The past week has been very kind for a couple teams especially the Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns. Both squads played three of their four games at home and drew the worst defensive teams during that span. The Rockets played the Philadelphia 76ers (ranked 28th in Efficiency Difference) and the Suns had the Los Angeles Lakers (30th).
Which brings us to this simple strategy: Any player on a team with a 3-4 game schedule this week and drew the Sixers, Lakers, or the Cleveland Cavaliers is worth starting. More games against fantasy-friendly clubs (realistically the poorest defensive teams) like those aforementioned three is heaven for owners. And except for the Cavs, there really is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Fantasy Forethought recommends watching out for these potential breakthrough players next week:
Draymond Green
Available in over 30% of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues, Draymond Green has been the primary benefactor of David Lee‘s absence. He has pumped double digit scoring in three of the first five games and averaged almost 12.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG and 2.6 APG. Add in the fact that he sinks 1.8 treys per game, averaged 2 combined STLS and BLKS, and the Warriors will play all four of their games in Oakland, Green is a must-add in all formats, at least until Lee comes back.
Other options: Andre Iguodala right now has been one of the most-dropped cagers in fantasy basketball, but with the uber-friendly schedule, you might want to take a crack at the defensive stud. Andrew Bogut is available in almost half of the leagues to begin the season, but don’t expect to find the Aussie’s name in the waiver wire after that stellar 18-rebound, 4-block performance against the Rockets.
Manu Ginobili
The flak on the San Antonio Spurs in general is the way they limit minutes and occasionally rest their guys. That may get you to May or June in reality but in fantasy basketball, that is downright maddening! However, Manu Ginobili already had his DNP last week and it will be quite a surprise if Pop opts to sit the Argentinian down for the week ahead.
Manu is currently registering 12.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG and 1.3 3PM and that may just earn him a spot in your next weekly lineup. A four-game sked with a Lakers match-up on board is just too much to pass up.
Other options: Tony Parker has not sat out in any of the first quintet of games but if Gregg Popovich does opt to rest the Frenchman, Cory Joseph might get the bulk of the minutes. In fantasy basketball, that is the ultimate key to being productive.
Jeremy Lamb
Could the OKC Thunder be any more thinner? After Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (and in a lesser sense Mitch McGary), Andre Roberson and then Perry Jones quickly followed in the hospital ward.
Scott Brooks may look for production from just about anybody but one player primed to be on the verge of a breakout with all the missing pieces is third-year guard Jeremy Lamb. Appearing in his only game of the season opposite the Memphis Grizzlies, the former Husky managed 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 3PM, and 1 BLK. The most important stat, however: 41 minutes.
Other options: Steven Adams already gets the majority of minutes alongside Serge Ibaka at the frontcourt but the New Zealand native may only be a deep-league option for now. Anthony Morrow might suit up and could make an impact especially with his long-range sniping.