We have entered the part of the NBA schedule where two-game weeks are few and far between. The Orlando Magicare the only team to play fewer than three games this week, which could leave fantasy players with some difficult decisions to make. With no other obvious teams to avoid this week, it is more important than ever to dive into the week ahead for all 30 NBA teams.
Atlanta Hawks(UTA, TOR, @CHA, WAS): John Collins is averaging 17.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, and he is an obvious candidate for more minutes if the Hawks trade (or buy out) ErsanIlyasova or Dewayne Dedmon. Taurean Prince could also see more minutes if Marco Bellinelli is moved. Both are interesting targets, though I would rather own Collins at this point.
Boston Celtics (@LAL, @LAC, @GS): This is a pretty good week for the Celtics considering they play just three games, all on the road, including a back-to-back. The back-to-backs are both in the same building, they don’t have to leave California and they face two of the top three teams in the NBA in pace. Most importantly, all three opponents rank in the bottom third of the league in points allowed this season. With Kyrie Irving back healthy, it should be business as usual for the Celtics this week.
Brooklyn Nets (@OKC, @MIL, @MIN): D’Angelo Russell came off the bench and scored just one point in 14 minutes Friday, and considering their last two games this week are back-to-back, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bench him this week. The Thunder and Timberwolves rank third and eighth in fewest fantasy points allowed to point guards this season.
Charlotte Hornets (SAC, NOR, ATL, @MIA):The Hornets are reportedly open to trading Kemba Walker, and that could have huge fantasy repercussions, though perhaps not for Walker himself. His 27.2 percent usage rate leads the Hornets but is 34th in the NBA among players averaging at least 15 minutes per game. Kemba could get similar usage on another team, and might even get better shots on a better team. The Hornets, on the other hand, could be a fantasy wasteland depending on who else leaves with Kemba and what they get back in the trade. Kemba and Nicolas Batum are Charlotte’s only competent ball handlers, and it would be an unmitigated disaster if Michael Carter-Williams has to start. That being said, I might consider adding Jeremy Lamb for fantasy if he is available, as he would certainly play more minutes if any of Charlotte’s wing players are dealt.
Chicago Bulls (@NO, @PHI, LAL, MIL): The Bulls get a day off between each game, which they could need because they play three of the top seven teams in the NBA in pace. Jason Kidd isn’t smart enough to have his team play fast, which prevents this from being a really good schedule. While these teams do play fast, only the 76ers can be considered a poor defensive team.
Cleveland Cavaliers (@SA, IND, DET): The Cavs get two days off before and after the San Antonio game, and one day off between the last two. Rest is especially important for the oldest team in the NBA, but it doesn’t completely make up for a pretty lousy schedule.
Dallas Mavericks (WAS, HOU, POR, @DEN): Playing at Denver on the second of a back-to-back is as bad as it gets as far as schedules go, but the rest of the schedule isn’t terrible. Yogi Ferrell and J.J. Barea could be interesting if Devin Harris is out, but you still shouldn’t be excited to play anyone on this team outside of Dennis Smith Jr. and Harrison Barnes.
Denver Nuggets (POR, NY, DAL): The Nuggets get two days off before the Portland and New York matchups, and one day off before facing a Dallas team playing on zero days’ rest. Denver is 10th in the NBA in points per game at home this season, but I suspect that ranking will be higher at the end of this week.
Detroit Pistons (UTA, OKC, @CLE): If you have to play a road game on the second of a back-to-back, Cleveland is the place to do it. The Utah and Oklahoma City matchups are considerably more difficult, but at least Detroit gets two days of rest heading into each one.
Golden State Warriors (NY, MIN, BOS): Boston has consistently played the Warriors tough the last few seasons, and Minnesota is playing better defense of late. That being said, the Warriors get a day off between each home game, so they should be just fine.
Houston Rockets (MIA, @DAL, @NOR, PHO): The Houston Rockets are the Tiger Woods of the NBA. No matter how good Tiger looks at his home event in the dead of winter, there is reason for great skepticism once the actual season rolls around. Likewise, the Rockets can continue looking like the best team in the league for the rest of the regular season, but James Harden, Chris Paul and Mike D’Antoni will still have unanswered questions come playoff time. For now, the only question with this team is if Gerald Green will cut into the playing time of P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute now that James Harden is back.
Indiana Pacers (PHO, @CLE, ORL): Domantas Sabonis is averaging 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds over the last two weeks, and it is a shame he hasn’t played more/better with Myles Turner. Turner has a chance to return Wednesday against Phoenix, and Sabonis would go back to being a fringe fantasy starter at that point.
Los Angeles Clippers (MIN, BOS, @MEM, @NOR):Don’t look now, but Wesley Johnson has at least 11 points in five consecutive games, and he is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game over that span. He will likely turn into a pumpkin once DeAndre Jordan, Jordan, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers or even C.J. Williams return, but he could remain useful until then. The same is true for Tyrone Wallace. This isn’t a bad schedule for whichever Clippers are actually healthy, as they have a day off between every game this week.
Los Angeles Lakers (BOS, @CHI, @TOR): Larry Nance Jr. has three double-doubles in his last five games. The Bulls and Celtics rank 27th and 22nd in opponents rebounds this season, and I suspect Nance Jr. will have another double-double in one of those two games.
Memphis Grizzlies (PHI, SA, LAC): Memphis has had an unreal number of injuries over the last few years, and it seems like the entire roster is day-to-day. Dillon Brooks is averaging 17.0 points and 4.3 rebounds over his last four games, and that could continue for as long as James Ennis is out. Ben McLemore, Jarell Martin and Wayne Selden are all interesting this week as well.
Miami Heat (@HOU, SAC, CHA): The Hornets have allowed the second fewest fantasy points to opposing centers this season, and Houston has allowed the fourth fewest. This could be a rough week for Hassan Whiteside, but you probably have to play him. With Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson both dealing with injuries, Wayne Ellington is entering must-start territory.
Milwaukee Bucks (PHO, BKN, @CHI): Milwaukee gets three days off before they host Brooklyn, and this was already looking like the best three-game slate of the week.
Minnesota Timberwolves (@LAC, @POR, @GS, BKN): Minnesota’s starting lineup of Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Jeff Teague, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins has played nearly 300 more minutes than any other five-man lineup in the NBA. Tom Thibodeau is unlikely to go away from that lineup anytime soon, but both the Timberwolves and fantasy players would likely benefit if Thibodeau starts staggering Wiggins and Jimmy Butler’s minutes. Wiggins scored 29 points on 11-21 shooting Saturday with Butler out, and he would likely benefit from more opportunities to run the offense with Butler and even Karl-Anthony Towns off the floor. It is worth keeping an eye on, especially if Minnesota acquires another competent wing in a trade or following a buyout.
New Orleans Pelicans (CHI, @CHA, HOU, LAC):Rajon Rondo has gone five consecutive games without double-digit points or assists, and even though I don’t think he is a good player or a good fit for the Pelicans, he is probably due for a pretty good game. That being said, this team is in pretty desperate need of some role players off the bench, and they could be very active in the buyout market.
New York Knicks (@GS, @DEN, @PHO):Kristaps Porzingis is 22nd in the NBA in fantasy points, just ahead of Joel Embiid (who has played seven fewer games), Kemba Walker and Khris Middleton. I suspect most fantasy players think Porzingis is far more valuable than that, and I think I would try to sell before perception meets reality. That being said, maybe you should wait a week to make any offers, since he should put up pretty good numbers this week.
Oklahoma City Thunder (BKN, WAS, @DET, PHI): It is nearly impossible to find anything new to say about the Thunder. They appear to be clicking now offensively, and there is no reason to think their defense is a fluke. They could be even better down the stretch if Patrick Patterson ever gets healthy. Even if that doesn’t happen this year, don’t forget about Patterson for 2018-19. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he has a bounce back campaign similar to the one enjoyed by former teammate DeMarre Carroll this season.
Orlando Magic (SAC, @IND): Sacramento remains one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA, and the Magic get three days off before they face Indiana. As far as two-game weeks go, this one could be much worse.
Philadelphia 76ers (@MEM, CHI, @SA, OKC): J.J. Reddick’s leg injury is a huge bummer considering he had scored at least 15 points in eight consecutive games. TimotheLuwawu-Cabarrot should be playable for fantasy while he starts in Reddick’s place, but I wouldn’t want to play him this week, as Philadelphia faces three of the top five teams in fewest points allowed per game.
Phoenix Suns (@MIL, @IND, NY, @HOU): Josh Jackson is one of the few rookies who can actually be labeled a disappointment this season, but that may be changing. Jackson has at least 11 points in five of his last six games, and he is averaging 15.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists over the last two weeks. His playing time might suffer when MarqueseChriss returns, though he would likely benefit if Jared Dudley is traded.
Portland Trailblazers (@DEN, MIN, @DAL): None of these opponents rank better than 20th in defensive efficiency, and Portland gets a day off before each game. That could be enough to make someone like Shabazz Napier playable this week for fantasy, especially if you need steals or threes. At the very least, Napier has improved to the point where he is a must-play any time C.J. McCollum or Damian Lillardare out. It is fair to wonder if the Trail Blazers would consider trading one of those players since they have a capable replacement on their roster who is a restricted free agent at the end of the season.
San Antonio Spurs (CLE, @MEM, PHI, SAC): With a game at Memphis the next night, it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Spurs to rest their starters and still score 130 against the Cavs. Patty Mills has at least 13 points in three consecutive games, and while I don’t trust him yet, I’m getting there.
Sacramento Kings (@CHA, @ORL, @MIA, @SA): Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Aaron Fox and Willie Cauley-Stein are all averaging 30+ minutes per game over the last week, and all three should probably be owned in most fantasy leagues for as long as this trend continues. George Hill has actually been pretty valuable of late when he plays, but his value in weekly leagues is diminished with the news Dave Joerger plans to occasionally sit his veterans to give more minutes to the young players. That being said, if you currently own Hill, I think I would hold onto him until after the trade deadline. He could be quite valuable for fantasy if he is traded to the right team.
Toronto Raptors (@ATL, UTA, LAL): Serge Ibaka has one block total over his last five games, and he is averaging 8.6 points and 5.0 rebounds over that span. It was encouraging to see him play 30+ minutes in each of the last two games, but he is still droppable. I would rather have John Collins.
Utah Jazz (@ATL, @DET, @TOR): Rudy Gobert is back, which means Derrick Favors should be back on the waiver wire. None of these teams rank better than 20th in opponents’ blocks, so Gobert should be in for a big week.
Washington Wizards (@DAL, @OKC, @ATL): Kelly Oubre Jr. has scored double-digit points in seven consecutive games, but I still don’t quite trust him. If he ever got to start, he would be a must-add, but until then, both he and Markieff Morris are borderline fantasy plays.