Only three teams play fewer than three games this week, so it is even more important than usual to try to avoid those teams. Other than that, it is hard to find too many schedules to feel very strongly about one way or another. That being said, there are some subtle, yet important, differences in schedule to consider, and that is why we do our weekly deep dive into the upcoming schedule for all 30 NBA teams.

 

Atlanta Hawks (@CLE, DET, @MEM): Atlanta ends a stretch of five games in seven days with a back-to-back against Detroit and Memphis. The Cavaliers have allowed the fourth fewest points in the NBA over the last 10 games, while Memphis and Detroit rank sixth an eighth in points allowed for the season. Dennis Schroder is the only Hawk who should be owned this week.

Boston Celtics (@CHI, DEN, UTA, @MEM): Boston plays at Chicago Monday after playing at Detroit Sunday, and then they end the week with a tough back-to-back against Utah and Memphis. I don’t see how you can get away from Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown this week, but you can safely drop Marcus Morris or Marcus Smart.

Brooklyn Nets (WAS, NY, @TOR, IND): I love the Jahlil Okafor trade for the Brooklyn. They have gotten production out of DeMarre Carroll, Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris after getting each from the scrap heap, and they have a chance to do the same with Okafor. That being said, it is probably too early to add Okafor in shallow leagues. Okafor is unlikely to play 30+ minutes right off the bat, and there is no reason to think he is good enough right now to be useful for fantasy in fewer minutes. The Schedule doesn’t  help much either, as the Knicks and Raptors rank first and fourth in opponent’s rebounds this season.

Charlotte Hornets (@OKC, @HOU, MIA, POR): In the four games he has played with Cody Zeller out this season, Frank Kaminsky has averaged 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. Zeller is out indefinitely with a torn medial meniscus in his left knee, and Kaminsky will be worth playing whenever he returns from his sprained ankle. That being said, it might be better for Kaminsky if he returns next week, as the Thunder, Trail Blazers and Rockets rank second, third and fifth in defensive efficiency this season.

Chicago Bulls (BOS, UTA, @MIL): Nikola Mirotic made his season debut Friday, and both he and Bobby Portis are unownable until further notice. Similarly, Zach Lavine is likely out until January, and if you had stashed him anticipating a mid-December return, he is safe to drop as well. Kris Dunn, Justin Holiday, Lauri Markkanen and Robin Lopez have all been solid for fantasy of late, but that may end this week. Their opponents rank second, fourth and 12th in opponent’s points this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers (ATL, LAL, UTA, @WAS): What is there to say about the Cavs that hasn’t already been said? Only LeBron could lead a team with Jeff Green and JR Smith playing significant roles to a 10-game winning streak. I still think they will lose playing time to Jae Crowder eventually, but Crowder should be dropped until then.

Dallas Mavericks (SA, @GS, SA): The Warriors rank third in the NBA in defensive rating, and the Spurs are fourth. You probably aren’t benching Harrison Barnes this week, but it is worth considering, and nobody else on this team needs to be rostered right now.

Denver Nuggets (@DET, @BOS, NO): It was originally thought Jokic would return at some point in Denver’s six-game road trip, but time is running out, as it ends with a back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday.

Detroit Pistons (DEN, @ATL, @IND, ORL): All four of Detroit’s opponents this week are in the top 10 in points allowed per game this season. I would try to avoid the temptation to pick up Stanley Johnson, but you are obviously starting all of the Pistons’ other starters this week.

Golden State Warriors (POR, DAL): The problem with the Warriors for fantasy is even when one of their stars suffer an injury, no one person gets enough of the leftover minutes or shots to be particularly useful for fantasy. With just two games on the slate, there is no reason to mess around with guys like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston or Quinn Cook.

Houston Rockets (NO, CHA, SA, MIL): We may as well give Eric Gordon the Sixth Man of the Year award right now. He is first in the NBA in defensive win shares per game and has a 115.0 offensive rating despite not shooting particularly well to this point. He might actually be a buy-low candidate, especially considering Houston doesn’t travel and has only one back-to-back to end the week.

Indiana Pacers (OKC, DET, @BKN): I like the last matchup quite a bit, especially if Jahlil Okafor plays heavy minutes, but it will be a long week until then. Darren Collison could miss time with a knee injury, and both Cory Joseph and Lance Stephenson would likely be playable if Collison is out.

Los Angeles Clippers (TOR, @ORL, @WAS, @MIA):Now that Danilo Gallinari is back, it may be time to drop Austin Rivers, who hasn’t been that good for fantasy despite getting a ton of minutes and shots. Rivers will certainly be droppable once Milos Teodosic returns. Teodosic is interesting for fantasy, but I think I want to see him first before I put him in my lineup.

Los Angeles Lakers (@NY, @CLE): For two weeks in a row the Lakers play just two games and they are both on the road. If you held onto your Lakers this week you may as well next week, but Brandon Ingram is the only guy I would say you have to roster. Ingram has scored at least 18 points in five consecutive games after scoring 17 or fewer in the previous five.

Memphis Grizzlies (MIA, @WAS, ATL, BOS):Over the last two weeks, here are the Grizzlies’ leaders in minutes played: Marc Gasol, Tyreke Hill, JaMychal Green, Dillon Brooks, Andrew Harrison, James Ennis III and Ben McLemore. Explain to be again how David Fizdale was to blame for Memphis’s struggles. Things aren’t likely getting any better this week, though you are obviously still playing Gasol and Evans if you have them.

Miami Heat (@MEM, POR, @CHA, LAC):The only real good news about this schedule, aside from playing four games, is Charlotte is extremely banged up right now. That matchup looks a lot different if Jeremy Lamb, Nicolas Batum and Frank Kaminsky are healthy. Speaking of health, Hassan Whiteside will not return until Wednesday against Portland at the earliest. Kelly Olynyk is averaging 10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists over the last week, and he is playable for as long as Whiteside is out.

Milwaukee Bucks (@NO, CHI, @HOU): Malcom Brogdon scored at least 14 points in both games with Tony Snell out over the weekend, bringing his streak of double-digit scoring games to six. Brogdon needs to be owned at least until Snell returns, even if the schedule doesn’t do him any favors this week.

Minnesota Timberwolves (PHI, SAC, PHO):When Jimmy Butler of all people is talking about his minutes adding up, it is time to listen. Of course, Tom Thibodeau won’t listen, but fantasy players should. If you can get full value in a trade for any of the Minnesota starters, that is probably a good idea. For this week, though, Minnesota should be fairly well-rested despite the heavy minutes. The Timberwolves are in the middle of a five-game home stand and they get a day off between each game.

New Orleans Pelicans (@HOU, MIL, @DEN):I would like the Houston matchup better if it didn’t come on a back-to-back, but the other matchups are fine. Rajon Rondo has at least 10 points, five rebounds and seven assists in four straight games, and while I still believe the Pelicans are better off without him, he definitely belongs on your fantasy team.

New York Knicks (LAL, @BKN, OKC):Even though the Knicks only have two home games this week, they don’t have any travel and they get a day off between each. That isn’t enough to make me want to play Kyle O’Quinn or Michael Beasley, but it is good news for Enes Kanter, Courtney Lee and Kristaps Porzingis.

Oklahoma City Thunder (CHA, @IND, @PHI, @NY): It is hard to believe the Knicks are allowed the fewest points per game of any team on the Thunder’s schedule this week. Much will be made of Carmelo Anthony’s return to Madison Square Garden, especially if Paul George has not returned from his calf injury by then. Alex Abrines was great Saturday with George out, but he is best suited to a bench role.

Orlando Magic (LAC, POR, @DET): It looks like Evan Fournier will be out this week, and Aaron Gordon could join him, though it helps that Orlando’s week doesn’t start until Wednesday. Jonathan Simmons is a must-add, especially with Gordon out, even though the matchups against Portland and Detroit could be rough.

Philadelphia 76ers (@MIN, OKC): For as bad as Minnesota has been defensively, especially in the fourth quarter, they rank just 19th in points allowed this season thanks to their relatively slow pace. We know OKC is a lousy matchup, and with two games this week, you might have to consider benching Dario Saric, JJ Redick and Robert Covington, though that calculus changes if Covington and T.J. McConnell are still out.

Phoenix Suns (@SAC, TOR, @MIN): We could learn a lot about this team over the next week or two while Booker is out. It would be nice to see MarqueseChriss or Josh Jackson step up their scoring with Booker out, but until we see it for a couple of games, they probably still aren’t playable. Booker and TJ Warren arethe only Suns worth owning right now.

Portland Trail Blazers (@GS, @MIA, @ORL, @CHA): December has not been a great month of Portland’s fantasy value so far. The Trail Blazers had just two games last week, and while they have four this week, they are all on the road. Jusuf Nurkic and Maurice Harkless both suffered injuries Tuesday, and Portland is extremely thin up front without them.

San Antonio Spurs (@DAL, @HOU, DAL): It looks like Kawhi will probably return Tuesday, and even though he may sit out against either Houston Friday or Dallas Saturday, he needs to be in your lineup. LaMarcus Aldridge is playable as well, though I still worry his numbers will suffer with Leonard back. Rudy Gay, Danny Green and Paul Gasol are droppable, but I would consider holding on this week to take advantage of the terrible Mavericks.

Sacramento Kings (PHO, @MIN, @TOR): This may be the best schedule of the week, which gives you an idea of what kind of week it is. Buddy Hield has at least 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in three consecutive games, and he is averaging 29.5 minutes over that span. He, Zach Randolph and De’Aaron Fox are your best bets if you are looking to take advantage of the Kings’ schedule.

Toronto Raptors (@LAC, @PHO, BKN, SAC): I take it back, this is the best schedule of the week, even though the Clipper game is the second of a back-to-back. Toronto faces the three worst teams in the NBA in defensive rating as well as the Nets, who have allowed the second most points per game in the NBA. O.G. Anunoby is averaging 29.0 minutes per game over the last week, and he is a sneaky pickup if you want to try to take advantage of the coming matchups.

Utah Jazz (@CHI, @BOS, @CLE): Rudy Gobert scored six points or fewer in each of his first three games since returning from a bone bruise, but he explosed for 20 points and nine rebounds Saturday at Milwaukee. Considering the poor schedule this week, Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are the only Jazz players who need to be owned.

Washington Wizards (@BKN, MEM, LAC, CLE):Markieff Morris has been consistently inconsistent since returning from sports hernia surgery, and he has scored 2, 21, 8, 11, 23 and 7 points in his last six games. He would probably benefit from coming off the bench, but until that happens, he is a DFS GPP play only, even in a week with pretty decent fantasy matchups.