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Milos Zvekic analyzes Week 16 streaming opportunities for head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues. He reviews the upcoming NBA schedule and players to add.
Fantasy playoffs are getting closer by the second. For those of us in hot pursuit of playoff berth, we all crave so badly every win, every category, every stat counts.
Streaming can help you get the most out of your next week's matchup, and, if you play your cards right, you can make another giant step towards the top of your league table.
It's about time to cut that dead weight at the bottom of your roster, whether it's an injured guy who just can't get healthy, or an out of form player who doesn't seem likely to regain his game anytime soon. Here are our fantasy basketball streamers for Week 16.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 16
It's a pretty evened out week, with most days having between five and eight games played. However, Saturday has 12 games, so most of us will have full lineups on that day. And Sunday will see only three games played so many fantasy owners will struggle to field a decent team.
As for the teams, five teams play just two times next week and Portland only plays on Wednesday, so watch out.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
New York Knicks
Teams with 3 games:
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Teams with 2 games:
Cleveland Cavaliers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors
Teams with 1 game:
Portland Trail Blazers
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 10
Tuesday: 14
Wednesday: 16
Thursday: 12
Friday: 10
Saturday: 24
Sunday: 6
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: BKN
Tuesday/Wednesday: CHI, NOP, WAS
Wednesday/Thursday: DAL, IND
Thursday/Friday: -
Friday/Saturday: ATL, CHA, DEN, HOU, MIA, UTA
Saturday/Sunday: LAC
Sunday/Monday the following: -
Days with five or fewer games
Monday: 5 games
Friday: 5 games
Sunday: 3 games
Teams playing on all three days:
Boston Celtics (4 games this week - Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
Memphis Grizzlies (4 games - Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
New York Knicks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
Teams playing on Mon/Fri:
Boston Celtics
Memphis Grizzlies
New York Knicks
Teams playing on Mon/Sun:
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Boston Celtics
Memphis Grizzlies
New York Knicks
Team playing on Fri/Sun:
Oklahoma City Thunder (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sun)
Boston Celtics
Memphis Grizzlies
New York Knicks
Teams playing three games over the weekend (from Thursday to Sunday)
Los Angeles Clippers
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 16
Monday and Friday have five games apiece, and Sunday just three, so these days will be the most difficult for our fantasy teams. However, we are in luck, as there are three teams that play on all three of these days: Boston, Memphis, and New York.
Furthermore, there are another two teams that play on two of these days, so the Clippers can help us "survive" Monday and Sunday, and OKC players will be helpful on Friday and Sunday.
We will be looking at guys from these five teams.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Trail Blazers only have one game, and five teams play only twice next week. These five teams are Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns. Watch out and try and stay clear of their players for streaming purposes.
Streaming Options for the Week
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week:
Marcus Smart, PG/SG, BOS, (38% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, AST
Marcus Morris, SF/PF, BOS, (71% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, PTS, a bit of everything
Terry Rozier, PG/SG, BOS, (43% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, REB, AST
Jaylen Brown, PG/SG, BOS, (53% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, a bit of everything
Justin Holiday, SG/SF, MEM, (39% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
JaMychal Green, PF/C, MEM, (29% Owned)- Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Kevin Knox, PF, NYK, (46% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, REB
Allonzo Trier, PF, NYK, (26% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, FT%
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG, LAC (25% Owned) - Strong Cats: FT%, STL/BLK, AST, a bit of everything
Jerami Grant, SF/PF, OKC, (76% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK, FG%
Dennis Schroder, PG, OKC, (68% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Shallower League Add
Noah Vonleh, PF, NYK, (48% Owned) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB, AST
With Enes Kanter picking up DNP-CDs left and right, Luke Kornet out with an injury and Mitchell Robinson playing just 15 minutes per game since his return four games ago, Vonleh seems to be the go-to big man on the Knicks.
Over the last seven days, he has really blossomed with averages of 14.0 PTS with 1.0 3PM on 51.5 FG% and 53.8 FT%, 9.3 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.7 STL, 1.3 BLK, and 1.3 TO in almost 32 minutes a night over those three games. This has him ranked at #65 in Yahoo, and if you're punting FT% and/or TO, he is easily a top-50 guy for you.
It seems likely that Vonleh continues to see over 30 minutes per outing, and with the decent schedule he has, he is worth a flier at least as a streamer in most leagues if you need help in his strong suits.
Deeper League Add
Trey Burke, PG, NYK, (10% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, AST
Burke was out with an illness but has returned just in time for the Knicks. Their franchise PG Emmanuel Mudiay went down with a shoulder strain which will have him sidelined for at least two weeks, and Burke will be one of the primary beneficiaries.
In his first game back and the first game with Mudiay out, Trey hit 10-of-19 shots (2-of-4 from three-point range) and all three of his free throws for 25 points, five assists, two steals, a block and a turnover in 33 minutes. That's a stellar line for a guy owned in just 10% of the leagues.
Now, we can't expect him to shoot this well every time he's out on the court, but with him scoring in double digits in the last six games he has played in, Burke is still a good shout to contribute in the point guard categories while he's getting this increased opportunity. And with the Knicks' schedule next week he is a decent pickup for teams in deep leagues.
Insanely Deep League Add
Terrance Ferguson, SG/SF, OKC, (5% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
The 20-year-old is finally feeling comfortable in his OKC uniform and has shown that particularly well in his last five games, scoring 14 or more points in three of them. Over that period he is averaging 13.8 points with 3.2 threes on 52.1% from the field and 60.0% from the charity stripe, 2.4 boards, 1.6 dimes 1.4 steals, no blocks, and 0.8 turnovers in almost 32 minutes per game.
He seems to have cemented his place in the starting lineup and is even staying on the court in close games with everything on the line. That is a great sign that his coach trusts him and should make him a safer bet for minutes for the rest of the season as well.
Although the Thunder only have three games next week, two of those come on Friday and Sunday. So if you need some help in 3-pointers and steals late in the week, Terrance could be just the guy to provide for you.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Daniel Theis, PF/C, BOS, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: BLK, REB, FG%
Aron Baynes, C, BOS, (2% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK
Shelvin Mack, PG, MEM (3% Owned) - Strong Cats: AST
Omri Casspi, SF/PF, MEM, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, STL
Damyean Dotson, SG, NYK, (3% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM
Frank Ntilikina, PG/SG, NYK, (3% Owned) - Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, PTS
Mitchell Robinson, C, NYK, (16% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG%
Patrick Beverley, PG/SG, LAC (23% Owned) - Strong Cats: STL, AST, 3PM, REB
Marcin Gortat, C, LAC, (17% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, BLK
Avery Bradley, PG/SG, LAC, (7% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Nerlens Noel, PF/C, OKC, (8% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL
Hope you guys enjoyed the article and the advice, and I hope that this will help you win your matchups next week and bragging rights for the week after.
