There is a chance your team’s fate is already sealed. BUT, there is no shame in gunning for a consolation bracket victory or climbing your way into the top half of a rotisserie league.
It is considerably harder to predict standout players in the final week of the season. With rotations all out-of-whack, players and whole teams being rested — it is important to choose players on teams who have something to play for or raid the benches of those who don’t. On the other side of that token, teams that never had anything to play for, like the Rockets or Magic are also have safer pick-up options than say, The Suns.
Here is a breakdown of the final week of the NBA regular season.
NBA Schedule Preview
The Weekly breakdown of games is as follows
- April 4, Monday: 0 games
- April 5, Tuesday: 12 games
- April 6, Wednesday: 6 games
- April 7, Thursday: 7 games
- April 8, Friday: 9 games
- April 9, Saturday: 4 games
- April 10, Sunday: 15 games
Teams with 4 games this week (16)
ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, LAL, MEM, MIL, NOP, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, SAS, TOR, UTA, WAS
Teams with 3 games this week (14)
BOS, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, MIA, MIN, NYK, ORL, SAC
Streaming Option: Teams
San Antonio Spurs (Tues, Wed, Sat, Sun)
The Spurs are a great team to look at for a couple of reasons. They will likely be fighting it out with the Lakers for the last playoff play-in tournament spot until the end — making them a hungry team. Coupled with the fact they have three players in Zach Collins C/PF, Lonnie Walker IV SG/SF, and Devin Vassell SG/SF who all have fantasy upside, and are owned in somewhere between 5 and 25% across leagues.
Collins seems to be the safest bet after a huge weekend dropping 33 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in two games against his former team, the Trailblazers. Both Vassell and Walker IV are streaky, but Dejounte Murray didn’t play Sunday, and they will both likely be leaned on in any extended absence for Murray.
Memphis Grizzlies (Tues, Wed, Sat, Sun)
“20-2 without Ja Morant,” might just be the most regurgitated statistic across the NBA media landscape since the number was 10-2. That being said, their supporting cast is second to none in the league.
Headed into the final week the Grizzlies are locked into the two seed, and only played one starter against the Suns in a surprising win Friday. Their role players and bench are elite and look for the players listed below to
Dillon Brooks, SG/SF – He is a starter but has missed a lot of time, so they may use this week to get him back in rhythm.
De’Anthony Melton, PG/SG – Melton is averaging a patently absurd 4.7 three-pointers made over his last 8 games and shooting them at a league-best 56% clip.
Brandon Clarke, PF/SF – With more minutes he can take his already impressive hustle stats to an elite level.
Kyle Anderson, PF/SF/C – Anderson can do just about everything well, and with center eligibility, he should be a popular choice to pick up “un-center-like” statistics from that position slot.
Xavier Tillman, PF/C – With Jaren Jackson Jr and Steven Adams likely playing limited, if any Minutes Tillman looks to be the guy to step in. He put up a healthy 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a start Friday against the Suns.
Oklahoma City Thunder (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sun)
For about the fiftieth time, can I interest you in a Pokusevski? If the answer was yes before Sunday you would have benefited from a 17 point, 1o rebound, 12 assist triple-double on Sunday. The Thunder roster is a fantasy streaming gift that keeps on giving, and the 7’0 Serbian isn’t the only great option.
Aleksej Pokusevski, PF/C/SF – As stated, the man recorded a triple-double Sunday and with big minutes he will produce top 30 like fantasy numbers if he’s on… Big if, but worth the risk.
Isaiah Roby, PF/C – The third-year Nebraska product is averaging 18.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks over his last five outings.
Theo Maledon, PG – From completely out of the rotation to a scorching 22.8 points, 5.6 assists, 2.4 three-pointers made and 1 steal over his last five starts.
Jaylen Hoard, SF/PF – The man had 20 rebounds on Friday. He didn’t quite back it up Sunday, but certainly a player to keep an eye on.
Streaming Option: Players
Drew Eubanks, PF/C – Portland Trailblazers
Averaging 17.2 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting over 67% through his last 12 games.
Andre Drummond, C – Brooklyn Nets
The veteran big man is averaging 13.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks over his last 13 games.
Kevin Huerter, SG/SF – Atlanta Hawks
Huerter is hitting 3.1 threes per game over his last 14 outings.