RADIO
If you've got a player you could trim
As he contributes little to your team
Perhaps you could achieve the title dream
If you use that roster spot to stream
I hope my fantasy basketball advice is better than my poem! As always, I took a look at the NBA schedule for the week ahead to help out my fellow fantasy NBA fanatics get as many starting spots filled on their teams as possible.
Here are my thoughts on the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 9.
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 9
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ers
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors
Teams with 3 games:
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Lakers
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Teams with 2 games:
Dallas Mavericks
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 14
Tuesday: 14
Wednesday: 24
Thursday: 6
Friday: 20
Saturday: 14
Sunday: 16
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: BKN
Tuesday/Wednesday: BOS, DEN, DET, MIN, NOP, POR, SAS
Wednesday/Thursday: MIA
Thursday/Friday: MIL, TOR
Friday/Saturday: CHA, CHI, GSW, HOU, MEM, PHO
Saturday/Sunday: NYK, SAC
Sunday/Monday the following: OKC
Days with SIX or fewer games:
Thursday: 3 games
Teams playing on Thursday:
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sun)
Miami Heat (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Sacramento Kings (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sun)
Miami Heat (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Sacramento Kings (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (4 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Dallas Mavericks (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Orlando Magic (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sat)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Dallas Mavericks (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sun)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Portland Trail Blazers (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
San Antonio Spurs (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
Utah Jazz (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Washington Wizards (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 9
Once again - THURSDAY! Three games, six teams, and too many starting spots! These six teams are the Nets, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Kings and Raptors. Furthermore, all these teams play three more games in Week 9, apart from the Lakers who play just two more times, but both on 7-match days (which is the second-fewest next week after the three games on Thursday).
If you're looking to bank on a good start to the week, aiming for Brooklyn or Miami players is the way to go, as both teams have three games from Monday to Thursday. If you're looking to add someone with a strong finish, Milwaukee, Sacramento and Toronto all play three times from Thursday to Sunday. Wherever you look, it's all about these six teams in Week 9, so our focus will be fully on them.
Streaming Options for Week 9
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):
DeAndre Jordan, C, BKN, (63% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK - buyer beware: missed the previous game due to personal reasons and is not certain that he will return for the start of next week
Joe Harris, SG/SF, BKN, (72% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, FG%
Jeff Green, SF/PF/C, BKN, (25% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a fair bit of everything
Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, MIA, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Goran Dragic, PG/SG, MIA, (61% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST - buyer beware: sprained his ankle and has missed four straight games so be sure to check his status before adding him
Kendrick Nunn, PG/SG, MIA, (41% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, FT% - buyer beware: his minutes are very dependable on whether Goran Dragic is playing or not
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, MIA, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK
Donte Divincenzo, PG/SG, MIL, (63% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, REB
Bobby Portis, PF/C, MIL, (53% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, SAC, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK
Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, SAC, (56% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG%
Norman Powell, SG/SF, TOR, (75% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, a bit of everything
Kyle Kuzma, SF/PF, LAL, (39% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Shallower League Add
Norman Powell, SG/SF, TOR, (75% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, a bit of everything
After a poor start to the season, Powell has been on a tear lately with averages of 22.2 PTS with 2.8 3PM on 50.5 FG% and 95.7 FT%, 3.8 REB, 1.5 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.2 BLK and 1.3 TO in 33 minutes per game over the last two weeks (6 games). This has him way up at the #39 spot in Yahoo rankings.
He is helped out a bit currently by the absence of OG Anunoby, which has Norm starting. But he plays pretty much the same minutes even with OG healthy, so I don't think OG's return will impact him much. And even though it is not certain Norman can keep up this sort of production long term, he was putting up similar numbers on average last season as well so he is a useful contributor across the board.
If you are in a shallow enough league to have Powell available, with Toronto's favorable schedule next week he is one of the hottest streaming targets out there!
Deeper League Add
Jeff Green, SF/PF/C, BKN, (25% Rostered)
Strong Cats: a fair bit of everything
The James Harden trade has opened up a lot of minutes for Green, and he has been using them pretty well. Since the trade Green is putting up 12.0 points with 1.9 threes on 46.7% from the field and 84.4% from the line, 4.5 boards, 1.5 dimes, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.1 turnovers in 31 minutes per game. This is enough for top 120 value over the course of the previous 30 days.
The veteran is playing plenty of minutes and filling up holes wherever needed, which landed him SF/PF/C eligibility on Yahoo, which makes him even more useful on those busy days. But his game on Thursday is what you're probably really taking him for.
An all-around contribution will help any fantasy GM, especially those with a balanced team or in a rotisserie format. And with a four-game week and the help he provides on the scarce Thursday, it's a great time to turn to Jeff for help.
Insanely Deep League Add
Bryn Forbes, PG/SG, MIL, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats:
Strong Cats: 3PM
Positive Circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Jrue Holiday out due to health and safety protocols
Buyer beware: only keep reading if you are looking to add some threes to your tally for next week!
Bryn is a three-point specialist. And that's pretty much it. He has the potential to win you the 3PM category almost by himself (his 3.8 three-pointers per game over the course of the previous week testify to that), and if his shot is falling he will help out with points as well. He is decent from the charity stripe too, but he is fouled so rarely (17 free throws in 26 games) that it almost has no impact whatsoever.
He could get you a board, assist or steal here and there, but don't expect too much in these departments on a regular basis. But when you have a guy who hits 2.0 threes over a course of a season so far in just 17 minutes a game available in 91% of Yahoo leagues, you can't really hope for too much can you?
That being said, if you believe your matchup next week will be decided by a couple of three-pointers, with such a favorable schedule, Bryn could help you out a lot, without hurting you anywhere.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Landry Shamet, PG/SG, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, SG/SF, BKN (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Bruce Brown, SG, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a little bit of everything
Precious Achiuwa, SF/PF, MIA, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL, FG% - buyer beware: very low minutes lately
Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, MIA, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB
Max Strus, SG, MIA, 0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS - buyer beware: had a few high scoring games but is far from a sure thing
Bryn Forbes, PG/SG, MIL, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM - positive circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Jrue Holiday out due to health and safety protocols
D.J. Augustin, PG, MIL, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST - positive circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Jrue Holiday out due to health and safety protocols
Pat Connaughton, SG/SF, MIL, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, FT%, STL - positive circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Jrue Holiday out due to health and safety protocols
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, SAC, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a bit of everything - buyer beware: was out of the rotation completely, but got 28 minutes with Bagley out last game and did very well
Cory Joseph, PG, SAC, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL - positive circumstance: could see increased minutes in the off case that De'Aaron Fox' injury is more serious than currently expected
Aron Baynes, C, TOR, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB
Terence Davis, SG/SF, TOR, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT% - buyer beware: when OG Anunoby returns it will hurt his value
DeAndre' Bembry, SF/PF, TOR, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL - buyer beware: when OG Anunoby returns it will hurt his value
Marc Gasol, C, LAL, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PG/SG, LAL, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF, LAL, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Wesley Matthews, SG/SF, LAL, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Alex Caruso, PG/SG, LAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL
Markieff Morris, PF/C, LAL, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB
Here's to winning your next week's matchup and getting one step closer to the title!
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