In-Season Strategy: ESPN H2H Playoff Cheat Sheet

This is part two in a finite series of head-to-head playoff schedule rankings. The first article can be found here, an indirect, detailed analysis of default Yahoo! head-to-head leagues. In order to rectify any perceived injustice suffered by the ESPN contingent, a breakdown of the final four and a half weeks of the regular season, coinciding with ESPN's head-to-head playoffs, is the focal point of this article.

In head-to-head leagues, the fantasy playoffs are the most important time of the year. Anyone enrolled in standard ESPN leagues are forced to compete until the final day of the NBA season. It's not an ideal situation, tarnished by end-of-season resting, flagrant and technical foul suspensions, and manufactured injuries to key contributors for the sole purpose of improving draft odds. Understanding the schedule and its intricacies can provide a substantial advantage over the course of a 25 week marathon because you can't win your league unless your team qualifies for the playoffs.

Before we proceed, understand all leagues aren't created equal. This cookie-cutter schedule analysis applies directly to standard ESPN leagues. Yahoo! championship matchups conclude on Week 23, a week and a half before the season ends. Perhaps you play in a custom ESPN league, adhering to alternate rules and playoff schedule. Consult your league settings before accepting this schedule breakdown as gospel.

The full ESPN season ruleset can be found here.

Only four teams qualify for the standard head-to-head playoffs, facing off in two two-week matchups. Round 1 encompasses weeks 21-22 (March 16-29) and round 2 (March 30-April 15) encapsulates weeks 23-25. Since ESPN merges the week before and after the All-Star break into one matchup (unlike Yahoo!), Matchup 19, as noted in the above figure, falling on Week 20 of the season may confuse some.

Ranked below are all 30 teams, in conjunction with ESPN's standard head-to-head playoff schedule. The following factors were considered when breaking down the final five weeks: games (18 max; 14 min), quality games (10 max; 2 min), back-to-backs (6 max; 2 min), home/road splits, and games versus opponents with 50+ losses last season, in that order.

Quality games allow owners to rotate players in from their bench on slow nights. In this breakdown, days featuring fewer than eight games (no more than half the league playing) are quality games. For those of you in weekly head-to-head leagues, this holds little importance and you can focus primarily on total games. Anyone in daily head-to-head leagues with weekly transaction limits are primary beneficiaries of quality games.

Each team contains a visual representation of their five-week fantasy playoff schedule. Home games are signified with a white background and road games are surrounded by a solid color. Every quality game is bordered by thick, dashed lines for your convenience. As mentioned in the previous analysis, some teams play the Sunday prior to the fantasy playoffs, creating an additional back-to-back not represented on the calendar. Just know that all back-to-backs are accurate, even if the graphical tools say otherwise. To quote coach Herman Boone, "I'm not a savior, or Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, or the Easter Bunny. I'm a football coach, that's all...just a football coach."

Cheat Sheets

Tier One: Teams with 18 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs

1. Charlotte Hornets

Home/Road: 7/11
Quality Games: 5
Back-to-Backs: 6

The Hornets are the only team to play the maximum number of games each week. The downside is obvious: they play the fewest amount of games heading into the fantasy playoffs. During the five-week stretch, Charlotte plays the most road games and back-to-backs. Sprinkled throughout the 31 days are a maximum six games against teams with 50+ losses last season.

Be cautioned, newly signed Lance Stephenson was limited to 7.8 points in 4 games against the Toronto Raptors last season and averaged 10.0 points in five combined games against Houston and Atlanta, all teams Charlotte plays the final two weeks. Team wise, Charlotte plays five games in seven nights, a majority entrenched inside Week 22.

Tier Two: Teams with 17 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs (at least six quality games)

2. Golden State Warriors

Home/Road: 10/7
Quality Games: 10
Back-to-Backs: 4

The Warriors play a maximum 10 home games and 10 quality games. Six of their quality games occur during the finals. Week 24 houses nothing but quality games. A four-game, five-night spree starting at the end of Week 21 is offset by three home games, ameliorating a potentially volatile situation.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson averaged season-highs of 36.0 points and 24.8 points, respectively, in four games against Portland last season, an opponent Golden States faces twice during the fantasy playoffs.

Golden State's Week 23 matchup against Dallas is not a quality game, in case the schedule appears unclear.

3. Miami Heat

Home/Road: 9/8
Quality Games: 7
Back-to-Backs: 2

Of the 23 teams playing more than 15 games throughout the fantasy playoffs, Miami plays the fewest back-to-backs. It can't be reiterated enough how important this is for Dwyane Wade and his owners. All but one of their quality games overlaps with the fantasy finals. Even more sterling is their six games against teams with 50+ losses last season.

Week 25 opponents Orlando and Philadelphia concern me. Coach Spoelstra could rest his starters the final two games, at the very least, reducing their minutes.

4. Utah Jazz

Home/Road: 9/8
Quality Games: 7
Back-to-Backs: 4

The Jazz aren't expected to compete for the playoffs this season, but their flexible schedule will allow you to plug-and-play Alec Burks against some defensively inept two-guards, assuming he hasn't already cemented a Most Improved Player bid.

Utah plays Denver, Minnesota, Portland, and Sacramento each twice. Gordon Hayward averaged a season-high 32 points against Denver and Derrick Favors averaged 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds against Denver and Sacramento last season in six combined games.

Utah's Week 23 matchup against Phoenix is not a quality game, in case the schedule appears unclear.

5. Indiana Pacers

Home/Road: 8/9
Quality Games: 6
Back-to-Backs: 4

Indiana scares me. If Solomon Hill can't make the leap, and the Rodney Stuckey/C.J. Miles duo flounder, the organization may decide to blow up the team in search of a high lottery pick. Larry Bird stated no intention of tanking, but with David West and Roy Hibbert carrying player options into next summer, the current roster may no longer be intact by the trade deadline, retaining little incentive to remain competitive down the stretch.

6. Portland Trail Blazers

Home/Road: 7/10
Quality Games: 6
Back-to-Backs: 6

The Blazers find themselves behind Indiana in the head-to-head playoff rankings due to 10 road games (second most) and six back-to-backs (tied for most). An eight-game semi-final schedule appears hunky-dory, but hidden in the details are a five-game road trip entering Week 21 (technically five games in seven nights) and a four-game, five-night journey in Week 22. The semi-finals will provide extemporaneous wear-and-tear, possibly trickling into the final two and a half weeks.

For a better perspective on the burden four-games in five-nights poses, peep ESPN's article authored by Tom Haberstroh.

Tier Three: Teams with 17 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs (five quality games or fewer)

7. Los Angeles Lakers

Home/Road: 8/9
Quality Games: 5
Back-to-Backs: 5

After a three-game Week 21, the Lakers are the only team playing as many games (14) as the Charlotte Hornets to close out the season. Two games against Philadelphia, Sacramento, and Minnesota each spells generous fantasy schedule. Two separate five-game, seven-night stints (Week 22's five game road trip dwarfs Week 24's West Coast vacation) could see the older generation, Carlos Boozer, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Nash, resting in favor of improved lottery odds.

Philly native, Bryant, consistently torches his hometown team. Last season, Jeremy Lin lit up the 76ers, averaging 23.5 points and 9.0 assists in two games and Jordan Hill posted 16.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in just 24 minutes over two games. By season's end, Julius Randle may have usurped Carlos Boozer's role in the starting lineup, inflating his fantasy value tenfold.

8. Sacramento Kings

Home/Road: 9/8
Quality Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 3

Sacramento plays a full complement of games (10) during the playoff finals, aided by seven games against non-playoff teams based on last season's standings. A Week 22 matchup against Philadelphia should allow you to add Sacramento's tertiary players for a quality game quickie. A mere three back-to-backs provides ample rest and nine home games is one fewer than the max. Halting expectations, other than the Kings roster, are five games in seven nights at the beginning of Week 24.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

Home/Road: 8/9
Quality Games: 5
Back-to-Backs: 6

This exuberant bunch faces a daunting task: two four-game, five-night excursions at the beginning of Week 21 (carried over from the previous Sunday) and during Week 24, the latter traversed along the West Coast. Participating in a fantasy playoff-high six back-to-backs increases skepticism for the Timberpups. However, if the youngster's minutes are suppressed earlier in the season, their chances of hitting the wall decline entering the final five weeks.

If Nikola Pekovic is still rostered and healthy this time of the year, expect huge dividends based on last season's performance against Utah and New Orleans (22.6 points and 10.3 rebounds in 3 combined games), teams Minnesota plays twice.

10. Brooklyn Nets

Home/Road: 10/7
Quality Games: 3
Back-to-Backs: 4

Brooklyn will play a fantasy playoff-high 10 home games and four games each of the first three weeks. An unpleasant Week 23 (four games in five nights), confined in a cushy, Eastern Conference loaded schedule, blemishes a rather unsullied fantasy playoff timeline.

The Nets play Cleveland, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Indiana each twice throughout the fantasy playoffs. They also possess the fewest quality games (tied with Boston) of any team playing at least 17 games.

11. San Antonio Spurs

Home/Road: 8/9
Quality Games: 5
Back-to-Backs: 4

San Antonio is the only team to play solely on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, a scheduling anomaly and visual gratification. Week 21 games against the Eastern Conference will likely improve efficiency at the cost of minutes and total production. With no more than one off day until the final game of the regular season, combined with four back-to-backs, keep glued to RotoWire's Daily Lineup Tracker in the event coach Popovich rests players at the last minute.

12. Boston Celtics

Home/Road: 8/9
Quality Games: 3
Back-to-Backs: 4

If you play in weekly head-to-head leagues, Boston's fantasy schedule should suffice. They're one of 10 teams to play four games each of the first three weeks, but daily head-to-head league settings drop the Celtics in the overall standings. Three quality games falls one shy of the minimum, and nine playoff road games equal Boston's total road wins from last season.

Boston plays Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, and Toronto each twice during the final four and a half weeks. As mentioned already on Brooklyn's behalf, the Celtics play the second fewest quality games of any team.

Tier Four: Teams with 16 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs (at least five quality games)

13. Houston Rockets

Home/Road: 8/8
Quality Games: 7
Back-to-Backs: 3

Houston plays the second most quality games, tied with Miami and Utah, all front loaded in the first three weeks. Three back-to-backs is one shy of the minimum, but the dreaded four-game, five-night voyage, spanning four cities and two countries, rears it's ugly head at the end of Week 22.

Week 21's three quality games offer prime real estate, similar to Park Place or Boardwalk. Don't be afraid to stash unclaimed Rockets in daily head-to-head leagues with an eye on maximizing your games played for the week.

14. New York Knicks

Home/Road: 10/6
Quality Games: 6
Back-to-Backs: 4

The Knicks luck out with a fantasy playoff-high 10 home games and six games versus teams with more than 50 losses last season. Two games against Philadelphia, combined with matchups against Eastern cellar dwellers Boston, Milwaukee, and Orlando drastically improves the Knicks' statistical outlook throughout the four and a half week timetable. An investment in Tim Hardaway and Amar'e Stoudemire for the semi-finals may provide favorable dividends.

15. Milwaukee Bucks

Home/Road: 10/6
Quality Games: 5
Back-to-Backs: 3

Take note, two games against Jason Kidd's former employer nearly bookend the Bucks fantasy playoff schedule. Squaring off against Boston twice, along with Orlando, and Philadelphia during the final two and a half weeks boosts Jabari Parker, Larry Sanders, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's end-of-season stock. Week 22 provides three opportunities for you to rotate in secondary Bucks from your bench, a distinct advantage once Kidd's rotation coagulates.

16. Memphis Grizzlies

Home/Road: 9/7
Quality Games: 5
Back-to-Backs: 5

Five back-to-backs dampen a middle-of-the-pack fantasy playoff schedule. While Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, or Zach Randolph shouldn't sit unless they're injured, Vince Carter's 38-year-old self could rest prior to the actual postseason.

Tier Five: Teams with 16 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs (four quality games or fewer

17. Oklahoma City Thunder

Home/Road: 9/7
Quality Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 4

Week 21, a.k.a Eastern Conference foes - Smoke 'em if you got 'em - grants Oklahoma City pole position in weekly head-to-head leagues. Nine home games are one shy of the max, but four quality games make it difficult to sneak Anthony Morrow or Jeremy Lamb into your daily lineup, if you dabble in such leagues.

Don't let two games against San Antonio dissuade you from starting Reggie Jackson. In four games against the defending champions last season, Jackson averaged a season-high 21.3 points on 67.9 percent shooting, to go along with 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game.

18. Toronto Raptors

Home/Road: 7/9
Quality Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 5

Four games against Western Conference opponents, softened by just one viable postseason threat, endow Toronto a fortuitous fantasy playoff schedule. Five back-to-backs counteract five games against teams with 50+ losses last season.

Toronto faces Minnesota, Charlotte, Boston, and Chicago each twice, accounting for half their fantasy playoff schedule.

19. Detroit Pistons

Home/Road: 8/8
Quality Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 5

While Stan Van Gundy rarely rests players, Detroit finds themselves behind Oklahoma City and Toronto in the head-to-head fantasy rankings due to an additional back-to-back and one fewer game against 50+ loss opponents, respectively. Semi-final games against Philadelphia, Boston, and Orlando are offset by quality games against Memphis, Chicago, and Toronto (all top-10 in defensive efficiency last season), limiting Jodie Meeks, D.J. Augustin, and Caron Butler's flex appeal. Worst of all, a Week 23 four-game, five-night journey diminishes expectations.

20. Atlanta Hawks

Home/Road: 7/9
Quality Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 5

There exist two brutal scheduling anomalies destined to fatigue the Hawks. The end of Week 22 summons a wild four-game, five-night adventure. A week later, during Week 24, the Hawks are forced to play five games in seven nights. Lastly, Atlanta is one of six teams to play a league-low seven games in April, capping substantial production throughout a tumultuous timetable.

Never one for hyperbole, Thabo Sefolosha should find his way onto your watch list given his well above average performances against Charlotte and Brooklyn last season (11.3 points on 58.8 percent shooting from the field in three combined games), two opponents the Hawks play twice over the final four weeks.

21. Philadelphia 76ers

Home/Road: 7/9
Quality Games: 4
Back-to-Backs: 3

On the surface, Philadelphia's schedule amalgamation ranked them 17th overall. After factoring their talent and production decline in road games last season, a minor adjustment dropped them to 21st. The first three weeks, filled with four games each, boosts their value in leagues with abbreviated playoff schedules. However, five games in seven nights at the start of Week 22 will take its toll on the young squad, an ominous precursor to a mailed in April, fostering anti-winning incentive.

22. Washington Wizards

Home/Road: 7/9
Quality Games: 2
Back-to-Backs: 3

Two eye-popping games against Philadelphia offset two quality road games. A four-game Western Conference road trip vacillates opponent's skill level, as the Wizards are stuck playing seven games against the opposing conference.

You'll be shocked to know Bradley Beal shot 36.9 percent in four games against Philadelphia last season, but the rest of the projected starting lineup hovered around 60 percent.

23. New Orleans Pelicans

Home/Road: 7/9
Quality Games: 3
Back-to-Backs: 4

New Orleans drew the end-of-season short straw, facing one Eastern Conference opponent throughout the fantasy playoffs. Clearing two of their three quality games in the first four days presents a less attractive finishing schedule. As consolation, the Pelicans face San Antonio on the final day of the regular season, which has the look of a rest day written all over Popovich's smug face.

New Orleans competes against Phoenix, Golden State, Minnesota, Sacramento, and Houston each twice. Because each of these teams face the Pelicans prior to and during the finals, major redundancy will provide a blueprint on which player to add and start during the playoff finals.

Tier Six: Teams with 15 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs

24. Los Angeles Clippers

Home/Road: 7/8
Quality Games: 6
Back-to-Backs: 4

Sound the alarm. Six quality games, five of which consume the finals, will stir the shuffling of lineups faster than a Three-card Monte dealer. Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, and Spencer Hawes will be nice plug-and-plays, especially in two games against the cohabitant Lakers. Sadly, four games over the final two weeks, fewest of any team (tied with Philadelphia), will cause a scouring of the waiver wire for five or six game targets.

25. Dallas Mavericks

Home/Road: 8/7
Quality Games: 2
Back-to-Backs: 2

No doubt, two back-to-backs maximizes rest, but only two games against the East creates quite the conundrum. A heavy dose of Western Conference foes unnecessarily escalates competition, a blessing in disguise as tougher matchups allow Rick Carlisle's squad to play a full complement of minutes throughout the fantasy playoffs.

26. Denver Nuggets

Home/Road: 6/9
Quality Games: 2
Back-to-Backs: 5

A weak opposition friendly schedule includes five back-to-backs and nine road games. The Nuggets play four of their six home games against teams with more than 50 losses last season, but Utah shall be unfazed, holding an altitude advantage of their own.

The plethora of road games positively affects one individual on the Nuggets: JaVale McGee. Did you know Mr. McGee suffers from asthma? Did you also know since joining Denver, McGee has only played more than 30 minutes once in 104 games (a road game no less)? Lastly, were you aware in those 104 games, McGee played more than 25 minutes in eight games, all road variety? Blame former coach George Karl all you'd like, sometimes the human body can be pushed but so far. The more you know, brought to you by Tragic Bronson.

Tier Seven: Teams with 14 Games in the Fantasy Playoffs

27. Chicago Bulls

Home/Road: 7/7
Quality Games: 6
Back-to-Backs: 2

The Bulls are the only team that doesn't play four games in any of the final four full weeks, a distinct fantasy disadvantage. Of greater importance, Chicago completely avoids the Western Conference and plays a minimum two back-to-back sets.

28. Phoenix Suns

Home/Road: 7/7
Quality Games: 6
Back-to-Backs: 3

Behold the murderer's row of Western Conference powerhouses. Six road games throughout the head-to-head fantasy finals, including a four-game road trip in Week 24, curbs expected production.

Before signing a five-year, $70 million deal, Eric Bledsoe proved his mettle last season against Dallas and New Orleans, scoring 23.8 points on 68 percent shooting in five combined games against opponents Phoenix faces twice during the fantasy playoffs.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers

Home/Road: 8/6
Quality Games: 2
Back-to-Backs: 2

Apparently LeBron James' influence extends beyond the front office, holstering the schedule maker in his hip pocket. Cleveland plays the fewest total games (14), road games (6), and back-to-backs (2) over the final 31 days of the regular season. Week 24's opponents should yield increased efficiency at the expense of usual minute loads.

30. Orlando Magic

Home/Road: 8/6
Quality Games: 2
Back-to-Backs: 3

I was so pumped to own Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic this season. Alas, that ephemeral dream dies in head-to-head leagues. If we're taking the glass half full approach, 14 games during the fantasy playoffs equates to a league-high 68 games throughout the fantasy regular season. In a perfect world, I'd own Orlando's stalwarts until the trade deadline (February 25, 2015 in ESPN standard leagues; March 5, 2015 in Yahoo! standard leagues), then flip them for Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson.