If you're wondering for next week
Who to drop and who to pick
I've got some players for your team
All that's left for you to do is WIN!
Another desperate attempt at a poem from me, and another desperate attempt to provide you guys with some decent streaming options that won't get ruined by the postponement of games and such.
Here are my thoughts on the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 10.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 10
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 5 games:
Washington Wizards
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Teams with 3 games:
Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Teams with 2 games:
San Antonio Spurs
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 12
Tuesday: 18
Wednesday: 18
Thursday: 12
Friday: 18
Saturday: 14
Sunday: 18
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: DAL, POR, WAS
Tuesday/Wednesday: ATL, BOS, CLE, DET, GSW, MIN, TOR
Wednesday/Thursday: NOP
Thursday/Friday: LAC, MEM, SAC
Friday/Saturday: IND, OKC, UTA
Saturday/Sunday: MIN, NYK, WAS
Sunday/Monday the following: CHA, CHI, HOU
Days with SIX or fewer games:
Monday: 6 games
Thursday: 6 games
Teams playing on both days:
Washington Wizards (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Memphis Grizzlies (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Washington Wizards (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Washington Wizards (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Memphis Grizzlies (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
New York Knicks (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Sacramento Kings (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
San Antonio Spurs (2 games - Wed, Sat)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
San Antonio Spurs (2 games - Wed, Sat)
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
Portland Trail Blazers (3 games - Mon, Tue, Fri)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 10
With no apparent scarce days on the books for next week, I thought I would try something a bit different. I will suggest some players from the two teams, Dallas and Washington that play three times from Monday to Thursday (and play on both of these six-game days), and also from the other four (Clippers, Grizzlies, Knicks, Kings and again the Wizards) that have three games to close out the week from Thursday to Sunday.
Washington is the only team that fits both of these categories, and with a five-game week and them playing on both Monday and Thursday with six and on Saturday with seven games, their players have the potential to steal some victories for fantasy teams.
Streaming Options for Week 10
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):
Davis Bertans, PF/C, WAS, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, PTS
Rui Hachimura, SF/PF, WAS, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, PTS, a bit of everything
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, DAL, (62% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Josh Richardson, SG/SF, DAL, (43% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, a bit of everything
Ivica Zubac, C, LAC, (37% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK
Nicolas Batum, SF/PF, LAC, (50% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB, FT%
Lou Williams, PG/SG, LAC, (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Marcus Morris, PF/C, LAC, (47% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, PTS
Dillon Brooks, SF/PF, MEM, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS - buyer beware: missed the previous two games due to a sore thigh
Kyle Anderson, SF/PF, MEM, (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL/BLK, REB, FG% - positive circumstance: he is starting while Jaren Jackson Jr. is out
Derrick Rose, PG/SG, NYK, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, PTS, FT%, STL
Elfrid Payton, PG, NYK, (38% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL - buyer beware: the addition of Derrick Rose has impacted his minutes negatively
Nerlens Noel, PF/C, NYK, (56% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - positive circumstance: is starting with Mitchell Robinson out with an injury
Immanuel Quickley, PG, NYK, (30% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT% - buyer beware: the addition of Derrick Rose has impacted his minutes negatively
Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, SAC, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK - positive circumstance: has been playing quite well and getting more minutes with Richaun Holmes out
Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, SAC, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG%
Shallower League Add
Nerlens Noel, PF/C, NYK, (56% Rostered)
Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Positive Circumstance: is starting with Mitchell Robinson out with an injury
Fantasy GMs have been waiting for the Stock monster Noel to get unleashed for quite some time now. And it finally happened! (unfortunately due to an injury to Mitch Robinson)
Now if you're looking at adding Noel, it's surely because of his big man stats, especially blocks and steals. This season so far, Noel is averaging just 4.0 points (no threes) on 56.4% from the field and just 54.5% from the line, 5.3 boards, 0.5 dimes, 0.9 steals, 1.9 blocks and 0.9 turnovers in less than 19 minutes per game. Yup, you read it right - LESS THAN NINETEEN!
And since Mitch went down, he is getting close to 30! In these three games he is averaging 7.3 PTS on 68.8 FG%, 5.3 REB, 1.0 AST, 1.3 STL, 1.7 BLK and 0.3 TO. Not as big a leap as his fantasy managers would have hoped, but it's a start.
It is pretty safe to assume that Noel will keep getting at least near 25 minutes a game going forward and around 3 blocks and steals combined with 6+ boards on decent FG% is something that should happen if history teaches us anything. With such a favorable schedule next week Noel really shouldn't be on any waiver wires, and with nice potential for the long term as well, he could easily stick around in your lineup after this week.
Deeper League Add
Robin Lopez, C, WAS, (4% Rostered)
Strong Cats: FG%, REB
Buyer Beware: in a three-way timeshare at the Center spot
First of all, I would like to point out that I wouldn't be suggesting Robin Lopez if he didn't have five games next week. But he is a consistent contributor, the only player on the Wizards that has yet to miss a single game this season, and has seen his minutes increase lately, despite being on the same roster as Moritz Wagner and Alex Len.
Actually, the Thomas Bryant injury has probably opened up enough space for Lopez to become fantasy relevant (at least in deeper leagues), and if we take a look at his stats from the past two weeks (10.1 PTS on 48.3 FG% and 71.4 FT%, 5.1 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.5 BLK and 1.5 TO in 24 minutes per outing) it becomes apparent that Robin could prove to be quite helpful for fantasy GMs next week.
If you're expecting a close matchup in boards and FG%, and could use some stocks and points, Robin's five games next week could come in quite handy.
Insanely Deep League Add
Raul Neto, PG, WAS, (1% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
Similar to Lopez, I don't think I would be talking about Neto here if it weren't for the five-game week. But hey, here we are!
Neto has struggled to find regular minutes and form so far in the NBA, both with Washington, and previously with Utah, but has found some consistency lately, especially with Ish Smith out. Neto has a steal in each of his previous six games and has played 20+ minutes in five of them.
Since returning from an injury of his own two weeks ago, Neto is averaging 7.6 points with 0.6 threes on 44.0% from the field and 92.3% from the charity stripe, 3.5 boards, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.1 blocks and 0.4 turnovers in 21 minutes a night over his last eight games. Nothing too flashy I must admit, but multiply these stats by five, and you get a pretty decent weekly contribution from a player who can be picked up in 99% of the leagues.
Furthermore, with two back-to-back sets during this upcoming week, I just can't see Russell Westbrook playing in all of the games, so rest for him could mean a big game from Neto as well.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Deni Avdija, SG/SF, WAS, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Robin Lopez, C, WAS, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB - buyer beware: in a three-way timeshare at the Center spot
Raul Neto, PG, WAS, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
Moritz Wagner, PF/C, WAS, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, 3PM - buyer beware: in a three-way timeshare at the Center spot
Alex Len, PF/C, WAS, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: in a three-way timeshare at the Center spot
Garrison Mathews, SG/SF, WAS, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, STL, 3PM
Maxi Kleber, PF/C, DAL, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, BLK, FT%
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF, DAL, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Jalen Brunson, PG/SG, DAL, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, PTS
Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, DAL, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK
Luke Kennard, SG/SF, LAC, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, AST - buyer beware: missed the previous two games (healthy DNP-CD) and should see fewer minutes with Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back
Reggie Jackson, PG/SG, LAC, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, AST - buyer beware: should see fewer minutes with Patrick Beverley, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back
Patrick Beverley, PG/SG, LAC, (14% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK, AST - buyer beware: recently returned from injury, could rest on back-to-back sets
Terance Mann, SF, LAC, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, AST - buyer beware: should see fewer minutes with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back
Tyus Jones, PG, MEM, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL
De'Anthony Melton, PG/SG, MEM, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, AST, STL
Xavier Tillman, PF, MEM, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, PTS
Desmond Bane, PG/SG, MEM, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
John Konchar, SG, MEM, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, AST, 3PM, STL - buyer beware: mostly gets garbage time
Grayson Allen, SG/SF, MEM, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Gorgui Dieng, PF/C, MEM, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK/STL
Justise Winslow, PF, MEM, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, REB, STL - buyer beware: just returned from a long injury
Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, NYK, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB
Obi Toppin, PF/C, NYK, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Alec Burks, PG/SG, NYK, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT% - buyer beware: the addition of Derrick Rose has impacted his minutes negatively
Taj Gibson, PF/C, NYK, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Cory Joseph, PG, SAC, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL
Nemanja Bjelica, PF/C, SAC, (14% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of everything - buyer beware: is getting inconsistent minutes
Good luck with your matchups next week, and I sincerely hope this helps you get a W!