While most Fantasy leagues ended last week, there are still plenty of
formats which extend to the end of the season, forcing owners to play
out the schedule to its entirety. Fantasy Week 17 (April 16-26) is the
longest scoring period of the season, lasting 10 days and featuring 89
games. It is also considered the one of the most difficult weeks for
Fantasy owners to play out as most teams -- whether in the playoffs or
not -- tend to rest some of their key personnel over the final few days
of the regular season. This can make it extremely hard for owners to set
their lineups, but luckily we did our homework and went through the
schedule with a fine-tooth comb to find which teams have the most-and
least-favorable matchups over the final period of the year.
The team we have chosen to feature this week is the San Antonio Spurs.
San Antonio is slated to play a league-high eight games during Week 17,
including their second back-to-back-to-back set of the season. The Spurs
will jump right into their triple set with three straight West-Coast
road games to start the week. The Spurs will be at Golden State on
Monday before making visits to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Tuesday
and then Sacramento on Wednesday. San Antonio will then take on the
Lakers, Cavaliers and Trail Blazers at home on Friday, Sunday and
Monday, before wrapping up its season at Phoenix and Golden State next
Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
While the Spurs look to have some favorable matchups and tap this week
and still have a chance to catch the Thunder for the No. 1 seed in the
Western Conference, don't expect coach Gregg Popovich to change his
ways. The savvy coach has found ways to get his older players rest all
season long and he is unlikely not change his philosophy over the final
10 days of the year. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili will almost certainly be held out of at least one of
San Antonio's back-to-back-to-backs and Pop could even opt to rest Tony Parker, Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw, which he has already done at times earlier in the season.
Fantasy owners will have to take a hard look at their rosters when
deciding whether or not to start some of the Spurs' main options this
week. Still, most of San Antonio's mid-and lower-end options have been
too inconsistent to trust outside ofdeeper formats this year, so owners
may be better off just rolling the dice with Duncan, Parker and
Ginobili. However, Jackson and Diaw should still be considered risky
plays this week.
Southwest: New Orleans Hornets (@CHA, @MEM, HOU, @LAC, @GS, @HOU):
The Hornets are slated to play six times during Week 17 with five of
those contests coming on the road. New Orleans will start with a pair of
road games against the Bobcats on Monday and Grizzlies on Wednesday
before returning home to face the Rockets on Thursday. After two days
off, the Hornets will close out the season on the road, starting on
Sunday against the Clippers, which will be followed by contests against
the Warriors and Rockets on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Despite
posting the worst record in the Western Conference, New Orleans has been
playing much better of late. The return of Eric Gordon has brought an added dimension of offense to the Hornets
and they look to have some favorable matchups on tap this week. Houston,
Golden State and Charlotte are all ranked in the bottom tier in points
allowed and opposition field-goal percentage so New Orleans should be
able to score points this week. While most teams that have been
eliminated from the postseason don't seem to be very motivated this time
of year, the Hornets are not one of those teams. Coach Monty Williams'
squad is trying to build some momentum going into next season and with a
new owner at the helm evaluating every aspect of the team, look for the
Hornets to play hard until the end. Fantasy owners should make sure to
have Gordon, Chris Kaman and the
suddenly emerging Jason Smith active
for the final scoring period. Even Marco Belinelli, Greivis Vasquez and Carl Landry could be worth using in deeper formats.
Southwest Division schedule (April 16-22)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Mavericks
|
@UTA
| |
HOU
| |
GS
|
@CHI
| |
Rockets
| |
DEN
|
@DAL
|
@NO
| |
GS
|
@MIA
|
Grizzlies
| |
@MIN
|
NO
| |
@CHA
|
POR
| |
Hornets
|
@CHA
| |
@MEM
|
HOU
| | |
@LAC
|
Spurs
|
@GS
|
@LAL
|
@SAC
| |
LAL
| |
CLE
|
Southwest Division schedule (April 23-26)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Mavericks
| | | |
@ATL
| | | |
Rockets
| | | |
NO
| | | |
Grizzlies
|
CLE
| | |
ORL
| | | |
Hornets
| |
@GS
| |
@HOU
| | | |
Spurs
|
POR
| |
@PHO
|
@GS
| | | |
Northwest: Utah Jazz (DAL, @POR, ORL, PHO, POR): The Jazz are one
of nine teams slated to play five times during Week 17. Utah will play
four of those contests at home starting on Monday night against the
Mavericks. The Jazz will then be in Portland to take on the Trail
Blazers on Wednesday -- the team's lone road contest -- before returning
home to face the Magic. After a few days off, Utah will close out the
season against the Suns next Tuesday and the Trail Blazers the following
Thursday. The Jazz are still in the mix for the eighth and final seed in
the Western Conference, so expect them to come out guns blazing this
week. Being at home will also be an advantage for Utah as it is one of
nine teams averaging more than 100 points on their own court this
season. Combine that with the fact that four of those contests will come
against the Suns, the defensively-challenged Trail Blazers and the
Dwight Howard-less Magic, and this looks to be a good week to use most
of the Jazz's main Fantasy options. Sure, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson could
be shut down if Utah is eliminated from the postseason, but that is a
risk we strongly recommend taking. Fantasy owners should also make sure
to get Gordon Haywood, Devin Harris and Derrick Favors active this week. Despite Enes Kantar's increased role
over the past few games, his production is too inconsistent to trust
outside of anything other than deeper formats.
Northwest Division schedule (April 16-22)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Nuggets
| |
@HOU
|
LAC
| | |
@PHO
|
ORL
|
T'Wolves
|
@IND
|
MEM
| |
@DET
| | |
GS
|
Thunder
|
@LAC
| |
@PHO
| |
@SAC
| |
@LAL
|
Trail Blazers
|
@PHO
| |
UTA
| | |
@MEM
| |
Jazz
|
@DAL
| |
@POR
| | |
ORL
| |
Northwest Division schedule (April 23-26)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Nuggets
| | |
@OKC
|
@MIN
| | | |
T'Wolves
| | | |
DEN
| | | |
Thunder
| |
SAC
| |
DEN
| | | |
Trail Blazers
|
@SA
| | |
@UTA
| | | |
Jazz
| |
PHO
| |
POR
| | | |
Phoenix Suns (POR, OKC, LAC, DEN, @UTA, SA): The Suns are
scheduled to take the court six times during Week 17 as they make their
last run to make the playoffs. Five of Phoenix's games this week will be
at home starting on Monday night against the Trail Blazers. The Suns
will then take on the Thunder, Clippers and Nuggets at US Airways Center
on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, respectively. The Suns' lone road
contest will be at Utah next Tuesday before closing out the season next
Wednesday against the Spurs. The Clippers are the only team Phoenix will
face this week that is not allowing at least 95 points per game this
season, so regardless of the outcomes, the Suns should be able to score.
Obviously, Steve Nash and Marcin Gortat should always remain active, but owners should make sure Channing Frye and Jared Dudley are also
active in the majority of formats. Even Michael Redd, Shannon Brown and Grant Hill should garner some consideration in deeper leagues. Sebastian Telfair has been seeing more run of late as well, but his
inconsistent production makes him way too risky to consider in most
leagues.
Pacific Division schedule (April 16-22)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Warriors
|
SA
| |
LAL
| |
@DAL
|
@HOU
|
@MIN
|
Clippers
|
OKC
| |
@DEN
|
@PHO
| | |
LAC
|
Lakers
| |
SA
|
@GS
| |
@SA
| |
OKC
|
Suns
|
POR
| |
OKC
|
LAC
| |
DEN
| |
Kings
| | |
SA
| |
OKC
| |
@CHA
|
Pacific Division schedule (April 23-26)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Warriors
| |
NO
| |
SA
| | | |
Clippers
| |
@ATL
|
@NY
| | | | |
Lakers
| | | |
@SAC
| | | |
Suns
| |
@UTA
|
SA
| | | | |
Kings
| |
@OKC
| |
LAL
| | | |
Central: Cleveland Cavaliers (@DET, PHI, NY, @SA, @MEM, WAS, @CHI):
The Cavaliers are one of six teams slated to play seven games during
Week 17 with three of those contests coming at home. Cleveland will face
the Pistons in Detroit to start the period before returning home to face
the 76ers on Wednesday night. The Knicks will be in town on Friday night
before the Cavaliers hit the road to face the Spurs and Grizzlies in a
back-to-back set on Sunday and Monday, respectively. Cleveland will be
back at home to face the Wizards next Wednesday before closing out the
period (and season) next Thursday night against the Bulls. Unfortunately
for Fantasy owners the Cavaliers seem to be one of the few teams which
has already cashed in this season. Decimated by injuries, the Cavaliers
had seven players from the D-League on their roster last Saturday and
most of them have seen meaningful minutes of late. Most owners aren't
even sure who is on their current roster anymore, making it extremely
difficult to use most of their Fantasy options, which will be the case
again this week. Kyrie Irving's status
remains in question and it is starting to look like Anderson Varejao will not make it back this season. That leaves Alonso
Gee and Antawn Jamison as the primary
scorers for Cleveland and both players have been slumping big time over
the past few weeks. Still, Jamison and Gee look to be the only options
on the Cavaliers worth rolling with this week as Irving's injury status
makes him an extremely risky play for the scoring period. Owners should
consider leaving him reserved if you have another option to turn to.
Central Division schedule (April 16-22)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Bulls
|
WAS
| |
@CHA
|
@MIA
| |
DAL
| |
Cavaliers
| |
@DET
|
PHI
| |
NY
| |
@SA
|
Pistons
| |
CLE
|
@ATL
|
MIN
| | |
TOR
|
Pacers
|
MIN
|
@PHI
| |
MIL
| |
PHI
| |
Bucks
| | |
@WAS
|
@IND
| |
NJ
| |
Central Division schedule (April 23-26)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Bulls
| | |
@IND
|
CLE
| | | |
Cavaliers
|
@MEM
| |
WAS
|
@CHI
| | | |
Pistons
|
@IND
| | |
PHI
| | | |
Pacers
|
DET
| |
CHI
| | | | |
Bucks
|
TOR
| |
PHI
|
@BOS
| | | |
Atlantic: Philadelphia 76ers (@ORL, IND, @CLE, @IND, @NJ, @Mil, @DET)
The 76ers will take the floor seven times during Week 17 with five of
those contests coming on the road. Philadelphia will partake in a
back-to-back-to-back set to start the week, beginning Monday night in
Orlando. The 76ers will then face the Pacers at home on Tuesday before
heading to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Coach Doug
Collins' squad will play their final four games on the road starting on
Sunday against the Pacers. Philadelphia will be in New Jersey on Monday
before closing out the season against the Bucks and Pistons next
Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Despite the 76ers recent tailspin
from atop the standings, Philadelphia still controls its own destiny as
far as the postseason in concerned. Andre Iguodala
and Co. will need to win as many games as possible over the next 10 days
and look to have some favorable matchups on the docket. Orlando is not
the same defensive team without Dwight Howard
on the court, while the Cavaliers, Nets and Pistons are all ranked near
the bottom of the league in opposition field-goal percentage. That,
combined with the 76ers' desperate position they put themselves in,
makes this a great week to use most of their Fantasy options. Despite
all the recent struggles and lineup changes Philadelphia has gone
through, Fantasy owners should make sure to get Iguodala, Jrue Holliday, Elton Brand, Lou Williams, Spencer Hawes and Thaddeus Young active in the majority of formats this week. Even Jodee
Meeks and the now starting Nikola Vucevic
deserve some consideration in deeper formats.
Atlantic Division schedule (April 16-22)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Celtics
| |
@NY
|
ORL
| |
@ATL
| | |
Nets
|
MIA
| |
NY
| | |
@MIL
| |
Knicks
| |
BOS
|
@NJ
| |
@CLE
| |
ATL
|
76ers
|
ORL
|
IND
|
@CLE
| | |
@IND
| |
Raptors
|
ATL
| |
@MIA
| | | |
@DET
|
Atlantic Division schedule (April 23-26)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Celtics
| |
MIA
| |
MIL
| | | |
Nets
|
PHI
| | |
@TOR
| | | |
Knicks
| | |
@LAC
|
CHA
| | | |
76ers
|
@NJ
| |
@MIL
|
@DET
| | | |
Raptors
|
@MIL
| | |
NJ
| | | |
Southeast: Atlanta Hawks (@TOR, DET, BOS, NY, LAC, DAL) The Hawks
have been quietly playing pretty well over the last few weeks and will
take the court six times during Week 17. After taking on the Raptors on
Monday, Atlanta will be at home for its final five games of the season
starting on Wednesday when the Pistons come to town. The Hawks will then
take on the Celtics and Knicks on Friday and Sunday, respectively,
before facing the Clippers next Tuesday and Mavericks the following
Thursday. Despite the Hawks already being locked into a playoff spot,
there is still a chance Atlanta could improve its seeding. However,
Fantasy owners will have to be careful when using some of its main
Fantasy options as coach Larry Drew could opt to rest some of his
players this week. The Hawks also have some tough matchups on tap as the
Celtics, Knicks and Mavericks all rank in the top 10 in opposition
field-goal percentage, while the Clippers are not too far behind. Still, Josh Smith and Joe Johnson are too
valuable to consider benching, although Zaza Pachulia's foot injury makes him a major injury risk. Pachulia
is expected to be sidelined until at least the Pistons game and we
wouldn't be surprised if he is sits out even longer. Ivan Johnson has seen increased minutes in his absence so Fantasy
owners should make sure to get him active this week along with Johnson,
Smith and Jeff Teague. Even Willie Green deserves some consideration in deeper formats.
However, Fantasy owners in daily formats should also keep an eye on Al
Horfod's status moving forward. The Hawks are still holding out hope
that he could return prior to the end of the regular season, which would
be huge boost to most lineups, if he is able to return.
Southeast Division schedule (April 16-22)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Hawks
|
@TOR
| |
DET
| |
BOS
| |
NY
|
Bobcats
|
NO
| |
CHI
| |
MEM
| |
SAC
|
Heat
|
@NJ
| |
TOR
|
CHI
| |
WAS
|
HOU
|
Magic
|
PHI
| |
@BOS
| | |
@UTA
|
@DEN
|
Wizards
|
@CHI
| |
MIL
| | |
@MIA
| |
Southeast Division schedule (April 23-26)
|
|
Monday
|
Tuesday
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
Saturday
|
Sunday
|
Hawks
| |
LAC
| |
DAL
| | | |
Bobcats
|
@WAS
| |
@ORL
|
NY
| | | |
Heat
| |
@BOS
| |
@WAS
| | | |
Magic
| | |
CHA
|
@MEM
| | | |
Wizards
| | |
@CLE
|
MIA
|