NBA Seasonal Playbook Pro Weekly Planner

Only half the league has four game weeks as we head into the final days of November, but there are some intriguing fantasy weeks ahead for a handful of teams, even if they aren’t playing a full weeks worth of games.

The Best of the Best

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have been fantasy gold all season. They are averaging over 119 points per game and their core four have all been playing better together with every passing game. The best part about their week ahead is they’re the only team with five games. They start a stretch of three games on four nights on Monday against the Pacers. They have two back to backs this week and games against the Jazz and Clippers, but the volume is there for an excellent fantasy week. 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Nasty Nine just got a 10th member in Toney Douglas, but the banged up Grizzlies have one of the best fantasy weeks ahead. They have four games and three of them are at home against the Blazers, Warriors and Sixers. Troy Daniels may have lost his short-term value with the signing of Douglas, but guys like Marc Gasol and Andrew Harrison should still be very good this week.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz are another really slow paced team that is going to be playing fast-paced teams all week. Outside of Memphis, they have the next best schedule with three of their four games at home and three of their four games are against three of the top four pace teams in the league. All the Gordon Hayward this week and hopefully George Hill can return soon and get a piece of that action.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are finally healthy and they have a golden week ahead of them. Outside of a road game in Orlando, their other three games are against teams that either rank in the top half of the league in pace or the bottom half defensively. Either way it should be great for guys like Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas.

Dallas Mavericks

Dirk Nowtizki is out indefinitely which means that the Harrison Barnes show can continue. However, the problem for the Mavericks is they don’t have many, if any consistent fantasy assets outside of Barnes. Wesley Matthews has been playing well lately, but we will get a true test of Dallas’ fantasy value this week. With four games and three of them against teams giving up over 106 points per 100 possessions, it’s a green light for your Dallas players in Week 7.

Denver Nuggets

Denver is always full of fantasy goodness but this week they get an added bump. The only downside is they are on their rodeo road trip, but it’s against the Sixers, Nets, Wizards and Magic, four teams that don’t strike up a ton of fear. Plus their first three games of the week are against teams averaging allowing more than 110 points per 100 possessions, so if they are at a pace that Denver likes, it could be a big bull week for Denver in yearlong fantasy.

Houston Rockets

Much like Denver, Houston also is a team you want plenty of in fantasy, but outside of closing their week against Dallas, Houston’s first three games are against teams allowing over 106 points per game on average. Plus, the Thunder and Lakers play at a fast pace like Houston, so those two games will be the ones to keep your eye out for starting Wednesday.

Indiana Pacers

Paul George is back for the Pacers so if you picked up Glenn Robinson III it may be time to cut bait on him. However, after a big win against the Clippers, these Pacers might be ready for a run. They are too talented to be muddling around .500 and with four games and three of them against the Warriors, Suns and Blazers, we should be getting some nice fantasy value from the five Pacers’ starters this week. 

Los Angeles Lakers

If you can get past the Lakers’ game against the Jazz on Monday, the rest of their week looks ripe for the picking. Plus, their backcourt has been decimated, so if Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram or Luol Deng are hanging out on waivers, you might want to grab them this week. After Utah they play Houston, Phoenix and New York, three teams allowing nearly 110 points per 100 possessions this season. Start em’ you got em’.

Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee is another team that outside of their top two players, it’s hard to find consistent fantasy value. That may be starting to change though. John Henson is looking good as the starting center and after a game against the Spurs, the Bucks play Portland, Atlanta and Washington. These three teams are giving up an average of about 112 points per game over their last respective five games. The Greek Freak and Jabari Parker might feast this week.

Orlando Magic

Orlando usually isn’t a team with a whole lot of fantasy power, but Serge Ibaka is starting to play really well, so if you own him you will want him in for your weekly lock leagues. Outside of a road game in Charlotte on Friday to start their second back to back of the week, the Magic have an inviting other three games against Washington, Boston and Denver. However, two back to backs does decrease their value slightly as we get further into the season.

Miami Heat

Outside of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, it’s hard to roster any other Heat players in shallow leagues this season. Tyler Johnson has been up and down and we don’t know if Wayne Ellington is going to remain this hot, but this week might be different. Miami gets to start their week against the Knicks at home and on the road against the Hawks, who have allowed 114.4 points in their last five on average. After that it’s pace up games against Cleveland and Chicago, so Miami might be in for a nice week.

Washington Wizards

To close out the best matchups this week we got to our nation’s capital, where Washington has a somewhat tasty week. They start on the road against the Nets, who play at a pace of 101.6 possessions per game, then finish it with three straight home games. Plus, Washington’s defense is allowing almost 106 points per game, so you know that some of these games might be played even faster in the second half if the Wizards are down.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns’ week starts like a lion against the Jazz, but it ends like a lamb against the Packers, Lakers and Pelicans. Phoenix could force those latter three opponents to play up in pace some as well, so look for the Suns to be in for a nice fantasy week. However, they do have one back to back this week, which is the only thing keeping them from being one of the best teams in year-long fantasy this week.

Other Four Game Weeks

Chicago Bulls

There are 23 teams with four game weeks, but not all of them are made the same. With the Rajon Rondo drama the Bulls matchup against the Blazers, who allow a league-worst 112.6 points per 100 possessions, looks even better. However, after that Chicago has to play three teams who rank in the top half of the league in defensive rating, so while the core guys are targets, don’t get cute with the Bulls this week.

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte has seen guys like Frank Kaminsky and Jeremy Lamb have big games at times, but other than that their fantasy value is mostly in their backcourt. Outside of their game against the Cavs though, the Hornets play three other teams who rank 24th or slower, so if they aren’t named Kemba Walker or Nicolas Batum, they are going to see a dip this week.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The defending champs have lost three games in a row heading into Week 7, so everyone sound the alarm! Outside of a game against the Knicks, none of their games this week will be easy. Toronto should be a solid fantasy game as last time it ended in a score of 121-117. However, their final two games of the week against Miami and Charlotte aren’t the greatest.

Detroit Pistons

Detroit just got Reggie Jackson back, who will probably see his minutes very slowly increase over the next few weeks before he is back to full strength. However, outside of Andre Drummond, it throws a wrench into the other starters for the Pistons. Tobias Harris probably takes the biggest hit now that Jackson is back, but as he gets his strength back it will start to eat into the usage of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Marcus Morris more. It’s already hard to tell which Pistons will have good nights in any game, but other than two games to close the week against Philadelphia and Minnesota, it’s a tough week for your Pistons.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves are still searching for an identity, but their fantasy identity is a three-headed monster of Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine. Gorgui Dieng has been coming on lately too, but outside of a game to finish the week at home against the Warriors, the rest of their schedule makes it tough to predict a strong week from even some of the aforementioned guys.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans might be getting back Tyreke Evans soon, so if you have an IR spot and he is still on waivers, a speculative add might be good. Even though he is expected to be on a strict minutes limit for the first several games, once he is back to full speed the Pelicans might improve even more. Jrue Holiday has been great and Anthony Davis looks like an MVP candidate if his team wasn’t 7-14. However, they do have four games this week and two of them are against Phoenix and Philadelphia, so look for some more greatness from Davis in at least those two games.

New York Knicks

After visiting the Heat on Monday, the Knicks’ schedule gets a lot better to close out Week 7. After facing Cleveland at home they head west to finish their week at Sacramento and against the Lakers. Kristaps Porzingis looks like he is usurping Carmelo Anthony as the Knicks’ leader on offense, but outside of those two and a surprisingly spry Derrick Rose, the Knicks’ don’t have many year-long fantasy assets worth rostering this week barring injury.

Philadelphia 76ers

The 76ers are dealing with some injury right now, so guys like Dario Saric and Ersan Ilyasova might be worth an add this week. Both should get some minutes in this banged up frontcourt, especially on Tuesday on the second leg of a back to back with Joel Embiid sitting out. These Sixers are suddenly fantasy rich and games against the Nuggets and Pelicans this week should continue that.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers’ defense has been atrocious this season, which has allowed for their fantasy assets to even get some garbage time production. However, Mason Plumlee is starting to come on, but the return of Al Farouq Aminu throws a wrench in the already tough-to-predict Blazers frontcourt. The backcourt is good to go this week, but the bigs are going to be tough. If you picked up Ed Davis this past month, it may be time to cut bait with Aminu back.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs may be without Tony Parker some this week which opens up slightly more value for this already juicy week for the Spurs. They are on the road against Milwaukee, Minnesota and Chicago, before finishing their week against the Nets. However, they do have a back to back against the Wolves, so be on the watch for head coach Gregg Popovich resting some of his veterans.

Three and Two-Game Weeks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Out of al the teams who don’t have four games this week, the Thunder present the best matchups and pathways to finding guys to stream. Steven Adams sprained his ankle on Sunday and is looking questionable for Monday. Enes Kanter might be a great streaming option this week, while the two guards should be locks in your lineup against the Hawks, Rockets and Celtics, three teams that have given up their fair share of fantasy production to their opponents this season.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors’ offense has been soaring behind their big three and despite having only three games, all three of them have some appeal. They play Cleveland, Minnesota and Boston this week so continue to lock in your core three Raptors and maybe even a stream option of Terrence Ross, who has scored in double figures in seven of his last 12 games.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are falling apart on offense after missing Paul Millsap for most of last week. Dennis Schroder picked it up and was a huge boon for his fantasy owners last week, but the Hawks have also been getting blown out and their defense is collapsing. Their three games aren’t that appealing this week, but guys like Schroder and Dwight Howard should still be fine plays.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are still without Jeremy Lin, so their backup guards should be holds this week. Outside of a road game against the Spurs, their other two games are against the Nuggets and Wizards, both winnable games. They don’t have any back to backs either, meaning Brook Lopez is safe in weekly lock leagues.

Sacramento Kings

After a huge fantasy week the Kings and DeMarcus Cousins might be in for some fantasy regression this week. They have only three games and two of them are against the two slowest paced teams in the league. Other than Cousins and Rudy Gay, it’s hard to trust any other Kings this week.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have a rare two-game week in Week 7 as they get two full days off from their loss to Indiana before they play the Warriors at home. After that it’s another two days off before playing New Orleans, but even though both match-ups are ripe and juicy, only two games means you can actually consider benching some of the Clippers’ studs in weekly lock formats. However, fading any team against the Warriors might not be a great idea, so if you have Clippers on your teams, just stomach the two-game week.