Much like last week, the schedules are all pretty much the same this week. Four teams play just once, and four teams have three games in four days. That leaves 22 teams to play twice, and a significant number of those are back-to-back. Now that everyone has had a week off to rest, I expect the playoff teams to play better and the tanking teams to begin to tank in earnest. The rest of the NBA season should be extremely interesting, including this week, so let’s get right to it.

 

Atlanta Hawks (@IND): Why is Ersan Ilyasova still a Hawk? I know teams have more time to reach a buyout agreement than they have in years past, but I still don’t understand why this wasn’t done a week ago. Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer will probably give all of Ilyasova’s minutes to Mike Muscala, Miles Plumlee and DeAndre’ Bembry just because he hates fantasy players, but John Collins and Dewayne Dedmon really should be playing more.

Boston Celtics (@DET, @NY): The Celtics limped into the All-Star break with a bad offense that hasn’t figured out how to use Greg Monroe, but I suspect the offense will perk up coming out of the Break. Playing back-to-back road games isn’t ideal, but neither team is scary defensively. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been dropped in some shallow leagues, but they should be 100 percent owned.

Brooklyn Nets (@CHA): Brooklyn gets three days off after they face Charlotte, and they could easily hold Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Caris LeVert and Jahlil Okafor out for this game just to get them some extra rest. Allen Crabbe, Joe Harris and DeMarre Carroll are playable for fantasy for as long as Hollis-Jefferson and LeVert are out.

Charlotte Hornets (BKN, @WAS, DET): The Hornets are one of four teams that play three games this week, and like those other three, two of their games are back-to-back. Fortunately, they barely have to travel. Nicolas Batum is averaging 15.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists in February. Now that he is staying in Charlotte for the rest of the season, it is time to add him.

Chicago Bulls(PHI, @MIN):Bobby Portis has double-digit points in six consecutive games, including two double-doubles. His rebounds is frustratingly inconsistent, thought that could change once the Bulls shut down Robin Lopez with a fake injury so they can tank in earnest. Portis has a high floor with Nikola Mirotic gone, and his ceiling is intriguing as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers (WAS, @MEM, SA): This is probably the biggest sell-high team in the NBA. I expect Cleveland to be better than they were before they traded half of their team, but since then, they have seven players averaging 11.0 ppg or better. That won’t continue. Now that the rest of the NBA has made it through the January/February doldrums, Cleveland will probably face more resistance than they did last week against the Thunder and Celtics. This week will be a good test for the Cavs, as the Spurs have allowed the fewest points per game in the NBA, while the Grizzlies are fifth.

Dallas Mavericks (@LAL, @UTA): An old team playing in Utah on the second of a back-to-back is a recipe for disaster. That being said, Dwight Powell has scored at least 17 points in four consecutive games and five of his last six. He is probably going to need to get a few more minutes per game to keep up that production, but he is absolutely worth taking a chance on.

Denver Nuggets (SA, HOU):The is the beginning of a rough stretch for Denver, but at least they are at home with a day off in between. Wilson Chandler is averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists over his last four games. He probably isn’t playable this week considering the schedule, but you should definitely consider adding him if he plays well against the Spurs or Rockets.I would also consider selling high on Nikola Jokic. Jokic is averaging 21.6 points, 11.7 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.3 steals in Februrary. Mason Plumlee is expected to return by the end of the month, and Jokic’s numbers will likely regress at that point.

Detroit Pistons (BOS, @CHA):Stanley Johnson is averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in February. That may not sound like much, and his rebounding numbers will almost certainly remain deflated by playing with Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin, but Johnson is playing better basketball than at any point in his young career. He would probably be a must-add in the event of a Blake Griffin injury, which is far more than anyone would have said prior to the trade.

Golden State Warriors (LAC, OKC):The only real thing to look at for fantasy is if the Warriors rest their big four more down the stretch. Omri Casspi had 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Suns last week while Coach Draymond Green was out, and he is the most interesting bench player when one of the starters rests.

Houston Rockets (MIN, @DEN): Eric Gordon is averaging 11.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in in four games in February, but he still needs to be owned. He should be healthier coming out of the All-Star break, and he is still averaging 18.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on the season. He is better when one of Chris Paul or James Harden are out, but he is pretty much playable every week, including this one. Houston has looked awfully good since Ryan Anderson went to the bench, and there is a decent chance Trevor Ariza’s numbers improve once he returns.

Indiana Pacers (ATL): Darren Collison may not return this week, but he should be back sometime next week. Cory Joseph had 15 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks back on Valentine’s day, and he has a chance at another huge game against the defensively challenged Dennis Schroder Friday.

Los Angeles Clippers (@GS, @PHO):Normally a back-to-back like this would be worrisome, but the Clippers should be rested from the All-Star break, so I expect them to comfortably beat the Suns anyway. It will be interesting to see if the Clippers are any more competitive with the Warriors now that Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are gone, and they have everyone healthy. Austin Rivers is averaging 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 34.3 minutes per game since returning from a heel injury, but I am skeptical the minutes or production will continue with Milos Teodosic healthy.

Los Angeles Lakers (DAL, @SAC):Kyle Kuzma struggled against the Timberwolves but he is still averaging 15.0 points and 7.0 rebounds over his last five games. Kuzma should be owned in all leagues now that Larry Nance Jr. is gone.

Memphis Grizzlies (CLE, @MIA): Chandler Parsons quietly returned last week, and while the ship has probably sailed on him ever having fantasy value, I would at least raise an eyebrow if he ever got up to 30 minutes per game again. Also keep an eye on Jarell Martin. He was good last week with JaMychal Green out, and both of those players would be interesting for fantasy if/when the Grizzlies shut down Marc Gasol.

Miami Heat (@NOR, MEM): Miami’s games are back-to-back, and even though they should be rested, I expect a very lost-scoring game against Memphis. Josh Richardson is averaging 10.7 points in three games with Dwyane Wade in Miami, and unless the Heat suffer another injury, Richardson, Wade and James Johnson should all be dropped.

Milwaukee Bucks (@TOR, NOR):I still think Thon Maker has a chance to be very good at some point, but it is extremely disappointing to see him with exactly three rebounds in five consecutive games. Maker needs to rebound and block shots if he is ever going to contribute consistently for fantasy.

Minnesota Timberwolves (@HOU, CHI): We have already seen Tyus Jones fill in admirably when Jeff Teague was out, and I believe Nemanja Bjelica or Gorgui Dieng would be worth adding if one of the other starters were to miss time. Also keep an eye on Andrew Wiggins. For as mediocre as he has been this season, I would love him if Jimmy Butler was out.

New Orleans Pelicans (MIA, @MIL):It is great to see Emeka Okafor back and producing in the NBA, and even greater to see he isn’t taking any minutes away from Nikola Mirotic. Mirotic and Rajon Rondo can be owned in all leagues, especially this week.

New York Knicks (@ORL, BOS): Tim Hardaway Jr. may have finally broke out with his 37 point performance on Valentine’s Day. He almost certainly won’t repeat that performance against Boston, but he could against the Magic. As expected, Emmanuel Mudiay and Frnak Ktilikina are splitting time in the Knicks backcourt, and neither player is good enough to produce for fantasy without a significant uptick in minutes.

Oklahoma City Thunder (@SAC, @GS): The Kings are the worst defensive team in the NBA, and they didn’t get better by trading away George Hill. The Thunder have played well against the Warriors this season, and it will be interesting to see if that continues. On a related note, how is it possible the Thunder and Warriors have been shut out of the buyout market? Both teams are in pretty desperate need of rotation players.

Orlando Magic (NY, @PHI): Mario Hezonja’s resurgence has come with Aaron Gordon out, and it remains to be seen if he can produce with Gordon in the lineup. Until then, Hezonja needs to be owned. He will be one of the more interesting free agents this summer.

Philadelphia 76ers (@CHI, ORL, @WAS): Playing three games in four days is less of a concern now that Joel Embiid is playing back-to-backs. J.J. Redick has quietly scored at least 14 points in five consecutive games, but it is hard to play someone like that who pretty much only contributes in threes.

Phoenix Suns (LAC, POR): I gave up on Alen Len last week, only to have him put 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals and five blocks on the Jazz. Maybe the moral of the story here is Len and Dragan Bender aren’t that good, and neither will be consistent so long as the other is around. Josh Jackson has been far more consistent, scoring at least 20 points in seven of his last 12 games, and he has joined the likes of Devin Booker, Elfrid Payton and T.J. Warren as Suns you can trust.

Portland Trailblazers (@UTA, @PHO): Like a lot of teams this week, Portland plays back-to-back with one terrible matchup and one great matchup. I’m tempted to sit Jusuf Nurkic this week, but at the same if he just has one big game out of the two, benching him will be a mistake. Nurkic had zero points in 14 minutes against the Jazz last week.

San Antonio Spurs (@DEN, @CLE): We might have a better idea of how good Cleveland is following their game at San Antonio. That could be a good game for Dejounte Murray, as he had 19 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and seven steals against the Cavs last month.

Sacramento Kings (OKC, LAL): The Kings did well to get rid of George Hill, but they still have Garrett Temple, Vince Carter and Kosta Koufos taking minutes that should go to younger players. Bogdan Bogdanovic is averaging 15.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists over his last five games, and he should keep it going with two home games against weak defensive teams.

Toronto Raptors (MIL): With just one game this week, I don’t know how you can justify playing any Raptors outside of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka were both playing well going into the break, but they can safely go on waivers this week.

Utah Jazz (POR, DAL): Utah’s win streak will end soon, possibly against Portland, but they should produce for fantasy the rest of the way. No team has more home games left on their schedule, and the Jazz have one of the easiest schedules remaining as well. It appears Utah has found their next Joe Ingles in Royce O’Neale, and while he isn’t as consistent as Ingles, O’Neale will be awfully interesting for fantasy next season if the Jazz let Derrick Favors walk.

Washington Wizards (@CLE, CHA, PHI): The Wizards are notorious for playing up or down to their opponents, so a letdown against the Hornets following a road game at Cleveland feels like a fait accompli. With John Wall likely out another month, Tomas Satoransky is playable in all formats.