Friday's Fantasy Basketball Streamers: Anthony Black, Noah Clowney, and More
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Friday.
Eight teams in each conference currently have winning records.
Before the NBA created the play-in tournament, teams with losing records would periodically make the playoffs, particularly in the recent Eastern Conference. Now that 10 teams make it to at least the play-in, we're pretty much guaranteed to have teams with losing records playing postseason basketball in each conference.
Your perspective depends on what you are looking for: If you want competitive basketball between the best teams in the playoffs, this playoff expansion is negative. If you are an NBA employee and want every available dollar in your pocket, you love the extra postseason games.
Moving to fantasy basketball, let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Friday. We will focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
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Brooklyn Nets @ Washington Wizards
The Wizards play at the eighth-fastest pace and have the worst defensive rating. On top of their league-worst defense, Washington has the fourth-worst offensive rating. This rebuild isn't going anywhere fast.
Brooklyn was expected to be bad, and they haven't disappointed, sitting with a 10-21 record. The Nets lost at home against the Rockets yesterday 120-96; they are likely to have better luck against the Wizards today.
Guard
Demin and Mann both missed yesterday's game and are questionable for Friday. If they play, both players are fine low-level streamers, with Demin having a little more value.
If those two both miss this one, Traore and Martin would have a little low-level value of their own. You can probably find a better option, but if you're in a super-deep league, both players would at least be worth considering with the great matchup.
Forward
Michael Porter Jr. missed yesterday's game and is questionable for this one. If he doesn't play, then everyone here gets a little bump. None of the three is much of a fantasy player, with Williams probably having the most value. Wolf can score the ball, but his production is inconsistent; you can find better forwards elsewhere.
Center
Clowney can slot in at both forward and center, giving him a little extra value. He averages more than 28 minutes and 13 points per game, but he doesn't add a lot else, with his four rebounds below average for his position. With a great matchup, Clowney is a good streamer today.
Orlando Magic @ Chicago Bulls
Chicago plays at the second-fastest pace and has the seventh-worst defensive rating. The Bulls are also in the bottom 10 in offensive rating, putting a serious ceiling on their potential.
Orlando has suffered at least 10 missed games from each of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, three of their most important players. They are holding tough at 19-15, so if the Magic ever get healthy, we could see them make a move in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
Guard
Black is owned in just under half of fantasy leagues, bordering on not being a streamer anymore. He averages 15.4 points and 1.3 steals per game while making 1.5 three-pointers; Black is a strong streaming player today. Jones is just a low-level fantasy player who is off the radar now that they are healthier at guard.
Forward
da Silva has some low-level streaming value, averaging 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He will have a little extra value while Wagner remains out of the lineup.
Center
- Wendell Carter, Jr.
- Goga Bitadze
Carter is another good streaming player from the Magic. He averages over 30 minutes per game with 12.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. Carter even makes more than one three-pointer per game. Bitadze is just a backup player who puts up backup stats, but he is coming off a strong game with 14 points and nine rebounds against the Pacers.
Portland Trail Blazers @ New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans plays at the ninth-fastest pace and has the fourth-worst defensive rating. Their eight victories are tied for the second fewest in the league; are we going to see veterans traded soon, including Zion Williamson?
Portland was one of our target teams often during the first part of the season, but they have recently played better defensively, holding the 12th-worst defensive rating. That doesn't make them good by any means, but on a day with a full schedule, we can focus on more vulnerable teams.
Guard
Both guys here are low-level fantasy players. Love offers more value (he averages 9.2 points per game), but you can find a better option elsewhere.
Forward
Camara is a good streaming player, playing more than 33 minutes per game with 12.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. He fits nicely into fantasy lineups today. Murray is a low-level statistical player, not on the fantasy radar.
Center
Williams is another backup player who doesn't get enough court time to make a real fantasy impact. An injury to Donovan Clingan would change Williams' outlook.
