Use this information to play on Draft Kings and win. Claim your FREE $2 Entry for an NBA contest where you could with $50,000 in prizes.In my first NBA Schedule article I almost made an analogy between the first week of the fantasy season and a first date, but I wound up scrapping it because I did not think it was that interesting. Now I wish I had used it, because I am about to make another dating analogy.
First dates can be pretty difficult, but they are also fairly straightforward. You basically just have to dive right in and see what happens. For me, the hardest part is when you have been dating for a few weeks. If things are going great, I wonder when I will find my date’s fatal flaw. If things are just okay, I wonder if it just needs time or if I am wasting my time. If things go from great to not great, I question if it is a bad sign to have to work at it so early in a relationship.
The same is true of fantasy basketball. Most NBA teams have played four or five games, and it is nearly impossible to know what is a fluke and what is a portent of things to come. Have the Kings really put all of their defensive issues behind them? Did the 76ers? Can the Nuggets possibly be this bad? Are the Hornets for real? It is too early to know for sure.
There are only a few teams I feel confident about targeting for fantasy, and a few that are to be avoided. The Bulls and Pacers play slow and play very good defensively. That has been a staple under Tom Thibodeau and Frank Vogel, and I see no reason to believe it would change. The Raptors, Lakers, Nuggets, Celtics, 76ers and Clippers play fast and do not defend well. Thus far in this young season they are in the top half of the league in pace and the bottom half in defensive efficiency. Considering their personnel and recent history, I feel pretty confident targeting these teams for fantasy.
The following players have favorable matchups next week, which for our purposes goes from Monday, November 10 to Monday, November 17. I am not ready to commit to any of them long term, but for the next week they are definitely dating material.
Jeremy Lin, Los Angeles Lakers (Road vs. Grizzlies, Road vs. Pelicans, Home vs. Spurs, Home vs. Warriors)
Lin does not actually have a great schedule next week, but he is on this list because his schedule is noteworthy this week. The Lakers were on the schedule just once this week, when they lost to the Phoenix Suns Tuesday. They are off until Sunday, when they host the Charlotte Hornets. That is a lot of time for Kobe Bryant to rest, and for the Lakers to get better. Lin has played better as the season has gone along, and I think this time off will only help. He was actually dropped in a few leagues, and this may be your last opportunity to buy low.
Mike Dunleavy, Chicago Bulls (Home vs. Pistons, Road vs. Raptors, Home vs. Pacers, Road vs. Clippers)
None of these teams have what I would consider a good wing defender, and defenses will rarely focus on Dunleavy. The Pistons and Pacers like to slow the game down, which is not good for fantasy players, but the Raptors and Clippers hit the sweet spot of fast-pace teams that do not defend well. Dunleavy has been pretty good since going scoreless while chasing around Carmelo Anthony opening night. With Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler both playing, Dunleavy is in a good position to take advantage of his favorable schedule.
Channing Frye, Orlando Magic (Road vs. Toronto Raptors, Road vs. New York Knicks, Home vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Road vs. Washington Wizards, Road vs. Detroit Pistons)
The Knicks, Bucks and Pistons have allowed fewer points than expected so far, but I do not know how long they can keep it up. Frye is a good source of threes and blocks, and he will not hurt you in the other categories. As I mentioned in last week’s injury article, Evan Fournier is a good option for Orlando, as well.
Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs (Road vs. Clippers, Road vs. Warriors, Road vs. Lakers, Road vs. Kings, Home vs. 76ers)
Four consecutive road games are not ideal, and counting on any of the Spurs’ bench options for fantasy is often a fool’s errand, but the Spurs face five of the top eight teams in pace next week. The Spurs are a good road team anyway, which mitigates any risk Diaw carries. The rest of the Spurs fringe fantasy players should benefit as well, though Diaw is the only one who is completely healthy right now.
Marcus Morris, Phoenix Suns (Home vs. Nets, Home vs. Hornets, Road vs. Clippers, Road vs. Boston)
The Celtics are third in the NBA in pace and own the sixth-worst defensive efficiency. They do not have any post players who are particularly good defensively. The Nets and Hornets have not been great matchups so far, but the Clippers and Celtics have. Morris is just one of the Suns’ fantasy options; Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee and Alex Len could all be good pickups, depending upon what you need.
The players above offer a little bit of everything, and they are available in most leagues. If you need an injury replacement, or are playing the hot hand, these players are good targets. Fortunately for you, I am far better at fantasy basketball than I am at dating.