Week 17 Fantasy Basketball Schedule Breakdown

With the commerce deadline within the rearview mirror, one other key occasion for the NBA season is on the horizon: All-Star Weekend. The festivities start on Friday in Indianapolis, leading to a change to the fantasy basketball schedule. Week 17 in customary leagues is 2 weeks wrapped into one, with video games on either side of the break used for weekly scoring. Let us take a look at the Week 17 schedule, wherein many of the NBA will play both 4 (13 groups) or 5 (15) video games, and some of its notable storylines.

Week 17 Video games Performed

6 Video games: GSW

5 Video games: CHA, CLE, DEN, HOU, LAC, LAL, MIL, MIN, NOR, ORL, PHI, PHO, SAS, UTA, WAS

4 Video games: ATL, BOS, BKN, CHI, DAL, DET, IND, MEM, NYK, OKC, POR, SAC, TOR

3 Video games: MIA

Week 17 Storylines

– Warriors and Warmth on reverse ends of the scheduling spectrum

Golden State would be the most energetic crew throughout Week 17, as they’re scheduled to play three video games on either side of the All-Star break. Not solely will they finish their pre-break schedule with a back-to-back, however they will start the post-break portion with one. Gary Payton II’s return will not affect fantasy basketball, however it does give Steve Kerr one other choice to work into the rotation. How will this have an effect on Brandin Podziemski and Klay Thompson? Whereas the talent units differ from what GPII brings to the desk, the latter has seen his minutes lower just lately, and being a part of the closing lineup is now not assured. Additionally, Chris Paul (hand) is because of be re-evaluated shortly. The rotation we see after the break may have some vital tweaks in comparison with how the Warriors go into it.

On the alternative finish of the spectrum is Miami, which solely performs three video games throughout Week 17. Two video games will probably be performed earlier than the break, with the Warmth enjoying a street back-to-back in opposition to the Bucks and 76ers. The lone post-break recreation is at New Orleans. Whereas managers with one of many Warmth’s most important choices should not be involved, what occurs with Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Caleb Martin? This can be the time to position them on the bench except there is a worthwhile various lingering on the waiver wire. In deep leagues, they need to be held, whereas the perfect plan of action in a shallow format could also be to drop them for a participant who may have the chance to play 5 video games through the “week.”

– Three groups end their pre-break slates with a back-to-back

Golden State, Memphis, and Utah would be the busiest groups heading into the All-Star break, as every has a Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back to navigate. By now, we all know all in regards to the Grizzlies’ roster points, with Vince Williams Jr. rising because the most secure non-Jaren Jackson Jr. possibility for fantasy basketball. GG Jackson gives intrigue, whereas Santi Aldama might be value a roll of the cube now that he is beginning. Nonetheless, three of Memphis’ 4 video games in Week 17 will probably be performed earlier than the All-Star break.

As for Utah, the Jazz play three of their 5 video games earlier than the break, and all 5 are at residence. Walker Kessler and John Collins are two gamers to trace, as Thursday’s loss to the Suns was the primary they began alongside one another since December 28. Each had been productive within the street loss, however Utah didn’t have the solutions defensively regardless of Phoenix enjoying with out Devin Booker. Kessler can present stable worth in a reserve position, though fantasy managers favor to see him within the beginning lineup. Collins has come off the bench in solely two of his 49 appearances this season, so the pattern measurement is simply too small to attract any vital conclusions.

– 14 groups start their post-break schedules with a back-to-back

The league schedule-makers need to see how match a few of these groups are popping out of the break. Almost half of the 30 groups will play a Thursday/Friday back-to-back to start their post-break schedules, with Charlotte (at Utah) and Washington (at Denver) taking up the unenviable activity of enjoying their first recreation at excessive altitude. The Hornets’ rotation seems a lot totally different than earlier than the commerce deadline, with all 5 additions seeing time in Saturday’s win over Memphis. Tre Mann, who began at level guard, Vasilije Micic, and Grant Williams had been probably the most impactful and are value a glance in fantasy of their new conditions.

The query for Washington is how wholesome Marvin Bagley III (again) will probably be popping out of the break. He began in his first recreation since January 31 however solely performed quarter-hour in Saturday’s loss to the 76ers. Will he be restricted throughout that back-to-back (at DEN, at OKC), or will he be a full go? With the Wizards buying and selling Daniel Gafford (the explanation why Bagley began on Saturday), the “greatest” various at middle could also be Kyle Kuzma, hoping {that a} compelled mismatch can mitigate the problems Washington may have defensively. Richaun Holmes didn’t play in opposition to Philadelphia, whereas Eugene Omoruyi (who, like Kuzma, is not a middle) performed eight minutes off the bench.

– What is going to managers get out of Alperen Sengun to start Week 17?

Whereas he and Jalen Inexperienced had been benched for the fourth quarter of Friday’s loss to the Raptors as a consequence of defensive struggles, the proficient middle was held out of Saturday’s recreation in Atlanta as a consequence of decrease again ache. Whereas Houston performs 5 video games throughout Week 17, three are scheduled for after the All-Star break. Sengun’s standing for Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Knicks impacts the whole roster, most notably the person who changed him within the beginning lineup on Saturday (Jeff Inexperienced).

Whereas he is not a middle, Uncle Jeff was stable in his 31 minutes on the ground. Jalen Inexperienced additionally benefitted, as he recorded a triple-double (26/14/10/1 with two 3-pointers). Additionally impacting the Rockets was the continued absence of Fred VanVleet, as he would have figured prominently within the playmaking had he been wholesome sufficient to play in opposition to the Hawks. If Saturday’s rotation was any indication, fantasy managers need not think about the potential of including Jock Landale ought to Sengun stay sidelined, as he solely performed 13 minutes off the bench.

– Will Spencer Dinwiddie or Kyle Lowry change into fantasy-relevant of their new properties?

Dinwiddie and Lowry hit the buyout market shortly after the commerce deadline, with the Raptors and Hornets, respectively, transferring in one other path. Each have since agreed to affix groups with loftier ambitions. Dinwiddie is headed residence, because the Los Angeles native has agreed to a cope with the Lakers. Lowry’s additionally becoming a member of his hometown crew, as he’ll reunite with Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse in Philadelphia. However will both participant be fantasy-relevant in his new position? Sadly, the reply is probably going no.

Whereas Lowry supplied Twelfth-round per-game worth in 9-cat codecs, Dinwiddie was two rounds worse. They usually’re each in conditions the place they will play behind established start line guards. Lowry and Dinwiddie have shared the court docket with different playmakers, which is related to their suits on rosters headlined by Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia) and D’Angelo Russell (Lakers). Dinwiddie’s path to offering fantasy worth in his new position could also be a greater one to navigate, because the Lakers haven’t got a lot depth on the perimeter behind starters D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves, particularly with it being unknown when Gabe Vincent (knee) will probably be wholesome sufficient to play.

– Regulate Simone Fontecchio in Detroit

Fontecchio didn’t begin his Pistons debut on Saturday, however he basically performed starter’s minutes within the six-point loss to the Clippers. Taking pictures 8-of-19 from the sphere, he accounted for 20 factors, 9 rebounds, one help, one steal, and three 3-pointers in 32 minutes off the bench. Starter Mike Muscala solely performed ten minutes alongside Jalen Duren. Detroit performs 4 video games throughout Week 17, two on all sides of the All-Star break. Can Fontecchio crack the beginning lineup? Does it matter, particularly if he can proceed approaching (or surpassing) half-hour? Given Detroit’s want for flooring areas, he might be an intriguing possibility in deep leagues, particularly with Quentin Grimes (knee) sidelined.

– Will the Knicks look to the buyout market to strengthen the middle rotation?

With Mitchell Robinson (ankle) nonetheless sidelined, Isaiah Hartenstein coping with a flare-up in his Achilles, and Jericho Sims coping with an sickness, New York lacked choices in Saturday’s loss to the Pacers. Taj Gibson began and logged 19 minutes, however as massive of a fan favourite as he’s, he should not be enjoying rotation minutes for a playoff contender. Give the veteran credit score for doing what he can for the crew, however the Knicks can be greatest served to look to the buyout marketplace for an alternative choice.

Sadly for them, the Thunder added Bismack Biyombo on Saturday, taking an intriguing title off of the listing of accessible choices. Will Leon Rose and firm look so as to add a physique earlier than the break, or will they give the impression of being to navigate their last two pre-break video games with the present roster as a substitute? The severity of Hartenstein’s Achilles challenge might considerably affect the reply to that query, even when Sims is accessible for Monday’s recreation in Houston. There is probably not a fantasy-relevant massive on the listing of present free brokers, however including an possibility would profit the forwards (Treasured Achiuwa and new addition Bojan Bogdanovic) who appeared overwhelmed of their respective stints on the 5 in opposition to the Pacers.

Gentle Sport Days

Thursday (February 15): 3 Video games

MIL vs. MEM

GSW vs. UTA

MIN vs. POR

Saturday (February 24): 3 Video games

ORL vs. DET

BOS vs. NYK

BKN vs. MIN

Week 17 Again-to-backs

Sunday (Week 16)-Monday: None

Monday-Tuesday: MIL, MIN