If you look at the NBA in the same fashion as the NFL then there are 25 weeks of NBA action. By breaking down each week and analyzing team schedules you can load your roster with players playing more games and sit those who are playing fewer games.
If all this sounds like a lot of work then you need not worry; because we have done the legwork for you. We are posting a weekly NBA start em’ and sit em’ fantasy guide to assist you in maximizing your fantasy roster potential.
You have made it to the final week in the NBA regular season, no reason to take your foot off the accelerator now. It’s a nice feeling to win your office fantasy pool but it brings greater satisfaction when you obliterate your competition. With that in mind lets take a look at the best fantasy options you have this week at your disposal.
Week 24 in the NBA runs from April 9 through to the 16th; which is the official end to regular season ball. As you set your fantasy roster this week keep in mind the teams and players who have something left to play for at this point in the season and those who don’t. It’s not likely that the big three in Miami will be playing heavy minutes and one can all but guarantee that the San Antonio Spurs will be resting some of their better players down the stretch too.
Every team down the stretch run here has either four or five games at hand, all that is except the Dallas Mavericks who play a measly three. I would definitely be sitting all Mavericks in lieu of busier fantasy options here.
The Charlotte Bobcats have secured a playoff spot but for them they can ill afford to coast into the postseason as their first round matchup will be against a team like Miami or Indiana. Momentum will be large for Charlotte and the two players tasked with ensuring it continues are Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson.
Over the last ten games Walker has been putting up very solid numbers as evidenced by his 18.1 ppg, 7.5 apg and 4.3 rpg averages. Big Al on the other hand has been a beast in the blocks averaging 23.4 ppg and 11.7 rpg over the same ten game stretch. Expect both players to see significant minutes heading down the stretch here as their remaining five games are all winnable.
Over in the West we see that desperation can be one heck of an inspiration as the Phoenix Suns are flying high right now and fighting for their playoff lives. The Suns are currently holding down the final playoff spot; however, their grasp on it is tenuous at best as Memphis isn’t going to be giving an inch.
The trio of Gerald Green, Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic are electric for the Suns and they carry the load offensively on a nightly basis. All three must be considered viable options for this week as the Suns are basically playing for their season in each game.
If I had to pick only one I’d take Dragic over Bledsoe and Green simply because he is more consistent and as a point guard does have the ball in his hands more. If only one of these three could register some assist numbers they would be a fantasy stud.
Our final stop takes us to Atlanta where the Hawks are battling the New York Knicks to see who gets to lose to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. I like the Hawks here as they have an extra game this week over the Knicks and with Carmelo Anthony’s shoulder injury, Paul Millsap should be able to generate more points for your roster.
Millsap is on a tear to end the season as he is averaging 20 ppg and 10.8 rpg over his last five contests and he has four consecutive double-doubles heading into this week. The Hawks know that they will need to win at least three of their last five games to get the last playoff spot and I expect a highly motivated Millsap to come through in a big way this week.