Playoff Stretch Run

As we wind down the 2008-2009 NBA season, it's time to take a look at the upcoming Fantasy playoff schedule and how that might affect your chances of winning your league. The playoff schedule primarily affects head-to-head formats and the more consistent the player's schedule, the better your chances. The key is to avoid players on teams that play only two games in a week, particularly during the championship week. You also need to consider NBA teams that are fighting for a playoff spot as opposed to those teams that are completely out of it or can not improve their positions.

Now for the list…

 

Team	Week				Comments
	1	2	3	4
Philadelphia Sixers	4	4	4	4	The Sixers clearly have the best schedule throughout the playoffs as the key is consistency. They have the added advantage of fighting for a playoff spot. Speights could be a nice pickup. Consider trading for Iguodala for a star on a team with a bad playoff run (read Celtics).
Detroit Pistons	4	4	4	3	While the team is in disarray, they are still fighting for a playoff spot and there is talent there. Although, I'm not a big fan of Alan Iverson, he should have a nice run. Let's also hope that Rodney Stuckey gets it turned around.
New Orleans Hornets	4	3	4	4	The Hornets also have a nice run up into the playoffs and some fringe players like James Posey and Rasul Butler could help you with 3's. Owners of Chris Paul stand to benefit the most.
San Antonio Spurs	4	4	3	4	The Spurs rest their players a lot down the stretch, but their schedule is nice in the playoffs. With Ginobili down, Roger Mason is a great pickup down the stretch.
Orlando Magic	3	3	4	4	Great playoff schedule, but how much will they play? With Nelson there, maybe not a lot, but with the team trying to "gell" before the real playoffs, I think the Magic players will be very valuable. Consider trading for Turkoglu. If Alston is somehow on you're waiver wire, pick him up.
Los Angeles Lakers	3	4	4	4	The Lakers have a nice playoff run, but might not have a lot to play for the last two weeks of the season. That should boost the value of second tier players like Trevor Ariza.
Memphis Grizzles	4	3	4	4	Lousy team but a great playoff schedule. Oh well, consider Marc Gasol and Hakim Warrick. Also, if you're an owner of Mike Conley, you're in the cat bird seat as he should have a nice run during the playoffs.
New York Knicks	3	3	4	4	Fantasy Gold team with a nice playoff run. Consider trading for some of the Knick players: including Al Harrington and Nate Robinson. It should be a nice run.
Sacramento Kings	4	2	4	4	One of the bottom 3 defensive in the NBA, ok, the worse defensive in the league, should translate into a nice playoff run. Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson are nice pickups.
Los Angeles Clippers	4	4	3	3	Team in constant turmoil but has a decent playoff schedule. I wouldn't trade for any Clipper but would watch the wires for a spot week for Jordan and Novak. If Baron Davis goes down, Mardy Collins is worth a look. Play Z-Bo and Kaman (if he comes back).
Portland Trail Blazers	4	3	3	4	Good schedule for the Trail Blazers. With Oden down, Pryzbilla will have value down the stretch and is worth a pickup if you're looking for rebounds and blocks.
Cleveland Cavs	4	3	4	3	Decent schedule but not a lot to play for, unless of course something happens to one of the big three on Boston and the number #1 seed is at stake. Delonte West to return shortly and should be owned on all teams.
Charlotte Bobcats	4	3	4	3	Lots to like from a Fantasy standpoint in Charlotte these days and with a favorable playoff schedule, consider adding Augustine if he gets the minutes down the stretch. Raja Bell and Boris Diaw should be owned in all leagues as with all other Bobcats starters.
Phoenix Suns	2	5	3	3	The first week is tough, so if you're a #1 seed playing a #4 or lower, you should be able to navigate the first week. Then you've got the blowout week #2. Be careful with this one as it could be a sucker bet, particularly with Stoudemire going down. I do like Grant Hill a lot now and he should be picked up.
Golden State Warriors	4	3	4	3	Play every Warrior, even the water boy!
Miami Heat	3	4	4	3	Might be playing for that #4 seed and home court advantage, plus incorporating O'Neal might be an incentive for Miami to play hard down the stretch. Nice playoff run.
New Jersey Nets	4	3	4	3	The Nets have nothing to play for and I'd worry about Vince Carter loosing interest. Although a nice schedule, consider moving Carter for Iguodola.
Minnesota Timberwolves	4	4	3	3	The double three is not great to end the season, but the double 4 to start the playoff is nice. The problem is there's not much to like in Minnesota, unless you are a Kevin Love fan. Consider trading for him as he should be great down the stretch.
Oklahoma Thunder	4	3	3	4	Nice playoff run, but outside of their big three, there's not much to like here.
Utah Jazz	2	3	5	3	Fighting for their playoff lives and the 5 game week in week 3, you've got to love it. As with the SUNS, this is a sucker play as you've got to make it through week #1. I still like it and you should consider trading for one of the starters down the stretch. Millsap will also not have much value once Boozer returns.
Atlanta Hawks	3	4	3	3	Not a great playoff schedule, so consider moving some of your Atlanta studs, including Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. In fact, if you own Josh Smith, you're probably out of it anyway as he, Shawn Marion, and Elton Brand are the poster boys for the worse Fantasy performers of the year.
Washington Wizards	4	4	3	2	Nice start to the playoffs, but the last week with only two games is a killer. Caron Butler might be shut down anyway, so he's the guy to move.
Dallas Mavericks	3	3	4	3	Ok schedule, but they will be fighting for their playoff lives. I'm not sure they will make it as Utah and Phoenix should pass them down the stretch.
Denver Nuggets	3	4	4	2	The two game week is not good to end the season, plus they won't catch the Lakers, so I don't know how hard they will play down the stretch. BIllups is use to a reduce workload and Nene looks tired to me. Consider moving some of your Nuggets.
Indiana Pacers	3	3	3	3	Playoff schedule is consistently "blah", but the Pacers are Fantasy Gold because of their lousy defense and need to score. Consider a pickup of Jarret Jack and Marquis Daniels as Dunleavy and Granger recover from injuries.
Toronto Raptors	3	3	3	4	A decent schedule, particularly during championship week. Watch out for Calderon continuing to miss time. If that happens, the pickup is Anthony Parker.
Chicago Bulls	3	5	2	3	Not a great schedule with a brutal 2 game week going into the championship week. I do worry about Rookie of Year candidate, Derrick Rose, tiring as the season heads down the stretch. The smart move is to try and trade Rose.
Houston Rockets	4	2	3	3	A pretty lousy playoff run. Consider trading your stud Rockets, particularly Yao Ming. Let's face it, you've gotten more out of Ming than you bargained for at the draft table and it's time to trade in on that value, particularly with the playoff schedule.
Boston Celtics	4	4	2	3	A terrible schedule for Fantasy owners of the Celtics. Also, you have to consider the Celtics will rest their starters to prepare for their playoffs. Since Fantasy Owners love name recognition, consider trading the big four. You read correctly, the big four, as Rondo might have the most value of any Celtic.
Milwaukee Bucks	2	3	4	2	I've pined for Ramon Sessions all season long and finally he got his chance, and boy did he take advantage. However, the Bucks have a terrible playoff run for Fantasy Owners and it's time to move Sessions, Charlie V, and any other Buck you can. Unless you're desperate, I think it'll be tough to start a Buck during those weeks where they only have two games.