Setting the stage for Week 21 of the fantasy basketball season.
Schedule Breakdown
Four-game teams: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAL, NOR, NYK, PHI, SAS, UTH
Three-game teams: LAC, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NJN, OKC, PHO, SAC, TOR
Two-game teams: DAL, ORL, POR
Five best schedules: Lakers (@GSW, @SAC, MIN, WAS), Jazz (WAS, MIN, @PHO, NOR), 76ers (NYK, NJN, @NYK, CHI), Cavaliers (@DET, IND, @CHI, DET), Celtics(DET, NYK, @HOU, @DAL)
Five worst schedules: Orlando (SAS, @MIA), Dallas (CHI, BOS), Miami (SAS, ORL, CHA), Portland (WAS, @PHO), Sacramento (LAL, MIL, @LAC)
Also see: Basketball Monster’s team
schedules and ease
rankings | Rotowire’s value
meter
Team schedules through end of season:
18 games: HOU (4,4,4,4,2), SAS (4,4,4,4,2), WAS (4,4,4,4,2)
17 games: ATL (4,4,3,4,2), BOS (4,4,3,4,2), CHA (4,3,4,4,2), CHI (4,4,3,4,2), GSW (4,4,3,4,2), MIL (3,4,4,4,2), OKC (3,4,4,4,2), TOR (3,4,4,4,2)
16 games: DEN (4,4,3,3,2), DET (4,3,3,4,2), IND (4,4,3,3,2), LAL (4,3,4,3,2), NJN (3,4,4,3,2), NYK (4,2,4,4,2), PHI (4,3,3,4,2), UTH (4,4,3,3,2)
15 games: CLE (4,3,3,4,1), DAL (2,4,4,3,2), LAC (3,3,4,3,2), MEM (3,3,3,4,2), MIA (3,4,3,3,2), MIN (3,4,3,3,2), NOR (4,3,4,3,1), PHO (3,3,4,3,2), SAC (3,4,3,3,2)
14 games: ORL (2,4,3,3,2)
13 games: POR (2,3,3,3,2)
Pickups/Plug-ins – Players owned in
fewer than 40% of Yahoo! leagues
**Note: I’ll skip most of the pleasantries this week and just call out a bunch of notable players under 40-percent ownership. Whether or not you should consider any one of these players depends on team needs and who you’d be dropping, so the specifics of your particular situation are likely to be better addressed in the comments section.
• Jrue Holiday(notes) – His upcoming schedule is great, his playing time is up over the past four games
(38 minutes), and his current level of production (13.6 points, 51% FG,
1.9 threes, 5.4 assists, 3.4 turnovers, 1.3 steals, 0.6 blocks over the
past seven games) certainly should keep Willie Green(notes) on the
bench. Can you hear us, Eddie Jordan? Week 21: NYK, NJN, @NYK, CHI
• Jonas Jerebko(notes) – Locked in as a starter and flourishing
alongside Tayshaun Prince(notes) (12.3 points, 0.6 threes, 9 boards, 1.3
steals, 0.8 blocks over the past eight games). Week 21: @BOS, CLE, @IND< @CLE
• Delonte West(notes) – He’s finally in a groove (15.3 points, 52% FG,
0.5 threes, 4 boards, 4.4 assists, 1.5 turnovers, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks
over the past eight games) and his productive streak continued with
LeBron James’(notes) return (31 minutes, 17 points, 1 three, 4 assists, 2
steals Friday). Week 21: @DET, IND, @CHI, DET
• Terrence Williams(notes) – As long as he keeps his head in check,
there is no good reason for him to not see 30 minutes for the
rest of the season, even if his production falls off a bit (30 minutes, 15 points, 51% FG, 0.6 threes, 6.7 boards, 4.9 assists, 2.1 turnovers over the past seven games). Week 21: ATL, @PHI, TOR
• Toney Douglas(notes) – Saturday’s performance (31 minutes, 21 points, 4
threes, 8 assists, 0 turnovers, 1 steal, 1 block) earned him at least a
few more starts, and it doesn’t hurt that he also happens to be Mike
D’Antoni’s last option. The downer here from a fantasy perspective is
that the Knicks only have two games in Week 22. Week 21: @PHI, @BOS, PHI, HOU
• Brandon Rush(notes) – He’s been playing plenty and the the the threes are falling (34 minutes, 2.2 threes over the past nine) but he needs to pick it up elsewhere (40% FG, 11.5 points, 0.6 steals). Week 21: CHA, @CLE, DET, OKC
• JaVale McGee(notes) – He’s losing time when the Wizards go with their
smaller lineup, but the schedule looks good down the stretch and so do
his averages overall as a starter (13 G, 25 minutes, 9.6 points, 53% FG,
5.6 boards, 1.9 blocks. Week 21: @UTH, DEN, @POR, @LAL
• Will Bynum(notes) – At the very least, he can help you play the role
of spoiler in your first h2 playoff matchup (38 minutes, 11.8 points,
51% FG, 10 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.5 steals over the past four
games). Week 21: @BOS, CLE, @IND, @CLE
• Taj Gibson(notes) – His plantar fasciitis has become a problem again
but he’s playing through it and his production over the past month (10.6 points, 57% FG, 9.1 boards,
1.4 blocks) can’t be ignored. Week 21: @MEM, @DAL, CLE, @PHI
• Bill Walker(notes) – Walker has been productive (29 minutes, 13.5
points, 65% FG, 1.4 threes, 1 steal over the past eight games), but how
much upside he has is up
to T-Mac. As with Douglas, you need to note that the Knicks only
play twice in Week 22. Week 21: @PHI, @BOS, PHI, HOU
• C.J. Miles(notes) – He’s been outplaying Wesley Matthews(notes) and Kyle
Korver(notes) lately (22 minutes, 12.8 points, 1.6 threes, 54% 3pt, 1.5 steals
over the past eight games) and would move up this list if AK’s calf
injury isn’t nothing major (see below). Week 21: WAS, MIN, @PHO, NOR
• Travis Outlaw(notes) – Making some noise as a starter (11.5 points,
2.3 threes, 3.5 boards, 0.5 steals, 0.8 blocks in four games), but his
role certainly will change when/if Eric Gordon(notes) returns (see below). Week 21: NOR, MIL, SAC
• Quentin Richardson(notes) – Will he keep it up (34 minutes, 16.7 points, 54% FG, 4.2 threes, 6.3 boards, 1.3 steals over the past six games) this time? What needs to be noted is that he’s playing for a playoff spot and a contract. Week 21: SAS, ORL, CHA
• Anthony Tolliver(notes) – He’s playing a ton because of the Warriors’ injury woes but has been all over the map lately and only so productive overall (11 points, 1.2 threes, 6 boards, 0.5 steals, 0.9 blocks in 13 starts). Week 21: LAL, NOR, @SAS, @MEM
• Jason Maxiell(notes) – Should it matter when Big Ben might actually be
healthy? Over the past six games, Maxiell has averaged 11 points on
54-percent shooting, 10.8 boards, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 32
minutes. A short-term option, at worst. Week 21: @BOS, CLE, @IND, @CLE
• Julian Wright(notes) – He’ll see plenty of minutes while Peja it out
(see below) and was very productive in the Hornets’ most recent game (37
minutes, 13 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 5 steals). Week 21: @LAC, @GSW, @DEN, @UTH
• James Johnson(notes) – Johnson has shown good overall potential in his three starts (32 minutes, 14 points, 64% FG, 1.3 threes, 3.7 boards, 1.3 steals, 1.7 blocks) and Deng is out for at least a few more games (see below). Week 21: @MEM, @DAL, CLE, @PHI
• D.J. Augustin(notes) – Larry Hughes(notes) won’t be active until the end of the week, leaving DJA an opportunity to step up while G-Wall is sidelined (see below). Week 21: @IND, OKC, @ATL, @MIA
• Matt Bonner(notes) – Inconsistent minutes but the threes are falling (2.3 per game, 49% in March) and the Spurs play Golden State on Friday. Week 21: @MIA, @ORL, GSW, @ATL
• James Singleton(notes) – While he’s not relevant in all formats, there are certainly leagues where his numbers with the Wizards (5.6 points, 5.9 boards, 1.8 blocks) matter and you can’t do better than the Wizards’ schedule in terms of quantity. Week 21: @UTH, @DEN, @POR, @LAL
• Nicolas Batum(notes) – Inconsistent but certainly useful in most
formats in 11 starts thus far (11.2 points, 54% FG, 1.6 threes, 0.7
steals, 0.7 blocks). That said, the Blazers only play twice this coming
week. Week 21: WAS, @PHO
• Reggie Williams(notes) – The Warriors will need at least a few minutes from him with so many players out with injuries (23 minutes, 12.7 points, 52% FG, 1.4 threes in seven games). Week 21: LAL, NOR, @SAS, @MEM
• Earl Watson(notes) – Deep-leaguers will want to think about Watson
with T.J. Ford(notes) out (see below), but there’s only so much usefulness here
(7.6 points, 5.4 assists, 2.4 turnovers, 1.1 steals in 35 starts). Week 21: CHA, @CLE, DET, OKC
Status Updates
• Leandro
Barbosa(notes)
– Barbosa (wrist) will miss Sunday’s game and is now targeting Tuesday for his return to the Suns’ active roster.
• Michael Beasley(notes) – Beasley missed his second consecutive game Sunday because of a bruised left thigh, but he’s feeling better and "should be fine" Tuesday.
• Luol Deng(notes) – Deng is expected to miss most of Week 21 with a right calf strain, although a specific timeframe has yet to be determined. James Johnson will continue to start in his place and makes for a solid short-term plug-in.
• T.J. Ford – Ford is expected to miss a week to 10 days with a left groin injury and is expendable in most formats. Earl Watson will return to the starting lineup for the Pacers as a result.
•
Eric
Gordon
– Gordon has missed five straight games with a vague injury (sore right leg), made worse by a lack of updates from the Clippers on his status (he’s been day-to-day for over a week). He had a Wednesday MRI that revealed no structural damage (allegedly) but his immediate status remains up in the air.
• James Harden(notes) – Harden is expected to miss two to four weeks because of a strained right hamstring, effectively ending his fantasy season.
• Kirk Hinich – Hinrich will serve a one-game suspension Tuesday for making contact with a referee with a referee after he was ejected from Friday’s game. Jannero Pargo(notes) and Flip Murray(notes) will fill in for Hinrich.
• Yi Jianlian(notes) – Yi has missed the past four games with a high ankle sprain and we should see an update on his status in advance of the team’s matchup with Atlanta on Tuesday.
• Andrei Kirilenko(notes) – AK will miss Sunday’s game because of a left calf strain and undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. Although he is currently fitted with a walking boot, there haven’t been any indications as of yet that it’s a serious injury, so don’t make any moves before an official update is given.
• Kenyon
Martin(notes)
– The timeline for Martin’s return from his left knee injury is not specific, but he’s expected to miss at least a couple of weeks, largely limiting his potential to help most fantasy owners.
•
Joakim Noah(notes)
– The Bulls targeted March 24 as a loose date for a possible return when they shut Noah down a few weeks back. He’s made some progress (including a bit of running on Sunday) but his situation remains tenuous. Vinny Del Negro offered the following on Sunday:
"As soon as possible is the answer, but we have to be smart about it. We’ll just have to monitor him, see how he feels
tomorrow. Then if he’s feeling fine, we’ll give him a little bit more.
If he’s not, that won’t be a very good sign. He didn’t do much today, he
just got up and down a little bit without any contact."
• Mehmet Okur(notes) – Okur had a pain-killing injection to help him deal with back spasms but appears to be a game-time decision Sunday.
•
Chris
Paul(notes) – Paul has been medically cleared to begin running and speculation is could be about a week away from returning if he has no setbacks. His workload will be elevated as his progress warrants, and officially he remains on an indefinite timetable. Although it’s looking more likely the he will indeed return this season, neither Paul’s nor Darren Collison’s(notes) fantasy owners should expect him to play massive minutes with the team out of contention for a playoff spot.
• Derrick Rose(notes) – There is a decent chance that Rose (sprained left wrist) will be back in the lineup Tuesday at this point. If not, Jannero Pargo will get another start at point guard.
• Peja Stojakovic(notes) – Peja is expected to miss at least another ten days because of a lower abdominal strain, meaning he’s expendable in most formats. Julian Wright will continue to start in his place.
• Rodney Stuckey(notes) – Stuckey is likely to miss at least two more games for the Pistons, but is hoping to practice with the team Thursday and get a better read on a possible return Friday or shortly thereafter [schedule].
•
Jason Terry(notes) – Terry returned to practice with the Mavs Friday, wearing a mask in the wake of
his March 5 facial surgery. He’s targeting one of the Mavs’ two games in the coming week (Wednesday CHI,
Friday BOS) for a return.
• Gerald Wallace(notes) – The news regarding G-Wall’s ankle certainly could have been much worse. A Saturday MRI showed no structural damage, although he’s expected to miss at least the next two games [schedule]. Current targets for a return are Wednesday (OKC) and Friday (@ATL). There’s no single recipient of minutes with Wallace out – Stephen Graham(notes), D.J. Augustin, and Gerald Henderson(notes) figure to all see an uptick in playing time.
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Photos
via Getty Images