Point Guard
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | Luka Doncic | DAL | 3 | Doncic keeps the top spot even though he doesn't have a full slate. His Thumb may not be 100 percent but he continues to play through the pain. |
2 | Damian Lillard | POR | 3 | Lillard's Groin is feeling better and we shouldn't expect any limitations this week when it comes to playing time. |
3 | Trae Young | ATL | 3 | Young is feeling better as he was sick for a good portion of last week and we shouldn't expect him to miss any action this week. |
4 | Kemba Walker | BOS | 4 | Walker's Knee is feeling better and he hasn't looked back since returning and he'll continue to take advantage of Jaylen Brown being out by picking up a few more shots. |
5 | Russell Westbrook | HOU | 3 | We don't have to worry about Westbrook sitting for a game this week because the Rockets don't have a back to back at all. We have to start to wonder if down the stretch he'll play in back to backs? |
6 | Devonte' Graham | CHA | 4 | Graham will continue to thrive from a scoring and distribution standpoint. He'll toggle with Terry Rozier and he'll have plays in which he plays on the ball and others that he gets set up for shots. |
7 | Spencer Dinwiddie | BKN | 4 | Dinwiddie remains the second scoring option for Brooklyn and down the stretch we shouldn't have to worry about his minutes getting monitored as the Nets are fighting for a Playoff spot. |
8 | Jamal Murray | DEN | 4 | Murray should be one of the top-scoring Guards this week with the full slate and we can expect him to help with scoring, steals and assists. He takes at least 15 shots per game. |
9 | D'Angelo Russell | MIN | 3 | With Karl-Anthony Towns out for another few weeks, it completely benefits Russell and he'll continue getting the most shots on the team and he'll play deep into games. |
10 | Stephen Curry | GSW | 3 | INJ: Curry is sick and there's a chance he'll have to miss the Warriors first game of the week on Tuesday. Hopefully, he's feeling close to 100 percent by Tuesday morning. He missed his last game. |
11 | Chris Paul | OKC | 3 | Paul has been especially productive late in games and because the Thunder lack a lot of bench depth, their Guards will continue handling most of the offense. |
12 | Mike Conley | UT | 4 | Conley has been playing better over the last few weeks and because he has the full slate he moves up the rankings. He's been helping out with scoring and assists a bit more. He may have finally adjusted. |
13 | Tomas Satoransky | CHI | 4 | Satoransky remains one of the healthiest Bulls when looking at the season as a whole but with Lauri Markkanen , Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. back, he won't have as much time with the ball. |
14 | Lonzo Ball | NO | 3 | The Pelicans have a lot of Guards to feed and Ball has been able to hold up value. He's improved his long-range shooting throughout the year and he's been a fierce driver and he'll help grab boards. |
15 | Coby White | CHI | 4 | White has kept the Bulls offense moving at a quick pace and if Zach LaVine has to miss more time, he'll get a lot more shots and we should expect his minutes to be heavy for the rest of the way. |
16 | Ja Morant | MEM | 3 | Morant will continue handling more of the offense in Memphis since their big men are still banged up. Expect him to have at least another week with a usage bump until Jaren Jackson Jr. returns. |
17 | Eric Bledsoe | MIL | 3 | Bledsoe should see more shots to start the week with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined. He'll certainly get more time with the ball and we should see an uptick in assists as well. |
18 | Kyle Lowry | TOR | 2 | Lowry would be much higher in the rankings but he drew the short slate this week and he'll continue to keep the ball a bit more with Fred VanVleet still injured. Expect him to take more shots this week. |
19 | Dennis Schroder | OKC | 3 | Schroder should win the NBA Sixth Man Of The Year award this season because he's been a dangerous scorer off the bench who has taken advantage of the Thunder's lack of bench scoring depth. |
20 | Goran Dragic | MIA | 3 | Dragic has also been impressive off the bench and he's been able to produce against opposing second units and with other bench players still banged up, expect him to take more shots. |
Shooting Guard
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | James Harden | HOU | 3 | It's very difficult taking Harden out of the top spot and even when Westbrook is on the court with him, the lack of big men depth benefits Harden's production. |
2 | Donovan Mitchell | UT | 4 | Mitchell has had trouble sharing the backcourt with Conley for most of the year, but it's looked like they are over their struggles as both have been more productive for the most part lately. |
3 | Zach LaVine | CHI | 4 | INJ: LaVine has missed his last four games with a sore Quad and we are unsure whether or not he will be ready to go for Tuesday's game. He has been practicing. |
4 | Bradley Beal | WSH | 3 | Beal will continue to have the eternal green light when it comes to shots and we can expect more 30-point games down the stretch and with Ish Smith banged up, he'll get time to run the point. |
5 | Terry Rozier | CHA | 4 | Rozier will continue logging heavy minutes and he'll get fed a lot both on and off the ball. He remains the Hornets second scoring option and he's great on transition because of his speed. |
6 | Caris LeVert | BKN | 4 | LeVert is the Nets top scoring option and will keep that title for the rest of the way. Injuries have taken him down this year a bit, but he'll be the go-to guy for the rest of the season. |
7 | Marcus Smart | BOS | 4 | Smart has done a great job of filling in for injured Celtics Guards all season and we can always trust him to put up defensive stats, but if he's open he'll shoot or drive making him a reliable scorer. |
8 | Jimmy Butler | MIA | 3 | INJ: Butler is dealing with an injured Ankle and Toe and even though Butler doesn't seem like he's in much pain from the injury, we'll have to see how he is feeling before his first game this week on Wed. |
9 | Jrue Holiday | NO | 3 | Holiday continues to help a ton with scoring and dishing. He is able to slowly pick apart the lane and doesn't have to charge into opposing players in the lane to put up production. |
10 | Khris Middleton | MIL | 3 | Middleton will see a lot more shots to start the week with Antetokounmpo hurt and we've seen what he could do this season when the Greek Freak is off the floor. Expect more usage. |
11 | DeMar DeRozan | SAS | 3 | DeRozan will continue seeing more time with the ball and mid-range shots while LaMarcus Aldridge recovers from a Shoulder injury. Expect his usage to be at an all-time high until LMA returns. |
12 | CJ McCollum | POR | 3 | McCollum won't see as many shots with Lillard back on the floor, but he's still the Blazers second option and he'll get plenty of time with the ball and he'll help a bit with boards and steals. |
13 | Andrew Wiggins | GSW | 3 | Wiggins will be the Warriors second scoring option with Curry back on the floor, but, Curry is sick and he might have to miss their first game of the week and that would give Wiggins more shots. |
14 | Jaylen Brown | BOS | 4 | INJ: Brown has a full slate of games this week and he's currently dealing with a strained Hamstring and he'll miss at least the Celtics first game of the week on Tuesday. |
15 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | OKC | 3 | INJ: Gilgeous-Alexander missed his last game with a sore Hip and his status is uncertain heading into his first game of the week on Wednesday. |
16 | Lou Williams | LAC | 3 | Williams wasn't producing as much as he was before Paul George 's leash on his minutes was loosened. He'll have his up and down games when it comes to scoring. He's reliable for dimes and steals. |
17 | Collin Sexton | CLE | 3 | Sexton will continue seeing more shots until Darius Garland returns and the Cavs big men have been in and out of the lineup and we can constantly expect him to get a lot of action. |
18 | Devin Booker | PHX | 2 | Booker would be much higher in the rankings this week, but unfortunately the Suns drew the short slate. He'll see more shots if Deandre Ayton has to sit. |
19 | Kevin Huerter | ATL | 3 | INJ: Huerter is stealing with a sore Groin, but he shouldn't have to miss any action this week and with Cam Reddish a bit banged up, he could be looking at more minutes. |
20 | Josh Hart | NO | 3 | Hart will continue having a safe amount of minutes with JJ Redick still sidelined. He can fill in at multiple spots and he can even bring the ball up if needed. |
Small Forward
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | LeBron James | LAL | 3 | James keeps the top spot without the full slate and he's starting to get the consideration he deserves to possibly steal the MVP from Antetokounmpo. He's a mega-multi-category producer. |
2 | Gordon Hayward | BOS | 4 | Hayward was a bit banged up last week, but his Leg is feeling better and we shouldn't expect him to have any limitations this week and with Brown still out, he'll log more shots. |
3 | Will Barton | DEN | 4 | After struggling for a stretch a few weeks ago, Barton has picked up his scoring and rebounding over his last few games and he'll even help dish dimes a bit as well. |
4 | Brandon Ingram | NO | 3 | Ingram will continue seeing a ton of shots even with Zion Williamson playing full minutes. He hasn't seen too much of his production taken away from him and he'll help pull down boards. |
5 | Kawhi Leonard | LAC | 3 | Even though Leonard has three games scheduled this week, the Clippers do play a back to back later in the week and we can expect Leonard to sit for a game as he has all season long. |
6 | Miles Bridges | CHA | 4 | Bridges has quietly been more productive over the last few weeks and it's taken most of the season for him to get into a strong groove and he'll continue getting more time w/ the ball as the third option. |
7 | Taurean Prince | BKN | 4 | Prince is a very frustrating player to own because he has the ability to attack the lane but the Nets continue to keep him at the arc for the most part. He'll help a bit with rebounding. |
8 | Joe Harris | BKN | 4 | Harris will continue to benefit from Garrett Temple being hurt by getting more minutes and he'll even get time to run the point. He won't hurt shooting percentages and he'll grab steals. |
9 | Joe Ingles | UT | 4 | Ingles has a very similar role in Utah as Harris does in Brooklyn and he'll come in and play strong perimeter defense by grabbing swipes and he'll take open three-pointers. |
10 | Otto Porter Jr. | CHI | 4 | Porter just surpassed the 20-minute mark for the first time since returning from injury and we'll have to see if the Bulls continue to give him more minutes. Don't be surprised if he takes a game off. |
11 | Tim Hardaway Jr. | DAL | 3 | Hardaway is feeling better and we can expect full minutes and usage from the Mavs third scoring option this week. He'll provide some rebounding and steals help. He's a strong long-range shooter. |
12 | Duncan Robinson | MIA | 3 | Robinson will continue to see more minutes with Tyler Herro and even Jae Crowder banged up. He's very reliant on his long-range game and sets up a lot at the arc and will mostly score off of three's. |
13 | Terrence Ross | ORL | 3 | Ross will see more minutes and starts with Evan Fournier hurt and because we don't know when we'll see Fournier take the court again, he could become the team's third or fourth scoring option. |
14 | Tobias Harris | PHI | 2 | Harris is lower in the rankings this week because the Sixers have a short slate of games. If Joel Embiid needs more time off the floor, expect Harris to continue being the prioritized scorer. |
15 | Troy Brown Jr. | WSH | 3 | Brown will get a good amount of shots in the Wizards lineup, but if he goes cold from the field he'll start passing off a lot more. He's been very helpful grabbing boards and steals. |
16 | Danuel House Jr. | HOU | 3 | With Eric Gordon a bit banged up, we could see more involvement from House in the Rockets offense this week and they don't have a lot depth off the bench and House plays 30 minutes per game. |
17 | Eric Paschall | GSW | 3 | Paschall will see even more usage if Draymond Green continues to sit with a Knee injury. Paschall can help at both forward spots. If Stephen Curry sits to start the week, he could be the second scorer. |
18 | Dorian Finney-Smith | DAL | 3 | INJ: Finney-Smith missed his last two games with an injured Hip and we'll have to see if he can make it back on the court for his first game of the week on Tuesday. |
19 | De'Andre Hunter | ATL | 3 | INJ: Hunter is dealing with a small Knee injury and it may cost him his first game of the week on Monday night. We may not know if he can go until close to game time. |
20 | Rudy Gay | SAS | 3 | Gay has seen more time with the ball as the Spurs frontcourt continues to be light in depth. Aldridge and Jakob Poeltl are still out and it's up to Gay and Trey Lyles to produce in the post. |
Power Forward
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | Jayson Tatum | BOS | 4 | Tatum takes the top spot this week with the full slate and with Brown out for at least the Celtics first game of the week, expect more overall production from Tatum. |
2 | Anthony Davis | LAL | 3 | Davis has been able to stay healthy and he'll always be in line for a lot of production and the Lakers never worry about playing time distribution with their other big men. |
3 | John Collins | ATL | 3 | INJ: Collins has a sore Thigh but he shouldn't have to miss any action and the Hawks second scoring option should be able to handle a full workload unless his Thigh tightens up before game time. |
4 | Kristaps Porzingis | DAL | 3 | Porzingis has realized that the Mavs don't have a lot of threats under the basket and he's been leaving the arc a lot more and it has benefitted him from a scoring and rebounding standpoint. |
5 | Bojan Bogdanovic | UT | 4 | Bogdanovic will sometimes have games in which he just scores and then he'll have others in which he's a multi-category producer. Expect mainly scoring from him and view other production as a bonus. |
6 | Lauri Markkanen | CHI | 4 | Markkanen has played over 20 minutes in the three games he has played in since returning. Hopefully he's shaken the rust and will be more productive on the glass this week. |
7 | Kevin Love | CLE | 3 | We're all waiting to see if the Cavs end up shutting down Love, but for now, we will take what we can get and he's the prioritized scoring big men and he'll take a lot of shots from the arc. |
8 | Paul George | LAC | 3 | George will continue seeing more minutes, but the second he's in pain, the Clippers Coaching Staff will have no problems pulling him out of games as George has been banged up throughout the year. |
9 | Julius Randle | NY | 3 | Randle remains the Knicks top scoring option and he'll produce from under the basket and take open three-pointers helping the Knicks stretch the floor. He'll help big time on the boards as well. |
10 | PJ Washington | CHA | 4 | Washington has been playing a lot better and because he's not hanging at the arc as much, it's resulted in more rebounds. He's scored 20-plus points in his last 2 games. |
11 | Paul Millsap | DEN | 4 | Since returning from injury, Millsap has been helpful with scoring and rebounding and even though Jerami Grant will steal some playing time for him, his role in the deep Nuggets rotation is solidified. |
12 | Zion Williamson | NO | 3 | Williamson continues to look very strong under the basket and it's great seeing him attack the rim more. When he shoots long-range shots, you just want to scream at the T.V. STOP THAT! |
13 | Danilo Gallinari | OKC | 3 | Gallinari will continue being the top-scoring big man for the rest of the way but he sometimes hangs too much at the arc and doesn't give the Thunder second-chance scoring opportunities. |
14 | Aaron Gordon | ORL | 3 | Gordon is the Magic's second scoring option and he's been a lot more productive since Jonathan Isaac went down months ago and now with Fournier out of the way, he'll get more shots. |
15 | Jerami Grant | DEN | 4 | Grant will still log 20 minutes per game in the Denver lineup as he proved himself while Millsap was out and he'll be used as a bailout option on offense and he'll help produce steals and blocks a bit as well. |
16 | Pascal Siakam | TOR | 2 | Siakam has the short slate this week but the Raptors top scoring option will get a lot of time with the ball even with Marc Gasol back in the lineup and he'll get fed in the post and at the arc. |
17 | Marcus Morris Sr. | LAC | 3 | The Clippers do have a back to back later this week and we should expect Leonard to sit for one of those games and that will translate into more minutes and production for Morris. |
18 | Larry Nance Jr. | CLE | 3 | Tristan Thompson being in or out of the lineup won't impact Nance as much from a playing time standpoint but every player that's out helps his cause and he's recorded two double-doubles in his last three. |
19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | 3 | INJ: Antetokounmpo is dealing with a Knee injury and he'll miss at least the Bucks first game this week. He could potentially return on Thursday, but his status is currently very much in the air. |
20 | LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | 3 | INJ: Aldridge remains out with the Shoulder injury and he doesn't seem like he's close to returning to action. He hasn't officially been ruled out just yet. |
Center
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis |
1 | Nikola Jokic | DEN | 4 | Jokic takes the top spot with the full slate and he drew a lot of criticism early on in the season but has since picked up his production and he's a good passer and will compile assists. |
2 | Rudy Gobert | UT | 4 | Gobert hasn't been as productive lately as teams have been double teaming him a bit more and we haven't seen as many double-doubles but he has compiled two of them in his last three games. |
3 | Andre Drummond | CLE | 3 | Drummond has been a bit banged up over the last week or two but after playing 33 minutes on Sunday we can all feel safe (for now) and expect him to play full minutes this week. |
4 | Hassan Whiteside | POR | 3 | Whiteside could be looking at his final week or two of full usage because Jusuf Nurkic is expected to make his return to the court for Sunday's game. Nurkic will need time though to get used to the offense. |
5 | Nikola Vucevic | ORL | 3 | Vucevic will be seeing even more usage and we can expect him to take more shots from the arc with Fournier hurt and possibly lost for the season. Owners can always expect strong rebounding as well. |
6 | Bam Adebayo | MIA | 3 | Adebayo has strong ball-handling skills and with other big men banged up, expect him to continue to log heavy minutes and he'll produce assists consistently. |
7 | Jarrett Allen | BKN | 4 | Allen remains in a timeshare with DeAndre Jordan but he doesn't eed a lot of time to produce points and boards and he's even blocked 1.3 shots per game this season. |
8 | Wendell Carter Jr. | CHI | 4 | Carter has played over 20 minutes in his last 4 games and we should expect him to continue calling for the ball a bit more in the post as he's struggled to hit double figures in scoring since returning. |
9 | DeAndre Jordan | BKN | 4 | Jordan is a volume player who doesn't need a lot of playing time to produce. Give the guy 20 minutes and he'll help with boards and blocks. View double-digit scoring as an added bonus. |
10 | Jonas Valanciunas | MEM | 3 | We don't know when Brandon Clarke or Jaren Jackson Jr. will take the court again but until they do, expect Valanciunas to play 27-30 minutes a game and he'll continue producing consistent double-doubles. |
11 | Daniel Theis | BOS | 4 | Theis has stood out among the Celtics big men and it's to the point that Enes Kanter doesn't have rotation security. Theis will see playing time for the most part in the mid to late-20's. |
12 | Cody Zeller | CHA | 4 | The Hornets are being very strange with how they are rotating their Centers as they are giving guys multiple games in a row off. Expect Zeller to play in the full slate, but watch the "injury report". |
13 | Domantas Sabonis | IND | 2 | Sabonis would be much higher in these rankings but the Pacers have the short slate and their guards are a bit injured and Sabonis should see more usage with Malcolm Brogdon sidelined. |
14 | Montrezl Harrell | LAC | 3 | Harrell will continue coming in off the bench and beating up opposing second units. He never has to worry about Ivica Zubac taking minutes away from him and he'll produce more when Leonard sits. |
15 | Steven Adams | OKC | 3 | Adams production has been up and down all season and he's pulled down double-digit rebounds in two of his last four games. He's blocked shots in his last three games. He won't always take a lot of shots. |
16 | Robert Covington | HOU | 3 | Covington will continue being the big man in the middle for the Rockets (as sad as that is) but it will force him in the post more and that will give him more opportunities to grab rebounds. |
17 | Deandre Ayton | PHX | 2 | INJ: Ayton has missed his last two games with an Ankle injury. We'll have to wait and see if he can make it back to the court for Tuesday's game. |
18 | Davis Bertans | WSH | 3 | Bertans will see a lot of shots from long-range and we will have to continue to watch his minutes and shots because at some point Thomas Bryant will get more involved in the rotation. |
19 | Derrick Favors | NO | 3 | Favors minutes are safe as we should expect him to play in the mid-20's for the most part, but we can't always rely on him for scoring. He's grabbed double-digit boards in three of his last six contests. |
20 | Joel Embiid | PHI | 2 | INJ: The Sixers have a short slate this week and their first game of the week is on Wednesday and hopefully my close of business on Monday, we will know whether or not Embiid will return to action. |