We always begin here with a quick review of last night’s games. The Sunday Spin, posted a few hours later than our usual 8:00 a.m. deadline, previews not just today’s contests, but the week ahead for all 30 teams. Finally, there’s an account of my efforts to learn daily fantasy games on DraftStreet.com, which I hope is as much fun for you to read as it was for me to write.
UTA @ CHI: As expected, Luol Deng got the night off. Kyle Korver not only started, he played 40 minutes with 26 PTS, 7 REB and 6 AST. Joakim Noah (flu) also sat out, with Omer Asik filling in. Devin Harris was ill and Raja Bell was absent, leaving a makeshift lineup for the Jazz.
POR @ WAS: LaMarcus Aldridge had 30 & 10, with Raymond Felton scoring 21, as the Blazers finally put a good game together. John Wall (25 PTS, 8 AST) was sharp, even in defeat.
TOR @ DET: Jose Calderon rolled his ankle, giving Jerryd Bayless (touted here as a trade deadline buy-low last Sunday) extra minutes, perhaps for a few more games. Andrea Bargnani finally played, a quiet 19 minutes with 8 PTS. Amir Johnson, bumped from the starting five, didn’t get as many minutes as Ed Davis. Rodney Stuckey (20) and Brandon Knight (19) led the Pistons to an easy home win.
IND @ MIA: A great effort by the Pacers just missed, in overtime. I’m a little concerned about Roy Hibbert, who shot 2-11 and now has hit an embarrassing 22.2% from the floor in four March games.
NOH @ MIN: Kevin Love returned with 31 & 16, and Nikola Pekovic added 21 & 11, but the T-Wolves will sorely miss playmaker Ricky Rubio for the rest of this season. Chris Kaman (20) and Jarrett Jack (17) led the Hornets in a road upset.
HOU @ NJN: “Get Goran Dragic in your lineups,” I advised yesterday. His 23 points, 8 assists and 5 rebounds propelled the Rockets to victory in Jersey. Jordan Farmar filled in for Deron Williams with 18, and Gerald Green could be a hot pickup in deeper leagues after a 26-point outburst off the bench.
CHA @ OKC: My sarcastic “suggestion” to Charlotte about forfeiting to save the plane fare would also have been merciful. James Harden had 33 off the bench as the Thunder rolled to a very easy win.
MEM @ PHO: Jared Dudley had 19 points, Steve Nash 15 assists, Marcin Gortat 9 rebounds. Not fantastic numbers, just good enough to win.
DAL @ GSW: Jason Terry started at PG, giving Jason Kidd the night off, as the Mavs lost another ugly game. Stephen Curry, still recovering from a foot injury, tweaked his ankle. That gave Nate Robinson time to score 21.
Up Next
The seven numbers after each team are games remaining by week. Most head-to-head leagues have just three weeks left in the regular season, followed by playoffs during the last four weeks of NBA games.
ATL 4-5-4-3-3-4-2 In Sacramento tonight, with Joe Johnson back. With 14 games the next three weeks, Hawks are great to own if you’re trying to make the H2H playoffs, or earn a bye.
BOS 4-4-4-4-5-3-2 In L.A. this afternoon for a marquee matchup with the Lakers; all four games next week are part of the same western road trip.
CHA 4-3-4-4-5-4-3 Bismack Biyombo might be a valuable pickup in keeper leagues, and Corey Maggette has been consistent lately.
CHI 4-3-4-3-3-4-2 All four games are at home next week, including a big Wednesday contest vs. Miami. Be warned, though — the Bulls have just 12 games during the H2H playoffs.
CLE 3-4-4-4-5-4-3 Home to the Rockets today and Antawn Jamison could be a huge asset with 16 GP in the last four weeks of fantasy leagues.
DAL 3-4-3-4-4-4-1 The struggling Mavericks must regroup after a disastrous road trip; three home games — two vs. soft opponents — should help.
DEN 3-4-4-3-4-4-2 Host the Grizzlies tonight, then remain at home for three very tough games next week. Danilo Gallinari is still nowhere near his best. There was a cryptic late-night tweet from the agent of Wilson Chandler that mentioned “four years,” so perhaps he’ll sign very soon.
DET 4-3-4-4-4-4-2 All four games are out west; not the easiest week. Brandon Knight is a great target in keeper leagues.
GSW 4-5-4-4-4-5-2 Four games in five nights coming up. Monta Ellis and David Lee are the present, Klay Thompson may be the future.
HOU 4-3-4-3-4-5-1 Four games next week after visiting Cleveland tonight makes several Rockets good to own, especially Goran Dragic while Kyle Lowry recovers from a fairly serious illness.
IND 4-4-5-4-4-4-2 In Orlando less than 24 hours after a tough loss in Miami, then four games in five nights next week. With 13 games in the last three weeks of the H2H regular season, Pacers may be very useful.
LAC 5-4-4-4-4-4-2 Home to GSW tonight, then five (!) games next week — all at Staples. Get all your Clippers in weekly lineups.
LAL 4-4-4-4-4-4-1 Hosting Boston today, then a decent 4-game slate next week. If Pau Gasol does get traded in real life, the already significant value of Andrew Bynum may rise.
MEM 3-4-3-5-5-4-2 In Denver tonight, then three well-spaced home games. Zach Randolph is due back soon.
MIA 4-3-4-4-4-5-2 It’s far from the easiest four games next week, as the Heat visit ORL, CHI and PHI before hosting the Magic.
MIL 3-4-4-4-4-3-3 In Toronto tonight, the Bucks must travel to New Jersey tomorrow, then play only two more games all week.
MIN 4-4-4-3-4-4-1 Not only is Ricky Rubio gone, the Wolves are about to launch a 7-game road trip. Readers already know I love Nikola Pekovic and think Derrick Williams is poised for a breakout.
NJN 4-4-4-4-3-3-2 Without Brook Lopez and with Deron Williams not 100%, there may be some fantasy bargains on the Nets, but they won’t win many games.
NOR 4-3-5-3-4-4-2 Jarrett Jack and Chris Kaman are good plays in weekly leagues.
NYK 4-4-4-3-4-4-2 After hosting Philly at noon today — go set your daily lineups — the Knicks play four more times in the next five nights.
OKC 4-4-3-4-4-4-2 If only there were “sneaky” fantasy plays on the Thunder, but it’s always the same three guys scoring most of the points, with Serge Ibaka having big value in BLK.
ORL 4-3-4-3-4-4-2 Visit Indiana this evening, then two of their four games next week are against the Heat. J.J. Redick may be filling in for Jason Richardson for a few more games.
PHI 3-4-3-4-3-4-3 After today’s matinee in the Big Apple, just three games next week against the best teams in the East. Evan Turner has adjusted well to his new starting gig.
PHO 5-4-3-4-4-4-2 Five-game weeks are fantasy gold, and four of them are at home, where the Suns are rolling. Be sure to use guys like Jared Dudley and Grant Hill.
POR 4-4-4-4-4-3-2 Apart from last night’s win in DC, the Blazers have been awful lately, and they face four extremely tough road games next week.
SAC 4-3-4-5-4-3-2 The Kings host ATL this evening, as DeMarcus Cousins gets back up to full speed. With four home games next week, Isaiah Thomas may be a good play.
SAS 4-4-3-4-4-5-3 A decent schedule next week, but Spurs become even more valuable in the H2H playoffs. Manu Ginobili should be in top form by then.
TOR 4-4-4-4-4-3-2 Andrea Bargnani is back. He may not play too much today against the Bucks, but should get into full stride on the 4-game road trip next week.
UTA 5-4-4-4-4-3-2 Five games next week mean you should use Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Josh Howard, but the other Jazz players are inconsistent.
WAS 5-4-4-4-4-3-3 The good news is a 5-game slate, the bad news is, they are all on the road vs. better teams. John Wall is the safest play and Trevor Booker is underrated.
The Spin is here six mornings a week, by 8:00 Eastern; on Sundays we post before. Follow me on Twitter to keep in touch.
On the Sunny Side of Draft Street
| Sure Things | Over $14,000 |
| C. Paul | $18,842 |
| D. Howard | $20,893 |
| A. Bynum | $18,206 |
| T. Lawson | $16,369 |
| Bargains | Under $9,000 |
| N. Robinson | $7,066 |
| J. Redick | $7,399 |
| G. Dragic | $8,206 |
| R. Foye | $7,914 |
| Hunches | $9,000 to $14,000 |
| L. Scola | $11,110 |
| M. Williams | $9,762 |
| E. Turner | $9,238 |
| T. Evans | $13,010 |
If you’ve been following my (mis)adventures all week and were starting to wonder if I’d ever finish in the money, you may be even more surprised than me to learn that I didn’t just win a league last night, I won three.
My $5 Snake Draft team beat five opponents, earning a $17.55 payoff, and my $5 Pick’Em, a 10-team league, returned $24.75 for first place.
The best news was finishing first of 220 in a $5 Salary Cap league, for a $250 prize. That will leave me very much in the black for the first week, as I’m going to keep playing at the same level. There are more lucrative leagues, but with a $100 weekly bankroll (now up to $312.30) and being a beginner, $2 and $5 leagues remain my speed.
Led by LaMarcus Aldridge and a bargain Goran Dragic, my eight-man team scored 271 fantasy points, obviously a new personal best. By the way, second place paid $160 in that league and third $100 — not bad for the $5 entry fee.
Today I’ll try my first “Double-Up” league. It’s a variation where the top five finishers in a 10-team league all get paid the same. Basically, if you finish anywhere in the top half, you double your money. Not sure I have time for a Snake-Draft on this busy Sunday, but I’m back in the $5 GPP (Guaranteed Prize Pool) Salary Cap game. Picks are on the right, as always.
If you aren’t on Draft Street yet, it’s free to join and you can get started playing free games for credits and prizes.