This article is part of our NBA Category Strategy series.
The Bulls and Nets each play five games this week. The Hawks, Hornets, Pistons, Rockets, Lakers, Bucks, Sixers and Spurs all play three games, and the rest of the league is scheduled for four contests.
Interim coach Tony Brown hinted at rest for Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young as the season winds down. Nothing was confirmed, but both players missed a game earlier this month due to rest. The upcoming five games in seven nights could give Brown an excuse to rest the stalwarts.
The Bulls are presently ninth in the Eastern Conference and 2.5 games back of the playoff hunt. Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson are playing through injuries, and Pau Gasol is dealing with a sore knee. Rest isn't a viable option, especially since they're playing the two teams, Indiana and Detroit, directly ahead of them in the standings.
There are 18 days remaining in the NBA regular season. There aren't any games scheduled next Monday due to the NCAA championship game.
Schedule Maintenance
If you play in daily moves head-to-head leagues and this is your championship week, understand the schedule and how you can use it to your advantage. If this isn't your last week competing, absorb the relevant points applicable to your league in this section.
The Nets and Thunder are the only teams playing Monday and Tuesday. Loading up on Nets players will maximize your games played and pressure your opponent into committing hasty moves should they fall behind early, depleting them of their transactions
The Bulls and Nets each play five games this week. The Hawks, Hornets, Pistons, Rockets, Lakers, Bucks, Sixers and Spurs all play three games, and the rest of the league is scheduled for four contests.
Interim coach Tony Brown hinted at rest for Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young as the season winds down. Nothing was confirmed, but both players missed a game earlier this month due to rest. The upcoming five games in seven nights could give Brown an excuse to rest the stalwarts.
The Bulls are presently ninth in the Eastern Conference and 2.5 games back of the playoff hunt. Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson are playing through injuries, and Pau Gasol is dealing with a sore knee. Rest isn't a viable option, especially since they're playing the two teams, Indiana and Detroit, directly ahead of them in the standings.
There are 18 days remaining in the NBA regular season. There aren't any games scheduled next Monday due to the NCAA championship game.
Schedule Maintenance
If you play in daily moves head-to-head leagues and this is your championship week, understand the schedule and how you can use it to your advantage. If this isn't your last week competing, absorb the relevant points applicable to your league in this section.
The Nets and Thunder are the only teams playing Monday and Tuesday. Loading up on Nets players will maximize your games played and pressure your opponent into committing hasty moves should they fall behind early, depleting them of their transactions before the weekend. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may be an attractive option because of his defensive capabilities, but he hasn't played more than 17 minutes since returning from ankle surgery three games ago. By the same token, Hollis-Jefferson still hasn't played in consecutive games, and should coach Brown decide to rest the rookie with next season in mind, his five-game week becomes a three- or four-game week.
The Hawks play their final game on Friday. That allows you to drop Al Horford, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, etc. because they won't help your team after they've played their three games. You'll want to consider adding players from the Bulls (duh) or the Trail Blazers because they're the only two teams to play on Saturday and Sunday. Swapping Millsap for Maurice Harkless during the regular season would've been considered a novice mistake; not so much when there's two days remaining in the playoffs.
The Pacers and Bulls are the only teams with the three quality games this week. Though Ian Mahinmi hasn't been contributing significantly lately, I know I can sneak him into my active lineup at least three times due to the lack of league-wide games. The same applies to Doug McDermott.
POINTS
Sean Kilpatrick (SG)
In the last 11 games, Kilpatrick has averaged 14.8 points in 22.2 minutes per game. He's shooting 53 percent from the field and 46.5 percent on threes in that time while playing most of his minutes with the second unit. Nearly 70 percent of his shots have been assisted, with Shane Larkin being the primary benefactor. Potential rest for Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young will increase Kilpatrick's opportunities, but now that Larkin is starting, it will be interesting to see if Kilpatrick can maintain his hot shooting.
REBOUNDS
Ed Davis (PF/C)
Without Meyers Leonard (shoulder) over the past six games, Davis averaged 9.3 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game. While Davis doesn't possess the upside of Salah Mejri or playing time of Ian Mahinmi, he's recorded a steal in six straight games and blocked seven shots in the last five games. Davis works this week because two of the Blazers' four opponents rank in the top-five of rebounds allowed this month. He doubles as a quality end-of-the-week pickup because the Blazers play three of their four games after Wednesday, including two over the weekend.
ASSISTS
Shane Larkin (PG)
Larkin replaced Donald Sloan in the starting lineup last week and contributed seven assists in the Nets' win over the Cavaliers. He followed up with five assists in Saturday's win over the Pacers. Winning bodes well for Larkin's chances of remaining in the starting lineup. A five-game week forecasts close to 30 assists if you can sneak him into your active lineup all five times. It also requires consistency from a player who's recorded more than six assists only seven times this season and already lost the starting job to Donald four games after Jarrett Jack's season-ending injury in early January.
This may be your last chance to add D.J. Augustin. He's in a similar timeshare as Larkin, but his fantasy value and playing time exist on sturdier ground.
STEALS
Toney Douglas (PG)
Douglas entered the starting lineup nine games ago after injuries to Eric Gordon (finger) and Norris Cole (back) depleted the backcourt. He has recorded at least one steal in every start while leading the Pelicans with 1.8 steals in 30 minutes per game over that stretch. Not only has Douglas been thieving at an alarming rate, but he's tallied 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 three-pointers per game in his current role. Cole's imminent return will reduce Douglas' offensive requirements this week, but it shouldn't diminish his ability to collect steals.
BLOCKS
Jusuf Nurkic (C)
Though I suspect Nurkic hasn't fully recovered from offseason knee surgery, his ability to produce prolific stats in condensed intervals of playing time endures. Nurkic is averaging a team-high 2.2 blocks in 21.7 minutes per game over the last six. He rarely shares the court with starter Nikola Jokic, and he played a season-high 26 minutes Friday. Minutes have been unimpeded since Kenneth Faried tweaked his back on March 15, causing him to miss five straight games.
John Henson is back. He's averaging 2.5 blocks per game over the last six while occasionally playing next to Greg Monroe or Miles Plumlee. The Bucks' three-game week dampens expectations until you realize they're the only team that doesn't play Monday or Tuesday, allowing you to add Henson midweek if he's still available. You could employ a strategy where you register two games from Steven Adams on Monday and Tuesday before transitioning to Henson to close the week.
THREE-POINTERS
Mirza Teletovic (SF/PF)
Teletovic has lost support in Yahoo! and ESPN leagues lately, falling below 30-percent ownership in both formats. In March, he's converting 2.2 threes on 35 percent accuracy in 25 minutes per game. Even with Brandon Knight back in the mix, Teletovic holds steady at 2.0 threes in a similar role. He's the first reserve off the bench, and while Tyson Chandler (back) recovers, Teletovic benefits from an overworked Alex Len and depleted frontcourt rotation.
