RADIO
It's week two of the playoffs in most leagues, meaning the big dogs have enjoyed their bye weeks and it's time to put-up or shut-up. It's now win or go home. You have to cut bait with anyone injured or struggling and max out the production of your roster with key category streamers. That's where I come in!
This column is posted weekly as part of RotoBaller's regular season NBA coverage for the 2015-16 NBA season. It will focus on available players who could win you your H2H matchup in specific categories.
Last thing, we’ll usually only focus on one player per category, but list other available options underneath. Certain guys might be listed in more than one category, so if you need help in both, be sure to make those players a priority.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Waiver Wire: Week 21 Category Streamers
Weekend of 3/25, 3/26 & 3/27
Teams with 2 games: TWO: ATL, CHA, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAL, MIL, MIN, ORL, PHI, PHO, SAC, SAS, TOR, WSH
Teams with 1 game: BKN, BOS, CHI, CLE, LAC, MEM, MIA, NOP, NYK, OKC, POR, UTA
Points
Michael Beasley (SF/PF, HOU)
Owned in 45% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 25 vs. Toronto & Sunday, March 27 @ Indiana
ANALYSIS: Before you go check, yes it is THAT Michael Beasley. As in the well-traveled, disappointing, somewhat enigmatic player taken 2nd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft who is fresh off an MVP season…in the Chinese Basketball League. Beasley, still only 27 years old, signed with the Rockets earlier this month and has been absolutely awesome in six games in which he received 15 minutes or more on the court. In those contests, Beasley has averaged an almost unbelievable 17.8 ppg. With Houston vying to hold onto their playoff spot, they have no choice but to continue to play the red-hot Beasley heavy minutes in two weekend games.
Other alternatives: Lance Stephenson continues to shine scoring the rock following a deadline deal to the injury-riddled Grizzlies. Heat rookie swingman Josh Richardson continues to impress late in the season. Both guys only play on Friday, but could be played and dropped for another guy playing on Saturday, then another on Sunday, if you have transactions to burn. Nuggets point guard D.J. Augustin has really stepped up his scoring this month, averaging 14.1 ppg throughout March. D-League veteran Sean Kilpatrick is a deeper option at shooting guard, but he has finally found a home with the Nets, and has emerged as a reliable scorer, averaging 18.0 over his previous five games.
Rebounds
Jon Leuer (PF/C, PHO)
Owned in 13% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 25 @ Sacramento & Saturday, March 26 vs. Boston
ANALYSIS: Leuer has seemingly been on-and-off fantasy radars this entire season, and now could be a time where becomes extremely useful. With veteran Tyson Chandler experiencing back spasms, the tanking Suns are not going to push the 14-year pro back into action anytime soon. Now is the time for the Suns to lose games and also see what some of their younger players (like Leuer) have going forward. After starting the second half for the ailing Chandler Monday night, Leuer collected 13 rebounds and has proven earlier in the season to be a useful asset for boards when given extended run.
Other alternatives: Mavericks center Salah Mejri is a super intriguing option. Mejri played 33 minutes on Sunday and 31 minutes on Wednesday, hauling in a total of 26 rebounds. He has a tough matchup (for a big man) against the Warriors on Friday, but it seems he's a key part of the Mavs rotation with Chandler Parsons on the shelf. Pelicans center Omer Asik has become a trendy pickup in the wake of the season-ending injuries to Anthony Davis and is a sure bet for rebounds in his lone game over the weekend. Lakers rookie Larry Nance Jr. is an inconsistent, but potentially strong rebounding option who has averaged 7.0 rpg over his previous three contests. He missed Tuesday night, but should be back for the weekends double slate of games. Mason Plumlee is an underrated and durable player who has already amassed 40 career double-doubles and is coming off a 19 board night., but is currently 57% owned. P.J. Tucker is a nice option for rebounds (5.7 season average) out of the SG/SF spot if you are looking to load up and take the category.
Assists
Shelvin Mack (PG, UTA)
Owned in 43% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, March 26 @ Minnesota
ANALYSIS: Mack has finally gotten it going after being picked up at the deadline for the point guard needy Jazz. Just last week when this column was published, his ownership was around 26% and has since skyrocketed, largely due to his 9.6 apg average in his last five including Sunday night where he dished out 12 dimes. Despite only having one game on the schedule this weekend, Mack has become a valuable piece for assists and should be owned beyond this weekend.
Other alternatives: Toney Douglas has filled in admirably for the Pelicans while Norris Cole misses extended time (5.3 apg for Douglas in those eight games). Another week, and Donald Sloan remains a steady, yet unspectacular option for dimes with only one game on the schedule. D.J. Augustin is not only scoring for the Nuggets, but has been finding teammates as well, averaging 5.2 apg over his last five games. Marcelo Huertas of the Lakers is a 32-year-old rookie from Brazil who is a turnstile on defense, but his increased time on the floor has led to production in the assists category, averaging 7.7 in his last three contests, including a a 10-dime night last Friday in only 21 minutes.
Steals
P.J. Tucker (SG/SF, PHO)
Owned in 39% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 25 @ Sacramento & Saturday, March 26 vs. Boston
ANALYSIS: Injuries, position changes, and an overall lack of depth have spiraled this Suns season out of control, but Tucker has remained a steady constant in the lineup. Tucker has emerged as a valuable NBA role player who can get the job done in spurts on both ends of the floor. From a defensive perspective, Tucker has surpassed his career average for steals (1.1) this season, averaging 1.3 spg. His 1.8 spg in his previous five games ranks towards the top of the league, and his steady playing time of 30+ mpg is a real plus for owners. Factor in a back-to-back this weekend and Tucker’s thefts could prove to be the difference in the category.
Other alternatives: Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen is a mainstay in this section of the column and has been outstanding since returning from injury earlier this month as a key contributor for steals -- unfortunately he only has one game remaining this week, and it's against the Spurs. The Grizzlies just signed well-traveled veteran Jordan Farmar to a 10-day contract in an effort to patch up their injury-plagued PG woes. Farmar has 3 steals in two games thus far, and is playing minutes in the high 20s. Heat rookie forward Justise Winslow needs to improve his offense, but his defensive awareness and abilities are top notch. His 10 steals over his previous three games are not a fluke. Gary Harris of the Nuggets has emerged as a reliable two-way player, collecting 9 steals in his previous five games.
Blocks
Bismack Biyombo (C, TOR)
Owned in 39% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 25 @ Houston & Saturday, March 26 @ New Orleans
ANALYSIS: Like Mack listed above, Biyombo’s ownership has exploded over the past week. In last week’s column, he was at a meager 21%, and has nearly doubled since. His value for fantasy purposes is obvious: Biyombo has been a monster swatting opponents’ shots this month and owners, always looking for blocks, have taken notice. Biyombo has averaged 2.6 bpg in the month of March, and a deeper look inside the numbers reveals even more impressive stats. In 11 March games, Biyombo has blocked a shot in 10 of them. In those 10 games where he registered a blocked shot, he managed multiple swats in each of them, including two games where he turned away 6 shots! With a two-game schedule this weekend, Biyombo should be owned for his ability to win this category single handedly.
Other alternatives: Sixers forward Jerami Grant has provided incredible value this season for owners needing blocks, and have compiled 2.2 bpg in his previous four. Pacers rookie Myles Turner looks like a future star, and has blocked 5 shots over his last two games. Similar to Grant, Bucks forward John Henson is a blocked shots specialist who returned to the lineup last week after a 20-game absence. All he’s done in three games where he received legitimate playing time is block 8 total shots.
Three Pointers
Tim Hardaway Jr. (SG/SF, ATL)
Owned in 8% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 25 vs. Milwaukee & Saturday, March 26 @ Detroit
ANALYSIS: Hardaway’s first season in Atlanta was rather uneventful until this past week when both his time on the floor and overall play improved significantly. Hardaway has played between 20-30 minutes in his last three games, connecting on 11 three-pointers in that span. With guys like Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore struggling, expect the Hawks, who are jockeying for position with multiple teams in the Eastern Conference, to ride Hardaway while he’s hot from downtown in their two conference games this weekend.
Other alternatives: The Cavs picked up veteran stretch-four Channing Frye at the deadline to spread the floor with his shooting and open up space. He has done just that of late, converting on 11 threes in four games before a dud Wednesday night. Isaiah Canaan of the Sixers was featured in this spot last week and continues to pour it in from three-point land (17 3PM in his last six). As mentioned in the points section, Josh Richardson of the Heat has impressed this month, and has also been a contributor from downtown. Before an off night on Tuesday, Miami’s rookie forward made at least 3 three-pointers in three consecutive games, and he came back from his down night with a solid all-around effort against the Spurs on Wednesday. Bulls sophomore sharpshooter Doug McDermott continues to build on his strong month, where he has averaged over 3.0 3PM over his last six games.
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