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If you have an open Streaming spot or two on your roster and are pondering over who to pick up from the scarce quality on your Waiver Wire, this article may help you make the right decisions. We will look at daily games played, see which teams to target and which to avoid and then analyze which players from those teams could prove to be this weeks matchup winners for the owner who was insightful enough to pick them up before his competition.
This year we'll take more of a holistic approach to streaming, by providing a weekly overview of which teams to look at based on their schedules and what players to consider targeting in advance to maximize the bang for the buck you get out of limited weekly transactions. Streaming is just about maximizing a roster spot with whoever is available after all, it's never about targeting a specific player.
Anybody can go onto their waiver wire, look for the most interesting player with a game the next day, and add him. So we'll be plotting out our moves in advance because being able to target a stream two days out or add two extra games in one transaction is where you can really gain an edge over the average streamer. Hopefully, this weekly overview will help you realize that edge. Below you will find my fantasy basketball streamers for the double All-Star Week 18/19.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 18/19
The double Gameweek around the All-Star break has a few days to target with just two games being played on Thursday the 15th and five games played on Sunday the 25th. Also, there are two days to absolutely avoid. Wednesday the 14th features 12 games while 22 teams play on Friday the 23rd.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 5 games:
Sixers
Teams with 4 games:
Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, Spurs, Suns, Kings, Jazz, Wizards
Teams with 3 games:
Hawks, Nets, Celtics, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Trail Blazers, Raptors
Teams with 2 games:
Pacers
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 12
Tuesday: 12
Wednesday: 24
Thursday the 15th: 4
Thursday the 22nd: 12
Friday: 22
Saturday: 16
Sunday: 10
Back-to-Backs (beware of older banged up players who might rest):
Atlanta: Tue*/Wed*
Boston: Fri*/Sat*
Charlotte: Thurs/Fri*
Chicago: Fri/Sat
Cleveland: Thurs/Fri*
Dallas: Fri*/Sat*
Houston: Tue*/Wed
LA Clippers: Thurs*/Fri*
LA Lakers: Wed*/Thurs & Fri/Sat*
Memphis: Fri/Sat*
Miami: Tue*/Wed* & Fri*/Sat
Minnesota: Fri*/Sat
Oklahoma City: Tue/Wed*
Philadelphia: Sat/Sun*
Phoenix: Fri/Sat
Portland: Fri*/Sat*
Sacramento: Tue*/Wed*
San Antonio: Mon*/Tue*
Toronto: Tue/Wed*
Utah: Fri/Sat
Washington: Thurs*/Fri
* = away game
Teams playing three games on days with 6 or fewer games:
Cleveland, Denver^, Milwaukee^, Philadelphia, San Antonio
^ = teams playing on the two-game Thursday
Baller Streaming Strategy for the Double Week
In addition to only two games being played on the first Thursday and just five on the last Sunday, three other days have 6 games scheduled, on the first Monday and Tuesday, and on next Thursday the 22nd.
The best strategy for this week seems to be to target players from teams that play three games on those days. These teams are Cleveland, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Denver and Milwaukee. If you have a player that fits your needs from Denver or Milwaukee that's probably your best option streaming-wise because their game is featured on Thursday the 15th with just one more contest being scheduled for that day, the Timberwolves against the Lakers. On the other hand, only the 76ers have 5 games during this time, and four of those are played on nights with 8 games or less.
With all the moves that preceded the trade deadline last week, there are a few interesting options for streaming these two weeks. Here's my take on who to target in the next two weeks.
Streaming Options for the Week
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week:
Larry Nance Jr., PF/C, CLE (49% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Tristan Thompson, PF/C, CLE, (36% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB
Trey Lyles, PF, DEN, (32% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of everything
Kyle Anderson, SG/SF, SAS, (32% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, STL, FG%, FT%
Danny Green, SG/SF, SAS, (24% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, BLK, STL
Deeper League Adds
J.R. Smith, SG/SF, CLE, (14% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Cleveland was by far the most active team at the deadline, completely changing their outlook with a few trades. It seems to have worked as they took down the Celtics who were #1 in the East before the game. J.R. Smith stuck around and the change seems to have done him some good too.
Although he was on somewhat of a hot streak anyway. In the last nine Smith has averaged 12.7 points with 3.1 threes on 50.0% from the field and 57.1% from the line, 3.3 boards, 1.1 dimes, 1.0 steal, 0.3 blocks and 0.8 turnovers in 30 minutes a game. This, along with the Cavs' favorable schedule makes him a valuable streaming option for those in deeper leagues in need of some threes.
T.J. McConnell, PG, PHI, (8% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, FT%, AST, STL
One of the most underrated fantasy players, T.J. McConnell should be on the streaming radar for those deep league teams that could use some assists and steals from a guy who will not do any harm to your other categories. Furthermore, he can help out in the percentages and the rebounds, especially if you count in the fact that he is a point guard.
He had a stellar performance in his last outing hitting 6-of-7 from the field, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and both free throws for 17 points, eight assists, two steals and no turnovers in 26 minutes. He probably won't that productive, but he is good for a steal and four assists every time he steps on the court.
Wilson Chandler, SG/SF/PF, DEN (29% Owned) - Strong Cats: FT%, 3PM, REB
Another guy on his way up and with an incredible performance in his last game is Wilson Chandler. The veteran has been a rollercoaster ride this season, but if he can play like he did last time around in the four games Denver have in these two weeks, he can win a matchup or two for his owners.
On Feb 10 against the Suns, Chandler hit 11-of-15 from the field, 3-of-4 from downtown, made his only free throw, added three boards, three assists, a steal and no turnovers in 40 minutes of action. If he is available in your league, be quick to react. He might not be for very long.
Davis Bertans, SF/PF/C, SAS, (2% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL/BLK
Davis Bertans has been getting decent playing time lately. In 2018 he has averaged 9.5 PTS with 1.8 3PM on 43.1 FG% and 88.9 FT%, 3.2 REB, 1.8 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.5 BLK and 0.8 TO in 23 minutes a game.
Moreover, Aldridge is set to miss the Monday's contest against the Jazz because of a sore knee, and with San Antonio's next game coming on a back-to-back on Tuesday, it wouldn't be too surprising if coach Pop rested his star there too. So the Latvian could be in line for an even bigger role. If he uses his opportunity, he can prove vital to your deep league team's matchup in this All-Star double week.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Tony Snell, SG/SF, MIL (4% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT% - Beware! - incredibly frustrating to own
Thon Maker, PF/C, MIL, (5% Owned) - Strong Cats: BLK/STL, REB
Devin Harris, PG/SG, DEN, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: FT%, 3PM, STL
Trevor Booker, PF/C, PHI, (18% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, STL
Amir Johnson, PF/C, PHI, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Patty Mills, PG, SAS, (16% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, AST
Bryn Forbes, PG, SAS, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Hope you guys enjoyed the article and the advice, and I hope that this will help you win your matchups for next and bragging rights for the week after.
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