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No player is off-limits to be dropped (apart from those on the "can't drop list" if you play with that option turned on) for streaming purposes if you think he won't contribute enough to be worthy of that precious roster spot on your championship-caliber team!
As always, I have taken a look ahead at the NBA schedule for next week, and here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 23.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 23
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (all with five games) are the days with the fewest games played. These days are the ones that are most likely to need assistance from the waiver wire. All other days have nine or more games, so most fantasy teams will already be set.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 5 games:
Cleveland Cavaliers
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
Teams with 3 games:
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Memphis Grizzlies
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 18
Tuesday: 10
Wednesday: 22
Thursday: 10
Friday: 20
Saturday: 10
Sunday: 24
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: CHI
Tuesday/Wednesday: DAL, WAS
Wednesday/Thursday: ATL, CLE
Thursday/Friday: DET, LAC, LAL, MIL
Friday/Saturday: -
Saturday/Sunday: CLE, GSW, MIA, NYK, PHI
Sunday/Monday the following: -
Days with FIVE or fewer games
Tuesday: 5 games
Thursday: 5 games
Saturday: 5 games
Teams playing on all three of these days:
Chicago Bulls (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Utah Jazz (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Teams playing on two of these days and playing four or more games this week:
Cleveland Cavaliers (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Chicago Bulls (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Cleveland Cavaliers (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Chicago Bulls (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Cleveland Cavaliers (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
New Orleans Pelicans (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Memphis Grizzlies (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 23
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday all have five games scheduled. All other days have nine or more, so we can pretty much disregard them for streaming purposes as most teams will be fielding a decent lineup on those days.
Therefore, we will focus on teams that play on all three of these scarce days:
- Chicago Bulls (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat)
- Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
- Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
- Utah Jazz (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Players from teams that play on two of these three days and also play at least for games this week can also be valuable to fantasy teams. There are a lot of teams that fit into this category which is great news for fantasy managers looking to stream as there will be plenty of options. Unfortunately, this also means that I won't be able to cover their players as there are a lot, but I will list those teams here so you can target guys from them if this is what will help you win:
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- Cleveland Cavaliers (5 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
- Detroit Pistons (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
- Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
- Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
- Milwaukee Bucks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
- Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Streaming Options for Week 23
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-70% of Yahoo leagues):
Ayo Dosunmu, PG, CHI, (30% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL, a bit of everything
Coby White, PG/SG, CHI, (30% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, PTS, FT%
Alex Caruso, PG/SG/SF, CHI, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, AST, 3PM
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (43% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Seth Curry, PG/SG, BKN, (70% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%,
Patty Mills, PG/SG, BKN, (28% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, BKN, (35% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, FT%, BLK - buyer beware: missed 10 straight games, but was available for Sunday's game (picked up a DNP-CD)
Bruce Brown, SG/SF/PF, BKN, (65% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, a bit of everything
Nicolas Claxton, C, BKN, (26% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, FG% - buyer beware: if Aldridge returns he could eat into some of Claxton's minutes
Royce O'Neale, SG/SF, UTA, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, REB, a bit of everything
Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, UTA, (27% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, FG% - buyer beware: missed his previous two games with a right foot sprain
Shallower League Add
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (43% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Thybulle is a prime example of a "defend first" player whose primary purpose on his team is to stop the opponents from scoring. This translates quite well into fantasy, and even more so in the past two weeks when he averaged 7.6 PTS with 1.0 3PM on 58.3 FG% and 91.7 FT%, 2.3 REB, 0.6 AST, 2.0 STL, 1.3 BLK and just 0.4 TO in 23 minutes a game. It's not really an overall contribution, but his output in stocks combined with some elite efficiency have him ranked at the #53 spot for this period.
Now he won't shoot this well that's for sure, but at his volume, it's not really a big impact either way. So if you're looking at Thybulle, that has to be for his defensive numbers. And if you need those, look no further than him as he could get you 10+ stocks easily by himself in his four-game week.
Deeper League Add
Nicolas Claxton, C, BKN, (26% Rostered)
Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, FG%
Buyer Beware: If Aldridge returns he could eat into some of Claxton's minutes
Nic has been playing really well lately and is ranked inside the top 100 for the past 14 days with averages of 10.4 PTS on 78.0 FG% and 69.2 FT%, 6.4 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.4 STL, 1.3 BLK and 1.0 TO in 22 minutes per outing. These stats speak for themselves, especially if we take into account that Andre Drumond is playing quite well over this same period. So, in my mind, Claxton is a good pick if you're looking for a few blocks and boards with good FG%, but not much else.
Now, Aldridge has been cleared for playing in games but was not used in their last game (despite the Nets losing in a close game), so we really don't know what to make of it. He missed 10 straight, so he might be eased back in, which could provide Claxton with enough space and opportunity to stay relevant for our fantasy and streaming purposes. Do keep an eye on this situation though before deciding on adding Nic.
Insanely Deep League Add
Goran Dragic, PG/SG, BKN, (8% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Dragic is an acquired taste nowadays and you have to be prepared to take the bad with the good. The good being primarily his assists. He is not exactly setting the world on fire and is ranked barely inside the top 300 over the past month, so if you're not looking for someone to help you get some dimes, you can skip this part.
But if you are, there are not many options for streaming assists in this deep a leagues. In the last 14 days, The Dragon is averaging 8.3 PTS with 0.5 3PM on 38.8 FG% and 90.0 FT%, 3.5 REB, 5.8 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.3 BLK and 2.5 TO in just under 30 minutes a night.
Ow, and another thing - his free throws aren't this good usually. He is a 76.7% career shooter from the stripe.
Now he does usually shoot better from the field (46.0 career %), so if his shot does start falling it should result in some more threes and points, which would be a nice addition to his assists and steals (which are his only real strengths). It could be useful to mention that Dragic has played in 14 out of the last 15 games for the Nets and was only absent on the 23rd of March with left knee soreness.
So, if you like what Dragic brings to the table, and can stomach his shortcomings, he plays on those scarce days so he could be a good addition to help you out in the AST and STL departments.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Javonte Green, PG/SG/SF, CHI, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK, a bit of everything
Patrick Williams, SF/PF, CHI, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL - buyer beware: plays limited minutes after returning from long-term injury a week ago
Tristan Thompson, PF/C, CHI, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, a bit of STL/BLK, FG%
DeAndre Jordan, C, PHI, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG% - buyer beware: gets around 15 minutes a night
Georges Niang, SG/SF, PHI, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Danny Green, SG/SF, PHI, (13% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Shake Milton, PG/SG, PHI, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Goran Dragic, PG/SG, BKN, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
James Johnson, PF/C, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a bit of REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: gets inconsistent minutes
Eric Paschall, PF/C, UTA, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a bit of 3PM, REB, PTS
Rudy Gay, SG/SF, UTA, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB
Trent Forrest, SG, UTA, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: not much, a bit of STL, AST
Win, win, win, no matter what!
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