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Win, win, win no matter what! It's not always that easy, is it?
When the going gets tough, and your bench guy just isn't up to the challenge it's wise to ponder over the option of cutting him loose for a streaming spot that can help you maximize games played and strengthen the areas you are targeting to win your matchup for the week.
As always, we're looking ahead to the NBA schedule for next week and pointing out a few options that can help you out. Here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 5.
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NBA Schedule Guide - Week 5
The two scarcest days next week are Tuesday with three and Sunday with five games, and Thursday is right behind with six games played. These are the days that will be our focus today.
Here's the low-down:
Teams with 4 games:
Boston Celtics
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
Teams with 3 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Houston Rockets
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz
Teams with 2 games:
San Antonio Spurs
Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 22
Tuesday: 6
Wednesday: 22
Thursday: 12
Friday: 18
Saturday: 18
Sunday: 10
Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: -
Tuesday/Wednesday: BKN
Wednesday/Thursday: CLE, MIA, MIN, WAS
Thursday/Friday: DEN, GSW, LAC, TOR
Friday/Saturday: BOS, CHA, IND, MIL, NOP, OKC, ORL, SAC
Saturday/Sunday: NYK
Sunday/Monday the following: CHI, PHO
Days with six or fewer games
Tuesday: 3 games
Thursday: 6 games
Sunday: 5 games
Teams playing on all three days:
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams playing on Tue/Thurs:
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Philadelphia 76ers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Utah Jazz (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
San Antonio Spurs (2 games - Tues, Thurs)
Teams playing on Tue/Sun:
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams playing on Thurs/Sun:
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Miami Heat (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Washington Wizards (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs)
Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Toronto Raptors (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Milwaukee Bucks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
San Antonio Spurs (2 games - Tues, Thurs)
Atlanta Hawks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs)
Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Tue, Wed, Fri)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Portland Trail Blazers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 5
Tuesday with three and Sunday with five games played are the hardest days to field a decent team, followed by Thursday (six games).
Golden State and the LA Clippers (both with four games this week) are the only teams playing on all three of these scarce days. Therefore, players from these teams look to be most valuable for streaming purposes.
There are five other teams that play two games on these three scarcest days:
- Tuesday and Thursday - Philadelphia, Utah (three games) and San Antonio (two games)
- Tuesday and Sunday - no other teams play on these two days
- Thursday and Sunday - Denver and Toronto (both with four games)
Players from these teams can prove helpful as well. Do beware though, San Antonio only has these two games on Tuesday and Thursday so after that it could be useful to pick someone else up.
Streaming Options for Week 5
Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75% of Yahoo leagues):
Reggie Jackson, PG/SG, LAC, (75% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Ivica Zubac, C, LAC, (72% Rostered) -Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Nicolas Batum, SF/PF, LAC, (66% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK
Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, LAC, (38% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, AST
Terance Mann, SF, LAC, (38% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Luke Kennard, SG/SF, LAC, (26% Rostered) -Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of REB
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (47% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK - buyer beware: missed four straight games due to health and safety protocols
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG, PHI, (77% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, AST, FT%
Seth Curry, PG/SG, PHI, (75% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL, FT%
Danny Green, SG/SF, PHI, (25% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL/BLK
Shake Milton, PG/SG, PHI, (35% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Furkan Korkmaz, SG/SF, PHI, (32% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Georges Niang, SG/SF, PHI, (32% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Joe Ingles, SG/SF, UTA, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Royce O'Neale, SF/PF, UTA, (43% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL
Hassan Whiteside, PF/C, UTA, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: BLK, FG%, REB
Devin Vassell, SG/SF, SAS, (28% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, PTS, STL/BLK
Thaddeus Young, PF/C, SAS, (55% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, AST, STL/BLK
Aaron Gordon, SF/PF, DEN, (71% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, STL/BLK
Monte Morris, PG/SG, DEN, (29% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL
Precious Achiuwa, SF/PF/C, TOR, (31% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL - buyer beware: questionable for Saturday's game + should see less playing time when both Pascal Siakam and Khem Birch return
Chris Boucher, PF/C, TOR, (59% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK/STL - buyer beware: should see less playing time when both Paschall Siakam and Khem Birch return
Shallower League Add
Nicolas Batum, SF/PF, LAC, (66% Rostered)
Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK
Let me just start this one off by saying that I absolutely adore Batum in category leagues (both head-to-head and rotisserie)! He helps out almost everywhere and doesn't hurt you anywhere.
He displayed his versatility to the fullest in the past week and averaged 14.7 PTS with 4.0 3PM on 62.5 FG% and 66.7 FT%, 6.0 REB, 1.7 AST, 2.0 STL, 1.3 BLK and 1.0 TO in over 31 minutes per outing. This has him ranked at #21 for the last seven days and saw him skyrocket in % rostered in Yahoo leagues from 39% to 66% and counting.
Another reason to run and pick Batum up is that he plays Saturday and Sunday in Week 4, so he can still help you this week as well.
Now I know it's unlikely that such a stud with such a favorable schedule is still sitting on your wire, and it's equally unlikely that he can keep playing THIS WELL. But even if his output drops by 25-30%, he is still a good pickup as he will help out across the board, plays on all scarce days, and has four games next week.
Deeper League Add
Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, LAC, (38% Rostered)
Strong Cats: STL, AST
Bledsoe has looked a bit like his old self from the Phoenix days in his previous three games, averaging 13.0 points with 1.7 three-pointers on 50.0% from the field and 85.7% from the charity stripe, 4.3 boards, 3.7 dimes, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.0 turnovers in almost 32 minutes a night. This has him up at #62 for the previous week.
This alone is luring, and when you factor in the favorable schedule that the Clippers have ahead of them, Bledsoe becomes even more appealing:
- Two games on Saturday and Sunday in Week 4
- Games on all three scarce days (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) in Week 5
- Another game on Friday to make it a four-game week in Week 5
All this should be enough for you to roll the dice on Bledsoe should he still be available in your league. If you need some help in steals, assists, threes, or points that is.
Insanely Deep League Add
Bones Hyland, PG/SG, DEN, (4% Rostered)
Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, STL
High upside play right here. The 26th pick in this year's draft has been struggling to start the season, getting a variety of playing time - from DNPs to 20+ minutes. The good thing is that he is trending up, and his only two double-digit games came in his last two outings (12 and 15 points).
With Jamal Murray out, Denver is still searching for one of their many PGs to truly step up. The stating gig has been given to Monte Morris, but he hasn't really stepped up and is ranked outside the top 200 in Yahoo rankings so far this season. Other options like PJ Dozier and Facundo Campazzo, while all good players, don't exactly scream neither "top-talent" nor "starting caliber PG". Therefore, the opportunity is there for Hyland to work his way into a larger role.
Now, whether this will happen already next week, a little later in the season or three years from now is anyone's guess. But if you're a sucker for upside, stuck in a deep league and like gambling on young prospects - Hyland could be a pick that will pay you back with interest. His stronger sides are three-pointers, assists and steals. He shoots free throws well also, but at a low volume so he won't make too big an impact. And he might hurt your FG%, so do be careful about that.
Other Deep League Options for the Week
Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, GSW, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a little bit of everything
Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, GSW, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Gary Payton II, PG/SG, GSW, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL
Kevon Looney, PF/C, GSW, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Damion Lee, SG/SF, GSW, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT% - buyer beware: missed the previous two games due to a hip issue
Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, GSW, (3% Rostered) -Strong Cats: REB, AST, STL/BLK (but not a lot of any of them)
Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C, LAC, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, FG%
Paul Reed, SF, PHI, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB
Eric Paschall, PF/C, UTA, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: not much really...
Lonnie Walker IV, SG/SF, SAS, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, PTS
Drew Eubanks, PF/C, SAS, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Doug McDermott, SF/PF, SAS, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Bryn Forbes, PG/SG, SAS, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Jeff Green, SF/PF, DEN, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB
Bones Hyland, PG/SG, DEN, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, STL
PJ Dozier, PG/SG, DEN, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, a bit of PTS, REB, STL
JaMychal Green, PF/C, DEN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Khem Birch, PF/C, TOR, (16% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Svi Mykhailiuk, SF, TOR, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of PTS
Get that W!
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