Princeton-less Offence, Knicks Defence and the Week Ahead

Week 2 Schedule

Team	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	SUN
	@POR		@GSW		@SAC
		CLE		BOS			@SAC
	@CHI		UTA	@BKN		TOR	@DET
		WAS	@MIN			MEM
	BOS		@PHO			@LAC	@POR
		@BKN				DAL	@PHI
	MIN		WAS		@IND	@CLE
	@PHO			MIA		@SAS
	OKC		@PHI		ORL		BOS
			ATL		@MIN		@OKC
	MIA		NOR		@POR		@LAL
		TOR	@MIL		DAL		@NYK
			MIA			CHI
		SAS			PHO		HOU
			@OKC		NYK	@CHA
	@HOU		@LAC	@DEN		@PHO
	@PHI		IND			NOR
	@DAL		CHA		GSW
			@HOU		OKC	@MIL
		@ORL		@SAS	@MEM		IND
	@DET		MEM		@NOR		GSW
		NYK			@DET		@TOR
	MIL		DET		UTA		CLE
	DEN		CHI		@LAL	MIA
	ATL	@SAC			HOU		CHI
		POR			ATL		BKN
		@LAL		NYK		DEN
	UTA	@IND				@BOS	ORL
	@TOR		@BOS		@PHI	@WAS
		@CHA	@DAL			UTA

 

The Clippers are the only team to be limited to two games this week — both are against the league’s better defences in MIA and CHI, so they can be safely benched. Boston, on the other hand, gets 5 games, so their deep bench should get plenty of run especially on the weekend against TOR and @DET.

Philadelphia has the sweetest schedule with four home games, no back-to-backs and some soft defences. It would be an ideal time to integrate Andrew Bynum but there has been little word on that front. New head coach Bernie Bickerstaff and the Lakers also don’t have to worry about travelling or back-to-backs and should see plenty of scoring opportunities against SAS, PHO and HOU.

Miami, Atlanta and Utah play exclusively on the road, with the former two out west and the Jazz out east. That said their opponents are generally fantasy friendly. The Knicks might have the toughest go with an @SAS-@MEM back-to-back sandwiched between @ORL and IND.

Some mismatches of note include:

POR @ SAC on Tuesday. The Trailblazers play their starters big minutes so any back-to-back will be exhausting and this one is on the road after a home game and against an overlooked opponent. Give Keith Smart credit, the Kings are actually playing defence so far this year and may smother Portland here.

CHA @ MIN and WAS @ DAL on Wednesday. I have grouped these two together because the Wizards play at the Bobcats the night before. Both will see a significant step up in competition after travelling great distances for a back-to-back and are likely to be tired, overmatched and ripe for a blowout.

MIA @ DEN on Thursday. A re-match from their November 3 contest where both teams scored more than 115 but this time in Denver. Miami may be vulnerable after facing a rested Clipper squad the night before.