RADIO
Our one and only, Milos Zvekic broke down the Week 8 streamers earlier this week and will continue to do so all season long. I will be chiming in mid-week to add some sprinkles and frosting onto the beautifully baked Zvekic cake.
For the rest of Week 9 (Thursday to Sunday), there are 10 teams with a back-to-back (CHA, CHI, GS, HOU, MEM, MIL, NYK, PHX, SAC, and TOR), three teams play three games (MIL, SAC, and TOR), while six teams (CLE, DAL, IND, POR, UTA, and POR) play one game. Check out the schedule grid for a better picture. As usual, I will try and isolate players who are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues and could contribute.
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ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks travel to Boston on Friday then host the Nuggets on Sunday. BOS is 23rd in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency. DEN is 27th in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics host the Hawks on Friday then travel to New Orleans on Sunday. ATL is 15th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. NO is 20th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. Robert Williams (C - 10% rostered) played 20 minutes last game, the first time reaching that mark since December. Daniel Theis was out with a sprained finger and could miss more games. If so, then Williams should see around 20 minutes backing up Tristan Thompson. Williams will provide rebounds with plenty of steals and blocks.
BROOKLYN NETS
The Nets travel to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday and Sunday. LAC is 27th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency. Jeff Green (SF/PF/C - 29% rostered) has played 25 and 24 minutes the last two games, which is down from the 29 to 30 he was playing before. So that stinks but he is playing small-ball center for the Nets, often closing games, and providing points, three-pointers, and some rebounds. Playing alongside the Big Three, he should get plenty of open looks.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
PPD
CHICAGO BULL
The Bulls travel to Philadelphia on Friday then host the Kings the following night. PHI is 7th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency. SAC is 12th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency. Garrett Temple (PG/SG - 3% rostered) has started the last two games and played 39 and 30 minutes. He's scored double figures in both games and contributed three-pointers, rebounds, and steals. He shot over 50% from the field, which isn't going to happen regularly as he's more like a 40% shooter, but he's playing the minutes, which is half the battle. Tomas Satoransky (PG/SG - 8% rostered) plays around 20 minutes per game, with more in blowouts, but he's a decent source of assists off the wire. Over the last three games, he's dished out four, seven, and eight while scoring double figures in the last two games.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers host the Nuggets on Friday then the Thunder on Sunday. DEN is 27th in pace and 18th in defensive efficiency. OKC is 9th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
The Mavericks travel to Houston on Friday. HOU is 4th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency.
DENVER NUGGETS
The Nuggets travel to Cleveland on Friday then Atlanta on Sunday. CLE is 25th in pace and 24th in defensive efficiency. ATL is 15th in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. Facundo Campazzo (PG - 5% rostered) received the start last game and contributed 15 points, two three-pointers, three rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block in 40 minutes. Monte Morris and Will Barton were out which contributed to the increased playing time. If both are unable to go, then Campazzo could see a similar workload.
DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons travel to Memphis on Friday then to Orlando on Sunday. MEM is 13th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency. ORL is 20th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. Saddiq Bey (SF - 38% rostered) received the start last game and produced 16 points, four three-pointers, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 38 minutes. With the Pistons saying that they will not be playing Blake Griffin while they explore trade options, Bey should see significant playing time going forward. The shooting efficiency is a concern, as he's converting 41% of his attempts on the season, but he can provide points, three-pointers, rebounds, and steals. Josh Jackson (SG/SF - 48% rostered) is the microwave off the bench for the Pistons. Over the last six games, he's averaged 28 minutes, 17.5 points, two three-pointers, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks. The usage rate has been 28.1. The percentages can be rough but at least you know he will always be heavily involved when on the court, for better or for worse.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors travel to Orlando on Friday then to Charlotte the following night. ORL is 20th in pace and 21st in defensive efficiency. CHA is 16th in pace and 17th in defensive efficiency.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets host the Mavericks on Friday then the Pacers the following night. DAL is 19th in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency. IND is 14th in pace and 9th in defensive efficiency. Jae'sean Tate (SG - 20% rostered) has started 17 of the last 18 games. He's not a high usage player but has scored double figures in 10 of those starts. He will grab rebounds and chip in a small number of three-pointers and defensive stats, but his biggest contribution is likely in the field goal percentage category, as he's shooting 54% from the field on 7.9 attempts. Danuel House Jr. (SF/PF - 15% rostered) is averaging a tick under 30 minutes in the last eight games. The usage rate is a respectable 18.4 and he will contribute a little something in every category. The shooting efficiency is a big problem, though, as he's converting 36% of his attempts on the season.
INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers travel to Houston on Saturday. HOU is 4th in pace and 3rd in defensive efficiency.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The Clippers host the Jazz on Friday then the Nets on Sunday. UTA is 22nd in pace and 2nd in defensive efficiency. BKN is 8th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers host the Nets on Thursday then the Heat on Saturday. BKN is 8th in pace and 25th in defensive efficiency. MIA is 24th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Grizzlies host the Pistons on Friday then the Suns the following night. DET is 26th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency. PHX is 29th in pace and 7th in defensive efficiency. Grayson Allen (SG/SF - 14% rostered) has started the last three games and played 26, 32, and 35 minutes. He will provide three-pointers and steals.
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat travel to Sacramento on Thursday then to Los Angeles on Saturday to face the Lakers. SAC is 12th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency. LAL is 18th in pace and 1st in defensive efficiency. Kendrick Nunn (PG/SG - 41% rostered) will make his sixth and seventh consecutive starts as Goran Dragic did not travel with the team. Over the last six games, Nunn has been a top 80 player, averaging 32.1 minutes, 16.2 points, 2.5 three-pointers, four rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 steals while shooting 49% from the field and 88% from the line.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Bucks host the Raptors on Thursday, the Thunder the following night, and the Kings on Sunday. TOR is 10th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. OKC is 9th in pace and 11th in defensive efficiency. SAC is 12th in pace and 30th in defensive efficiency.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
The Timberwolves host the Raptors on Friday then travel to New York on Sunday. TOR is 10th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. NYK is 30th in pace and 4th in defensive efficiency.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
The Pelicans travel to Dallas on Friday. DAL is 18th in pace and 27th in defensive efficiency.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks host the Timberwolves on Sunday. MIN is 6th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The Thunder travel to Milwaukee on Friday then to Cleveland on Sunday. MIL is 5th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. CLE is 25th in pace and 24th in defensive efficiency. Theo Maledon (PG - 11% rostered) returned from COVID protocols and played 28 minutes last game. Prior to going down, he played 31, 36, 28, 34, and 30 minutes. He scored double figures in four of those games and contributed three-pointers and steals with a sprinkling of rebounds and assists. The shooting efficiency is atrocious, as he's converting 39% from the field on the season, but he will likely start alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when he returns and get plenty of run to develop.
ORLANDO MAGIC
The Magic host the Warriors on Friday then the Pistons on Sunday. GS is 2nd in pace and 5th in defensive efficiency. DET is 26th in pace and 23rd in defensive efficiency.
PHILADELPHIA 76ers
The 76ers host the Bulls on Friday then travel to Philadelphia on Sunday. CHI is 3rd in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. PHI is 7th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns travel to New Orleans on Friday then to Memphis the following night. NO is 20th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency. MEM is 13th in pace and 16th in defensive efficiency.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The Trail Blazers host the Wizards on Saturday. WAS is 1st in pace and 26th in defensive efficiency.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings host the Heat on Thursday, travel to Chicago on Saturday, then to Milwaukee the following night. MIA is 24th in pace and 13th in defensive efficiency. CHI is 3rd in pace and 19th in defensive efficiency. MIL is 5th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
PPD
TORONTO RAPTORS
The Raptors travel to Milwaukee on Thursday, to Minnesota on Friday, then host the 76ers on Sunday. MIL is 5th in pace and 14th in defensive efficiency. MIN is 6th in pace and 22nd in defensive efficiency. PHI is 7th in pace and 6th in defensive efficiency.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Friday. LAC is 27th in pace and 10th in defensive efficiency.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
The Wizards travel to Portland on Saturday. POR is 17th in pace and 28th in defensive efficiency.
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