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 April 7-16 games.
Teams with six games (6): Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans
Teams with five games (24): Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Seattle, Toronto, Utah, Washington
On tap: The final scoring period features 15 nationally televised games: Utah at New Orleans on April 8; Boston at Washington and Phoenix at San Antonio on April 9; Denver at Golden State and L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers on April 10; Cleveland at Chicago on April 11; Philadelphia at Washington and Dallas at Portland on April 12; Toronto at Detroit, San Antonio at L.A. Lakers and Orlando at Chicago on April 13; Houston at Utah on April 14; Orlando at Atlanta on April 15; Utah at San Antonio and Seattle at Golden State on April 16.
| FULLCOURT PRESS |
| Boston G/F Paul Pierce missed Saturday's game to be with his new-born child who was born Friday evening. The Celtics have everything practically wrapped up in the Eastern Conference, so Pierce could be very limited in the final scoring period of the season. He remains a very solid start, but keep that in mind and temper expectations for all of your Celtics players for Fantasy Week 24. ... Chicago F Drew Gooden (abdominal) is listed as day-to-day, but he's considered doubtful for Tuesday's game and is too risky to use for this critical Fantasy week. He's no guarantee to play at all in the final games of the season. Joakim Noah has been seeing increased time in his absence. ... Dallas F Jerry Stackhouse (groin) is also a risky play for the week ahead. He's not expected back until possibly Thursday's game against Utah and could very easily miss the first two games of the week and possibly more. ... Detroit G Richard Hamilton (hip) has missed two straight games and the team is practically locked into the second seed in the Eastern Conference. He'll likely play in most of the final games of the season, but don't expect him to be pushed past 25 minutes often -- if all. The same goes for all the Pistons regulars. ... Golden State F Mickael Pietrus (groin, hamstring) is considered day-to-day and there just isn't enough of a guarantee that he'll play enough this week to be useful. Despite the Warriors' favorable matchups this week, sit Pietrus. ... Houston G Rafer Alston (hamstring) is considered day-to-day and was expected to return as soon as Sunday's game at the Clippers. He should be a safe start for the upcoming week with the Rockets fighting for playoff positioning, but will very likely be less than 100 percent. ... Indiana G Jamaal Tinsley (knee) will not return this season. ... L.A. Clippers G Cuttino Mobley (heel) is considered day-to-day, but should be a safe start for the upcoming scoring period. F Tim Thomas (Achilles') and C Chris Kaman (ankle) are dealing with more serious injuries and just don't provide enough of a guarantee that they'll play in the upcoming week to use them in Fantasy in must-win situations. Sit them. ... L.A. Lakers C Andrew Bynum (knee) will not return until the playoffs. ... Miami G Jason Williams (thumb) was expected back as soon as Sunday's game against Detroit and should return for the game against Chicago on Tuesday. This makes Chris Quinn a poor option for the upcoming week, but doesn't really mean Williams is a safe one either. The Heat obviously have nothing to play for and any minor setback could spell the end of the season for the injury-prone guard. ... Minnesota G Sebastian Telfair (ankle) hasn't played in nearly a month and is not guaranteed to return. Sit him in all leagues. ... Knicks C Eddy Curry (knee) is unlikely to return and is a must-sit in all leagues. ... Portland G/F Brandon Roy (groin) was expected to return for Sunday's game against San Antonio and should be a safe start for the upcoming scoring period. ... Sacramento is still dealing with injuries to most of their significant Fantasy contributors. F Ron Artest (thumb) is considered day-to-day. He should be a safe start, but he's surprised us all before. C Brad Miller (leg) is considered day-to-day and is a tad risky for the upcoming scoring period. He's worth the gamble, but could very easily miss a couple of games. G Beno Udrih (back) is also day-to-day and is in the same boat as Miller. ... Seattle G/F Damien Wilkins is not with the team due to personal reasons and is not a recommended start this week. ... Utah G Ronnie Brewer (groin) is considered day-to-day and should be able to play in the team's upcoming game at New Orleans on Tuesday. Consider him a safe play, but he's not guaranteed to play in all five games. ... Washington F Antawn Jamison (shoulder) is a tough call this week. The Wizards are locked into their playoff spot and don't need to rush him back. Play him at your own risk. |
| 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 | 4/7 | 4/8 | 4/9 | 4/10 | 4/11 | 4/12 | 4/13 | 4/14 | 4/15 | 4/16 |
| Charlotte Bobcats (CHA) | -- | MIN | @NY | -- | -- | @IND | -- | -- | @NJ | PHI |
| Only one of their opponents this week allows less than 100 ppg and that's the Sixers, who they won't play until the final game. The Pacers give up the fifth most points in the league at 105.6 ppg and the third most rebounds at 44.9 rpg. And the Knicks? Well, they're the Knicks. They allow 103.3 ppg and 42.4 rpg. This all means there should be enough points and rebounds to go around to make Matt Carroll worth a gamble. |
| Golden State Warriors (GS) | -- | SAC | -- | DEN | -- | LAC | -- | @PHO | -- | SEA |
| There isn't an unfavorable matchup in the bunch for the highest scoring team in the league. All five opponents allow over 100 ppg and four of them allow over 104 ppg. With the Warriors fighting for the final playoff spot, they certainly won't be taking any time off. Use your Warriors this week. |
| Houston Rockets (HOU) | -- | -- | SEA | -- | PHO | -- | @DEN | @UTA | -- | LAC |
| Four of their five opponents this week allow at least 100 ppg and the fifth, the Jazz, allow 99.8 ppg. The Rockets aren't guaranteed a playoff spot yet and they'll have to play out the string for playoff positioning, meaning no time off. Fantasy owners shouldn't worry about Tracy McGrady being limited and players like Luis Scola and Rafer Alston should be favored in toss-up situations. |
| Memphis Grizzlies (MEM) | -- | PHO | -- | -- | @MIA | MIN | -- | -- | @POR | @DEN |
| They do have one tough matchup in the second-to-last game of the season at Portland, but play four other teams that should more than make up for that. The Suns, Heat, Timberwolves and Nuggets all allow over 100 ppg and should provide the Grizz with at least a few 100-point games this week. Give your Grizz players the benefit of the doubt if you are deciding between them or other players. |
| Portland Trail Blazers (POR) | -- | LAL | -- | -- | @SAC | DAL | -- | -- | MEM | @PHO |
| Much like the Grizzlies, the Blazers do have one tough matchup this week -- although it certainly isn't against a Memphis team that allows the second most points (106.6 ppg) and fourth most rebounds (44.4 rpg) in the league. Their toughest matchup this week comes against a Dallas team that allows 95.8 ppg. Their remaining matchups all come against teams that allow over 100 ppg. |
| 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 | 4/7 | 4/8 | 4/9 | 4/10 | 4/11 | 4/12 | 4/13 | 4/14 | 4/15 | 4/16 |
| Miami Heat (MIA) | -- | CHI | -- | -- | MEM | -- | @CLE | @TOR | -- | ATL |
| They have just one favorable matchup out of five -- against Memphis. The rest of their games this week all come against teams that allow under 100 ppg. With the Heat in such an unstable state and with nothing to play for in the final week, using anyone other than Ricky Davis is a stretch. |
| New York Knicks (NY) | -- | @DET | CHA | -- | ATL | -- | -- | BOS | -- | @IND |
| Two of the six opponents they'll play this week allow over 100 ppg (Charlotte and Indiana). But the Bobcats allow just 100.9 ppg and the other three opponents the Knicks will face this week have been solid defensive teams this year. Including a Boston team that allows the fewest points (89.9 ppg) and the second fewest rebounds (38.7 rpg). Which Knicks can you trust at this stage? Just two. Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph. |
| Sacramento Kings (SAC) | -- | @GS | -- | -- | POR | NO | -- | SA | @LAL | -- |
| They have two favorable matchups this week sandwiched around three poor ones. But with every team playing at least five games in the final scoring period, everyone in the league has some promising games on the slate. The games against Portland (96.4 ppg), New Orleans (95.6 ppg) and San Antonio (90.9) ppg should make this a relatively low-scoring week-and-a-half. |
| Seattle SuperSonics (SEA) | -- | @DAL | @HOU | -- | -- | @SA | -- | DAL | -- | @GS |
| They end the season with the best of all possible matchups at Golden State, but the road ahead of them before that game is brutal. They take the dreaded trip across Texas against the Mavs (95.8 ppg), Rockets (92.2 ppg) and Spurs (90.9 ppg). They also play the Mavs twice. |
| Utah Jazz (UTA) | -- | @NO | -- | @DAL | -- | DEN | -- | HOU | -- | @SA |
| The Jazz face almost the same matchups as the Sonics, except they'll play the Hornets (95.6 ppg) on the road rather than play the Mavs twice. Instead of playing the Warriors for their one good matchup, they'll play an almost equally generous Nuggets (106.4 ppg) squad. |
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