RADIO
The fantasy playoffs are almost here - the most wonderful time of the year!
If you haven't secured your place yet, don't be hesitant to do all you can to do so! If your lower-ranked guys are doing poorly, it can prove very costly to wait around for them to come around as it may mean you missing the playoffs. Turn their spot on the roster into a streaming one and maximize your games played for the week. Do so while being flexible too, as you can choose who to stream and focus on categories that you think you will need help with to beat your opponent next week!
As always, I have taken a look ahead at the NBA schedule for next week, and here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 18.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
NBA Schedule Guide - Week 18
Due to the All-Star weekend, Week 18 is actually a double week with games being played across eight days (Monday till Thursday and then from next Thursday till Sunday). Thursday (Feb 17) with five games played is the only day with fewer than seven games and should be the most challenging for fantasy managers to navigate.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 5 games:
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
New Orleans Pelicans
Phoenix Suns
Washington Wizards
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
Indiana Pacers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Teams with 3 games:
Cleveland Cavaliers
Los Angeles Lakers
Orlando Magic
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 18
Tuesday: 14
Wednesday: 22
Thursday (Feb 17): 10
Thursday (Feb 24): 14
Friday: 18
Saturday: 14
Sunday: 16
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: LAC, MIL, NOP
Tuesday/Wednesday: ATL, BOS, IND, MEM, MIN, PHO
Wednesday/Thursday (Feb 17): BKN, HOU, WAS
Thursday (Feb 17)/Thursday (Feb 24): BKN
Thursday (Feb 24)/Friday: MIN, OKC, PHO
Friday/Saturday: MIA, SAS, TOR, WAS
Saturday/Sunday: BOS, DEN, DET
Days with FIVE or fewer games
Thursday (Feb 17): 7 games
Teams playing five games including Thurs (Feb 17):
Brooklyn Nets (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 17), Thurs (Feb 24), Sat)
Houston Rockets (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sun)
New Orleans Pelicans (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sun)
Washington Wizards (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday (Feb 17))
Brooklyn Nets (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 17), Thurs (Feb 24), Sat)
Houston Rockets (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sun)
New Orleans Pelicans (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sun)
Washington Wizards (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 17), Fri, Sat)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs (Feb 17), Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday (Feb 24) to Sunday)
Boston Celtics (5 games - Tues, Wed, Thurs (Feb 24), Sat, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 24), Sat, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs (Feb 24), Sat, Sun)
Phoenix Suns (5 games - Tues, Wed, Thurs (Feb 24), Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday (Feb 17))
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Tues, Thurs (Feb 17), Sat)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday (Feb 24) to Sunday)
Orlando Magic (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 18
During the double week, there are nine teams that play five games during the week. Five of those teams also play on Thursday (February 17), which is the scarcest day with just five games played.
These teams are the Nets, the Rockets, the Clippers, the Pelicans, and the Wizards. We will focus on their players for streaming next week.
One more thing that usually doesn't happen, but will with the help of the All-Star break - Brooklyn plays on Wednesday, Thursday (Feb 17), and Thursday (Feb 24). With no games between the two Thursdays, this means that the Nets will play on three playing days in a row. This may come in handy if you have several streaming spots or more allowed weekly adds.
Streaming Options for Week 18
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75% of Yahoo leagues):
Seth Curry, PG/SG, BKN, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%,
Patty Mills, PG/SG, BKN, (52% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, BKN, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, FT%, BLK
Cameron Thomas, SG, BKN, (29% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Jae'Sean Tate, SF/PF, HOU, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Jalen Green, SG, HOU, (61% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Alperen Sengun, C, HOU, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Dennis Schroder, PG, HOU, (56% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL, PTS, FT% - buyer beware: it's uncertain if/when he will suit up for the Rockets after he was traded from Boston
Reggie Jackson, PG/SG, LAC, (73% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Ivica Zubac, C, LAC, (64% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Marcus Morris Sr., PF/C, LAC, (58% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS REB, a bit of everything
Herbert Jones, SF/PF, NOP, (55% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB, 3PM
Devonte' Graham, PG/SG, NOP, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL
Jaxson Hayes, C, NOP, (29% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: his minutes and production took a big fall in the last two games
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PG/SG/SF, WAS, (25% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, STL - positive circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
Shallower League Add
Jalen Green, SG, HOU, (61% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
The #2 pick from last year's draft undoubtedly has huge upside, but much more was expected from him this season. His rookie campaign has gone a bit underwhelming so far, but the talent is undeniable, and if you were ever to take a flier on Green, it's a pretty good time to do so now.
Furthermore, Green hasn't played badly for the past two weeks, averaging 15.2 points with 1.7 threes on 42.9% from the field and 84.0% from the line, 3.2 boards, 3.2 dimes, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks, and 1.8 turnovers. Even though this has him ranked all the way down at #144 for this period, if your team punts FG% and/or TO, his value skyrockets.
The opportunity, touches, and usage will always be there for Green, and with a five-game (double) week, he is one of the more exciting options to roll the dice on. Do beware though, his schedule is pretty packed with him taking part in both the Rising Stars game and the Dunk contest during the All-Star Weekend. However, I think this will do more positive than negative as he could be pumped up the whole week (or two) as a result, more so than tired (he just turned 20 a few days ago).
So, if you want someone who could explode at any minute and give you points, threes, and a few assists and steals while maintaining a very decent FT%, and you don't care if he potentially ruins your FG% and TO, Jalen Green might just be your guy!
Deeper League Add
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PG/SG/SF, WAS, (25% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, STL
Positive Circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
KCP usually isn't a very exciting fantasy option as he has always been a third or fourth option on offense and just provided a three-point threat with some defensive stats. But now, with Spencer Dinwiddie being traded away and Bradley Beal getting surgery, he finds himself in an exciting position.
KCP has played quite well during this whole season, averaging 11.3 PTS with 1.9 3PM on 40.7 FG% and 89.3 FT%, 3.4 REB, 1.7 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.4 BLK, and 1.2 TO in 29 minutes per outing. This has him ranked at #132. Now, Pope isn't the one that is expected to take the most shots even with the Wizards "shorthanded" at the guard position, but more opportunity is sure to be there with the two biggest stars now gone/not available.
With a five-game week, and with his all-around production, punt FG% teams could really benefit from the new situation KCP finds himself in.
Insanely Deep League Add
Deni Avdija, SG/SF, WAS, (5% Rostered)
Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Positive Circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
I love Deni's upside, and with minutes up for grabs, he is one of the players that would make the most sense to get them - with him being a big talent worth developing. He's been hot and cold this whole season, averaging just 7.4 PTS with 0.9 3PM on 44.2 FG% and 75.0 FT%, 4.8 REB, 1.6 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.6 BLK, and 0.8 TO in 23 minutes per night. This has him at #200 on Yahoo - not that great, is it?
But since Dinwiddie was traded, Deni averaged 30 minutes across the two games, hit double-digits both times, and had just two ZEROs in the box scores - both in the TO department!
An across-the-board contributor with exciting upside, newfound opportunity, and a five-game week? I'm on board!
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Nicolas Claxton, C, BKN, (19% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK
Blake Griffin, PF/C, BKN, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a bit of REB
Bruce Brown, SG/SF/PF, BKN, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL
Kessler Edwards, SF, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a bit of REB, STL, BLK
Day'Ron Sharpe, PF, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB
Eric Gordon, SG/SF, HOU, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST - buyer beware: missed his previous three games due to heel soreness
Garrison Mathews, SG/SF, HOU, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
KJ Martin, SF, HOU, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a little bit of REB, PTS, AST
Josh Christopher, SG, HOU, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, FG%
Terance Mann, SF, LAC, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Luke Kennard, SG/SF, LAC, (21% Rostered) -Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of REB - buyer beware: listed as questionable for Monday due to ankle soreness
Amir Coffey, SF, LAC, (13% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Nicolas Batum, SF/PF, LAC, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a little bit of REB, 3PM, STL
Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, LAC, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Thomas Bryant, C, WAS, (15% Rostered) -Strong Cats: REB, BLK, a bit of everything
Rui Hachimura, SF/PF, WAS, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, REB
Ish Smith, PG, WAS, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL - positive circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
Raul Neto, PG, WAS, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL - positive circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
Corey Kispert, SG/SF, WAS, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT% - positive circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
Deni Avdija, SG/SF, WAS, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - positive circumstance: with Spencer Dinwiddie traded and Bradley Beal out for the season, there are minutes available in Washington
Get that W! Get that playoff spot! Get that title!
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