Hello, Week 22 in fantasy basketball is here, and that likely means playoffs in most head-to-head leagues. If you are still reading, then congratulations and good luck in securing your championship.  Please do not forget to check out the fantastic Advanced Schedule Grid on Hashtag Basketball. Without further ado, let us jump right into it.

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: The schedule is about as even as we see in the NBA.  Eight teams play four games this week, and the remaining 22 squads all play three games.  That means there are no two game players to avoid and you are likely stuck starting your studs.  Your lineup will feature some three games so do not panic there.

Top 10 potential pickups playing four games: (All ownership percentages based on ESPN leagues and under 40 percent owned was the cut-off for available on the waiver wire)

1. Austin Rivers- LA Clippers (33.8%)- Rivers is underrated this season. He is playing 33.3 minutes per game and averaging 15.5 points, 2.4 3-pointers made, 2.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. Rivers is a worthy addition in any league.
2. Bogdan Bogdanovic- Sacramento Kings (37.8%)- Bogdanovic over the last 15 days is averaging 14.3 points, 2.1 3-pointers made, 3.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.0 steal per game making him a must-own in all leagues.
3. De’Aaron Fox- Sacramento Kings (35.6%)- Fox is improving rapidly and has his percentages under control. He should be a reliable source of points, steals, and assists down the stretch.
4. Kyle Anderson- San Antonio Spurs (22.2%)- Anderson has been a top steals contributor since the All-Star Break plus solid rebounds, assists, and blocks from a small forward.
5. Rudy Gay- San Antonio Spurs (32.4%)- Gay is not a fantasy stud anymore, but in his last five games, he is averaging 13.0 points, 0.6 steals, 1.0 block and 5.6 rebounds.
6. Buddy Hield- Sacramento Kings (22.4%)- Points and 3-pointers made specialist who is averaging 0.9 steals per game.
7. Danny Green- San Antonio Spurs (7.9%)- 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks per game on the season make Green an excellent addition to winning those two categories in a playoff week.
8. Montrezl Harrell- LA Clippers (29.9%)- In the nine games since the All-Star Break, Harrell is averaging 17.0 points on fantastic percentages in only 20.7 minutes a night. You want more in the defensive stats, but Harrell is playing well lately.
9. Milos Teodosic- LA Clippers (7.2%)- Teodosic is a stream to help in 3-pointers and assists.
10. E’Twaun Moore- New Orleans Pelicans (9.7%)- Moore has seen his minutes drop in a few games recently because of blowouts, but he is likely 12 points and a steal per game with small contributions in every other category.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Both Tuesday and Saturday feature 11 game slates. On Thursday, there are nine games. Those are the three most substantial days.  I will eliminate the two 11 game days when it comes to streaming to best fit your possible needs.

NOTE: The absolute best schedule this week goes to the Sacramento Kings with four games and three on light schedule days.

Back-to-backs

Monday- Wednesday pseudo

Miami Heat

Kelly Olynyk (19.7%)- Olynyk is a solid contributor in rebounds, assists, and steals for a big man.

Justise Winslow (18.6%)- Winslow is a fantastic target if you need a monster game because he possesses a diverse skill set.  Expect rebounds and steals, but you may get lucky somewhere else.

Tyler Johnson (15.6%)- Johnson is a points streamer who can secure you a steal per game.

Wayne Ellington (4.0%)- 3-pointers made target.

Milwaukee Bucks

John Henson (21.7%)- Henson is a blocks and rebounds addition in any league.

Sacramento Kings

Bogdan Bogdanovic (37.8%)-  Add Bogdanovic in all leagues.

De’Aaron Fox (35.6%)- Fox is worth owning for his points, steals, and assists.  Hopefully, he can stay healthy the rest of the way.

Buddy Hield (22.4%)- Hield is a points and 3-pointers streamer who chips in almost a steal per game.

Skal Labissiere (10.0%)- Labissiere is nursing a hip injury, but has been playing well lately.  Expect five rebounds, two assists, a block, and 12 points per game if he is healthy.

Wednesday-Thursday

No teams scheduled

Thursday-Friday

Philadelphia 76ers

T.J. McConnell (4.8%)- McConnell averages 1.3 steals per game in just 24.2 minutes a night.

Marco Belinelli (3.1%)- Deeper league target for points, 3-pointers, and steals.

LA Clippers

Austin Rivers (33.8%)- Rivers should be on a roster in all leagues for his across the board contributions.

Montrezl Harrell (29.9%)- Ride the hot hand with Harrell, but only expect points with positive percentages.

Milos Teodosic (7.2%)- Teodosic is averaging 1.9 3-pointers made and 5.0 assists per game for the season in just 25.2 minutes per night.

Sindarius Thornwell (0.2%)- Thornwell has at least one steal in each of the last six games and is averaging 1.5 steals per game over that small sample.

Toronto Raptors

Jakob Poeltl (6.2%)- 1.3 blocks per game are Poeltl’s specialty.

Fred VanVleet (5.6%)- Deeper league assists and steals target.

C.J. Miles (3.9%)- 3-pointers made streamer in any league.

Friday-Sunday pseudo

Boston Celtics

Terry Rozier (29.6%)- Rozier seems safe for a dozen points and a steal per game, but the assist totals are very inconsistent.

Marcus Smart (23.0%)- Smart is a steals and assists streamer.

Marcus Morris (16.1%)- Morris is a dozen points with 5.5 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Jerami Grant (2.3%)- A blocks streamer in deeper leagues.

Corey Brewer (0.8%)- Brewer should be near a steal per game on his new team making him worthwhile in 14 team leagues or larger.

LA Clippers

Listed under Thursday-Friday

Toronto Raptors

Listed under Thursday-Friday

Looking ahead to Week 23

Perhaps, you have an extra pickup heading into Sunday’s games and would like to take advantage of both that and the beginning of next week. Here is the place for you.  Unfortunately no teams play Sunday and Monday of next week so I expanded to Tuesday for some help

Sunday-Tuesday of Week 23

Minnesota Timberwolves

Nemanja Bjelica (14.5%)- Rebounds and steals seem safe, but Bjelica has a ton of upside after the Jimmy Butler injury. 

Jamal Crawford (3.9%)- Deeper league shot in the dark for points and threes.

Tyus Jones (0.6%)- Averaging 1.1 steals per game in just 18.0 minutes a night.

Houston Rockets

P.J. Tucker (2.2%)- Rebounds and steals target in a 14 team league or deeper.

Luc Mbah a Moute (0.9%)- 1.1 steals per game on the season make him a useful stream.

New Orleans Pelicans

E’Twaun Moore (9.7%)- Moore has seen his minutes drop in a few games recently because of blowouts, but he is likely 12 points and a steal per game with small contributions in every other category.

Emeka Okafor (1.3%)- Yes, I cannot believe he made this article in 2018 either, but the blocks are worth a stream in standard leagues and the 5.3 rebounds in 16.2 minutes are a nice boost.

Darius Miller (0.8%)- 3-pointers made addition in deeper leagues.

Portland Trail Blazers

Al-Farouq Aminu (13.0%)- The 3-pointers, steals, and blocks peak my interest, but the inconsistency makes him difficult to recommend.

Ed Davis (10.2%)- Davis is an excellent rebounds and blocks streamer when he is getting the minutes, and in 22.1 minutes post-All-Star Break he is averaging 10.3 boards.

Shabazz Napier (2.3%)- Napier is averaging 1.2 steals per game in 21.3 minutes on the season.

Maurice Harkless (0.9%)- Harkless produces in steals and blocks when he gets over 25 minutes a night.  The minutes are always a question mark, though.

Boston Celtics

Listed under Friday-Sunday pseudo

Oklahoma City Thunder

Listed under Friday-Sunday pseudo

LA Clippers

Listed under Thursday-Friday

Toronto Raptors

Listed under Thursday-Friday

Final thoughts

Hopefully, you dominate your playoffs matchup and come back next week for another look at the schedule. If you have any questions, you can Tweet me @wattsy4444, or our main account @hashbasketball and we will answer all your basketball related inquiries. Be sure to check out the Watching the Boxes Podcast for all the fantasy basketball information you need in podcast form.