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Hey there guys! Hope you missed me! After missing the first week due to some family obligations, I am back with the schedule analysis for next week.
The first week is behind us and we've had the opportunity to see most players in action and form some sort of informed opinion on who is hot and who's not. We will take all this into consideration along with the NBA schedule to see which players make the best streamers for this week.
If one of your bottom-of-the-draft guys is letting you down, perhaps you can utilize his spot more usefully if you devote it to streaming. For those of you who are in this boat along with me, here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 2.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 2
Two scarcest days next week are Tuesday and Sunday with five games apiece, closely followed by Thursday with six games played. These are the days that will be our focus today.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Portland Trail Blazers
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards
Teams with 3 games:
Boston Celtics
Chicago Bulls
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Teams with 2 games:
Phoenix Suns
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 18
Tuesday: 10
Wednesday: 20
Thursday: 12
Friday: 14
Saturday: 22
Sunday: 10
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: DEN
Tuesday/Wednesday: LAL, OKC
Wednesday/Thursday: ATL, MEM, WAS
Thursday/Friday: DAL
Friday/Saturday: CLE, DEN, IND, MIA, NOP, ORL, TOR
Saturday/Sunday: DET, MIL, UTA
Sunday/Monday the following: CHA, POR
Days with six or fewer games
Tuesday: 5 games
Thursday: 6 games
Sunday: 5 games
Teams playing on all three days:
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sun)
Teams playing on Tue/Thurs:
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sun)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
New York Knicks (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
San Antonio Spurs (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Teams playing on Tue/Sun:
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun)
Team playing on Thurs/Sun:
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Washington Wizards (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Dallas Mavericks (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Utah Jazz (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Phoenix Suns (2 games - Wed, Sat)
Sacramento Kings (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Phoenix Suns (2 games - Wed, Sat)
Boston Celtics (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Los Angeles Clippers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Oklahoma City Thunder (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 2
Tuesday and Sunday (five games played on both) are the hardest days to field a decent team, followed by Thursday (six games).
Dallas, Utah (four games this week) and Houston (three games) are the only teams playing on all three of these scarce days so their players could prove very helpful for streaming purposes.
There are six other teams that play two games on these three scarcest days - the Warriors, the Knicks, the 76ers, the Spurs (all play three games during the week, two of which are on Tuesday and Thursday), the Lakers (four-game week, two games on Tuesday and Sunday) and the Pistons (four-game week, two games on Thursday and Sunday). Their players are nice options as well.
Streaming Options for Week 2
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):
Joe Ingles, SG/SF, UTA, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Jae'Sean Tate, SF/PF, HOU, (58% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Alperen Sengun, C, HOU, (59% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, GSW, (37% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a little bit of everything
Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, GSW, (26% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Derrick Rose, PG/SG, NYK, (48% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (39% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG, PHI, (64% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, AST, FT%
Seth Curry, PG/SG, PHI, (60% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, FT%
Carmelo Anthony, SG/SF, LAL, (27% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of REB, FT%
Saddiq Bey, SG/SF, DET, (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, REB, PTS
Shallower League Add
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG, PHI, (64% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL, FT%
With Ben Simmons still not ready to participate in Philly's training sessions and fully rejoin the team, and the only other real PG on the roster Shake Milton on the sidelines, Maxey has played an integral part in the 76ers first two games, leading the team in playing time with 35.0 minutes a game while posting averages of 17.5 PTS with 1.5 3PM on 48.4 FG% and 100.0 FT% (or more simply, he made both of his FTs), 4.5 REB, 3.5 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.0 BLK and 0.5 TO.
Whenever he got the opportunity in his rookie year, Maxey almost always stepped up, and it's no different so far this season. Another step forward can be expected of Maxey, his huge minutes show that Doc Rivers trusts him, and in this sort of role you can expect him to give you 1-2 three-pointers, 15-20 points, 3-5 assists and boards per game on a decent FG% and a good FT% with low TO. With Philly playing on both Tuesday and Thursday, Tyrese could be a pretty good add for the middle of the week - provided that he is available in your league.
Deeper League Add
Devin Vassell, SG, SAS, (19% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
I actually like Vassell here regardless of his good schedule next week. I think he can be a sneaky add long-term as well. I'm getting some "Keldon Johnson from last season" vibes here (I'm talking fantasy value-wise) and with the Spurs not having too much talent on their roster at the moment, coach Pop is probably going to turn to the few young and exciting guys he does have. The 11th pick of the 2020 draft is definitely one of them.
I believe that Vassel will be getting 20-25 minutes in the next month or so, just like he did in the first two games, and he will have some gems and some duds in this time - again just like in his first pair of outings so far (19 PTS, 3 3PM, 2 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL in his first and 6 PTS, 1 3PM, 4 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL in his second game).
And in a few months' time, I would be surprised if his minutes don't trend towards the 30 mark, and his play doesn't become more mature and consistent.
If you're looking for a young talent who can gain a solid place in the rotation and climb up the ranks later on in the season, or just a streamer who can hit some threes and intercept some passes - Vassell might just be the guy for you.
Insanely Deep League Add
Cory Joseph, PG, DET, (1% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, FT%
I know what you must be thinking: "Milos's recommending Joseph, he must have lost his mind!". But bare with me here.
Joseph has been known to step up when filling in for starters he was backing up in previous teams on numerous occasions. Furthermore, if we take a look at his 19 games since arriving in Detroit last season, he was scoring 12.0 points with 0.7 threes per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 87.8 from the line (on 2.2 attempts a game), 3.2 boards, 5.5 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.8 turnovers in over 26 mins a game. He played 27 minutes in the season debut.
He wasn't anywhere near that hot as he shot 1-of-6 from the field for three points (one three-pointer), three rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and one turnover. But actually, had he hit another shot or two, the defensive stats would have made this a pretty decent line.
With the #1 pick in this year's draft Cade Cunningham out for at least the first two games next week, Joseph could just be that deep league guy to help you get the W in Week 2.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Jalen Brunson, PG, DAL, (13% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF, DAL, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a bit of STL/BLK
Maxi Kleber, PF/C, DAL, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, 3 PM
Dwight Powell, PF/C, DAL, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG% STL
Royce O'Neale, SF/PF, UTA, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, UTA, (19% Rostered) - Strong Cats: BLK, FG%, REB
Daniel Theis, PF/C, HOU, (24% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, BLK, FG%
Eric Gordon, SG/SF, HOU, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, FT%
Damion Lee, SG/SF, GSW, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, GSW, (3% Rostered) -Strong Cats: REB, AST, STL/BLK (but not a lot of any of them)
Obi Toppin, SF/PF, NYK, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Alec Burks, SG/SF, NYK, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, AST
Danny Green, SG/SF, PHI, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL/BLK
Furkan Korkmaz, SG/SF, PHI, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Doug McDermott, SF/PF, SAS, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Devin Vassell, SG, SAS, (19% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, STL
Lonnie Walker IV, SG/SF, SAS, (13% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, AST, PTS, REB
Kent Bazemore, SG/SF, LAL, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of REB
Rajon Rondo, PG, LAL, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, a bit of STL
Killian Hayes, PG/SG, DET, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB, but poor %s and TO
Cory Joseph, PG, DET, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, FT%
Josh Jackson, SG/SF, DET, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of REB
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.
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