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With next week having two days with only three games played apiece, streaming will be a valuable tool in fielding a decent starting lineup on these days and getting the edge over your opponent.
If you're interested in finding out which players can help you out in this quest, you're in the right place.
We're looking ahead to the NBA schedule for next week. Here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 8.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 8
Tuesday and Thursday have only three games played each and fantasy managers will certainly find them the most difficult to field a decent starting lineup on. Sunday has six games so it will be challenging as well. We will focus on these three days.
Saturday is next up with seven games played. We won't focus too much on it because that would add too many options for me to cover, but keep an eye out for your needs on Saturday as well.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 5 games:
San Antonio Spurs
Teams with 4 games:
Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Teams with 3 games:
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Miami Heat
New Orleans Pelicans
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Teams with 2 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Phoenix Suns
Toronto Raptors
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 20
Tuesday: 6
Wednesday: 26
Thursday: 6
Friday: 18
Saturday: 14
Sunday: 12
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: SAS
Tuesday/Wednesday: BOS, BKN, DAL, NYK
Wednesday/Thursday: DEN, MEM, PHI, UTA
Thursday/Friday: LAL
Friday/Saturday: CLE, HOU, SAC
Saturday/Sunday: ORL, SAS
Sunday/Monday the following: DAL, MIL
Days with SIX or fewer games
Tuesday: 3 games
Thursday: 3 games
Sunday: 6 games
Teams playing on all three days:
San Antonio Spurs (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams playing on Tue/Thurs:
San Antonio Spurs (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams playing on Tue/Sun:
San Antonio Spurs (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun)
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun)
New York Knicks (4 games - Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun)
Teams playing on Thurs/Sun:
San Antonio Spurs (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
San Antonio Spurs (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Memphis Grizzlies (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
San Antonio Spurs (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Atlanta Hawks (2 games - Mon, Fri)
Phoenix Suns (2 games - Mon, Fri)
Toronto Raptors (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
New Orleans Pelicans (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Sacramento Kings (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Atlanta Hawks (2 games - Mon, Fri)
Phoenix Suns (2 games - Mon, Fri)
Toronto Raptors (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Boston Celtics (3 games - Tues, Wed, Fri)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Chicago Bulls (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Los Angeles Clippers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Portland Trail Blazers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sun)
Washington Wizards (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 8
Tuesday and Thursday with three games apiece are the hardest days to start a full roster, followed by Sunday with six games. This is why players from teams playing on these days will be the ones we turn to in this article.
The Spurs (with five games this week) and the Lakers (with four games) are the only teams that play on all three days so their players are the best streaming targets.
There are only three other teams that play two games on these three scarcest days, and they all play on Tuesday and Sunday. These teams are Brooklyn, Dallas and New York (all with four games next week).
Below I will cover the options from these five teams.
It is worth noting that Saturday has seven games, so it's not far behind Sunday in regards to games played. Teams like Denver, Memphis, Philadelphia (four games) and Utah (three games) play on both Thursday and Saturday. We will not be covering these teams as this would make the article too long, but their players could be good streaming options for the middle of the week as they all have three games from Wednesday to Saturday.
Streaming Options for Week 8
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75ish % of Yahoo leagues):
Devin Vassell, SG/SF, SAS, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, PTS, STL/BLK - buyer beware: he is dealing with a quad contusion that has already kept him out of two games and tightened up on him again after just 10 minutes in the previous game
Thaddeus Young, PF/C, SAS, (26% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, AST, STL/BLK - buyer beware: his minutes have dropped recently
Carmelo Anthony, SG/SF, LAL, (68% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of REB, FT%, STL/BLK
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, DAL, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, STL
Jalen Brunson, PG/SG, DAL, (63% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, REB
Mitchell Robinson, C, NYK, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK
Evan Fournier, SG/SF, NYK, (69% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Derrick Rose, PG/SG, NYK, (59% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL
Nerlens Noel, PF/C, NYK, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: misses games often
Immanuel Quickley, PG, NYK, (30% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT% - positive circumstance: is seeing some additional minutes with Kemba Walker out of the rotation
Alec Burks, SG/SF, NYK, (69% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL - positive circumstance: is the starter with Kemba Walker out of the rotation
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, BKN (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, PTS, BLK
Patty Mills, PG/SG, BKN, (49% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, AST, 3PM
Shallower League Add
Alec Burks, SG/SF, NYK, (69% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Positive Circumstance: is the starter with Kemba Walker out of the rotation
Burks was our Deeper League Add for Week 6, and he's made another huge step forward and jumped from being rostered in 22% to 69% of Yahoo leagues in the last two weeks so he's been promoted to the Shallower League Add this week. With Kemba Walker being out of the rotation, for the time being, Burks was inserted into the starting lineup and boy did he return on the investment.
In the previous two weeks, Alec is averaging 16.9 points with 2.6 three-pointers on 45.5% from the field and 88.2% from the charity stripe, 5.6 boards, 2.6 dimes, 2.0 steals, 0.1 blocks and 1.3 turnovers in 32 minutes a night. This is good enough for him to be ranked at #17 for this period. Insane from a guy that was available in over 90% of fantasy leagues just a couple of weeks ago.
In the odd case that your league is shallow enough for Burks to still be sitting on your waiver wire, don't hesitate too long. He should be gone by the time you read this sentence.
Deeper League Add
Dwight Howard, C, LAL, (21% Rostered)
Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK/STL
Superman!? Really!? What is this, 2010?
Well, it looks like it might be - at least for a little while.
Don't get me wrong, this is a risky play. But one that can pay dividends in the right circumstances.
Over the course of the season, Dwight is averaging just 15 minutes and is still getting over five boards, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 65.0% from the field (on just 2.9 attempts per game, however). But if the last two games are any indication of things to come, his production could increase drastically.
In these two games, Howard played 35 and 21 minutes scoring a combined total of 18 points (8-of-13 from the field and 2-of-3 from the line), 18 rebounds, two assists, three steals, three blocks and four turnovers. This has him ranked at #84 in Yahoo leagues for the period of the last 7 days. Not too shabby.
Of course, there are no guarantees when it comes to Howard and the Lakers this year, but if you're in need of some boards and stocks with a decent FG% and don't care much if he tanks your FT%, with such a favorable schedule, Dwight might be your guy.
Insanely Deep League Add
Doug McDermott, SF/PF, SAS, (8% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Dougie Buckets has missed four straight games in late November due to a knee inflammation but has been back in the last two games and helped the Spurs prolong their win streak to four with averages of 14.5 PTS with 2.0 3PM on 54.5 FG%, 4.0 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, he hit his only free throw and didn't turn the ball over once in 47 total minutes.
This is what Dougie does - he hits threes and contributes a bit everywhere else. And with Devin Vassell dealing with a thigh contusion and being likely to miss at least a game or two in the upcoming week, McDermott could see even more playing time.
With five games next week, he could get you 10+ threes, 60+ points, around 20 boards, 10 dimes and 5 stocks. Furthermore, he is unlikely to hurt you in %s or TO. Not too bad for a guy available in so many leagues.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Lonnie Walker IV, SG/SF, SAS, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, PTS
Doug McDermott, SF/PF, SAS, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Bryn Forbes, PG/SG, SAS, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF, LAL, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a bit of REB, AST, STL/BLK
Dwight Howard, C, LAL, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK/STL
Malik Monk, PG/SG, LAL, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Wayne Ellington, SG/SF, LAL, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
DeAndre' Bembry, SF/PF, BKN, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, REB, FG%
James Johnson, PF/C, BKN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a little bit of everything
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF, DAL, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, 3PM
Maxi Kleber, SF/PF, DAL, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, BLK
Dwight Powell, PF/C, DAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL
Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, DAL, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Obi Toppin, SF/PF, NYK, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Taj Gibson, PF/C, NYK, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: missed six games straight before playing just three minutes in the last one
Good luck guys! I hope you will stream your way to victory!
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