The Fantasy Basketball Weekly Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Each week, we provide you with top matchups, the latest news and give you the scoop on injured players.
Projections are for March 31-April 6 games.
Teams with four games (18): Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto, Washington
Teams with three games (12): Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, San Antonio, Seattle, Utah
Teams with back-to-back games (15): Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Houston, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington
On tap: The week ahead features 11 nationally televised games: Denver at Phoenix on Monday; Phoenix at Denver on Tuesday; Indiana at Boston on Wednesday and Golden State at Dallas on Wednesday; Chicago at Cleveland and Houston at Portland on Thursday; Dallas at L.A. Lakers on Friday; Orlando at Cleveland and Atlanta at Philadelphia on Saturday; Golden State at New Orleans and Dallas at Phoenix on Sunday.
| FULLCOURT PRESS |
| Cleveland G Daniel Gibson (ankle) was able to practice Thursday and expects to play Saturday at Detroit. Use that game to gage where he's at. Delonte West will be a poor Fantasy option in the upcoming week with Gibson back in the mix. ... Cleveland F/C Ben Wallace has been suffering from back spasms that will likely keep him out through the weekend. The Cavs don't play a game in Week 23 until Wednesday, though, and that should give him enough time to recover. With the Cavs slated for three games, play him at your own risk. ... Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki (leg) is out for at least the upcoming scoring period and possibly the next. Malik Allen is starting in his place, but is not a suitable Fantasy replacement. Brandon Bass has been a letdown in the two games without Nowitzki. ... Detroit G Richard Hamilton (hip) has missed three straight games and with the Pistons all but locked into their playoff position there is no need to rush him back. Consider him a very risky start if he doesn't play Saturday against Cleveland. ... Golden State G Mickael Pietrus has a mildly strained right hamstring and groin, making a return in the next week very questionable. Al Harrington has started at power forward in his place with Matt Barnes seeing a boost in minutes. ... Indiana F Jermaine O'Neal (knee) says he's "likely" to return in Week 23. With the Pacers slated for four games, he's certainly worth the risk. But Fantasy owners should realize that it's just that -- a risk. He hasn't played since mid-January. There is still no sign of Jamaal Tinsley (knee). ... L.A. Clippers F Elton Brand "may" return April 2 at Seattle if all goes according to plan. However, that's still a big if. His return has been pushed back several times already. His Fantasy owners are in the same boat as O'Neal except Brand hasn't played all year. ... Miami F Shawn Marion (back) continues to sit and there is still no indication that he'll return anytime soon -- if at all this season. All we know is that he "hopes to play again this season." Starting him means risking a big fat zero in head-to-head league playoff scenarios. ... Miami G Jason Williams (thumb) could return this week, but the current state of the Heat makes any of their injured players a big risk at this point. ... Milwaukee C Andrew Bogut (nose) is not expected to miss any time despite suffering what is believed to be a fracture. ... New York G Nate Robinson (knee) has missed three straight games and is still considered day-to-day. Consider him to risky to start if he sits out again Sunday at Atlanta. ... Washington G Gilbert Arenas (knee) is to be re-evaluated again on Monday. Monitor his situation on Monday afternoon, as his situation likely won't clear up until hours before game time as was the case this week. |
| F I V E T E A M S W I T H F A V O R A B L E M A T C H U P S |
| The following five teams have the best matchups for the upcoming week. That doesn't necessarily mean they will post the best Fantasy stats, but if you're looking for a one-week start or are trying to make a difficult decision between two players to use, lean toward players from these teams: |
| Team | 3/31 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/4 | 1/5 | 1/6 |
| Dallas Mavericks (DAL) | @LAC | -- | GS | -- | @LAL | -- | @PHO |
| Dirk Nowitzki's absence hasn't sparked much Fantasy value in the likes of Brandon Bass or Erick Dampier in the frontcourt, but Jerry Stackhouse's play has taken off. He's scored at least 18 points in the two games since Dirk went down and he even added eight rebounds and six assists Thursday against Denver. He'll get a chance to continue that success against four teams that allow over 100 points per game. The Warriors allow the most points in the league at 108.0 ppg and the Suns allow 105.3 ppg. Jason Terry should heat up in Week 23. |
| Denver Nuggets (DEN) | @PHO | PHO | -- | -- | -- | SAC | @SEA |
| They'll play a couple of back-to-back sets, but Fantasy owners couldn't have picked a much better week for them matchup-wise unless they could somehow manage to play themselves. The Nuggets, who allow 105.6 ppg, will face opponents that allow a combined 105.3 ppg. Who says they can't hit 168 points again? J.R. Smith is a great one-week stopgap option. |
| Memphis Grizzlies (MEM) | ATL | -- | NY | -- | GS | -- | @MIN |
| Their only "tough" matchup this week comes against a Hawks team that allows 99.0 ppg in the first game. After that, they'll face the Knicks (102.4 ppg), Warriors (108.0 ppg) and Timberwolves (101.2 ppg). Fantasy owners can look to Memphis for guard help off the waiver wire as a result. Mike Conley starts at the point and plays around 25 minutes per night and can provide Fantasy owners with scoring around 10 points. Kyle Lowry backs him up and sees similar minutes, with better assist and rebound numbers despite coming off the bench. And lately, Jarvaris Crittendon has gotten into the mix. He's available in all leagues and has scored at least 13 points in back-to-back games off the bench. |
| Milwaukee Bucks (MIL) | -- | NY | @WAS | -- | IND | -- | @IND |
| The Pacers allow 106.0 ppg, fourth most in the league, and the Bucks get to face them twice. The Knicks give up 102.4 ppg and that means the Bucks should hit triple-digits atleast a couple of times in Week 23. Look for Charlie Villanueva to have a solid week. Desmond Mason is also worth a look in larger leagues. |
| Phoenix Suns (PHO) | DEN | @DEN | -- | -- | MIN | -- | DAL |
| As mentioned above, the Nuggets allow 105.6 ppg. That's fifth most in the league and the Suns will start off the week by playing against them twice. Those two games should be a couple of high-flying track meets with players like Raja Bell, Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw getting into the mix. The Timberwolves allow 101.2 ppg as well. |
| F I V E T E A M S W I T H P O O R M A T C H U P S |
| The following five teams have the worst matchups for the upcoming week. That doesn't necessarily mean you should reserve every player from these teams, but try to avoid less-heralded performers from these squads if you have an alternative on your roster: |
| Team | 3/31 | 1/1 | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/4 | 1/5 | 1/6 |
| Charlotte Bobcats (CHA) | TOR | -- | CLE | -- | @TOR | BOS | -- |
| Sure, they play four games this week. But so do 17 other teams and most of them don't have to go up against only teams that allow under 98 ppg. Emeka Okafor has only recently been released from head coach Sam Vincent's doghouse and if you got by without him, you may want to consider staying with your alternate. |
| Chicago Bulls (CHI) | -- | BOS | -- | @CLE | -- | WAS | -- |
| They are in the minority this week, as one of the 12 teams that play just three games. All three come against opponents who allow under 100 ppg. The Celtics allow the least points in the league at 90.5 ppg and also allow the third fewest rebounds per game at 39.1 rpg. Ben Gordon has been struggling and is a player to consider reserving in Week 23. |
| Golden State Warriors (GS) | -- | @SA | @DAL | -- | @MEM | -- | @NO |
| The Warriors score the most points in the league, so they are used to spreading the ball around to five or six players every night for double-digit scoring. That's not likely to happen this week outside of the Memphis game. They'll take the dreaded trip through Texas to face a Spurs team that allows just 91.0 ppg and a Mavs team that allows 95.6 ppg. Then, they'll wrap up the week at a New Orleans team that give up just 95.2 ppg. Don't rely heavily on the Mickael Pietrus and Kelenna Azubuike of the world in Week 23. |
| New Jersey Nets (NJ) | -- | PHI | -- | -- | @DET | TOR | -- |
| They are one of the 12 teams that play just three games. And much llike the Bulls, they'll play three opponents who allow under 100 ppg. The Sixers are a direct playoff rival and their game should be a grind-it-out slugfest against a team that allows under 96.0 ppg. The Pistons allow the second fewest points in the league at 90.7 ppg and the Raptors allow 96.9 ppg. |
| Orlando Magic (ORL) | -- | NO | -- | -- | -- | @CLE | @NY |
| They do have one favorable matchup at the Knicks, but that game comes on the back end of back-to-back sets at the end of the week. Prior to that, they'll have two tough games against a red-hot Hornets team that allows just 95.2 ppg and against a Cavs team on the road that allows 97.4 ppg. If it's not Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis or Hedo Turkoglu, think twice. |
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