I just got done reading Matt Buser's fantasy basketball post on yahoo.com (http://yhoo.it/fFCMAX). It is a lot of information, but here are my key notes:
The Good:
- The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings have the most favorable stretch run and playoff schedules. The best options to try to add or acquire via trade for the Suns are Vince Carter, Channing Frye, Grant Hill and Jared Dudley. For the Kings, you want to try to pick up Beno Udrih. With Tyreke Evans always getting banged up, it's likely that Udrih will overtake Evans in minutes at point over the final weeks of the NBA season. Francisco Garcia is also another King to consider adding for your playoff run.
- Consider picking up Arron Afflalo for Denver. If and when Carmelo leaves, it could be a good chance for young players like Afflalo to emerge more in Denver's offense. Also consider picking up J.R. Smith after the All-Star break because he could end up getting a boost in playing time and is always good for helping in the 3's category.
- Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard have some pretty easy schedules during the final weeks of the season. Look for Blake to go off during week 21 and Howard to go off during week 22.
- Oklahoma City has a lot of players sitting at the top of the free agents list. They might be good pick-ups when it comes playoff time. The Thunder have a pretty heavy schedule during the final weeks of the season, playing something like 4 games a week in 4 out of the last 5 weeks of the season. Wait until march before adding Thabo Sefolosha, James Harden and Eric Maynor until after they have the slim part of their schedule.
- Now might also be the right time to trade for all of the Utah Jazz players. Utah "has a relatively easy playoff schedule". And right now they aren't playing so hot. I would figure that Jerry Sloan will have them playing well late March and into your playoff schedule.
The Bad:
- Apparently it should be noted that the Los Angeles Lakers have 5 straight 3-game weeks during the stretch run and playoffs of most head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues. Not that having 3-games in a week is going to really hurt you, because it's LA. But you also have to believe that if the Lakers (Celtics, Spurs) have a seed in the post-season locked, they won't be pushing their veterans. The Heat might also have the East locked up with three weeks to go in the season and you might be stuck with a less than average Wade, Bosh and Bron.
- The Minnesota Timberwolves have the "worst playoff schedule". Which is awesome for the season ticket holder... and fan of getting a better draft pick, hah. The Wolves are looking at going to Utah, LA Lakers, Dallas and Oklahoma City as well as hosting Boston, Chicago and Miami.
- New Orleans has the fewest games of all NBA teams during the "fantasy playoffs" of most leagues h2h leagues, with just 9. Matt Buser suggests looking into dealing CP3 because of his recent injuries. If New Orleans doesn't need him, they will probably rest him to have Paul ready for a playoff push. Then again, they may be fighting for 8th and need him to go hard for those 2 or 3 games a week. Which would mean that he would could produce more assists and be more productive than any decent player playing 4 games a week...
- I also had notes that the Raptors might not be a team to invest in. I think that is pretty obvious, but I know there are a lot of people picking up Calderon, DeRozan, Bayless, and Ed Davis. But come playoff time, you might want to replace those guys with the bench of the Kings or Suns.
- Buser recommends dealing banged up players on losing teams. John Wall is one of those players he says might have his minutes decreased toward the end of the year because of his ankles and whatnot. I have a few other Wizards, but he doesn't say anything about Young, McGee and Blatche.
Lastly, Buser links the website www.BasketballMonster.com, which is incredible. I am going to use this site for DraftStreet and my fantasy leagues. I think you should too.
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