Before we begin, I want to wish everyone in #FANation a Merry Christmas. Last week, every team had three or more games besides the Cavs and Pistons. This week, Portland is the lone team with just two games. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the week ahead for all 30 NBA teams.

 

Atlanta Hawks(WAS, @TOR, POR):Even if you don’t completely believe in Portland’s defense, this is a tough schedule. That is as good a reason as any not to pick up ErsanIlyasova, even though he has scored 20 points in five of his last nine games. I would rather play John Collins.

Boston Celtics (WAS, @CHA, HOU, BKN): The Wizards are the stingiest defense on this schedule, and they are allowing 103.6 points per game. Marcus Morris hopes to return against the Wizards, and while it is probably best to take a wait-and-see approach with him, it wouldn’t be crazy to want to get him right back in your lineup considering the schedule.

Brooklyn Nets (@SA, @NO, @MIA, @BOS):Brooklyn begins the week with a back-to-back, losing an hour before playing a Pelicans team coming off three days of rest. The rest of the schedule isn’t exactly favorable either.

Charlotte Hornets (BOS, @GS, @LAC): Charlotte will have three-days rest before facing Boston and a day off between each of their other games. That helps make up for what is otherwise a difficult schedule.

Chicago Bulls (@MIL, NY, IND, @WAS): We now have a plan for Zach LaVine. He plans to go through six consecutive practices after December 30, and he will play after that. It is probably too early to add him, but it is getting close. It might be prudent to try to trade Kris Dunn before then, though LaVine will presumably take most of his minutes from David Nwaba and others.

Cleveland Cavaliers (@GS, @SAC, @UTA): The best measure of a superstar may be the terrible players he makes lookgood. Remember when Luc Longley signed a big contract with the Suns after Michael Jordan retired? In that vein, Jeff Green has to be LeBron’s masterpiece. I still don’t want Green for fantasy, but it might only take one key injury for me to change my mind. Until then, LeBron and Kevin Love are the only playable Cavs, especially in a week with only road games.

Dallas Mavericks (TOR, @IND, @NO, @OKC): Dallas starts the week with a back-to-back, just their second in December. It wouldn’t be surprising for Dirk Nowitzki to sit one of those games, and I suspect Dallas will struggle offensively against the Thunder. Dennis Smith Jr. has been underwhelming since returning from a hip injury, but I would be ready to pounce at the first sign of increased minutes and improved play.

Denver Nuggets (UTA, @MIN, PHI):This is a pretty average schedule, but it is brought down by the fact Denver will lose an hour traveling to Minnesota for a back-to-back. The Nuggets have a lot of useful players for fantasy, but few I will actually feel good about playing this week.

Detroit Pistons (IND, @ORL, SA):Only the Suns have allowed more points than the Magic this season, but that is balanced out by the game against the Spurs. Reggie Jackson has fallen off after a solid start, and it is crazy how important he is to this team. I would like to see Detroit play him more at shooting guard while Avery Bradley is out, but they would probably get killed defensively, especially considering the backcourts they face this week. Jackson and Ish Smith have played just two minutes together all season.

Golden State Warriors (CLE, UTA, CHA, MEM): The Warriors conclude their seven-game home stand this week, and while that is generally good news, I don’t love the schedule. The Cavs are capable of playing Golden State tough, while Utah and Memphis are fifth and sixth in points allowed per game this season. The last two games are back-to-back, which obviously doesn’t help.

Houston Rockets (@OKC, @BOS, @WAS, LAL): Clint Capela has played in just one game since December 15, and Houston’s defense is a lot less scary with Capela out. The offense has suffered a bit as well, as Harden ended the week scoring 51 points in consecutive losses. Houston should be just fine this week, especially if Capela returns, but it is something to monitor.

Indiana Pacers (@DET, DAL, @CHI, MIN): While I would like this schedule better if Indiana didn’t have to travel or start the week with a back-to-back, but I think it helps that neither of their road games are very far away. More importantly, they don’t have to face a single team in the top 10 in defensive rating. Can someone explain to me why Domantas Sabonis is only playing 24 minutes per game? If anything were to happen to Myles Turner or Thaddeus Young, we could see Sabonis put up huge numbers.

Los Angeles Clippers (SAC, @LAL, CHA): The following players are averaging more than 20 minutes per game for the Clippers over the last week: Jawun Evans, C.J. Williams and Jamil Wilson. I don’t understand how the Clippers managed to win two of their last three games.That being said, they don’t leave the Staples Center until New Years Eve, and it certainly helps that Sacramento has the worst defensive rating in the league and the Lakers play at the fastest pace. Austin Rivers has set a new career high in scoring each of his last two games, and I think I would pick him up to see if the hot streak can last a couple more games.

Los Angeles Lakers (MIN, MEM, LAC, @HOU):Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is averaging 34.8 minutes per game this season, and he has played at least 32 minutes in six consecutive games. KCP cannot leave the state of California due to a legal matter, and I wonder if the Lakers will be inclined to play him even more minutes in the games he actually can attend. I think I would actually play Caldwell-Pope this week, but drop him following the Clippers game. Josh Hart is averaging 11.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a starter this season, and he could be useful when KCP sits.

Memphis Grizzlies (@PHO, @LAL, @GS, @SAC):For all of the talk about trading Marc Gasol or Mike Conley, Memphis’s best trade chip may actually be Tyreke Evans. I don’t know how useful he would be on a team that can actually score, but I think he could be a valuable bench scorer for a playoff team, a la Lou Williams. He would be awfully interesting on a team like the Trail Blazers or 76ers. Even as a rental, he could be worth a second-round pick. Fantasy players may want to try to sell high before he is traded, but after this week. This is a nice schedule, even with two sets of back-to-backs, all on the road.

Miami Heat (ORL, BKN, @ORL): Miami doesn’t leave Florida all week, even though the last two games are back to back. Miami is starting to look thin with Dion Waiters, Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow all dealing with injuries, but that means Josh Richardson, Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson are all playable, especially considering their upcoming schedule.

Milwaukee Bucks (CHI, MIN, @OKC): Only two teams are allowing fewer points per game than the Thunder, while the Bulls and Timberwolves are in the middle of the pack. With Tony Snell returning to the starting lineup, it wouldn’t be crazy to bench Malcolm Brogdon this week.

Minnesota Timberwolves (@LAL, DEN, @MIL, @IND): The Bucks are 15th in points allowed this season, and everyone else on this schedule is worse than that. Andrew Wiggins has struggled of late, but you probably have to keep him in your lineup, at least until the schedule gets harder.

New Orleans Pelicans (BKN, DAL, NY): The Pelicans get three days off before hosting Brooklyn, though they do face Dallas and the Knicks back-to-back. Darius Miller and E’Twaun Moore are borderline fantasy plays in deeper leagues, and they could benefit if Dante Cunningham has to miss much time with the back injury he suffered Saturday.

New York Knicks (PHI, @CHI, @SA, @NO): I almost feel sorry for the Knicks for having to face the Spurs on the second of a back-to-back. Jarrett Jack is quietly averaging 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists in December, and while he will never be flashy, that kind of all-around production can be quite useful.

Oklahoma City Thunder (HOU, TOR, MIL, DAL): If the Thunder finally wind up being as good as we thought they could be this season, Friday’s game might be viewed as a turning point. Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including 7-of-12 on threes. Most of those were catch-and-shoot looks, and if Anthony really is as open-minded as coach Billy Donovan says he is, it could unlock OKC’s offense. Now might be a good time to buy low on not only Carmelo but also Steven Adams and Paul George. It certainly helps the Thunder are at home all week with a day off between each game.

Orlando Magic (@MIA, DET, MIA):Miami and Detroit rank seventh and eighth in opponents points this season. When you throw in the added uncertainty of losing Nikola Vucevic for six-to-eight weeks, it may be best to bench your Magic players until further notice. That being said, BismackBiyombo should see more minutes with Vucevic out, and there could be more touches for Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon if they are healthy.

Philadelphia 76ers (@NY, @POR, @DEN, @PHO): The only really good matchup is against Phoenix, but the 76ers could be gassed from playing in the altitude of Denver the night before. You are playing Robert Covington and Ben Simmons anyway, but this offense is a lot less exciting if J.J. Redick and Joel Embiid miss any time with their respective injuries.

Phoenix Suns (MEM, @SAC, PHI): T.J. Warren is the only Sun averaging more than 27 minutes per game over the last week, and he is the only Sun you need to own for fantasy. That being said, Greg Monroe is averaging 13.0 points, 9.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his last five games without Tyson Chandler. Whenever Chandler sits, Monroe is worth playing.

Portland Trailblazers (PHI, @ATL): The only good news for Portland is they have four days off before they host Philadelphia Thursday. That could give Damian Lillard time to return after he missed both games over the weekend. That being said, you aren’t starting any Blazers outside of Liliard, C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic this week.

San Antonio Spurs (BKN, NY, @DET): For an older team like the Spurs, the most important part of the schedule is getting a day off between each game, especially as Kawhi Leonard is still dealing with discomfort in his quad. Kawhi hasn’t gotten a lot of minutes or scored a lot of points so far, but he probably needs to be in your lineup whenever he is active.

Sacramento Kings (@LAC, CLE, PHO, MEM): It looks like George Hill has finally turned things around, even after he scored just seven points against the Spurs Saturday. Hill is averaging 15.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists over the last week, and while much of that can probably be attributed to De’Aaron Fox’s quad injury, I am optimistic he can keep playing like this even after Fox returns.

Toronto Raptors (@DAL, @OKC, ATL): The Thunder are allowing 99.8 points per game this season, and Toronto may be lucky to reach that threshold after playing at Dallas the night before. Jonas Valanciunas doesn’t match up particularly well with any of the opposing centers this week, and I doubt he gets enough minutes to be playable for fantasy this week.

Utah Jazz (@DEN, @GS, CLE): The Jazz play at altitude in Denver, then have to face the defending champs the next night. Rodney Hood has played well even when coming off the bench, but I think you probably have to bench him this week.

Washington Wizards (@BOS, @ATL, HOU, CHI): Washington is another team with four games and a day of rest between each one. Maybe the rest will straighten out John Wall, because nothing else is working. Wall is averaging 14.2 points on .355 shooting in six games since returning from his knee injury. His numbers are better for the season, but even before the injury he was shooting worse from the field and averaging fewer assists. I still think I would buy low, but it is hard to feel too confident about it.