I feel like one of the ways you can tell you have made it as a fantasy analyst is when you get enough fantasy questions from readers to fill up a mailbag column. I have not come anywhere close to that at this point in my career, though I do have a couple of friends who ask me enough fantasy questions in any given week to fill a mailbag column all by themselves.
I thought one question in particular from my buddy Marty was important for this column. He asked if I try to avoid starting players from opposing teams in my fantasy NBA games the way many fantasy players do in fantasy basketball, football and hockey. It is a question I face every week when I put together my schedule breakdown, and this week is a great example of why I do not mind picking players from opposing teams.
Three of my picks these week have at least one game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, for reasons I will get into below. It just so happens the Timberwolves have a good schedule as well, and it would seem silly to pass up on Mo Williams just because I am already using Trey Burke. Speaking of Burke, let’s start with him in our weekly look ahead at the NBA schedule.
Trey Burke, Utah Jazz (Road vs. Clippers, Home vs. Timberwolves, Home vs. Hawks, Road vs. Timberwolves, Home vs. Pacers) Rudy Gobert made this list last week, and while he probably deserves to make it again this week, I decided to give some love to Trey Burke. Burke gives you just enough in every category to be a borderline play in 10-team leagues, but his schedule this week makes him a good pickup. The Timberwolves are last in the NBA in Defensive Rating and fifth in Pace and have passed the Lakers as the best fantasy matchup in the NBA. The Clippers are not far behind, as they are in the top half of the league in Pace and the bottom half in Defensive Rating.
Timofey Mozgov, Denver Nuggets (Home vs. Lakers, Road vs. Bulls, Home vs. Grizzlies, Road vs. Timberwolves) Unfortunately, the two teams with the best schedules next week do not have many players capable of taking advantage of those matchups. The Bulls and Grizzlies still are not great fantasy matchups, but they are not as bad as in previous seasons. Bookend matchups with the Lakers and Timberwolves are just too good to pass up.
Ben McLemore, Sacramento Kings (Road vs. Nets, Road vs. Celtics, Road vs. Timberwolves, Road vs. Pistons) The Timberwolves, Nets and Pistons are all in the top 10 for most opponents’ made three-pointers. Ben McLemore is averaging 1.8 3PM per game, and he has at least 10 points in seven consecutive games. He should be able to keep the streak going with this schedule.
Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City Thunder (Home vs. Suns, Home vs. Wizards, Road vs. Warriors) Roberson is limited offensively, but he is averaging 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game this month. The Warriors, Wizards and Suns have allowed the second, fifth and 13th-most steals to opponents. Roberson is a cheap source of steals this week.
Steve Blake, Portland Trail Blazers (Home vs. Raptors, Home vs. Hawks, Home vs. Lakers) It seems like Blake is widely considered a three-point specialist, but I was surprised to see he is averaging 4.2 assists per game. All three opponents are in the top 10 in the NBA in opponents’ assists per game. Next week is the middle of a seven-game home stand for Portland beginning the day after Christmas, which should help as well.
Mo Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves (Road vs. Jazz, Home vs. Kings, Home vs. Jazz, Home vs. Nuggets) The Jazz have the third-worst defensive efficiency in the NBA, with the Kings and Nuggets not far behind. Williams is averaging 10.7 ppg and 6.5 apg this season, and he could have a couple of big games next week.
Each pick in my weekly schedule breakdown is made independent of the others. If a player’s upcoming schedule can help your fantasy team, he will find his way into my article and possibly into my own fantasy lineups. Nothing else really matters.