Fantasy Bulls-Eye: Key Additions For Fantasy Playoffs
By Erik Ong
We’re deep in the heart of Fantasy Basketball’s Playoff season. Some leagues are entering their first week while others are already on their second. One big key to success in winning during these knock-out weeks – yes, it’s do or die folks – is to mitigate the poor schedules of key players on your team.
This coming week there are eight teams with ONLY THREE (3) games on tap and they are ATL, CHI, DEN, HOU, MIN, NOR, NYK, and ORL.
Both SAC and MEM have five games slated while the rest of the teams in the league have four games each.
If you’re like me and happen to have a team whose roster is composed of mainly the whole gamut of team’s with only three games, then you know that our teams are in for one hell of an uphill battle this coming week. Six of the standard nine categories are positive counting stats (PTS, REB, AST, 3PTM, STL, BLK). More games played, the better chances for higher sums totaled in those said categories. That’s just the general rule. Elite players like Kevin Love and Dwight Howard for example, would be a preferred play over four games played by your garden variety pick-up off free agency. However, D12’s teammates are another story. Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson haven’t been exactly the poster boys for consistency lately, over their projected stats I would roll the dice on the four games of New Jersey’s Gerald Green for example.
So without out further ado, here are my waiver wire add recommendations for the upcoming week:
J.J. Hickson F/C, Portland Trail Blazers – I already mentioned him as a potential add last week, and so far so good. Hickson logged a healthy 12 minutes more than regular starting center, Joel Przybilla did against the New Orleans Hornets. Seeing Hickson hover in the 27-31 minute range is good. LaMarcus Aldridge is currently dealing with a sore hip and all indications point to Hickson getting a decent run at respectable playing time next week.
Kemba Walker G, Charlotte Bobcats – He’s currently outplaying starting PG, DJ Augustine. With the Bobcats out of playoff contention, the coaching staff may just decide to hasten Walker’s development and let him take over the reigns for a little bit. Regardless of the actual plan, Kemba is ripe for an uptick in both minutes and production this coming week.
George Hill G, Indiana Pacers – He’s not been consistent as of late, and doesn’t look like he is still in serious consideration to contest for the starting point-guard job, but Hill will be a decent source of points, treys, and the occasional steal. If you can squeeze two good quality games out of his slated four then you’ve already seen him outd0 Jameer Nelson or Kirk Hinrich.
Kevin Seraphin F/C and Trevor Booker F/C, Washington Wizards – Neither of these guys will wow you next week, but either player will be good for boosting your team’s rebounding and blocking totals for the week. Currently, Booker is starting at PF alongside Nene Hilario, while Seraphin is backing up both positions. Booker looks like he is primed to deliver the bigger totals, but both he and Hilario are dealing with some nagging injuries. Booker is hampered by plantar fasciitis and a sore knee. That situation makes Kevin the “safer,” more injury-DNP resilient choice between the two.
Brandon Rush G/F, Golden State Warriors – He’s been their solid sixth man over the last few games and he’s being rewarded with an increase in playing time. If you need a boost in threes made accompanied by the some defensive numbers every now and then, Rush might just be the man to plug in lieu of your Hedo or J-Rich.
Gerald Green G/F, New Jersey Nets – As I’ve said, I’d take Green over the erratic play of some other players this coming week. He has some so-so games and some good games, but has recently carved out a bit of consistency during the absence of Anthony Morrow. Green’s steals and blocks make him the more aggressive and diversified start, even if Morrow does return to action some time next week.
Linas Kleiza G/F, Toronto Raptors – Kleiza has seen a boost in fantasy value ever since Jerryd Bayless has been ruled out for the rest of the season. With Leandro Barbosa already shipped off to the Pacers during the trade deadline, Kleiza is the team’s best scorer off the bench. He’ll be a good add next week to boost your team’s scoring and three-point shots made. Unfortunately, his peripheral contributions to cats outside of those two come few and far between.
Shannon Brown G/F, Phoenix Suns – It’s been reported that Grant Hill will undergo minor surgery. This situation opens up the gates for Shannon to get good opportunities to produce for your fantasy team. He hasn’t failed to score in double figures as a starter. His lines will be somewhere between that of Gerald Green and Linas Kleiza, but his main contributions would still be in the points and threes categories.
That’s it from me, for now. Good luck in your league’s Playoffs next week!