RADIO
It's the playoffs! It's now win or go home. You have to cut bait with anyone injured or struggling and max out the production of your roster with key category streamers. That's where I come in!
This column is posted weekly as part of RotoBaller's regular season NBA coverage for the 2015-16 NBA season. It will focus on available players who could win you your H2H matchup in specific categories.
Last thing, we’ll usually only focus on one player per category, but list other available options underneath. Certain guys might be listed in more than one category, so if you need help in both, be sure to make those players a priority.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Waiver Wire: Week 20 Category Streamers
Weekend of 3/18, 3/19 & 3/20
Teams with 2 games: BOS, CLE, DAL, DET, GSW, HOU, LAC, NOP, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA
Teams with 1 game: ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, DEN, IND, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, PHO, SAS, WSH
Points
Gary Harris (SG, DEN)
Owned in 48% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, March 19 @ Charlotte
ANALYSIS: Harris’ stock is soaring in fantasy circles, up from 22% when I wrote a waiver-wire piece on him at the conclusion of February. This quick rise is due to his effective play at both ends of the floor, but primarily his knack for scoring the basketball. Harris is averaging 16.8 ppg in the month of March (8 total games) and has scored in double-digits in each of those contests. The knock on him for the weekend is that he only has one game on tap, but he is as consistent a scoring option as there is on the waiver-wire and is a safe bet for 15-20 points. For those in position to advance into the playoffs or if your leagues playoffs started already, Harris could be an incredibly useful depth piece on the march to a title.
Other alternatives: Lance Stephenson has found his value since a deadline trade to Memphis, where injuries have really taken their toll. He was banged up earlier in the week, but has two games this weekend and has averaged 25 ppg in his last two. Heat swingman Josh Richardson has emerged as a potential diamond in the rough (second-round pick in 2015), and has really upped his scoring in his last four games, averaging 15 ppg. Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless has been a good, but somewhat inconsistent scoring option since returning from injury two weeks ago. D.J. Augustin has become an asset since coming over to the Nuggets at the deadline (over 12 ppg), and has really made an impression on his new coaches who continue to play him steady minutes. The Bulls E'Twuan Moore is averaging right around 15 ppg in his previous four games.
Rebounds
David Lee (PF/C, DAL)
Owned in 58% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 18 vs. Golden State & Sunday, March 20 vs. Portland
ANALYSIS: His ownership level technically does not categorize him as a waiver-wire add, but I am surprised it’s not higher. The former All-Star forward has played real well since clearing waivers and joining the Mavericks in late February. In 10 games with the Mavs, Lee has averaged 8.1 rpg; pretty impressive despite never playing 30 minutes in any of those contests. If you are in one of the 42% of leagues where Lee is not owned, rush to add him for his useful rebounding numbers in his two games this weekend, and perhaps for the remainder of the playoffs.
Other alternatives: JaMychal Green, Meyers Leonard, Taj Gibson, P.J. Tucker.
Assists
Shelvin Mack (PG, UTA)
Owned in 26% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, March 19 @ Chicago & Sunday, March 20 @ Milwaukee
ANALYSIS: Mack was acquired by the Jazz at the trade deadline and immediately saw a significant uptick in ownership levels. Effective point guards are difficult to find this late in the season, and Mack was poised to assume that role for Utah. He struggled out of the gate, particular in the assists category, and fantasy owners jumped ship. He has gotten it going of late, however, averaging 7.5 apg over his previous four games while playing 30 or more minutes in three of those contests. Mack’s stock is back on the rise, and at 26%, he is potentially a huge addition to end this weekend and for the playoffs.
Other alternatives: The Pelicans have had injuries to their backcourt all season long, but the currently injured Norris Cole was dishing out dimes at an effective rate prior to missing time. If he can return by the weekend, he can be a solid play for assists. His teammate, Toney Douglas, has filled in admirably for him, and also remains a solid plug-and-play for those chasing assists. Believe it or not, Knicks point guard Jose Calderon has been a useful source of assists over the past week of action (8.3 apg in his previous three) and continues to inexplicably see heavy usage (around 36 mpg in those contests). The Nets Donald Sloan remains a deeper-league option as he continues to see starters minutes despite having bench talent.
Steals
Tony Allen (SG/SF, MEM)
Owned in 50% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, March 19 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
ANALYSIS: Allen has been awesome since returning from injury last week, averaging 3.2 spg in five games, all of which were multi-steal performances. He has always been top-notch in the steals department, and though he only has one game this weekend, he is as safe as anyone to rack up a couple of thefts. Add in the fact that the Grizzlies are extremely short-handed right now due to injuries, and Allen will see plenty of time on the floor to contribute.
Other alternatives: Corey Brewer of the Rockets, like Allen, is generally a one-trick pony when it comes to fantasy basketball, and is always a safe candidate for steals. His teammate, Patrick Beverley is known for his defensive prowess and he too is a safe play for steals. Heat rookie small forward Justise Winslow is playing real well for Miami of late, particularly on defense where he has amassed 8 total steals in his prevous three contests. Allen’s Grizzlies teammates, Briante Weber and Ray McCallum, have filled in decently for the injured Mike Conley, providing games with multiple steals each. The Nuggets Gary Harris, mentioned above, has done more than just score, he has been racking up steals as well (6 total in his last two games).
Blocks
Bismack Biyombo (C, TOR)
Owned in 21% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 18 vs. Boston & Sunday, March 20 vs. Orlando
ANALYSIS: Following an injury earlier in the season to starting center Jonas Valanciunas, Biyombo became a borderline must-own player for his ability to rebound and block multiple shots in a given night. Despite Valanciunas’ return, Biyombo is becoming a valuable fantasy asset for his blocks once again. Despite seeing limited action on the court, Biyombo has managed to block multiple shots in an incredible seven of eight games, including Monday night where he swatted away 6 Bulls field goal attempts. Biyombo is a sure bet this weekend in two games to continue his multi-block streak.
Other alternatives: Sixers forward Jerami Grant is currently nursing a concussion, but if he is able to return by the weekend, a two-game slate is sure to provide owners with a myriad of blocks. Taj Gibson of the Bulls has averaged 1.2 bpg in his last five games and continues to get heavy usage. Keep an eye on how the Bucks bring back forward John Henson, a blocked shots specialist who returned to the lineup Tuesday after a 20-game absence. In deeper leagues, Pistons center Aron Baynes has blocked 9 shots in his previous four games, despite limited playing time.
Three Pointers
Isaiah Canaan (PG, PHI)
Owned in 16% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 18 vs. Oklahoma City & Sunday, March 20 vs. Boston
ANALYSIS: Canaan has had a strange season, losing playing time to guys like Ish Smith, T.J. McConnell, Tony Wroten, and Kendall Marshall at various times throughout the season. Canaan has weathered those “storms”, but appears to be the one constant all season long in the Sixers backcourt. Canaan has unleashed a fury of threes this month, averaging 3.0 in seven March contests. Perhaps most impressive, in games Canaan has connected on a three-ball this month, he has registered at least four in those games. With two games this weekend for Philly, Canaan’s three-point total could be quite high.
Other alternatives: Mirza Teletovic of the Suns has been as good as anybody in the NBA over the past few weeks from downtown, but only has one game this weekend. Josh Richardson, as mentioned above, is on a scoring tear of late, and is filling it up from downtown (12 over his last four games). Bulls forward Doug McDermott has taken a significant step forward in his sophomore campaign, currently averaging 1.4 3PM on the season. The Nuggets’ Darrell Arthur can help to diversify lineups this weekend as a guy who can knock down multiple threes from the PF/C position. With Robert Convington still in concussion protocol as of Wednesday, Sixers swingman Hollis Thompson will continue to assume a heavy workload where he is converting on 2.0 3PM per game this month.
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