Week 23 is an important in fantasy basketball for a lot of gamers, as it’s championship week in Yahoo! default leagues. Of course, with damage administration and tanking being what it has turn out to be, there are plenty of leagues which have already completed up. More than half of the NBA’s 30 groups play 4 video games in Week 23, whereas two are restricted to 2 video games. Let’s take a look at the schedule breakdown and a few key storylines heading into Week 23.
NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Utah Jazz
Fantasy Basketball Week 22 Injury Report: What’s up with Giannis Antetokounmpo?
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While the Bucks reportedly wish to shut down their star ahead, neither he nor the NBPA is on board with that concept.
Week 23 Games Played
4 Games: BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, LAL, MEM, MIL, MIN, ORL, PHI, PHX, SAS, TOR, UTA, WAS
3 Games: ATL, BKN, GSW, IND, LAC, MIA, NOP, NYK, OKC, SAC
2 Games: DEN, POR
Week 23 Back-to-backs
Sunday (Week 22)-Monday: BOS, MIA, OKC, WAS
Monday-Tuesday: CLE, DAL, DET, LAL, PHX
Tuesday-Wednesday: HOU, MIL, NYK, ORL, TOR
Wednesday-Thursday: GSW, SAS
Thursday-Friday: CHA, MIN, NOP
Friday-Saturday: PHI
Saturday-Sunday: WAS
Sunday-Monday (Week 24): CLE, MEM, ORL
Week 23 Storylines of Note
– The Trail Blazers have the worst Week 23 schedule.
Portland and Denver have two-game weeks, however the former’s schedule setup is way worse. While the Nuggets will play on Wednesday and Saturday, the latter being the lightest recreation day of Week 23, the Trail Blazers are energetic on Tuesday and Thursday. A participant like Jrue Holiday or Toumani Camara could have some worth to start the week, however they’re going to be of no use to fantasy managers for the ultimate three days. Managers in leagues that permit for lineups to be set day by day might want to account for this when using their transactions for the week. As for these competing in leagues the place lineups lock for the week after a participant’s first recreation, they might want to hunt options on the waiver wire or inside their present squad.
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– Saturday is the sunshine recreation day of Week 23.
There are solely three video games on Saturday, with 5 of the six groups in motion taking part in their remaining Week 23 recreation that day. Among these groups are Denver, San Antonio and Philadelphia, which all boast some extremely impactful fantasy choices. And then there’s Washington, which might be energetic on Saturday and Sunday. Alex Sarr instantly involves thoughts as a invaluable fantasy possibility whose availability could also be restricted on the finish of Week 23. Back-to-backs haven’t been a difficulty for Will Riley or Bub Carrington, and there could possibly be a recreation the place Julian Reese emerges as a viable streamer. Also, that’s the second back-to-back of Week 23 that the Wizards should take care of; the primary begins on the ultimate day of Week 22.
– The Cavaliers and Magic are among the many groups which have two back-to-backs to navigate.
For each of those groups, their second back-to-back carries over into Week 24, the ultimate week of the common season. How will that affect the supply of those groups’ key gamers for the ultimate day of Week 23? There aren’t many leagues that run by Week 24; with availability already being extremely unpredictable, operating a league by the ultimate week of the common season feels pointless. Cleveland is getting nearer to full power, however the back-to-backs might have an effect on the supply of Jarrett Allen or Max Strus. As for the Magic, they’re nonetheless awaiting the returns of Franz Wagner and Anthony Black. Will both or each return sooner or later throughout Week 23? The reply impacts Tristan da Silva, who has provided strong worth because the alternative within the beginning lineup.
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– Fantasy managers will not have Luka Dončić to start Week 23.
Dončić’s managers, hoping to get their Week 23 off to a wonderful begin with the Lakers internet hosting the Wizards on Monday, had been left upset when the NBA introduced he could be suspended for a recreation after selecting up his sixteenth technical foul of the season on Friday. As a outcome, he’ll sit out the primary of 4 video games that the Lakers are scheduled to play in Week 23. Dončić will nonetheless have video games towards the Cavaliers, Thunder and Mavericks, and he is clearly able to placing up gaudy numbers in these matchups. However, lacking out on a chance to torch a lottery-bound crew is unlucky for these going into championship week with Dončić on their roster. That mentioned, his absence boosts the fantasy values of Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
– Will we see Anthony Edwards or Stephen Curry throughout Week 23?
It seems extra possible that the previous might be obtainable than the latter. Edwards was cleared for all on-court actions on Friday, and whereas there are nonetheless a couple of hurdles for him to clear, taking part in on Monday in Dallas is a serious possibility. The Timberwolves play 4 video games in Week 23, three of that are scheduled over the ultimate 4 days (back-to-back on Thursday and Friday in Detroit and Philadelphia). The back-to-back may go away Edwards obtainable for 3 video games, however that is higher than nothing.
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As for Curry, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged on Friday that the crew is “running out of games” to get their star guard again onto the courtroom. He nonetheless has not reached the purpose the place he is cleared for 5-on-5 actions, one thing the crew reportedly hoped would have already occurred by now. The Warriors will not play their first Week 23 recreation till Wednesday towards the Spurs, however that is the primary of two video games in as many nights.