The Fantasy Basketball Weekly Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Each week,, we provide you with top matchups, the latest news and give you the scoop on injured players.
Projections are for Dec. 2-9 games.
Teams with four games (15): Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, L.A. Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Toronto, Utah
Teams with three games (12): Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, L.A. Lakers Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Portland, Sacramento, Seattle, Washington
Teams with two games (3): Indiana, Orlando, San Antonio
Teams with back-to-back games (19): Atlanta (Dec. 3/4), Boston (Dec. 7/8), Charlotte (Dec. 8/9), Chicago (Dec. 7/8), Cleveland (Dec. 4/5), Dallas (Dec. 5/6), Denver (Dec. 5/6), Detroit (Dec. 4/5), L.A. Clippers (Dec. 4/5), L.A. Lakers (Dec. 4/5), Memphis (Dec. 7/8), Miami (Dec. 6/7), Milwaukee (Dec. 4/5), New Jersey (Dec. 4/5), New York (Dec. 7/8), Philadelphia (Dec. 7/8), Phoenix (Dec. 4/5, 7/8), Sacramento Kings (Dec. 7/8), Utah (Dec. 3/4, 7/8)
Teams without back-to-back games (11): Golden State, Houston,
Indiana, Minnesota, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland, San Antonio,
Seattle, Toronto, Washington
On tap: The week ahead
features nine nationally televised games: Dallas at Chicago on Monday;
New Jersey at Cleveland on Tuesday; L.A. Lakers at Denver on Wednesday;
Denver at Dallas and Miami at Portland on Thursday; Chicago at Detroit
and Utah at San Antonio on Saturday; Golden State at L.A. Lakers on
Sunday
| FULLCOURT PRESS | |
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Hawks G Acie Law (ankle) is considered day to day and is practicing, but is still not an appealing Fantasy option as he's in a crowded backcourt situation. ... Bobcats C Ryan Hollins (shoulder) underwent an MRI that revealed no damage, but he is still experiencing soreness. He's not worth activating this week. ... Cavaliers F LeBron James (finger) should be a safe start for the upcoming scoring period despite the fact he missed Friday's game. He will play during the upcoming week. ... Clippers G Sam Cassell (calf) missed Friday's game and is still considered day to day. With the Clips slated for four games next week, Cassell is worth the gamble as a No. 3 or 4 option even if he doesn't play Sunday. ... Lakers C Kwame Brown (knee) hopes to return at some point during the week, but the great play of Andrew Bynum to date will make him a poor Fantasy option once he does return. ... Grizzlies F Darko Milicic (thumb) should be a safe start in larger Fantasy formats for the first time since being injured in mid-November. He is hoping to return within the next couple of games. ... Timberwolves C Theo Ratliff (knee) got another opinion from a different doctor, but remains day to day. Because there is still no definite timetable, we recommend sitting him until further notice. ... Timberwolves G Rashad McCants (knee) is considered day to day after being scratched from Friday's game. He did undergo microfracture surgery in the past, so any knee problems are a concern with him. Consider him a somewhat risky start this week. ... Timberwolves G/F Marko Jaric (foot) is expected to miss a few games and should be reserved. ... Nets C Nenad Krstic (knee) has been shut down for at least the next two weeks. Malik Allen will start in his place for now. ... Hornets C Tyson Chandler (mouth) had two teeth knocked out on Friday night and is considered day to day. He should be a safe start for the upcoming week with the Hornets slated for three games. ... Knicks G Stephon Marbury (shoulder) suffered a sort of whiplash Friday and is considered day to day. The Knicks are slated for for three games and Marbury should be viewed as no more than a No. 3 guard in larger leagues. If you have a healthy alternative, go with him. ... Seattle C Nick Collison (nose) is to be re-evaluated early in the coming week, but should be reserved in Fantasy. ... Raptors F Chris Bosh (groin) is considered day to day. If he does not play Saturday night, Bosh will be someone you will have to take a gamble on with the Raps slated for four games. ... Jazz F Carlos Boozer (ankle) and C Mehmet Okur (back) are both considered day to day, but should be safe starts for the upcoming week with the team slated for four games. |
| 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 | 12/3 | 12/4 | 12/5 | 12/6 | 12/7 | 12/8 | 12/9 |
| Denver Nuggets (DEN) | -- | -- | LAL | @DAL | -- | SAC | -- |
| They will face a Kings team that allows 104.1 ppg and a Lakers team that gives up 101.5 ppg. Considering the fact that the Nuggets average scoring 106.1 ppg, there should be some high-scoring affairs this week. Take a flier on Anthony Carter in deeper leagues as a stopgap and players like J.R. Smith and Linas Kleiza should also be worth a look in deeper formats this week. | |||||||
| Los Angeles Clippers (LAC) | -- | MIL | @SEA | -- | @SAC | -- | MIA |
| The Sonics allow 107.6 ppg while the Kings allow 104.1 ppg. The Clippers should be able to put up around 100 points against the Bucks as well and this should be a nice offensive week for them. Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas are great starts this week as third or fourth options. | |||||||
| Los Angeles Lakers (LAL) | -- | @MIN | @DEN | -- | -- | -- | GS |
| The Timberwolves allow 101.5 ppg, the Nuggets allow 102.3 ppg and the Warriors allow a league-worst 107.9 ppg, making for a very promising week ahead for Kobe Bryant and Co. Lamar Odom should get a boost to his low scoring numbers and Derek Fisher as well as Jordan Farmar become very good short-term options. Andrew Bynum is a must-start in all leagues. | |||||||
| Milwaukee Bucks (MIL) | -- | @LAC | @GS | -- | @SEA | -- | @POR |
| A West Coast swing could provide a nice offensive boost for them as they'll face the defensively-challenged Warriors and Sonics. Yi Jianlian and Charlie Villanueva should both get enough opportunities to produce this week. Andrew Bogut, Mo Williams and Michael Redd are must-starts. | |||||||
| New Orleans Hornets (NO) | -- | -- | DET | -- | MEM | -- | SEA |
| They'll get those very favorable Grizzlies and Sonics this week and should put up a couple of games in the 100-110 ppg range. Morris Peterson becomes a decent fringe option if you are looking for an injury replacement in deeper leagues and the team's big four are all must-starts this week. | |||||||
| 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 | 12/3 | 12/4 | 12/5 | 12/6 | 12/7 | 12/8 | 12/9 |
| Boston Celtics (BOS) | -- | -- | @PHI | -- | TOR | @CHI | -- |
| We would never ask you to sit Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce or Ray Allen. That would just be dumb. You should, however, consider reserving Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins in most leagues this week and don't even think about starting Eddie House. The three opponents the Celtics will face this week rank in the top-10 defensively. The Celtics may struggle to put up big scoring numbers. | |||||||
| Charlotte Bobcats (CHA) | @TOR | -- | CHI | -- | -- | CLE | @DET |
| The Bobcats will play a similar schedule to Boston's, but they also have the Pistons, who rank fourth in total defense by allowing just 92.6 ppg. Matt Carroll is a fringe Fantasy option who should be left off active rosters in anything but the deepest of formats. | |||||||
| Chicago Bulls (CHI) | DAL | -- | @CHA | -- | @DET | BOS | -- |
| The Bulls' struggles should continue this week as they'll face four opponents who average allowing less than 100 ppg. Kirk Hinrich should be reserved as he'll find it hard to break out of his funk against teams that pose tough matchups for him. There won't be much scoring to go around. | |||||||
| Detroit Pistons (DET) | -- | @ATL | @NO | -- | CHI | -- | CHA |
| All four opponents average allowing less than 100 ppg and the Hornets are third in the league defensively by allowing just 92.5 ppg. This is not a good week to start Antonio McDyess, Jason Maxiell or any of the team's secondary options. Stick with the big four and nothing more. | |||||||
| Memphis Grizzlies (MEM) | POR | -- | @HOU | -- | @NO | @ATL | -- |
| Three of their four opponents this week rank in the top-10 defensively and all four allow less than 100 ppg. The Rockets and Hornets will find a way to slow the up-tempo scheme of the Grizzlies and this might not be best week to go with Juan Carlos Navarro, Kyle Lowry or even Darko. | |||||||
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