Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
Utah Jazz at Chicago Bulls
The Spurs are the best defense in the NBA but face the Warriors in a heavyweight championship fight, so all bets are off. Instead, let's look to the Jazz, who have also been dominant defensively all season and have their twin defensive towers healthy against a Bulls frontline that is extremely injured. The Jazz rank 11th in the NBA against point guards, first against shooting guards, eighth against small forwards, eighth against power forwards and fifth against centers.
Offense to Use:
Atlanta Hawks, vs. Houston Rockets
In a mirror to the defense, the Warriors are the best offense in the universe but play the Spurs in San Antonio, so they can't be recommended. Instead, go with the Hawks against a poor Rockets defense that is 25th against point guards, 25th against shooting guards, 30th against small forwards, 19th against power forwards and 14th against centers.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Clippers, Knicks, Jazz
Second game: Cavaliers, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Thunder
Recommendations:
Point Guard
Shelvin Mack, UTA at CHI ($6,000): Mack has been in the zone this week, with four consecutive games of 35.75 to 44.75 fantasy points. He has been particularly aggressive in the last couple games with Gordon Hayward struggling or out with plantar fasciitis.
Other options: Tony Parker, SA vs. GS ($4,500), Jeff Teague, ATL vs. HOU ($6,200)
Shooting guard
Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN at DET ($5,200): Bogdanovic is playing the best ball of his career. In his last two games he is averaging 35 points, 5.5 boards and 3.5 assists per game.
Other options: Rodney Hood, UTA at CHI ($5,800), Josh Richardson, MIA vs. CLE ($4,300)
Small Forward
Kawhi Leonard, SA vs. GS ($8,300): Leonard is playing in arguably the biggest game of the season Saturday night, against a Warriors juggernaut that has not been particularly good against small forwards this year.
Other options: Kent Bazemore, ATL vs. HOU ($5,000), Michael Beasley, HOU at ATL ($4,400)
Power forward
Paul Millsap, ATL vs. HOU ($8,100): Millsap has averaged almost 43 fantasy points per game in his last four outings and faces a Rockets defense that is below average across the board, including against power forwards.
Other options: Myles Turner, IND vs. OKC ($4,900), Derrick Favors, UTA at CHI ($7,300)
Center
Dwight Howard, HOU at ATL ($7,500): Howard has a great matchup against the Hawks, who are 27th in the NBA at limiting production to centers. The last time they faced each other, both Howard and Hawks center Al Horford put up monster games.
Other options: Rudy Gobert, UTA at CHI ($6,300), Andre Drummond, DET vs. BKN ($8,000)
Injury Report
Out:
Rondae Hollis Jefferson, BKN (ankle)
Pau Gasol, CHI (knee)
Mo Williams, CLE (knee)
Jodie Meeks, DET (foot)
Andre Iguodala, GS (ankle)
Andrew Bogut, GS (toe)
Kevon Looney, GS (hip)
Festus Ezeli, GS (knee)
Blake Griffin, LAC (hand/quad)
Mike Conley, MEM (Achilles)
Brandan Wright, MEM (knee)
Vince Carter, MEM (leg)
Zach Randolph, MEM (knee)
Chris Andersen, MEM (shoulder)
Tyler Johnson, MIA (shoulder)
Chris Bosh, MIA (blood clots)
Tony Wroten, NY (knee)
Cleanthony Early, NY (knee)
Alec Burks, UTA (ankle)
Bradley Beal, WAS (pelvis)
Alan Anderson, WAS (ankle)
Game-Time Decision
Kent Bazemore, ATL (knee)
Willie Reed, BKN (knee)
E'Twaun Moore, CHI (hamstring)
Ian Mahinmi, IND (back)
Lance Thomas, NY (knee)
Gordon Hayward, UTA (foot)
