RADIO
The new season is well underway, and I hope that you've opened it with two wins so far!
In case you're not satisfied with how some of your end-of-bench guys are doing, you might just get more out of that spot by streaming available players who have some strengths that you're looking for and who play on days that you need help on.
As always, we're looking ahead at the NBA schedule for next week and pointing out a few options that can help you out. Here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 3.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 3
Two scarcest days next week are Tuesday and Sunday with five games apiece, closely followed by Thursday with six games played. These are the days that will be our focus today.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
New York Knicks
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Teams with 3 games:
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder
Phoenix Suns
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 18
Tuesday: 10
Wednesday: 22
Thursday: 10
Friday: 18
Saturday: 12
Sunday: 16
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: -
Tuesday/Wednesday: DAL, NOP, SAC
Wednesday/Thursday: ATL, BOS, PHI
Thursday/Friday: DET
Friday/Saturday: POR
Saturday/Sunday: HOU, UTA
Sunday/Monday the following: BKN, CHA, GSW, NYK, SAC
Days with six or fewer games
Tuesday: 5 games
Thursday: 5 games
Saturday: 6 games
Teams playing on all three days:
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Teams playing on Tue/Thurs:
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Detroit Pistons (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri)
Teams playing on Tue/Sat:
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Dallas Mavericks (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)
Team playing on Thurs/Sun:
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Boston Celtics (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Boston Celtics (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)
Houston Rockets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Milwaukee Bucks (3 games - Tues, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Chicago Bulls (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Dallas Mavericks (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
Denver Nuggets (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Memphis Grizzlies (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
New Orleans Pelicans (3 games - Tue, Wed, Fri)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 3
Tuesday and Thursday (five games played on both) are the hardest days to field a decent team, followed by Saturday (six games).
Houston, Utah (four games this week), LA Lakers, Miami and Phoenix (three games) are the only teams playing on all three of these scarce days so their players will be our primary targets for the week.
There are five other teams that play two games on these three scarcest days:
- Tuesday and Thursday - Detroit (three games)
- Tuesday and Saturday - Dallas (three games) and
- Thursday and Saturday - Atlanta, Boston and Philadelphia (all with four games)
Players from these teams can prove helpful as well.
Streaming Options for Week 3
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):
Joe Ingles, SG/SF, UTA, (56% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Royce O'Neale, SF/PF, UTA, (25% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, UTA, (34% Rostered) - Strong Cats: BLK, FG%, REB
Jae'Sean Tate, SF/PF, HOU, (58% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Alperen Sengun, C, HOU, (51% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Carmelo Anthony, SG/SF, LAL, (55% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of REB, FT%
Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, MIA, (60% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of REB, FT%
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG, PHI, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, AST, FT%
Seth Curry, PG/SG, PHI, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, FT%
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, DAL, (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, STL
Jalen Brunson, PG/SG, DAL, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, REB
Cam Reddish, SG/SF, ATL, (53% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, STL
De'Andre Hunter, SF/PF, ATL, (58% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Dennis Schroder, PG, BOS, (73% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, REB
Shallower League Add
Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, MIA, (60% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of REB, FT%
I really like Duncan Robinson. He is a pure shooter and a hard worker. However, he is struggling with his shot a bit this season, and this hurts his value quite a bit, considering that most of it relies on him hitting threes.
So far this season Duncan is averaging 10.5 PTS with 2.8 3PM on 36.1 FG% and 66.7 FT%, 4.8 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.3 BLK and 1.0 TO in almost 29 minutes a game over the first six games of the season. That FG% is well below last season's 43.9% and as a result, his threes are also down from 3.5 a night. Of course, Duncan is a first-class shooter and when he finds his groove he will burn his opponents with that long-range rifle.
With three games on all the scarce days next week, it could prove quite useful if you pointed Duncan's rifle in your rival's direction if you're expecting a close battle on the three-point front.
Deeper League Add
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (36% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Thybulle is notorious for his cut-throat defense and exactly that is what got him onto this list today. He had four steals and three blocks in 23 minutes last night against the Hawks and is averaging 2.3 steals and 1.5 blocks in 22 minutes a night over the first six games of the season. Last season he had 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in just under 20 minutes.
If this is enough for you to take him, run to the wire now! If it's not, better stay away.
He might hit a three-pointer during the game. On the other hand, he may not.
He may turn the ball over once or twice. Or he may not.
He is capable of grabbing some boards. Although he hasn't recorded more than four so far this season.
To sum it up - if you think it will be a close call in the steals and blocks department and you don't much care about other categories, Thybulle will be a big help. If that's not the case you're better off looking elsewhere.
Insanely Deep League Add
Elfrid Payton, PG, PHO, (4% Rostered)
Strong Cats: AST, a bit of PTS, REB, STL
Once a borderline top-50 fantasy player and one of my favorite mid/late-round targets in a punt FT% build, Elfrid has been on a rollercoaster ride throughout his career. At the moment he is a backup to the backup PG in a title contender which doesn't offer too much potential at first glance. And in the long run, I don't think he has a big chance of contributing anything worth mentioning to fantasy managers. But for the next week only, he just might surprise us!
With Phoenix's backup PG Cameron Payne injured, Elfrid has been given a bigger chance and played 25, 13 and 11 minutes in the previous three games. He did okay and scored in double-digits (14 and 10 points) in the first two games, but then fell off a cliff in the last game posting only three rebounds as positive stats along with a turnover and 0-of-2 shooting both from the field and at the charity stripe.
Now most of us would be reluctant to add him after such a dud, and so I am, to be honest. But Payton is the type of player who doesn't need to be in spectacular form to be able to contribute. He can dish out 5+ dimes anytime he hits the court for over 20 minutes, and he averaged over a steal per game in each of his seasons where he averaged over 25 minutes per outing so he is a defensive threat as well. Furthermore, if his shot isn't falling, he will rarely force it, but rather look for his teammates or try to run the floor. This trait comes in handy for us who are concerned with percentages - Elfrid won't hurt us there too much.
So, if you need some dimes and steals and have a soft spot for a guy who's come so close to being a fantasy beast so many times over the last 7+ years, Payton might just repay your belief in him with some decent production.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Eric Paschall, PF/C, UTA, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: not much really...
Daniel Theis, PF/C, HOU, (24% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, BLK, FG%
Eric Gordon, SG/SF, HOU, (19% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, FT%
Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, LAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of REB
Rajon Rondo, PG, LAL, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, a bit of STL
Dwight Howard, PF/C, LAL, (14% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG%
DeAndre Jordan, PF/C, LAL, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG%
Malik Monk, PG/SG, LAL, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, PTS
Dewayne Dedmon, C, MIA, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB
Markieff Morris, PF/C, MIA, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: nothing special really...
P.J. Tucker, PF/C, MIA, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, a whole lot of minutes, not so many stats
Jae Crowder, SG/SF, PHO, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, AST, PTS, REB
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF, PHO, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Landry Shamet, PG/SG, PHO, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Elfrid Payton, PG, PHO, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, a bit of PTS, REB, STL
Danny Green, SG/SF, PHI, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL/BLK
Shake Milton, PG/SG, PHI, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Furkan Korkmaz, SG/SF, PHI, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Georges Niang, SG/SF, PHI, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Killian Hayes, PG/SG, DET, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB, but poor %s
Cory Joseph, PG, DET, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, FT%
Josh Jackson, SG/SF, DET, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of REB
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF, DAL, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, 3PM
Maxi Kleber, SF/PF, DAL, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, BLK
Dwight Powell, PF/C, DAL, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL
Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, DAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Kevin Huerter, SG/SF, ATL, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, AST
Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, ATL, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Hope you guys enjoyed the article and the advice, and I hope that this will help you win your matchups next week and bragging rights for the week after.
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