Hello, Week 23 in fantasy basketball is here, and that means only four weeks left in the regular season.  More importantly to fantasy basketball players, that means playoffs in head-to-head leagues.  Good luck this week and hopefully a championship is coming your way soon.  Please do not forget to check out the fantastic Advanced Schedule Grid on Hashtag Basketball. Without further ado, let us get right into it.

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: Week 23 brings another balanced schedule.  18 teams play four games this week, and the remaining 12 teams play three games.  Your lineup should have a more significant percentage of four game players but expect a few men with three games this week to trickle in.

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. Caris LeVert- Brooklyn Nets (28.2%)- LeVert is having a mini-breakout post All-Star Break. In those ten games, he is averaging 13.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 3-pointers made, and 1.0 steal per game in just 25.5 minutes a night.  Add him for a nice stats across the board
2. Dewayne Dedmon- Atlanta Hawks (20.9%)- Dedmon is averaging 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game in just 25.9 minutes a night in his 11 games since the All-Star Break.
3. Kyle Anderson- San Antonio Spurs (18.1%)- A potential Kawhi Leonard return looms here, but Anderson’s defensive stats are worth the risk. In 11 games since the All-Star Break, he is averaging 2.3 steals and 0.6 blocks with 3.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Eight steals could easily be the difference in that category.
4. Kelly Olynyk- Miami Heat (29.1%)- In the ten game since the All-Star Break, Olynyk has improved his defensive stats to become even more intriguing. He averages 10.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.4 3-pointers made, and 0.7 blocks in just 23.1 minutes a night in those ten contests. A solid across the board contribution for Olynyk makes him worth owning.
5. Reggie Bullock- Detroit Pistons (15.0%)- Add him for the points (15.6 per game since the All-Star Break) and threes (2.5 post ASB).
6. Dillon Brooks- Memphis Grizzlies (15.0%)- Points and 3-pointers made streamer who is averaging 15 and 1.5 since the All-Star Break.
7. John Henson- Milwaukee Bucks (23.1%)- Henson should produce enough rebounds (6.9 per game on the season) and blocks (1.4) to push you closer to victory in those two categories.
8. Danny Green- San Antonio Spurs (6.5%)- Green averages 1.0 steal, 1.2 blocks, and 1.7 3-pointers made on the season or enough production to sway all three of those categories in your playoff matchup.
9. JaMychal Green- Memphis Grizzlies (37.9%)- Green’s 8.2 rebounds per game could swing your matchup.
10. Jae Crowder- Utah Jazz (30.6%)- In his 15 games with the Jazz, he averages 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.0 3-pointers made. Expect those numbers to improve a bit as the shooting percentages even out.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Only one day this week has double-digit games on tap.  Friday features ten games and Sunday has nine, but streaming opportunities should be available in plenty of cases this week.  I will highlight all days to attempt to serve your needs best.

NOTE: The Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Philadelphia 76ers all play four games this week on light schedule days. The Pelicans play three consecutive days starting on Tuesday.

Back-to-backs

Monday- Tuesday

Detroit Pistons

Ish Smith (17.1%)- Smith is inconsistent, but has produced in steals and assists as the starter.  That could soon end, though.  Reggie Jackson appears to be nearing a return so keep an eye on that.

Reggie Bullock (15.0%)- Bullock has been on a tear since the All-Star Break by averaging 15.6 points per game and 2.5 3-pointers made. Add him if you need points and threes.

Stanley Johnson (2.0%)- Steals streamer.

Luke Kennard (0.8%)- Deeper league add for points, threes, and assists.  Kennard is playing to watch next season if he can secure a larger role.

Tuesday-Wednesday

LA Clippers

Montrezl Harrell (21.8%)- Harrell produces consistent double-digit scoring, but not much else.

Milos Teodosic (8.9%)- Assists and 3-pointers made are the two categories that make adding Teodosic worthwhile. 

New Orleans Pelicans

E’Twaun Moore (11.9%)- Moore produces 12.2 points, 0.9 steals, and 1.5 3-pointers made per game on the season.

Emeka Okafor (2.9%)- Add him for the blocks (1.3 per game) in any league.

Toronto Raptors

Fred VanVleet (8.6%)- Production had been solid, but he is limited with a hand injury that is worth monitoring.

Jakob Poeltl (6.3%)- 1.3 blocks per game in just 18.4 minutes a night on the season.

C.J. Miles (5.2%)- 3-pointers made specialist.

Pascal Siakam (4.1%)- Deeper league add for defensive stats.

Wednesday-Thursday

Charlotte Hornets

Jeremy Lamb (38.0%)- Lamb is inconsistent but should offer at least 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three 3-pointers, and a steal over the back-to-back set.

Frank Kaminsky (12.3%)- Kaminsky is averaging 11 points and 1.3 3-pointers made per game for the season.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (3.0%)- Deeper league steals streamer.

Memphis Grizzlies

JaMychal Green (37.9%)- A reliable producer in rebounds who averages 8.2 rebounds and 10.4 points, but not much else.

Dillon Brooks (15.0%)- Brooks has played well since the All-Star Break.  In those 13 games, he averages 15.0 points, 1.5 3-pointers made, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per in 31.7 minutes a night.

Philadelphia 76ers

T.J. McConnell (4.2%)- McConnell averages 1.3 steals per game in just 24.0 minutes a night on the season. 

New Orleans Pelicans

Listed under Tuesday-Wednesday

Thursday- Friday

Atlanta Hawks

Dewayne Dedmon (20.9%)- Dedmon brings the rebounds and defensive stats in enough volume to sway a close matchup.

Mike Muscala (1.1%)- Muscala is a fine deeper league add for rebounds, threes, and defensive stats on low volume high percentages.

Isaiah Taylor (0.4%)- An assists stream in leagues of 14 teams or more.

Utah Jazz

Jae Crowder (30.6%)- Crowder should provide close to 13 points, four rebounds, and two 3-pointers made each game.

Thursday-Saturday pseudo

Dallas Mavericks

Dwight Powell (35.6%)- Powell is inconsistent, but the steals and rebounds make him interesting with the upside for points.

Nerlens Noel (7.3%)- Risky add, but the defensive stats (rebounds, steals, and blocks) could be special in even 20 minutes a night.

Yogi Ferrell (5.0%)- Excels in the unheralded fantasy category minutes meaning more time on the court for production.  A hail mary add for a monster game in steals and points.

Los Angeles Lakers

I wish I could recommend someone to add, but unfortunately, the Lakers are over 65% owned or not worth streaming.

Orlando Magic

Jonathon Simmons (32.0%)- Points add who is producing almost a steal per game.

D.J. Augustin (20.3%)- Sign me up for any starting point guard.  Augustin should produce assists and steals with upside in points and 3-pointers.

Mario Hezonja (9.5%)- Steals streamer.

Jonathan Isaac (1.7%)- The rookie averages 1.0 steal and 1.1 blocks per game in just 19.4 minutes.  Add him if you need help in both categories.

Houston Rockets

Ryan Anderson (9.7%)- 3-pointers made streamer only this season who chips in 5.3 rebounds when fully healthy. 

P.J. Tucker (3.8%)- Steals (1.0 per game) streamer who grabs 5.6 rebounds per game.

Luc Mbah a  Moute (0.9%)- Deeper league steals (1.0 per game) add because of the lack of production elsewhere.

Charlotte Hornets

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday

Detroit Pistons

Listed under Monday- Tuesday

Memphis Grizzlies

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday

New Orleans Pelicans

Listed under Tuesday-Wednesday

Philadelphia 76ers

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday

Friday-Saturday

Minnesota Timberwolves

Tyus Jones (0.8%)- 16 teams or more league steals stream.

Phoenix Suns

Josh Jackson (31.2%)- Add him for the points and steals and consider anything else gravy.

Chicago Bulls

**Justin Holiday and Robin Lopez both need to be avoided given the uncertain nature of their playing time.

Denzel Valentine (14.3%)- Had a monster game when LaVine, Markkanen, and Dunn all out, so monitor their statuses as this back-to-back approaches.

David Nwaba (6.1%)- Deeper league steals streamer.

Cameron Payne (1.8%)- Add him for steals (1.3 per game) and assists (3.8) in any league.

Saturday-Sunday

Houston Rockets

Listed under Thursday-Saturday pseudo

Looking ahead to Week 24

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.

Sunday-Monday of Week 24

Boston Celtics

Greg Monroe (30.7%)- Monroe produces points, rebounds, and steals when given the minutes.  The minutes look likely in Boston now.

Marcus Morris (25.1%)- Expect points, threes, and rebounds as long as the Celtics are facing a plethora of injuries.

New York Knicks

Michael Beasley (38.5%)- Post All-Star Break, Beasley is producing 10.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in 26.2 minutes.  Expect him to take a few more shots down the stretch, but the big jump is not coming.

Courtney Lee (15.6%)- Minutes have dropped lately and so has the production.  A tricky add to recommend in 21 minutes a night.

Kyle O’Quinn (13.0%)- Stream him for the blocks and rebounds and consider anything else a bonus.

Emmanuel Mudiay (5.2%)- Deeper league assists and steals add.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, a victory in your playoff matchup is ahead 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.