While next week will be Week 9 in standard ESPN and Fantrax leagues, it will be Week 8 in Yahoo due to their decision to combine the previous two weeks. The schedule will be somewhat awkward, thanks to Tuesday’s Emirates NBA Cup final being a standalone game. No games will be played on Wednesday, resulting in robust slates for Thursday (13 games) and Saturday (12). Friday and Sunday will have modest three-game slates ahead of the first day of Week 9, on which 28 of the league’s 30 teams will be in action. Let’s look at the Week 8 schedule and some of its essential storylines.
Week 8 Games Played
4 Games: SAC
3 Games: BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, LAC, MIA, MIL, NOR, OKC, PHI, TOR, UTA
2 Games: ATL, BOS, DAL, GSW, HOU, IND, LAL, MEM, MIN, NOR, ORL, PHO, POR, SAS, WAS
Week 8 Storylines
– Is Philadelphia’s Embiid looking at another extended absence?
After playing well in his return to the 76ers lineup last Sunday, center Joel Embiid landed back on the shelf during Friday’s loss to the Pacers. The 7-footer suffered a sinus fracture when he was inadvertently hit in the face by Bennedict Mathurin. Whether or not Embiid has to miss time (and how much) wasn’t determined at publishing, so fantasy managers may find themselves in a familiar place to begin Week 8. While C Andre Drummond (14%) would return to the starting lineup, PF/C Guerschon Yabusele (14%) has been the better streaming option. Also in line for a boost to his fantasy value is SG/SF Kelly Oubre Jr. (28%), as the 76ers will also be without rookie Jared McCain. McCain suffered a lateral meniscus tear on Friday and is out indefinitely.
– Sacramento will play four games during Week 8
While the Kings may not have a streamer worth targeting (SG/SF Kevin Huerter is 9% rostered for the adventurous types), the Week 8 schedule is good for the team’s consistent options. Sacramento is the lone team scheduled to play four games during Week 8, beginning with the Nuggets on Monday. Also, all four contests will be played at the Golden 1 Center, which is good news for a team that ranks fourth in the NBA in home offensive rating, eighth in points per game at home, and third in field-goal percentage in home games. SG/SF Malik Monk (63%) is still sitting on some shallow league waiver wires, while the other four Kings ranked within the top 125 in 9-cat formats are all rostered in at least 89% of Yahoo leagues.
– Milwaukee and Oklahoma City are guaranteed three games, while Atlanta and Houston get extra time off
Fourteen teams will head into Week 8 with three games on their schedules, 12 of which were determined before Saturday’s Emirates NBA Cup semifinals. The other two are Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, who advanced to Tuesday’s final in Las Vegas with wins over the Hawks and Rockets. Of the four semifinalists, only Milwaukee is not scheduled to play on Thursday. The Bucks begin a back-to-back in Cleveland on Friday (they host Washington on Saturday).
Oklahoma City (Friday at Orlando) and Houston (Sunday at Toronto) will also play a game on one of Week 8’s lighter game days. In comparison, Atlanta plays its two non-Cup games on the busier days (Thursday at San Antonio, Saturday vs. Memphis). Some players worthy of fantasy consideration include Atlanta SF/PF De’Andre Hunter (41%), Houston SF/PF Tari Eason (51%), and Oklahoma City’s SG/SF Luguentz Dort (24%) and PG/SG Cason Wallace (12%). Dort and Wallace offer greater appeal because they have three games instead of two.
– 12 teams will play on either Friday or Sunday
Along with Tuesday (NBA Cup final), Friday and Sunday are days that fantasy managers will want to target for potential streamers. Three games are scheduled for both days, and none of the teams in action have the luxury of playing on Friday and Sunday. Toronto, which hosts Houston on Sunday, is one team to watch due to the recent ankle injury suffered by Scottie Barnes. SG/SF Gradey Dick (46%), SG/SF Ochai Agbaji (21%), C Kelly Olynyk (18%), and PF Jonathan Mogbo (3%) may all be worth a look for that Sunday slate as managers look to win their Week 8 matchups. New Orleans (vs. Denver) and Indiana (at Sacramento) are also active on Sunday. At the same time, Charlotte (at Philadelphia), Philadelphia, and Oklahoma City (at Miami) may have players worthy of streaming consideration on Friday.
– December 15 marks the beginning of the NBA’s trade window
Sunday, December 15, is not part of Week 8, but it starts a crucial period for the NBA. On this day, approximately 86% of the league’s players become eligible to be traded between the 15th and the February deadline. A deal has already been reported, with the Warriors acquiring PG Dennis Schroder and a second-round pick from the Nets in exchange for PG/SG De’Anthony Melton and three second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Schroder’s arrival will give the Warriors a much-needed playmaker, likely cutting into Brandin Podziemski’s fantasy value. As for the Nets, Melton won’t help them on the court, as he underwent season-ending knee surgery. But his expiring contract will help the rebuilding franchise in the summer from a salary cap standpoint. On the court, PG/SG Keon Johnson and PG/SG Shake Milton are two players whose minutes should increase after the Schroder trade.
– How long will the Lakers be without SF/PF LeBron James?
James did not play in Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves, as he’s away from the Lakers for personal reasons. He’s considered questionable for Sunday’s game against the Grizzlies, and the Lakers play two road games against the Kings on Thursday and Saturday in Week 8. If LeBron is back on Sunday, there’s little need for fantasy managers to be concerned. However, him missing another game would make for a long wait, especially for those whose lineups for the week have to be set before games begin on Monday. PG/SG Austin Reaves returned from injury on Friday, with PG/SG Gabe Vincent and SG/SF Max Christie also starting in Minneapolis. Both players are rostered in one percent of Yahoo leagues, but Christie offers a higher fantasy upside, especially after outplaying Vincent on Friday.
Light Game Days
Tuesday: 1 Game
MIL vs. OKC (Emirates NBA Cup Championship Game)
Wednesday: 0 Games
Friday: 3 Games
CHA vs. PHI
MIL vs. CLE
OKC vs. MIA
Sunday: 3 Games
HOU vs. TOR
IND vs. SAC
DEN vs. NOR
Week 8 Back-to-backs
Sunday (Week 7)-Monday: None
Monday-Tuesday: None
Tuesday-Wednesday: None
Wednesday-Thursday: None
Thursday-Friday: CHA, OKC
Friday-Saturday: CLE, MIA, MIL, PHI
Saturday-Sunday: NOR, SAC
Sunday-Monday (Week 9): DEN, HOU, IND, TOR
