Our weekly Fantasy Basketball Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we provide you with news and notes for each team, tracking hot and cold players, injuries and rotation changes.
Atlanta Hawks
Schedule: PHI, CHA
Injury Report: No
significant injuries.
Good Plays: No must-starts.
Toss
Ups: Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jamal Crawford
Bad Plays: Mike Bibby,
Jeff Teague, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia, Jordan Crawford
Notes: The Hawks are the only team in the
NBA to play just two games in Week 16. Both games come against teams
that allow below 100 points per game. ... Johnson, Smith and
Horford remain must-starts in average-based play, but you will have to
weigh your alternatives in average-based play. Crawford should only be
active in average-based play this week. ... Johnson seems to be hot
enough to activate in cumulative games even with the two-game slate. He
is averaging a 29-6-5 stat line over his last five games. ... Smith also
seems like a worthwhile play in cumulative leagues, averaging 18-3-9
with a couple of blocks and a steal over his last five. ... Horford is
averaging a 15-6-12 line over his last five. ... Williams is serving a
two-game suspension for his role in a skirmish against the Knicks. He is
due back on Feb. 4, but has not been worth much in Fantasy lately.
Boston Celtics
Schedule: @CHA, LAL, MIA
Injury
Report: Jermaine O'Neal
(knee/mid-February), Delonte West (wrist/out indefinitely)
Good
Plays: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett
Toss
Ups: Ray Allen, Glen Davis
Bad Plays: Kendrick Perkins, Shaquille O'Neal, Semih Erden, Nate Robinson
Notes:
The Celtics are likely in for three low-scoring games with all three
Week 16 opponents allowing under 100 points per game. Boston did manage
109 points in Los Angeles against the Lakers on Jan. 30, however. ...
Allen scored 21 points in that game against the Lakers and is averaging
17.4 points over his last five games. Consider him a solid play. ...
With Perkins back for the Celtics, coach Doc Rivers finally has the
ability to limit Davis' minutes like he has planned on doing for some
time. He is averaging 22.6 minutes over his last five games. His numbers
are down as a result. Sit him. ... Perkins is hinting at potential
Fantasy appeal, brining down 10 boards with eight points in just 25
minutes on Feb. 1 at Sacramento. Consider the matchup, however, and the
fact that he will face much tougher opposition in Week 16. We suggest
stashing him in any league, but are not sold on starting him just yet.
Charlotte Bobcats
Schedule: BOS, @IND, NJ, @ATL
Injury
Report: Tyrus Thomas (knee/March)
Good
Plays: Stephen Jackson, D.J. Augustin, Gerald Wallace
Toss
Ups: Boris Diaw, Kwame Brown
Bad Plays: Nazr Mohammed,
Gerald Henderson, Shaun Livingston
Notes: All four Week 16 opponents for
Charlotte allow below 100 points per game. Do not expect a very
high-scoring week. ... Diaw has cooled over the past week, averaging
just 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds. ... Brown is still chugging along,
getting around 30 minutes per game and offering around 10 points and
eight boards. Fantasy owners looking for a solution at No. 2 center can
do a lot worse.
Chicago Bulls
Schedule: @POR, @UTA, @NO
Injury
Report: Joakim Noah (thumb/late
February)
Good Plays: Derrick Rose,
Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng
Toss Ups: Taj Gibson
Bad
Plays: Kurt Thomas, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson
Notes: We are not anticipating high-volume
numbers this week for the Bulls, who will face three opponents that
allow below 100 points per game. ... Gibson was horrible in January,
averaging just 6.3 points and 5.6 rebounds. However, February got off to
a much better start with nine points, 12 boards, two blocks, two assists
and a steal on Feb. 2 at the Clippers. He is far enough removed from the
concussion he suffered in late December that this could be a sign of
things to come over the next couple of weeks before Noah gets back, but
the matchups this week are not in his favor.
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Player | Start % | |
1. | Dorell Wright, F, Warriors | 66 |
2. | Roy Hibbert, C, Pacers | 69 |
3. | Amir Johnson, F, Raptors | 41 |
4. | Marcin Gortat, C, Suns | 48 |
5. | Tracy McGrady, G, Pistons | 47 |
6. | Randy Foye, G, Clippers | 39 |
7. | Corey Maggette, F, Bucks | 47 |
8. | Channing Frye, C, Suns | 49 |
9. | Carlos Delfino, F, Bucks | 36 |
10. | Ersan Ilyasova, F, Bucks | 24 |
Cleveland Cavaliers
Schedule: @DAL, DET, LAC, WAS
Injury
Report: Daniel Gibson
(quad/day-to-day), Mo Williams (hip/out
indefinitely)
Good Plays: Antawn Jamison,
J.J. Hickson
Toss Ups: Ramon Sessions, Manny Harris
Bad
Plays: Daniel Gibson, Mo Williams, Anthony Parker, Christian Eyenga
Notes: Cavaliers coach Byron Scott is
thinking about keeping Harris in the starting lineup even once Daniel Gibson and Mo Williams are back
and healthy. It would come at the expense of the ineffective Parker at
small forward. Harris has been a productive scorer with the chance at
more playing time, scoring 19-plus in three straight games. His Fantasy
appeal is directly tied to how much playing time he will get once Gibson
and Williams are back in the mix. ... Gibson is nearing a return after
missing the team's last two games due to a sore quad. The team wants the
swelling to go down before he plays again. Barring setbacks, he should
definitely be back for a full slate in Week 16. However, his production
recently has not made him a positive play in Fantasy. ... Williams has
been out since getting hurt on Jan. 15.
Dallas Mavericks
Schedule: CLE, @SAC, @DEN, @HOU
Injury
Report: Peja Stojakovic (knee/out
until at least Feb. 7), Roddy Beaubois
(foot/early February), Caron Butler
(knee/out for the season)
Good Plays: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler
Toss
Ups: Shawn Marion
Bad Plays: DeShawn Stevenson, Jose Juan Barea, Roddy Beaubois, Peja Stojakovic, Brendan Haywood
Notes: Expect high-scoring games all week for
the Mavericks with four games against teams that allow 100-plus points
per game. ... This is a great week, given the matchups, to take a chance
on Marion, who is averaging 9.8 points and 7.8 rebounds over his last
five games. ... Stevenson might be worth taking a flier on in deep
leagues in an emergency, but he remains too inconsistent to trust. He
has scored in double figures just twice in his last 10 games. ...
Stojakovic could make his Mavs debut on Monday, but he is expected to be
brought along slowly. He has not played in an NBA game since November,
which makes it unlikely he would be able to take advantage of the
favorable matchups. ... Beaubois seems to get pushed back every time he
gets "close" to a return. Coach Rick Carlisle said on Thursday that
Beaubois is doing better, but "he's not there yet."
Denver Nuggets
Schedule: HOU, @GS, DAL, @MEM
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Nene
Toss
Ups: Arron Afflalo, J.R. Smith, Al Harrington
Bad
Plays: Ty Lawson, Kenyon Martin, Chris Andersen, Shelden Williams
Notes: The Nuggets have a couple of very
favorable matchups during their four-game slate in Week 16. The Rockets
allow 104.9 points per game while the Warriors allow the second most
points in the NBA at 106.5 points per game. ... Afflalo has not scored
in double figures in his last three games, but the shot volume is there
for him to post a decent week for deeper leagues. ... Smith has scored
in double figures in four straight and should be able to maintain that
kind of production in Week 16. ... If Harrington gets through the
weekend without any setbacks as a result of his foot injury, he can be
relied upon in deeper leagues for around 10-13 points and 6-7 rebounds
per game. ... Billups is healthy and playing well, which leaves little
room for Lawson to produce. Avoid him.
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Player | % Change | |
1. | Randy Foye, G, Clippers | 39 |
2. | Marcin Gortat, F, Suns | 25 |
3. | Carlos Delfino, F, Bucks | 17 |
4. | Tracy McGrady, G, Pistons | 16 |
5. | Chuck Hayes, G, Pistons | 15 |
6. | Kendrick Perkins, C, Celtics | 15 |
7. | Amir Johnson, F, Raptors | 14 |
8. | Timofey Mozgov, C, Knicks | 14 |
9. | Ersan Ilyasova, F, Bucks | 11 |
10. | Jason Smith, F, Hornets | 11 |
Detroit Pistons
Schedule: SA, @CLE, MIA, POR
Injury
Report: Rodney Stuckey
(shoulder/day-to-day), Jason Maxiell
(back/day-to-day), Jonas Jerebko
(Achilles'/out indefinitely)
Good Plays: No must-starts.
Toss
Ups: Tayshaun Prince, Greg Monroe, Tracy McGrady, Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey
Bad
Plays: Charlie Villanueva, Richard Hamilton, Austin Daye, Ben Wallace, Will Bynum, Chris Wilcox
Notes: Three of the four teams the Pistons
will face in Week 16 allow fewer than 100 points per game. Do not expect
big numbers this week. ... Prince averaged a very respectable 16-3-5
stat line in January. He is one of the only Pistons players seeing
consitently heavy playing time and is worth activating as a No. 3/4
forward in standard formats. ... Monroe was hot in early January, but
became very inconsistent later in the month. His last few games suggest
another hot streak, as he is averaging 11.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.0
steals and 1.0 blocks over his last five. ... Say what you will about
McGrady, but right now he appears to be a reliable start in Fantasy. He
is averaging a 14-7-5 stat line over his last five games, including good
games against good defensive teams like Orlando, Miami and Charlotte.
... Is Gordon back? Not quite. Some of his recent big numbers are due to
the absence of Stuckey, who is expected back soon -- possibly as soon as
the weekend.
Golden State Warriors
Schedule: PHO, DEN, @PHO, OKC
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Monta Ellis, David Lee, Stephen Curry
Toss Ups: Dorell Wright,
Andris Biedrins
Bad Plays: Reggie Williams, Vladimir Radmanovic
Notes:
The Warriors should be in line for high-volume games all week. They
play a Suns team that allows 106.3 points per game twice, a Denver team
that allows 104.3 points per game and a Thunder team that allows 102.5
points per game. ... Wright, who was reserved in many leagues in Week 15
becuase of a two-game slate, should be activated across the board. Over
his last five games, he is averaging 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8
assists. Those numbers could all rise in Week 16. ... Take note of
Biedrins, who is coming off a pair of double-doubles. He will not stray
too far from 10 points and 10 rebounds, but he can also chip in some
blocks and steals.
Houston Rockets
Schedule: @DEN, MIN, DAL
Injury
Report: Brad Miller (knee/out
indefinitely), Jordan Hill
(ankle/day-to-day), Yao Ming
(ankle/out for the season)
Good Plays: Luis Scola, Kevin Martin
Toss
Ups: Kyle Lowry, Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes
Bad
Plays: Shane Battier, Brad Miller, Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams
Notes: Brooks and Lowry are just about
splitting duties. With a three-game slate, they should only be activated
in larger cumulative formats. In average-based play, they are merely
low-end plays for now. ... There remains no concrete return date for
Miller, but Week 16 seems unlikely given where he is at in his recovery.
He will need a few practices before he returns. ... With no Miller,
Hayes is averaging 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds with 2.0 steals over his
last five games while seeing around 35-40 minutes a night.
Indiana Pacers
Schedule: @MIA, CHA, MIN, @MIL
Injury
Report: Brandon Rush
(ankle/mid-February)
Good Plays: Danny Granger, Darren Collison
Toss
Ups: Roy Hibbert, Mike Dunleavy, Paul George
Bad
Plays: Tyler Hansbrough, Josh McRoberts, Jeff Foster
Notes:
Granger has a sinus infection heading into Friday's game against
Portland. He is expected to be fine, but keep an eye on his status prior
to next week. ... Since taking over for the fired Jim O'Brien, interim
coach Frank Vogel plans to put more trust in his point guards, which
should benefit Collison. In two games under Vogel against Toronto and
Cleveland, Collison is averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0
rebounds, which is an improvement from his season averages of 13.9
points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds. ... George is starting to show
consistent production and has scored in double-figures in five of the
past six games entering Friday. He is averaging 12.4 points and 3.8
rebounds over that span. ... Hibbert is hoping February is better than
January -- which was his worst month of the season -- when he averaged
9.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. For the year, Hibbert is averaging 12.4
points and 7.9 rebounds.
L.A. Clippers
Schedule: @ORL, @NY, @CLE, @TOR
Injury
Report: Eric Gordon (wrist/out
indefinitely), Baron Davis
(back/day-to-day), Craig Smith
(back/day-to-day), Chris Kaman
(ankle/out indefinitely)
Good Plays: Blake Griffin, Baron Davis
Toss
Ups: DeAndre Jordan, Randy Foye
Bad Plays: Eric Gordon,
Ryan Gomes, Eric Bledsoe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Rasual Butler
Notes: The Clippers will face three teams in
Week 16 that allow over 100 points per game. ... Davis appeared to tweak
his back Wednesday against the Bulls, but played on. Monitor that
situation over the weekend, but he should be a solid play barring any
setbacks. ... Gordon appears to have made a considerable amount of
improvement this week. Initially expected to miss a month with a wrist
injury, a sudden decision to join the team on its road trip made it
appear as though he was going to try to make an early comeback. He
refuted that on Thursday, however, saying he would not rush back. ... In
Gordon's absence, Foye is starting at shooting guard and playing well.
He has averaged 18.0 points per game over his last five games with
around four assists per game and good numbers in steals and 3-point
shooting. Considering the matchups, he makes for a solid low-end play in
any format. ... Jordan's playing time has remained steady, but his
numbers have gotten shaky. He is averaging 6.6 points and 6.6 rebounds
over his last five games, but owners looking for a stopgap option at
center could look to high-volume matchups as a possible reason to
activate him this week. At the very least, he should provide plus
production in blocks.
L.A. Lakers
Schedule: @MEM, @BOS, @NY, @ORL
Injury
Report: Andrew Bynum
(knee/day-to-day), Matt Barnes
(knee/March)
Good Plays: Kobe Bryant,
Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom
Toss Ups: Andrew Bynum
Bad
Plays: Ron Artest, Shannon Brown, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake
Notes: Artest refuted reports suggesting that
he wants to be traded away from the Lakers this week, but his Fantasy
appeal remains poor. He has averaged just 8.4 points and 1.8 rebounds
over his last five games. ... Owners have been slow to activate Bynum
since his return from a knee injury and while he was forced to take a
game off on Feb. 1 vs. Houston, he has been very productive when healthy
enough to play. He is averaging 14.8 points and 7.0 rebounds with 1.5
blocks in his last four appearances. He is expected to play on despite a
precautionary decision to sit him due to some knee soreness.
Memphis Grizzlies
Schedule: LAL, @OKC, MIL, DEN
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley
Toss
Ups: Sam Young
Bad Plays: Tony Allen, Darrell Arthur, Xavier Henry, Greivis Vasquez
Notes:
O.J. Mayo will continue to serve
what is left of his 10-game suspension during Week 16. He is not
eligible to return until Feb. 15. ... In Mayo's absence, Young has taken
advantage of an increased role. He is averaging 12.5 points, 2.0 assists
and 2.0 rebounds since Mayo has been out. His best performance came on
Feb. 2 at Minnesota with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds, three
steals and a block. He could take advantage of similar high-colume
matchups against the Thunder and Nuggets.
Miami Heat
Schedule: IND, @DET, @BOS
Injury
Report: Mike Miller
(soreness/day-to-day), Udonis Haslem
(foot/late March)
Good Plays: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Toss Ups: Mike Miller
Bad
Plays: Mario Chalmers, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, James Jones, Joel Anthony, Carlos Arroyo, Eddie House
Notes: Miller continues to play well, albeit
inconsistently. He has managed three double-doubles in his last five
games but seems to be on one night and off the next. Use him as a
stopgap measure only in deep leagues in Week 16, but he is worth
stashing as a reserve. ... Since the Heat returned to full strength,
Chalmers has become a non-factor statistically again.
Milwaukee Bucks
Schedule: TOR, @WAS, @MEM, IND
Injury
Report: Andrew Bogut
(knee/day-to-day), Keyon Dooling
(illness/day-to-day), Larry Sanders
(illness/day-to-day), Drew Gooden
(foot/March), Michael Redd (knee/March)
Good
Plays: Andrew Bogut
Toss Ups: Brandon Jennings, Corey Maggette, Carlos Delfino
Bad Plays: John Salmons,
Keyon Dooling, Earl Boykins, Chris Douglas-Roberts,
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Larry Sanders
Notes: Bogut is dealing with a bone bruise in
his knee, but MRI results have been positive and he is expected to
return over the weekend. Barring setbacks, he should be a safe play in
Week 16 and should take advantage of favorable matchups all week in the
low post. ... Jennings has not looked sharp since his return from foot
surgery. His playing time has increased with each game, however, and he
is back in the starting lineup. He should get better with each game, but
is just a low-end play for now. ... Maggette is hot, averaging 21-2-6
over his last five games. ... Delfino has shaken off the rust after
missing so much time due to the lingering effects of a concussion. He is
playing well over 30 minutes per game and offers mid-teens scoring with
premium 3-point shooting and some modest production across the stat
line. ... Salmons played just 11 minutes in his return from a hip injury
and will be brought along slowly. Eventually, he will cut into the
production of Maggette and Delfino, but he is not ready yet.
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Team | Schedule | |
1. | Warriors | PHO, DEN, @PHO, OKC |
2. | Mavericks | CLE, @SAC, @DEN, @HOU |
3. | Clippers | @ORL, @NY, @CLE, @TOR |
4. | Suns | @GS, GS, @UTA, SAC |
5. | Spurs | @DET, @TOR, @PHI, @WAS |
Minnesota Timberwolves
Schedule: @NO, @HOU, @IND, PHI
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley
Toss
Ups: Darko Milicic, Luke Ridnour, Jonny Flynn, Wesley Johnson
Bad Plays: Corey Brewer, Martell Webster, Anthony Tolliver
Notes: Love could be playing with a chip on
his shoulder this week after getting passed over for the All-Star team.
Not that you needed another reason to start him. ... Milicic is
struggling again, averaging just 9.0 points and 5.8 rebounds over his
last five games. A four-game slate makes him appealing as a stopgap
measure in deeper cumulative leagues, but little else. ... Flynn is on
the verge of taking over at point guard, but it seems a split role is
what is ahead for both Flynn and Ridnour in the short term. That makes
each a very low-end option for Fantasy owners. ... Johnson is getting
around 10-13 shots per game in the offense now, with a good chunk of
that coming from beyond the arc. His scoring has been in the mid-teens
on a pretty consistent basis and he is worth taking a shot on in deeper
leagues.
New Jersey Nets
Schedule: NO, @CHA, NY
Injury
Report: Jordan Farmar
(back/day-to-day), Damion James
(foot/mid-February)
Good Plays: Brook Lopez, Devin Harris
Toss
Ups: Kris Humphries, Anthony Morrow
Bad Plays: Derrick Favors, Travis Outlaw, Troy Murphy, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar
Notes: Expect low-scoring games against the
Hornets and Bobcats, two teams that allow less than 100 points per game.
The game against the Knicks should be high-volume, however. ... Consider
Humphries a viable play in average leagues as a player that can offer
around 10-and-10 with about a block per game. However, he is a low-end
play in cumulative formats this week due to the matchups and three-game
slate. ... Favors still seems a bit overmatched and is struggling both
offensively and on the glass. Avoid him entirely. ... Morrow is
averaging 14-1-3 over his last three games and is merely a stopgap
measure for deeper average-based play this week.
New Orleans Hornets
Schedule: MIN, @NJ, @ORL, CHI
Injury
Report: Chris Paul
(ankle/day-to-day), Trevor Ariza
(ankle/out indefinitely), Emeka Okafor
(side/late February)
Good Plays: Chris Paul, David West
Toss
Ups: Jason Smith, David Andersen, Quincy Pondexter
Bad
Plays: Trevor Ariza, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Marcus Thornton
Notes: Ariza could miss as much as
two weeks with a bad ankle sprain, prompting the team to pick up free
agent Sasha Pavlovic as insurance. ...
In Ariza's absence, we could see Pondexter become a cheap source for
low-end double-digit scoring. ... With Okafor expected to miss at least
a couple of weeks, Smith has gotten a chance to start. In the first two
games since Okafor has been out, however, Smith and Andersen have
alternated useful performances. Use the weekend to see if somebody can
emerge. ... Belinelli and Thornton could see a slight boost in shot
volume with Ariza out, but both remain too inconsistent to trust.
New York Knicks
Schedule: LAC, LAL, @NJ
Injury
Report: Wilson Chandler
(calf/day-to-day), Kelenna Azubuike
(knee/out indefinitely)
Good Plays: Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton
Toss
Ups: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields
Bad
Plays: Toney Douglas, Timofey Mozgov, Ronny Turiaf, Anthony Randolph, Shawne Williams, Bill Walker
Notes: Gallinari is hot again, averaging 21.0
points over his last five games. It is time to get him active again if
you reserved him during his recent offensive woes. ... Chandler is
expected to return over the weekend after missing three games due to a
calf injury. He should be a safe play for the upcoming scoring period,
barring setbacks. ... Fields is averaging 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds
over his last five games. He is a safe play again after struggling
offensively for much of January.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Schedule: MEM, @SAC, @GS
Injury
Report: Nenad Krstic
(foot/day-to-day), Thabo Sefolosha
(knee/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook
Toss
Ups: Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka
Bad Plays: James Harden,
Nenad Krstic, Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, Eric Maynor
Notes: Green is rolling and playing big
minutes. He is averaging 44.0 minutes over his last five games,
contributing 17.2 points and 9.0 rebounds. He is a strong play again in
any format. ... As Green has re-emerged, Ibaka has faded away. He is
averaging just 5.6 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last five games.
Orlando Magic
Schedule: LAC, @PHI, NO, LAL
Injury
Report: Brandon Bass (ankle/late
February)
Good Plays: Dwight Howard,
Jason Richardson
Toss Ups: Ryan Anderson, Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu, Gilbert Arenas
Bad
Plays: Gilbert Arenas, J.J. Redick, Chris Duhon, Quentin Richardson
Notes: With Bass out due to injury,
Anderson is likely to see a signficant increase in playing time. Bass
could be out through the All-Star break. ... Nelson averaged just 9.5
points and 5.9 assists in January, losing much of his playing time to
Nelson since he was acquired via trade. Arenas is averaging 8.6 points
and 3.9 assists since joining the Magic. ... Turkoglu is averaging a
solid 11-6-5 stat line since joining the Magic and makes for a good play
in a four-game week in any format.
Philadelphia 76ers
Schedule: @ATL, ORL, SA, @MIN
Injury
Report: No significant injuries.
Good Plays: Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday
Toss Ups: Lou Williams,
Thaddeus Young
Bad Plays: Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Jodie Meeks, Andres Nocioni, Marreese Speights
Notes: Three of the Sixers' four opponents
in Week 16 allow less than 100 points per game. However, their fourth
opponent (Minnesota) allow the most points in the league (108.4). ...
Williams is averaging 15.2 points over his last five games with solid
3-point shooting (11 of 21), all while playing just 26.2 minutes per
game. ... Young continues to be shaky with his numbers, but has scored
20-plus points twice in his last five games. His erratic nature,
however, limits him to being merely a stopgap measure.
Phoenix Suns
Schedule: @GS, GS, @UTA, SAC
Injury
Report: Goran Dragic (foot/early
February)
Good Plays: Steve Nash
Toss
Ups: Vince Carter, Channing Frye, Marcin Gortat, Grant Hill
Bad Plays: Jared Dudley,
Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress, Goran Dragic, Mickael Pietrus
Notes:
The Suns have a favorable four-game slate with three games against
teams that allow 100-plus points per game. ... Carter has put up a
couple of stinkers over the last week, but should still be a positive
play this week given the high-volume games expected. ... Frye and Gortat
are both playing well and make for quality starts at center given their
matchups. Gortat is averaging 16.2 points and 9.6 rebounds over his last
five games -- all off the bench.
Portland Trail Blazers
Schedule: CHI, @TOR, @DET
Injury
Report: Wesley Matthews
(ankle/day-to-day), Marcus Camby
(knee/mid-February), Brandon Roy
(knee/out indefinitely), Greg Oden
(knee/out for the season)
Good Plays: LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller
Toss
Ups: Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum
Bad Plays: Rudy Fernandez, Brandon Roy, Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Patrick Mills
Notes: Despite a three-game slate, Matthews
remains a good play in cumulative leagues. He is averaging an 18-3-3
stat line over his last five games and continues to play nearly 40
minutes per game with Roy sidelined indefinitely. ... Batum is better
saved for averaged-based play this week, given the three-game slate. He
is averaging 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Sacramento Kings
Schedule: UTA, DAL, OKC, @PHO
Injury
Report: Jason Thompson
(ankle/day-to-day), Francisco Garcia
(calf/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins
Toss
Ups: Beno Udrih, Carl Landry, Omri Casspi
Bad
Plays: Samuel Dalembert, Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Donte Greene
Notes: Udrih is getting heavy playing time,
averaging 37.8 minutes per game over his last five. The production has
underwhelming (10-5-4). ... Landry has been held below 10 points in
back-to-back games after scoring in double figures in five straight.
Look to more consistent options where possible. ... Casspi is averaging
7.2 rebounds over his last five games and is also offering decent
3-point shooting and steals production while getting around 35 minutes
per game.
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Team | Schedule | |
1. | Hawks | PHI, CHA |
2. | Celtics | @CHA, LAL, MIA |
3. | Bulls | @POR, @UTA, @NO |
4. | Heat | IND, @DET, @BOS |
5. | Wizards | MIL, SA, @CLE |
San Antonio Spurs
Schedule: @DET, @TOR, @PHI, @WAS
Injury
Report: Matt Bonner (knee/day-to-day)
Good
Plays: Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
Toss
Ups: DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, George Hill
Bad
Plays: Antonio McDyess, Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner
Notes: Blair should benefit from matchups
against Greg Monroe, Andrea Bargnani, Spencer Hawes and JaVale McGee this week. None are considered above-average defensive
centers. ... Jefferson should thrive on the perimeter against the
Raptors and Wizards specifically, but has become little more than a
spot-up 3-point shooter for the Spurs. ... Hill is a potential stopgap
measure off the waiver wire for deeper leagues as a cheap source for
double-digit scoring. He can chip in decent numbers with high-volume
matchups against the Raptors and Wizards ahead.
Toronto Raptors
Schedule: @MIL, SA, POR, LAC
Injury
Report: Leandro Barbosa
(hamstring/day-to-day), Jerryd Bayless
(knee/day-to-day), Reggie Evans
(foot/early February), Linas Kleiza
(knee/out for the season)
Good Plays: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon
Toss
Ups: DeMar DeRozan, Leandro Barbosa, Amir Johnson
Bad
Plays: Reggie Evans, Ed Davis, Jerryd Bayless, Sonny Weems
Notes: Barbosa could return from his strained
hamstring over the weekend. He had been surging offensively prior to
getting hurt, but could use a few games to get his playing legs back
under him before he can get back on track. Consider healthy alternatives
unless he comes out of the gates scorching hot. ... Evans could be back
prior to the All-Star break, but without a concrete return date he
remains a player to avoid. ... Meanwhile, Johnson is on an absolute tear
in Evans' absence. He is averaging No. 1 forward type numbers over his
last five games with 17.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.2
steals per contest.
Utah Jazz
Schedule: @SAC, CHI, PHO
Injury
Report: Deron Williams
(wrist/day-to-day), Andrei Kirilenko
(ankle/day-to-day), Mehmet Okur
(back/day-to-day)
Good Plays: Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap
Toss
Ups: Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, C.J. Miles
Bad
Plays: Mehmet Okur, Earl Watson, Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward
Notes: Williams is dealing with a strained
tendon in his right wrist that has kept him out of four games. The team
considers him day-to-day, but there is no real timetable for his return.
Have healthy alternatives prepared and monitor his progress. ... Watson
has gotten a big boost in playing time in Williams' absence and has been
able to do a little but of everything. He posted a 10-13-2 stat line on
Dec. 28 against Minnesota and 11-8-9 on Feb. 2 against Houston. His
appeal is tied directly to the health of Williams, but he makes an
excellent handcuff option in the meantime. ... Kirilenko could miss
another couple of games due to a bad ankle sprain, but is listed as
day-to-day by the team. Monitor his progress over the weekend, but he
had been averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his
previous four outings. ... If Kirilenko misses extended time, Miles
would see most of the playing time at small forward, with Hayward also
seeing a modest spike in playing time.
Washington Wizards
Schedule: MIL, SA, @CLE
Injury
Report: Josh Howard (knee/early
February)
Good Plays: John Wall,
Andray Blatche
Toss Ups: Rashard Lewis, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Kirk Hinrich
Bad
Plays: Al Thornton, Josh Howard, Trevor Booker, Yi Jianlian
Notes: Lewis is playing 35-plus minutes per
game, but is averaging only 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over his last
five. Low-scoring matchups against the Bucks and Spurs in a three-game
week do not bode well for a sudden resurgence. ... Young has remains hot
offensively, averaging 22.8 points over his last five games. He also
offers good 3-point shooting and steals production.
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