One of the most important things to remember as the NBA season moves along is we have to constantly question our assumptions an evaluations of teams, especially as it concerns the schedule. The Dallas Mavericks looked like one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA a couple of weeks ago, but they have been more than respectable since then. The same is true of the Lakers. Keep that in mind as we take a look at the week ahead for all 30 NBA teams.
Atlanta Hawks (CLE, @BKN):Atlanta gets four days off before hosting Cleveland, and the Hawks scored 117 in a win over the Cavs at the beginning of the month. Cleveland still has the worst defensive rating in the NBA, while the Nets are 26th. This is about as good as it gets for a two-game schedule. John Collins has scored at least 12 points in six consecutive games, and he is probably a must-start this week despite only getting two games.
Boston Celtics (DET, PHI, PHO): Marcus Smart was shooting .213 from the field over the last two weeks before going 7-8 against Indiana Saturday. If he is even just an okay shooter going forward, the Celtics are really dangerous. No team has allowed more points than the Suns this season, while Philadelphia ranks 23rd. That makes up for a touch matchup against Detriot.
Brooklyn Nets (@HOU, @DAL, ATL): Allen Crabbe has scored at least 12 points in five consecutive games, averaging 13.8 field goal attempts over that span. I think teams could probably take away Crabbe if they ever felt the need to, but he is involved enough that he should remain useful for fantasy even if his efficiency Is subpar. I would certainly rather own Crabbe and Spencer Dinwiddie ahead of teammates Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Joe Harris, Caris LeVert and DeMarre Carroll.
Charlotte Hornets (@TOR, @MIA): The Hornets have a few players who are useful for fantasy given the right circumstances, but a schedule with just two games, both on the road, hardly qualify as the right circumstances. Jeremy Lamb may have to miss time with a right hamstring strain, which would open up playing time for Nicolas Batum and Malik Monk. Beyond that, you are playing Kemba Walker maybe Dwight Howard, but that is it.
Chicago Bulls (PHO, @DEN, SAC): If the Bulls had even an average head coach, they would explore putting Lauri Markkanen in big-big pick-and-rolls. Markkanen has just 10 possessions as the pick-and-roll ball handler this season, and is averaging 1.00 points per possession. Considering the Bulls are dead last in offensive efficiency this season and their ball handlers are averaging just 0.74 points per possession on the pick-and-roll, they may want to give Markkanen some more pick-and-roll reps sooner than later. Only the Mavericks are allowing more points per possession to pick-and-roll ball handlers than the Kings and Suns.
Cleveland Cavaliers (@PHI, MIA, @ATL, Mem): Just when it is looking like Dwayne Wade, Jae Crowder and Kyle Korver are playable in most formats, Iman Shumpert returns to potentially cut into their minutes. At the very least this team bears watching despite an utterly unremarkable schedule.
Dallas Mavericks (@SA, BKN, LAC): Dirk Nowitzki has scored at least 12 points in three consecutive games and five of his last six., with at least five rebounds in each. The doesn’t match up particularly well with the Clippers, but he should see plenty of minutes in the other matchups. If Wesley Matthews can ever start knocking down shots, he could be useful for fantasy as well.
Denver Nuggets (@UTA, CHI, LAL): The Lakers and Bulls are 20th and 23rd in points allowed this season, which helps make up for a road game against the Jazz. Denver has been splitting Paul Millsap’s minutes between Mason Plumlee, Kenneth Faried, Juan Hernangomez and Trey Lyles, and while that will likely continue for the next couple of months, fantasy owners should keep an eye out in case someone emerges. The Nuggets have a 107.2 defensive rating when Millsap is off the court, and they could struggle defensively going forward.
Detroit Pistons (@BOS, PHO, @WAS, @PHI): The easy matchup is at home and the tough ones are on the road, which is the opposite of what you are looking for as a fantasy player. Stanley Johnson is showing signs of being a reliable fantasy play, but I want to see him produce consistently this week before I consider adding him outside of very deep leagues.
Golden State Warriors (SAC, @LAL, @ORL, @MIA): Kevin Durant has missed three of the Warriors’ last four games, but Golden State has won every game he has missed this season. Meanwhile, Durant has scored at least 21 points in each of his last eight games, and missing time hasn’t affected his performance when he is able to play. Omri Casspi has played at least 20 minutes in every game Durant has missed, and he has started the last three. He and Andre Iguodala are both borderline fantasy options when Durant sits. Golden State has a day off between every game this week, but they may still elect to rest Durant or others at some point.
Houston Rockets (BKN, IND, @LAL): The Rockets’ opponents this week rank 29th, 21st and 20th respectively in points allowed per game this season. This could be a good week to start Ryan Anderson, especially since none of Houston’s opponents have anyone who can play Anderson off the floor on the defensive end.
Indiana Pacers (ORL, @HOU, @TOR): Victor Oladipo sat Saturday against Boston, and Lance Stephenson started in his place. Stephenson is always erratic, but somebody has to take shots in Oladipo’s place, and Stephenson has some fantasy value in that role. He could very well be matched up with James Harden and DeMar DeRozan this week, which would make him even more valuable.
Los Angeles Clippers (LAL, UTA, @DAL, @MIN): The Lakers and Mavs are better defensively than they looked to start the season, but Minnesota isn’t. Of course, even when they have a favorable schedule, the Clippers aren’t really capable of taking advantage. Austin Rivers will almost certainly disappoint despite getting a ton of minutes, though I wouldn’t blame anyone who stuck him in their lineup this week.
Los Angeles Lakers (@LAC, GS, @DEN, HOU): Julius Randle is averaging 29.7 minutes, 16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game over the last week, just in time for Larry Nance Jr. to return and steal his minutes. The Lakers are fine for fantasy, but frustratingly inconsistent. This is a reasonably good schedule, but as soon as it gets harder, I would look to sell my Lakers.
Memphis Grizzlies (@SA, SA, @CLE):Don’t look now, but JaMychal Green is averaging 12.6 points and 5.2 rebounds on 65.8 percent shooting since returning from the ankle injury he suffered in the season opener. His value may take a hit when Brandan Wright returns, but Green looks like a solid fantasy play, at least once we get past the two matchups against San Antonio.
Miami Heat (@CLE, @NY, CHA, GS): None of these matchups are scary, and the matchup at Cleveland is great, but it is negated a bit by playing at the Knicks the next night. Hassan Whiteside is questionable Sunday, and if he misses any games, it would be nice to see Kelly Olynyk actually get a start. Even if he doesn’t start, he would be playable with Whiteside out.
Milwaukee Bucks (@SAC, @POR, SAC): Thon Maker had 16 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes against the Suns Wednesday, and while it is right to be skeptical about any numbers against Phoenix, it was nice to see Maker get a lot more minutes and shots with John Henson (and Giannis Antetokounmpo) out. Henson probably isn’t in danger of losing much playing time in the short term, but Maker would be playable in most formats if Henson misses more time. Only the Nets have been blocked more times than the Trail Blazers, and the Kings are allowing 46.2 rebounds per game, so this is a nice schedule for Henson and his teammates.
Minnesota Timberwolves (WAS, @NO, @OKC, LAC): After hosting Washington Tuesday the Timberwolves travel more than 1000 miles to face the Pelicans the next night. New Orleans is the only opponent on this week’s schedule that ranks worse than 17th in opponents’ points this season. This might be a good week to bench (or drop) Taj Gibson.
New Orleans Pelicans (MIN, @UTA, @POR): As far as the schedule goes, it doesn’t get much worse than back-to-backs at Utah and Portland. Jrue Holiday has played well enough of late that you are probably playing him regardless, but there is no reason to consider Darius Miller, E’Twaun Moore or Rajon Rondo except in the best matchups.
New York Knicks (POR, MIA, ORL):Kristaps Porzingis and EnesKanter are both dealing with back injuries, and as a result, Michael Beasley led the Knicks in with 23 shot attempts Saturday. Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kyle O’Quinn are all interesting with Porzingis and Kanter out, though the Knicks could struggle without two of their three leading scorers.
Oklahoma City Thunder (@ORL, MIN, SA):No team has used more possessions on isolation plays than the Thunder this season, and that could serve them pretty well this week. Minnesota is one of six teams to allow more than a point per possession on isolation this season, while Orlando just misses that mark at 0.98 PPP. San Antonio, perhaps a bit surprisingly, is in the middle of the pack at 0.89 PPP. Orlando and Minnesota also rank 26th and 25th in opponent assists per game, so perhaps the Thunder will move the ball a bit more this week as well.
Orlando Magic (@IND, OKC, GS, @NY):The Warriors haven’t allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent from the field in a single game this season. They rank first in opponents’ field goal percentage, with the Thunder sixth and the Knicks seventh. The Magic rank 11th in field goal percentage this season, but they will almost certainly drop by the end of the week.
Philadelphia 76ers (CLE, WAS, @BOS, DET): Philadelphia’s starting lineup has a 116.0 offensive rating in 126 minutes this season. All five of them probably need to be owned at this point, even in tough matchups like on the road at Boston.
Phoenix Suns (@CHI, @DET, @BOS): Phoenix has a road back-to-back in which they lose an hour, and then they play the stingiest defense in the NBA, again on the road. You are only using Devin Booker and TJ Warren most of the time anyway, but that is especially the case this week.
Portland Trailblazers (@NY, MIL, NO): No team has allowed a higher percentage of shots at the rim than the Bucks this season, and the Knicks are also in the top 10. The Pelicans, meanwhile, have allowed the third-highest field goal percentage at the rim. Portland is last in the NBA in field goal percentage at the rim, but things could improve for their big three this week.
San Antonio Spurs (DAL, MEM, @MEM, @OKC): It probably isn’t the case, but it feels likethe Spurs get a home-and-home against Memphis every single year. There probably won’t be a whole lot of scoring in those games, or at the Thunder. Pau Gasol has been far more consistent of late, I don’t know how you can play anyone but LaMarcusAldrige with any degree of confidence this week. Tony Parker’s return on Monday should help the Spurs, but not fantasy players.
Sacramento Kings (@GS, MIL, @CHI, @MIL): Playing four games in a week usually isn’t a bad thing, except maybe when they come in the form of two back-to-backs. The only saving grace is Sacramento gets two days off in between. The Kings do not have anyone averaging more than 26.1 minutes per game over the last two weeks, and until that changes or the schedule improves dramatically, you are better off ignoring this team outside of deep leagues.
Toronto Raptors (CHA, IND): Unless you really need blocks, it is probably time to drop Serge Ibaka. Even then, I think I would rather own John Henson. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are the only Raptors averaging more than 27 minutes per game this season, and they are the only Raptors you need to roster. That is especially true in a week with just two games, even if they are both solid matchups for fantasy.
Utah Jazz (DEN, @LAC, NO): Derrick Favors is still inconsistent, but he has likely earned himself some money with his play with Rudy Gobert out. Favoris is averaging 14.6 points per game on 53.6 percent shooting along with 8.1 rebounds per game over the past two weeks. Favors could feast on Nikola Jokic, but he will likely have a much harder time against the Clippers and Pelicans’ bigs. Those teams are much more vulnerable on the perimeter, which bodes well for Rodney Hood, Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio.
Washington Wizards (@MIN, @PHI, DET): While they will probably be better for it in the long run, this is not a great time to lose John Wall for two weeks. Washington’s depth is an issue anyway, and a road back-to-back in which they lose an hour is a bad way to start the week. Tim Frazier has gotten most of the point guard minutes when Wall has sat, but he doesn’t contribute much for fantasy. The rest of Washington’s starters should get more looks with Wall out, but they will likely be less efficient.