RADIO
Happy New Year, my dear fellow fantasy NBA addicts!
Another week lies ahead of us and it's another chance for us to beat our friend and tease him in a witty but gentlemanly fashion. Or just plain put him down with no regard for his feelings, personal struggles, or the preservation of your friendship altogether.
To help you be on the giving and not the receiving and of this ridicule, I am taking a look at the NBA schedule for next week, breaking it down, pinpointing the days with the fewest games played, and suggesting some players from teams that have a favorable schedule that can be found in free agent pools or waiver wires across fantasy NBA leagues. Here are my thoughts on the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 3.
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 3
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 4 games:
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Teams with 3 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Washington Wizards
Teams with 2 games:
None
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 18
Tuesday: 10
Wednesday: 22
Thursday: 10
Friday: 20
Saturday: 16
Sunday: 16
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: -
Tuesday/Wednesday: CHI, LAC, UTA
Wednesday/Thursday: CLE, PHI
Thursday/Friday: BKN, LAL, MEM
Friday/Saturday: CHA, MIL, PHO, ORL, SAC, WAS
Saturday/Sunday: DEN, MIA, MIN, SAS
Sunday/Monday the following: NYK, TOR
Days with SIX or fewer games:
Tuesday: 5 games
Thursday: 5 games
Teams playing on both days:
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
San Antonio Spurs (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Memphis Grizzlies (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri)
Portland Trail Blazers (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Cleveland Cavaliers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
San Antonio Spurs (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Washington Wizards (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Atlanta Hawks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
New Orleans Pelicans (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 3
Five NBA games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday in Week 3. This will leave open starting spots for most fantasy teams and we will be taking a look at who fantasy managers could pick up to fill these holes and help guide their teams to victory.
We should have no problems fielding decent lineups on most other days next week, as all of them have at least eight games scheduled.
Brooklyn Nets, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and San Antonio Spurs are the teams that play on both Tuesday and Thursday and have two other games next week as well. Players from these teams have the best chance of being helpful for fantasy managers. Furthermore, although Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers have just three games next week, they play on both of the scarce days so we will feature their players as well.
Streaming Options for Week 3
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):
DeAndre Jordan, C, BKN, (62% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK - buyer beware: in a timeshare with Jarrett Allen
Joe Harris, SG/SF, BKN, (59% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, FG%
Will Barton, SG/SF, DEN, (49% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of everything
Paul Millsap, PF/C, DEN, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK/STL
Marc Gasol, C, LAL, (27% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK
Kyle Kuzma, SF/PF, LAL, (49% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Malik Beasley, PG/SG, MIN, (48% Rostered) -Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%- positive circumstance: Karl-Anthony Towns is out so there are plenty of touches available on offense
Anthony Edwards, SG, MIN, (66% Rostered) -Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS - positive circumstance: rookie factor + Karl-Anthony Towns is out so there are plenty of touches available on offense + Josh Okogie is out so Edwards is getting more minutes
Ricky Rubio, PG, MIN, (67% Rostered) -Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, FT%, STL - buyer beware: playing under 25 minutes a game
Keldon Johnson, SF, SAS, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK, PTS
Derrick White, PG/SG, SAS, (75% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, AST, STL/BLK - buyer beware: just returned from injury
Brandon Clarke, PF/C, MEM, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK/STL
Dillon Brooks, SF/PF, MEM, (65% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Kyle Anderson, SF/PF, MEM, (65% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL/BLK, REB, FG% - positive circumstance: he is starting while Jaren Jackson Jr. is out
Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, POR, (31% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Enes Kanter, C, POR, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, FT%, REB
Shallower League Add
Keldon Johnson, SF, SAS, (57% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK, PTS
Keldon Johnson was the 29th pick of the 2019 draft. In his rookie year he didn't play much. Only one game in the calendar year 2019, and then eight more before COVID-19 paused the season, eclipsing the 20-minute mark just once. Then came the bubble and Keldon got his chance to prove he can ball with the best of them! He played 26 minutes per game and averaged 14.1 PTS on 63.8 FG%, 1.4 3PM (on 64.7% from beyond the arc!), 82.4 FT%, 5.0 REB, 1.1 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.1 BLK, and 1.3 TO over the course of eight games during August. That's some insane efficiency with some juicy counting stats to boot!
So most fantasy GMs came into the 2020 season cautiously with a wait and see approach on Keldon. Well, I hope your league-mates took this approach as well and that he is still available because he is worth a pickup in most leagues!
He has been starting from the beginning of the season and is averaging 30 minutes a night along with 15.0 points with 1.4 threes on 45.5% from the field and 84.2% from the line, 7.6 boards, 2.4 dimes, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 2.4 turnovers. This is good enough for top 50 value so far.
Now, to be fair, there have been some more touches and minutes to be had with Aldridge missing two games so far due to injury, but even with LMA healthy, Keldon is a fantasy stud at the moment and doesn't really show signs of stopping.
With such a favorable schedule next week and with no word on Aldridge's return yet, Keldon shouldn't be on any waiver wires!
Deeper League Add
Tyus Jones, PG, MEM, (14% Rostered)
Strong Cats: AST, STL
Positive circumstance: more minutes while Ja Morant is out
Jones has been a reliable backup to the starting PGs for several seasons now. First in Minnesota and now in Memphis. And whenever he got the chance he was there for his team. He isn't too flashy, he won't score 30 points, or hit seven threes and get 10 boards. He will (and did) however dish out 12 dimes and get two steals in 29 minutes to help the Grizzlies to a win over the Hornets with Ja Morant missing time with that nasty ankle sprain.
Jones is not a long term pickup, as he is likely to get under 20 minutes a night in a healthy Memphis rotation. However, at this time we know the reigning Rookie of the Year will be out at least three weeks, and his biggest competition for minutes De'Anthony Melton is still stuck in a COVID-19 protocol which ahs already kept him out of four games. So as long as Jones is getting close to 30 minutes per outing, he will help your team out pretty decently in the steals and assists department with a few other counting stats here and there, without hurting you much anywhere else.
If this is something you could use in your next week's matchup, Tyus is really worth a look. Especially since he plays all his three games until Friday, so you can drop him then for someone else who can help you finish your opponent off.
Insanely Deep League Add
Gary Harris, SG/SF, DEN, (8% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit little of everything
I really like Gary Harris, and I absolutely love how "underrated" he is and how often he can be had, even in the deepest of leagues. Now, you surely noticed that I put underrated in quotation marks. This is because Gary is definitely an acquired taste in fantasy bball. He can really help you out on a good day, but if your team build clashes with his strengths and weaknesses, he can be quite hurtful too when his shot isn't falling.
So, what are his weaknesses?
Well, he shot under 43% from the field in two straight seasons (and hasn't been better this year either with just 40.9%). He also doesn't contribute too much in rebounds (eclipsed 3.0 over the course of a regular season just once in his career), assists (never eclipsed 3.0), or blocks (0.3 per game is his personal best). He doesn't score too much either lately as he averaged less than 13 points per game in his past two seasons and is at 8.8 so far this year.
So why should we consider him?
Well, he takes around four 3-point shots per game. So if his shot is falling, he can boost you in that category. He is a career 80.3% free throw shooter, so he can be of assistance there as well. And he never averaged under 1.0 steal (except for his rookie season when he played 13 minutes a game). If you don't mind the poor FG%, there is nothing he will hurt you with (he has 1.2 turnovers in 29 minutes per outing over the course of his entire career), and he will contribute across the board with the focus on threes and steals.
Furthermore, he will play 30+ minutes a night, and he is a very intelligent basketball player. Just take a look at the highlight reel of him and Nikola Jokic hitting it off! I haven't seen that many back door or lob passes on such a high competition level in my life!
If you anticipate a close matchup next week in steals and threes and don't care if your FG% takes a hit, Gary could be the man to win it for you!
Other Deep League Options for the Week (Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues)
Taurean Prince, SF/PF, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, STL - buyer beware: despite playing almost 30 mins a game last season, with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving back in the rotation he is no longer guaranteed minutes
Landry Shamet, PG/SG, BKN, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Jeff Green, SF/PF/C, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a little bit of everything
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, SG/SF, BKN (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Gary Harris, SG/SF, DEN, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit little of everything
Monte Morris, PG/SG, DEN, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, FT%, 3PM
PJ Dozier, PG/SG, DEN, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: the jury is still out
JaMychal Green, PF/C, DEN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: just returned from injury
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PG/SG, LAL, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL - buyer beware: sprained his ankle on Friday (Jan 1st), no news on his availability yet)
Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF, LAL, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FT%, REB, STL/BLK
Wesley Matthews, SG/SF, LAL, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Alex Caruso, PG/SG, LAL, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL - buyer beware: is currently in COVID-19 protocols - check his availability before adding
Markieff Morris, PF/C, LAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB
Jordan McLaughlin, PG, MIN, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST - positive circumstance: more minutes while Josh Okogie is out
Josh Okogie, SG/SF, MIN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, REB - buyer beware: currently out with a left hamstring strain
Jarrett Culver, PG/SG, MIN, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, REB, 3PM - positive circumstance: more minutes while Josh Okogie is out
Naz Reid, C, MIN, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, 3PM
Patty Mills, PG, SAS, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, AST
Jakob Poeltl, C, SAS, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK
Rudy Gay, SF/PF, SAS, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of everything
Drew Eubanks, PF/C, SAS, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK - buyer beware: only has borderline value while LaMarcus Aldridge is out
Tyus Jones, PG, MEM, (14% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL - positive circumstance: more minutes while Ja Morant is out
De'Anthony Melton, PG/SG, MEM, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, AST, STL - buyer beware: missed the previous four games due to COVID protocols and it is uncertain at this point how much time he will miss; - positive circumstance: more minutes while Ja Morant is out
Desmond Bane, PG/SG, MEM, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL - positive circumstance: more minutes while Ja Morant is out
John Konchar, SG, MEM, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, AST, 3PM, STL - buyer beware: mostly gets garbage time
Grayson Allen, SG/SF, MEM, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS - buyer beware: missed his previous game with a left ankle sprain
Gorgui Dieng, PF/C, MEM, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK/STL
Derrick Jones Jr., SG/SF, POR, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, FG%
Gary Trent Jr., SG/SF, POR, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT% - buyer beware: a right calf strain kept him out of his previous two games
I hope you guys enjoyed the article and I hope that this will help you win your matchups next week and bragging rights for the week after.
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