which could really add value to Kemba Walker and the rest of the Hornets backcourt. Nicolas Batum is back and is good to fire up in weekly leagues this week, but with games against the Grizzlies, Mavericks and Pistons, it’s hard to target anyone other than Charlotte’s starting backcourt.

Boston Celtics

Boston has a tasty back half of their week against the Kings and Sixers, two teams that should provide some great fantasy value, but they have to get through the Heat and Pistons before they get there. Jae Crowder’s minutes cap has been lifted, so at least he can start being a solid play if he is back to the 30-minute threshold.

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis plays really slow, so outside of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, there aren’t too many Grizzlies to target. However, with a solid week ahead and some injuries, there might be some solid streaming options for Memphis this week. Troy Williams, Tony Allen and JaMychal Green could all see value this week for a short-handed Grizzlies.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have been one of the better surprises this season and while their defense needs some work, their road trip this week should be pretty good for their fantasy value. Outside of a finale against Memphis at the Grind House, their other three games against New Orleans, Chicago and Toronto should all be good for fantasy production. What’s also nice is the Lakers are one of only a few teams who have a better shooting percentage on the road than at home.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Things have been slow going for Minnesota this season, but their poor defense has allowed lesser teams to stay in the game against them, leading to more fantasy value for all five Wolves starters. Minnesota gets two games against the Knicks this week, which is where most of their value should come from, because their other two games against Charlotte and Utah don’t excite too much.

Orlando Magic

Four games may be the only thing making the Magic guys more than a smooth fade this week in fantasy. Among all the teams with four games, their schedule is certainly the toughest against the Spurs, Grizzlies, Sixers and Pistons, all on the road.

Notable Three-Game Weeks

Golden State Warriors

If any team is producing big time fantasy value with just three games, it’s the Warriors. They get three home games against the Hawks, Suns and Rockets, three fast-paced teams. Load up on your core four Warriors once again this week.

New Orleans Pelicans

Other than Golden State, the Pelicans also have a strong three-game week. They get matchups against both LA teams at home, while they finish their week on the road against Oklahoma City. Despite two losses, the Pelicans are starting to win games and Anthony Davis continues to impress with three-straight games of 30-plus points.

Milwaukee Bucks

Speaking of impressive Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing like a high first round pick this season and his three-game week should continue that. After a home game against the Cavaliers, the Bucks get a home and home matchup against the Nets, a team playing faster than any team and who is also allowing 112 points per 100 possessions. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

No Thunder player has shown true consistency behind Russell Westbrook for fantasy, but that may change this week against the Knicks, Wizards and Pelicans. Victor Oladipo, Enes Kanter and Steven Adams are all worth playing in weekly leagues this week.

Washington Wizards

Other than a game against those aforementioned Thunder, the Wizards get a home game against Sacramento tonight. However, their week ends against the Spurs, which is probably a matchup to avoid outside of the Washington backcourt.

San Antonio Spurs

On the other side, the Spurs’ matchup to close their week against the Wizards is an appealing one from a fantasy perspective, but two games to start the week against Orlando and Dallas aren’t too tasty. Dallas and Orlando are both in the bottom 10 teams in pace.

The Rest

Houston Rockets

Houston has to start their week against Utah, but if they can overcome that, their next two against Golden State and Denver could be two of the higher scoring games of the season. The latter two games are on a back to back though, which is the only thing keeping them from the plus side of things.

Dallas Mavericks

With only three games and a very poor offense right now, it’s hard to target any other Mavericks this wee not named Harrison Barnes. Deron Williams is coming back rom injury, which hurts Seth Curry and Wesley Matthews is so inconsistent, there are better options.

Denver Nuggets

Other than a home game against the Rockets, the Nuggets’ week isn’t too appealing for fantasy purposes. They play slow-down games against the Jazz and Heat as their other two contests, so with a struggling offense, it makes since to bench most of your Nuggets this week.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have a nice home and home against the Bucks this week, but other than that there isn’t much to get excited about. With no back to backs though, we might get three full games of Brook Lopez. He, Sean Kilpatrick and Trevor Booker are all on the fantasy radar this week.

Cleveland Cavaliers

After opening their week in Milwaukee, the Cavs have two very tough games against the Clippers and Bulls to close their week. Both are national TV games, but both are tough defensive matchups, with Chicago and LA ranking second and seventh in defense right now.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls get to start their week against the Lakers, but after that, games against the Cavaliers and Mavericks are much tougher. However, with a lot of fantasy value in Chicago, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler will still be strong plays this week.

Two-Game Weeks

Phoenix Suns

The Suns are one of only three teams that have only two games this week, but they are both tasty. The Hawks and Warriors are playing almost as fast as Phoenix, so while the quantity is small, quality should be great this week.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers’ two games aren’t bad either. They are in a West Coast road swing against the Warriors and Clippers, but with Paul George hurt, it’s hard to tell where scoring will come from without him. Jeff Teague and Myles Turner seem to be the biggest beneficiaries of George’s injury.

Portland Trail Blazers

Other than Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, it’s a week to bench the rest of your Blazers. With only two games and a tough battle against the Heat as one of them, it’s going to be hard for guys like Mo Harkless and Mason Plumlee to be valuable contributors.