The Fantasy Basketball Weekly Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Each Friday, we provide you with top matchups, the latest news and give you the scoop on injured players.

Projections are for March 12-18 games

Teams with four games (16): Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles (Clippers), Miami, New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto, Utah

Teams with three games (13): Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, Los Angeles (Lakers), Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans/Oklahoma City, New York, San Antonio, Seattle

Teams with two games (1): Washington

On tap: The week ahead features 11 nationally televised games: Houston at Phoenix on Monday; Utah at Miami on Tuesday; Chicago at Philadelphia and Phoenix at Dallas on Wednesday; Miami at New Jersey and Los Angeles Lakers at Denver on Thursday; Detroit at Phoenix on Friday; Utah at Cleveland and Chicago at Memphis on Saturday; Dallas at Detroit and Minnesota at Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

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FULLCOURT PRESS

The Bobcats are now optimistic that injured F/C Emeka Okafor (calf) will be able to return to action by next Monday vs. Orlando. ... Bobcats C Primoz Brezec has not been able to help his team much in Okafor's place and hasn't helped Fantasy owners at all. ... Since Cavaliers G Daniel Gibson went down with a toe injury on March 1, Larry Hughes has moved over to the point and has enjoyed three stellar games. He scored over 20 points twice and has seen a nice boost in his assist totals. That trend should continue for at least the next two weeks with Gibson expected to be out of action. ... Pistons F Jason Maxiell has enjoyed a boost in playing time with Rasheed Wallace banged up. He isn't someone to throw in your active lineup just yet, but is worth monitoring in larger leagues as a possible stopgap. ... The return of Yao Ming in Houston has caused a stir in the team's rotation. Head coach Jeff Van Gundy has chosen to start Chuck Hayes along with Yao in place of Juwan Howard. Howard and Dikembe Mutombo are now coming off the bench and have become very poor Fantasy options. Hayes had 14 points and 11 rebounds Wednesday and is worth adding off the waiver wire. ... The most added player in CBS SportsLine leagues this week was Lakers F Brian Cook. He will very likely be the team's starting power forward for the rest of the regular season with Lamar Odom (shoulder) out and has put together three very solid games in a row since being thrown in with the starters. Luke Walton's return (loosely scheduled for March 15 at Denver) could impact Cook, but we anticipate both forwards playing enough to be used as No. 3 forwards in most formats. ... Knicks F David Lee (ankle) took a step back after returning and now feels he can miss more than a game or two as an MRI this week revealed some fluid on the outside of his right leg that has limited his jumping. The team's leading rebounder has to be considered a risky start in Fantasy play until he can prove the injury is behind him. ... Knicks G Steve Francis is back. Sort of. After declaring that he feared his career was over just over a week ago, he scored 26 points with six boards and three assists on March 3 at Atlanta and followed it up with 10, six and three Tuesday vs. Seattle. Pick him up if he was dropped in your league as the season-ending injury to Jamal Crawford has provided him with a new opportunity to contribute. ... Nets F Richard Jefferson (ankle) is expected to return some time over the weekend after missing nearly two months. Monitor his progress over the weekend before determining if he's ready for activation in Fantasy leagues. Bostjan Nachbar has been enough of an energy guy off the bench for the Nets in Jefferson's absence that he should continue to see regular minutes. Think about reserving him in larger leagues next week in case the team starts to go away from him, but don't cut him. He could prove to be a valuable low-end forward the rest of the way thanks to his three-point shooting and field goal percentages. ... Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko has seen his playing time and shots dwindle to the point where he's managed double digits in scoring just twice in his last nine games. ... Kings F John Salmons has gotten off to a slow start since replacing Ron Artest in the starting lineup, but was still able to put together a decent line on Thursday despite scoring just eight points. He had five boards and five assists as well.

F I V E   T E A M S   W I T H   F A V O R A B L E   M A T C H U P S
The following five teams have the best matchups for the upcoming week. That doesn't necessarily mean they will post the best Fantasy stats, but if you're looking for a one-week start or are trying to make a difficult decision between two players to use, lean toward players from these teams:
Team 3/12 3/13 3/14 3/15 3/16 3/17 3/18
Dallas Mavericks (DAL) @GS -- PHO -- BOS -- @DET
Aside from a late-week matchup against a stingy Pistons team, they'll be matched up against three teams that will have big problems stopping Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Josh Howard. The Warriors, Suns and Celtics are allowing 103.5 ppg on average. Considering the Mavs score an average of 100.4 ppg, there could be some fireworks this week. One thing's for sure: There will be a ton of shots going up and that means more points, assists and rebounds for Fantasy GMs. Jerry Stackhouse should be in for a solid week.
Denver Nuggets (DEN) -- POR -- LAL -- PHO --
Three home games and a matchup against a Suns team that allowed 108 points the last time the two teams faced off should mean this is the week for Carmelo Anthony to climb out of George Karl's doghouse. Allen Iverson and the rest of the team's supporting cast should also be in line for some solid lines in leagues that use averages.
Detroit Pistons (DET) -- @SEA @POR -- @PHO -- DAL
Much like the Mavericks, they'll end the week with a tough tilt. Still, it's the three games that lead up to it that make this such a promising week for the Pistons. The Sonics give up 101.3 ppg, the Trail Blazers 98.0 ppg and the Suns a whopping 102.8 ppg. It should be a good week for the starting five. Consider Antonio McDyess in larger Fantasy formats.
Houston Rockets (HOU) @PHO -- LAC -- @TOR -- @PHI
Now that Yao is back, it will be interesting to see how he gets up and down the court against the high-flying Suns. He'll certainly need his legs back under him for that game. The Rockets match up very well against the Clippers, who will struggle to contain Tracy McGrady due to their banged up backcourt. The Sixers will also have similar problems.
San Antonio Spurs (SA) -- LAC -- @MIL -- BOS --
The Clippers' backcourt issues will also be a problem against the likes of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and even backup guards like Michael Finley should be able to get in on the action in that game. Consider him as a possible stopgap in larger formats. The Bucks and Celtics both rank in the bottom 10 of the league defensively, allowing over 100 ppg.
F I V E   T E A M S   W I T H   P O O R   M A T C H U P S
The following five teams have the worst matchups for the upcoming week. That doesn't necessarily mean you should reserve every player from these teams, but try to avoid less-heralded performers from these squads if you have an alternative on your roster:
Team 3/12 3/13 3/14 3/15 3/16 3/17 3/18
Boston Celtics (BOS) -- @CHI ATL -- @DAL @SA --
All four of their opponents this week have spent most of the season among the top defensive teams in the league statistically. The Mavericks and Spurs went into the weekend raned third and first overall in the league in total defense.
Golden State Warriors (GS) DAL -- -- -- MIN @SEA --
Two of their three games come against above-average defensive teams, including a matchup against a Mavs team that gives up only 92.2 ppg this season. With Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson lugging around some nagging injuries, it could be a good week to go with healthier alternatives in leagues of less than 10 teams if they are available.
Los Angeles Clippers (LAC) -- @SA @HOU -- @CHA -- @NJ
No one wants to play the Spurs and Rockets on back-to-back nights on the road. With the Clippers carrying a thinned out backcourt, this could be a tough week to face the two top defensive teams in The Association. Elton Brand and Chris Kaman will be bumping around in the paint with the likes of Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Emeka Okafor -- that's not a good thing.
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI) -- @ATL CHI -- UTA -- HOU
All four of their opponents this week rank in the top half of the league defensively, including the No. 2 ranked Rockets who allow just 90.9 ppg and did that without Yao for much of the season. Andre Iguodala should continue to evolve into a must-start Fantasy stud, but the rest of the crew in Philly could be in for a sub-par week.
Washington Wizards (WAS) -- -- @IND -- -- NOK --
Of the 30 NBA teams, only one plays just two games this week. The Wizards won't be of much help to Fantasy GMs in leagues that use cumulative scoring systems and even the mighty Gilbert Arenas may be reserved in smaller formats as a result. The Pacers and Hornets both allow under 100 ppg and should make for some low-scoring games.

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