Week 23 (March 29-April 4)
Teams playing four games: Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, L.A.
Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York,
Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Antonio, Toronto, Washington
Teams
playing three games: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver,
Detroit, Golden State, Indiana, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, Orlando,
Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, Utah
Teams playing two games: None
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics (OKC, HOU, CLE): We don't like Boston's matchups
this week. The Thunder and Cavaliers are top-10 defensive teams. We
expect at least a couple of games under 100 points for the C's in a
three-game week. Don't take a chance on a fringe option like Rasheed Wallace or Kendrick Perkins if
you can avoid it. Perkins was scratched Friday night with a back injury,
but the injury is not considered serious.
New Jersey Nets (SA,
PHO, NO, @WAS): The Nets could be in for some good numbers this
week, so we are hoping that Terrence Williams
(foot) makes it through the weekend alright. He is expected to play as
soon as Friday night, however and makes for a solid low-end start in
standard formats with the numbers he has put up in March (13.5 points,
6.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists). Courtney Lee
has picked up his game the last two games, but that has been as a result
of Williams' absence. The Nets should be in for high-scoring games this
week against the Suns, Hornets and Wizards. All three teams allow over
100 points per game. The Suns allow the third most points in the league
(106.1).
New York Knicks (@UTA, @POR, @GS, @LAC): Wilson Chandler's chances of playing again this season seem to get
worse by the day. Unless his situation changes dramatically over the
weekend, don't count on activating him for Week 23. Danilo Gallinari benefits most and has been huge offensively the past
week with three straight games with 25-plus points. Start him in any
league. Toney Douglas has proven he is
no fluke and can also be started in any format. Matchups against the
Warriors and Clippers in a four-game week bode well for both players.
Philadelphia
76ers (OKC, @CHA, TOR): The Sixers list Lou Williams (back) and Thaddeus Young
(thumb) as day-to-day. Williams is dealing with back spasms that have
limited his playing time since around March 15. Young has a fractured
thumb that could sideline him a while longer. Neither player is
recommended, especially considering the tough matchups this week against
Oklahoma City and Charlotte. Both are top-10 defensive teams, but the
Bobcats are actually ranked first in the NBA in scoring defense. Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand aren't
great plays, considering the matchups.
Toronto Raptors (@CHA, LAC,
@PHI, GS): We like the matchups for Toronto this week, with three
games against teams that allow 100-plus points per game. The Warriors,
as everyone is painfully aware of at this stage of the season, allow
over 112 points per game. Unfortunately, the Raptors are once again a
team looking for a change in their rotation with Jose Calderon floundering. Jarrett Jack
could return to the starting lineup, but that's a situation to stay far,
far away from at this stage in the season. Hedo Turkoglu (illness) is still too rocky to trust in many formats,
so the matchups are really just going to benefit owners of Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani.
Central Division
| ||
Player | % Change | |
1. | Reggie Williams, Warriors | 24 |
2. | Toney Douglas, Knicks | 17 |
3. | Beno Udrih, Kings | 16 |
4. | James Singleton, Wizards | 12 |
5. | Anthony Tolliver, Warriors | 10 |
6. | C.J. Miles, Jazz | 9 |
7. | Joakim Noah, Bulls | 6 |
8. | Jrue Holiday 76ers | 6 |
9. | Earl Watson, Pacers | 6 |
10. | Spencer Hawes, Kings | 5 |
Chicago Bulls (PHO, @WAS, CHA): Luol Deng
(calf) could be done for the season after suffering a setback this week.
Don't count on having him back in your Fantasy lineups this season. Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) is back in the lineup, but he is only
able to play around 15 minutes per game and has not cut into the Fantasy
appeal of Brad Miller much, who remains
a viable No. 2 center option going forward. Taj Gibson has also been able to retain much of his Fantasy appeal
and has quietly been contributing double-double numbers over the past
week. He's a solid start this week with favorable matchups against the
Suns and Wizards. Kirk Hinrich is still
getting close to 40 minutes per game and makes for a decent play in
larger formats. Ronald Murray is a
stopgap option for deep, deep leagues. He's capable of double-digit
scoring at least.
Cleveland Cavaliers (MIL, ATL, @BOS): J.J. Hickson had a big game in Zydrunas Ilgauskas' return to the Cavaliers' rotation with 20 points in
26 minutes, but he had to go 9 of 11 from the field to do it. Ilgauaskas
will make Hickson and Anderson Varejao
erratic going forward and matchups against three teams that allow under
100 points per game this week means that scoring will be hard to come by
for all three players.
Detroit Pistons (MIA, PHO, @ATL): The
Pistons are sticking with Will Bynum
over Rodney Stuckey as a starter, but
it will be Stuckey seeing the majority of the minutes. That will hurt
both players going forward. With tough defensive matchups this week
against Miami and Atlanta, consider reserving both for what could be a
low-scoring week. For the most part, Jason Maxiell
has remained productive and has been averaging around 10 points and
eight boards with Ben Wallace (knee) less
likely to return by the day. He could maintain that type of production
this week, but the matchups don't bode well for any huge games out of
him outside of the Phoenix game. Tayshaun Prince,
Richard Hamilton, Jonas Jerebko and Charlie Villanueva
are all producing along the same lines lately and are underwhelming
plays given the circumstances.
Indiana Pacers (SAC, MIA, HOU): Roy Hibbert had an injury scare this week when he hurt his
jaw, but he was able to come back for Friday's game and should be a safe
play going forward. He'd been playing well just prior to the injury and
should benefit from the weak front court defensive matchups against the
Kings and Rockets this week. Brandon Rush
and Earl Watson are worth taking a flier
on in deeper leagues with T.J. Ford
(groin) still being a player to avoid.
Milwaukee Bucks (LAC, @CLE,
@CHA, PHO): Andrew Bogut (back) was
held out of the lineup Friday against Miami due to some soreness. Bogut
had been held to single digits in his previous three games in what may
be a related issue, so Fantasy owners could have a tough decision to
make if Bogut doesn't return for Sunday's game against Memphis. Prepare
healthy alternatives, just in case. Matchups against the Clippers and
Suns should provide for high-scoring games
Southeast Division
| ||
Player | Start % | |
1. | Drew Gooden, Clippers | 47 |
2. | Danilo Gallinari, Knicks | 46 |
3. | Toney Douglas, Knicks | 35 |
4. | Marcus Camby, Clippers | 60 |
5. | Reggie Williams, Warriors | 15 |
6. | Anthony Tolliver, Warriors | 45 |
7. | Grant Hill, Suns | 28 |
8. | Taj Gibson, Bulls | 31 |
9. | Roy Hibbert, Pacers | 48 |
10. | Brendan Haywood, Mavericks | 50 |
Atlanta Hawks (LAL, @CLE, DET): The Hawks have perhaps the worst
matchups in Fantasy this week against three top defensive teams. Don't
expect high-scoring games, which means fringe options like Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams
should be avoided in all formats. Temper expectations for Jamal Crawford.
Charlotte Bobcats (TOR, PHI, MIL, @CHI): We
like the matchups for the Bobcats this week. The Raptors, Sixers and
Bulls all allow over 100 points per game on a regular basis. Expect Raymond Felton and Boris Diaw to put up
useful numbers as a result of some inflated scores against those teams. Tyrus Thomas could also enjoy some of that boost, but he's a riskier
play considering the fact he's been held to under 10 points in four
straight games.
Miami Heat (@DET, @IND, @MIN): Jermaine O'Neal hyperextended his right knee in Friday's game against
Milwaukee, which will make him a questionable Fantasy option going into
Week 23. O'Neal has dealt with injuries all season, so this is nothing
new, but Fantasy owners will want to consider adding Udonis Haslem as insurance. He would see a boost along with Michael Beasley in the absence of O'Neal.
Orlando Magic (@DAL,
@SA, MEM): Two of the Magic's matchups in a three-game week are
against teams that allow under 100 points per game. Rashard Lewis, who had begun to heat up last week, has totaled just 16
points in his last two games. Considering the matchups, he may be a
player to consider reserving in cumulative head-to-head leagues. The
consistency just isn't there. Jameer Nelson
is not a great play, but could be counted on as a No. 4 guard in most
standard leagues this week.
Washington Wizards (@HOU, @NO, CHI,
NJ): Al Thornton is dealing with a
strained hip flexor that could sideline him for a couple of games.
Lately, his production has not been anywhere near the hot streak he
enjoyed initially following the trade to Washington and he isn't worth
the injury risk. Outside of Andray Blatche,
there really is no reliable Fantasy option on the roster. Mike Miller has some appeal in deeper leagues and can provide help
in three-point shooting this week thanks to favorable matchups.
Southwest Division
Dallas Mavericks (DEN, @MEM, ORL, OKC): The Mavericks get a pair
of very Fantasy-friendly matchups to start the week, but wrap up the
week against two of the better defensive teams in the league. Shawn Marion is dealing with some back soreness, but he's been able
to play through it and has averaged 13.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in his
last five games. He is still a good play. Brendan Haywood is seeing the majority of minutes again at center,
leading to numbers close to the 10-and-10 production he put up with the
Wizards. He's a sleeper for a good week in larger formats as a No. 2
center.
Houston Rockets (WAS, @SA, @BOS, @IND): Kevin Martin has been dealing with a sore shoulder, which isn't his
shooting shoulder, but was bad enough to keep him out of Thursday's
game. The injury also may have been the reason he scored just eight
points in Wedensday's game in Oklahoma City. He has been complaining
about the injury for over a week now and could be an injury-risk play
for Week 23, so prepare healthy alternatives and monitor his status over
the weekend.
Memphis Grizzlies (DAL, NO, @ORL): Marc Gasol (neck) and Zach Randolph
(ankle) are both day to day and hopeful that they can return for
Sunday's game at Milwaukee. Fantasy owners are going to have to pay
close attention to their progress over the weekend with both players
being must starts. Hasheem Thabeet has
seen a modest spike in Fantasy value due to the added playing time, but
we wouldn't recommend starting him in any league at this point. Mike Conley is seeing an increase in playing time and offensive
looks, leading to him averaging a 16-7-3 over his last five games. Start
him in any format.
New Orleans Hornets (LAL, WAS, @MEM, @NJ): Chris Paul is back, but he's looked very rusty in his first couple of
games. Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton have managed to retain their Fantasy appeal in the
initial stages of Paul's return, but be aware that as Paul's minutes
increase, Collison and Thornton will have to fight each other for
minutes. The good news for Week 23 is that the Hornets have three very
favorable matchups which should lead to high-scoring games. There could
be enough for all three players to put up good numbers, therefore
lessening the risk with each of them. Eventually, envision Paul
re-emerging as the primary and most productive Fantasy guard with
Collison and Thornton taking mild hits to their value.
San Antonio
Spurs (@NJ, HOU, ORL, @LAL): Manu Ginobili
has become an absolute beast in the absence of Tony Parker and George Hill has
emerged as a No. 2 caliber guard, with back-to-back 20-plus point games
in Week 22. Meanwhile, Richard Jefferson's
short-lived Fantasy boost has gone away. Start the team's new "big
three" and stay away from Jefferson despite the four-game week. He's
getting minutes, but the production simply is not there.
| ||
Team | Schedule | |
1. | Wizards | @HOU, @NO, CHI, NJ |
2. | Clippers | @MIL, @TOR, @DEN, NY |
3. | Nets | SA, PHO, NO, @WAS |
4. | Hornets | LAL, WAS, @MEM, @NJ |
5. | Raptors | @CHA, LAC, @PHI, GS |
Northwest Division
Denver Nuggets (@DAL, POR, LAC): The Nuggets don't have a very
Fantasy-friendly week ahead of them with just three games and two
against teams that allow under 100 points per game. Outside of some
re-shuffling at the backup point guard slot between Anthony Carter and Ty Lawson, there
really isn't much change here. Start Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and
Nene, use J.R. Smith as a No. 3 or 4
guard and avoid using Chris Andersen
where possible.
Minnesota Timberwolves (SAC, MIA, @OKC): The
Timberwolves have two very tough defensive matchups ahead of them in
Week 23 against the Heat and Thunder. Don't expect a big week out of Jonny Flynn and Corey Brewer as
neither player has shown much consistency the last two weeks. Only Kevin Love and Al Jefferson should be
active for Week 23.
Portland Trail Blazers (NY, @DEN, @SAC): Among
three-game teams, the Blazers have the most favorable matchups in Week
23. All three teams allow over 102 points per game. After struggling for
the first 10 games or so with the Blazers, Marcus Camby is back on track. Hopefully, you haven't given up on him
because he's capable of being one of the better centers in Fantasy in
the final couple of scoring periods.
Oklahoma City Thunder (@PHI,
@BOS, @DAL, MIN): James Harden
returned from his hamstring injury with a 23-point performance against
Houston that may have raised some eyebrows in your league. Yes, the
rookie does have this type of upside, but he remains too erratic to
trust in most standard leagues and won't be scoring 20-plus points on a
regular basis. Instead, he'll play around 25 minutes per night and offer
around 10 points and a couple of boards and assists with a steal and a
three pointer. If that kind of stat line helps you in your league, go
ahead and start him. He's healthy enough anyway.
Utah Jazz (NY,
GS, @LAL): Andrei Kirilenko (calf)
was able to return to the lineup Friday night in Indiana, but
re-aggravated the injury. It's the second time he's returned too soon
and could mean another extended absence for him. Consider healthy
alternatives. C.J. Miles has seen a nice
boost in his absence, but is more of a Head-to-head option for deeper
leagues. The matchups against New York and Golden State should help to
get him back on track.
| ||
Team | Schedule | |
1. | Hawks | LAL, @CLE, DET |
2. | Cavaliers | MIL, ATL, @BOS |
3. | Celtics | OKC, HOU, CLE |
4. | 76ers | OKC, @CHA, TOR |
5. | Grizzlies | DAL, NO, @ORL |
Pacific Division
Golden State Warriors (@UTA, NY, @TOR): Unless you are playing
against him in a Fantasy playoff game, you have to be rooting for Reggie Williams. Just last month, Williams was in the NBDL and now
he's dropping 20 points per night and playing big minutes in the NBA. As
always, be wary of Don Nelson's fickle rotation, but Williams is
producing at such a level he could be starting in any format. The
Warriors play just three games this week, but two are very
Fantasy-friendly matchups against the Knicks and Raptors. Anthony Tolliver is also a nice play at center and Chris Hunter has emerged as a possible stopgap measure for deeper
leagues as he's getting starts and decent playing time. Corey Maggette has taken a small step back to Williams and his
Fantasy value has gone from being a No. 1 option to more of a No. 3, but
he's still worth starting -- especially in category-based play. A boost
in minutes is always possible for him.
Los Angeles Clippers
(@MIL, @TOR, @DEN, NY): We love the matchups this week for the
Clippers. The Raptors allow the fourth most points in the league
(105.8), the Nuggets allow 102.6 points and the Knicks allow 104.5 per
game. That is an average of 104.3 points per game, nearly 10 points more
per game than the 95.6 they currently average as a team. Drew Gooden is coming off a very strong week and is virtually a
must-start this week considering the matchups. Eric Gordon's scoring has been down (around 15 ppg) lately, but
these matchups could help him get back to around 17-20 per game. Rasual Butler is a nice sleeper for deep leagues if a stopgap is
needed.
Los Angeles Lakers (@NO, @ATL, UTA, SA): Andrew Bynum's status is still up in the air for Week 23. He won't be
playing a full week and can't be trusted as a starter in weekly leagues,
but coach Phil Jackson has left his situation open-ended and the
possibility that he could return mid-week exists. That impacts players
who have benefited in his absence, mainly Lamar Odom and Ron Artest. The good
news is that the Lakers have decent matchups against New Orleans and
Utah in a four-game week, and our gut feeling says Bynum won't be back.
It's the time of year to take chances and we think Odom is worth that
risk right now. It could be the difference between winning and losing.
Phoenix
Suns (@CHI, @NJ, @DET, @MIL): Robin Lopez
(back) missed some time in practice this week, but will continue to play
on. Lopez and Channing Frye are
splitting playing time pretty evenly, with the same caveat: Lopez plays
when the team wants to go big and Frye when the team wants to run and
play small. Against the Bulls, Nets, Pistons and Bucks, we feel they'll
try to go big more often than small. Grant Hill
makes for a good play this week thanks to the four-game slate and his
recent well-rounded production.
Sacramento Kings (@IND, @MIN,
POR): Tyreke Evans (concussion)
will be re-evaluated on Monday and there should be a clearer picture as
far as his availability for Week 23. His status will determine the
viability of Beno Udrih, who has been
putting up monster numbers in Evans' absence. If Evans gets ruled out
for longer, Beno is a must-start. If not, Beno goes from being a strong
No. 2 guard in any league to more of a low-end starter. Matchups against
Indiana and Minnesota will help to cushion the blow. Spencer Hawes has gone on a little hot streak. Nothing major, but he is
offering around 13 points and decent rebounding. Considering his track
record this season, nobody should be overly confident starting him, but
he is one of your better fill-in center options this week. He strained
his lower back in Friday night's game and will have to be monitored as
well. Jason Thompson has fizzled out
again and is a player to reserve.
Do you have a Fantasy hoops question for our staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyHoops@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Weekly Planner in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. You can also follow Sergio on Twitter (@CBSGonzalez).