By Dan Bruno, RotoWire.com
The All-Star break always complicates fantasy basketball strategy, and this season is no different. With Yahoo combining the week before and after the break into one extended scoring period, maximizing games played becomes even more critical. In this article, we'll break down the schedule to help you identify prime streaming days, teams with advantageous five-game slates and clubs with limited action that could clog your roster. We'll also spotlight squads with especially favorable matchups, highlighting where category boosts may be available. Smart roster management over this two-week stretch can be the difference between stealing a win and falling behind.
Days with fewer than six games
These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams:
Tuesday, Feb. 10: IND at NYK, LAC at HOU, DAL at PHX, SAS at LAL
Thursday, Feb. 12: MIL at OKC, POR at UTA, DAL at LAL
Teams with more than four games
Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:
Hawks (5), Nets (5), Hornets (5), Bulls (5), Cavaliers (5), Nuggets (5), Pacers (5), Clippers (5), Lakers (5), Bucks (5), Knicks (5), Thunder (5), Magic (5), 76ers (5), Suns (5), Trail Blazers (5)
Teams with fewer than four games
Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:
Raptors (3), Celtics (3)
Top teams to target based on favorable matchups
Cavaliers
at Nuggets, vs. Wizards, vs. Nets, at Hornets, at Thunder
The new-look Cavaliers have a great chance to build some momentum through the next couple of weeks. The stretch will begin and end with a couple formidable challenges, which will be perfect chances for the team to calibrate where they stand. First, they take on the Nuggets, who, with Nikola Jokić back in the lineup, will be a tough foe. However, the Nuggets give up the league's fifth-most three-pointers per game to opposing shooting guards, providing a window for Donovan Mitchell to build off the momentum from his last couple of outings.
Moving on, the Cavs clash with the Wizards, who give up the league's second-most points and third-most turnovers per game, followed by a meeting with the Nets, whogive up the league's highest field-goal percentage and seventh-most turnovers per game. Both matchups provide ideal low-resistance opportunities for the squad to test their schemes and work on establishing a new rhythm while integrating James Harden into the offense.
Up next, an encounter with the Hornets, who have been balling lately but also give up the league's seventh-highest 3-point shooting percentage and fifth-most turnovers per game. Harden and Mitchell should once again be able to excel in the matchup, while guys like Dennis Schröder and Sam Merrill could also stand out from long range. Finally, the Cavs wrap the week against the Thunder, who sit first in the West but are just 5-5 in their last 10 games heading into Week 17. This will be a perfect chance for the Cavs to see how they measure up against top-tier competition and another game where Merrill could be an X-Factor, as the Thunder give up the league's second-most 3-pointers per game to opposing small forwards.
Nets
vs. Bulls, vs. Pacers, at Cavaliers, at Thunder, at Hawks
The Nets begin their week against the Bulls, who give up the league's fifth-most points per game along with the eighth-highest field-goal percentage, including the fourth-highest 3-point shooting percentage.
Up next, they clash with the Pacers, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game along with the fifth-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the second-most free throws, fourth-most rebounds and second-most points in the paint per game. Both matchups should allow plenty of room for the Nets' rotation players to prosper, as the squad continues to forge ahead with development as their main focus, with guys like Ben Saraf, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf in line to see notable playing time.
From there, the Nets will have their work cut out in back-to-back games against the Cavaliers and Thunder.However, they have a good chance to make up some ground from downtown, as the Cavs give up the league's second-highest 3-point shooting percentage, and the Thunder give up the league's fourth-most 3-pointers per game, along with the fifth-highest 3-point shooting percentage, an area where Egor Dёmin has shown that he can excel. The Thunder also give up the league's seventh-most rebounds per game, which leaves room for Nic Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe to stand out.
Lastly, the Nets close their five-game stretch against the Hawks, whogive up the league's seventh-most points per game, including the third-most points per game to opposing small forwards and the fourth-most points to opposing power forwards.
Pacers
at Knicks, at Nets, at Wizards, at Wizards, vs. Mavericks
The Pacers kick off Week 17 against the Knicks,who enter the week 9-1 in their last 10 games.One of the best chances they will have to put up a competitive fight in the matchup will be to make the most of the opportunities from long range, as the Knicks give up the league's eighth-most 3-pointers per game, which means the squad's 3-point leaders, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, will be key factors.
Up next, a much more winnable game in a meeting with the Nets, whogive up the league's highest 3-point shooting percentage and sixth-most points in the paint per game. This matchup suits Jay Huff and Pascal Siakam very well, as both big men have a proven ability to score inside and out.
Moving ahead are back-to-back encounters with the Wizards, who give up the league's fourth-most free throws, most rebounds and fifth-most points in the paint per game, before the Pacers then close their week against the Mavericks, whogive up the league's third-most rebounds and most points in the paint per game. All three matchups once again put the spotlight on the Pacers' frontcourt and will likely be ideal grounds for Jarace Walker to continue to step up with his well-rounded play.
76ers
at Trail Blazers, vs. Knicks, vs. Hawks, at Pelicans, at Timberwolves
The 76ers begin with a matchup against the Trail Blazers, who give up the league's eighth-most points and most turnovers per game, suggesting VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre are prime candidates to pad their stats on the defensive end. Up next, a tougher challenge against the Knicks, followed by a clash with the Hawks, who give up the league's fifth-most rebounds and seventh-most points in the paint per game, providing a good chance for Dominick Barlow to keep up his strong play.
Moving on, the 76ers meet with the Pelicans, who give up the league's third-most points per game along with the seventh-highest field-goal percentage. They also give up the second-most 3-pointers and sixth-most rebounds per game.
Lastly, an encounter with the Timberwolves, who will certainly pose a significant challenge but should also provide the opportunity for guys to pad their stats from the foul line, as they give up the league's seventh-most free throws per game.
