Why The Pacers-Bulls Game Is the Ultimate Fantasy Basketball Cheat Code Today
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday.
It's another day of fantasy basketball in a string of them. The schedule has been very consistent, not recently featuring the two- or three-game days that were popular on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the past.
There are four days between now and the All-Star break with less than five games scheduled. That's not too bad, but it is much more than what we have seen since Christmas; the schedule has given us plenty of content. (Whether it was worth watching is another question.)
Let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday. We'll focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
Use FantasySP's defensive rankings to find the players and teams with the best matchups every day!
Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers
We'll start today with a game in which both teams are strong streaming targets. Indiana was in a similar situation against the Hawks back on Monday, another game in which we went after both teams, and that game ended 132-116 in favor of Atlanta, meeting our hope for a lot of points.
The Bulls play at the fifth-fastest pace and have the seventh-worst defensive rating. Indiana is a little more on the fringes, ranking ninth in pace with the 10th-worst defensive rating, but that's well within our range to be a friendly target for fantasy streamers.
Chicago Bulls
Guard
Jones has missed the past two games and is questionable for this one. Jones puts up decent numbers when in the lineup, averaging 12.4 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, making him an intriguing low-to-mid-level streamer. Dosunmu has more scoring upside and makes two three-pointers per game, but he doesn't add much else, keeping him in line with (or maybe slightly below) Jones in fantasy.
Forward
Forward is the weakest streaming position for Chicago. Huerter is the best of this group, but the only number that really stands out at all is his 11 points per game. That's more than Okoro or Williams can offer; you can probably find better forward options elsewhere.
Center
Smith can slot in at both forward and center, giving him a little bump in value. He has been much more involved and productive since Christmas; in his past 15 games beginning on December 26, Smith played at least 22 minutes and scored in double figures 12 times each (in 11 of those games he hit both milestones). Smith is a good streamer today.
Indiana Pacers
Guard
Benedict Mathurin returned on Monday after missing more than three weeks, playing 25 minutes in a reserve role. He could move back into the starting lineup as early as today, and that lowers the fantasy value of everyone listed in the guard and forward sections for the Pacers.
McConnell is the stronger fantasy player here, averaging 9.8 points, 4.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game and coming off a game with 16 points in 18 minutes. McConnell is still a limited fantasy player, though, and puts up somewhat inconsistent stats. Sheppard is even lower on the totem pole, putting up less of everything aside from rebounds.
Forward
Mathurin fits at the 2 and 3, something Nesmith can also claim (both players are listed at 6'5 and around 210 pounds). That means Nesmith will see a little negative regression from his teammate's return, but Nesmith is still a major part of the rotation, averaging 13.5 points and five rebounds per game.
Walker is more of a power forward, though he can move between the two spots. He played at least 29 minutes in each of the past three games and combined for 57 points; Mathurin's return will affect him, but Walker keeps some low-to-mid-level streaming value.
Center
Jay Huff had been playing more center minutes, but he has essentially been glued to the bench the past few games, giving Potter more time. Potter had a good game on Friday with 10 points and 10 rebounds, but he was down at four points and five boards Monday, and that inconsistency is likely to show up often, leaving him mostly off the fantasy radar.
Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz
Utah plays at the third-fastest pace and has the worst defensive rating in the league, making them our clear favorite target. They hosted the Clippers last night and lost 115-103, keeping the Jazz as one of six teams with 15 or fewer victories (everyone else has at least 18).
The Warriors recently lost Jimmy Butler for the rest of the season, likely extinguishing their last hopes of contention this season. It's tough to completely count out the elite players, like Steph Curry, but it seems likely that especially as he ages, there isn't enough on this roster to support him for a real run.
Guard
Curry is probable for this game after sitting out on Monday; his presence obviously changes things. Podziemski is the best fantasy player from this group, averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Melton also missed Monday's game but is back for this one. He puts the ball in the basket, averaging 14.6 points per game in January, and he is a strong streamer here if you need points. Richard plays when injuries are hampering those in front of him, but he is pushed back down the depth chart in this one.
Forward
Moody is the top option here, though all he really adds are his 10.8 points and 2.3 three-pointers per game without much else. Santos and Hield are two more players who play more when there are injuries but otherwise get buried in the pecking order. Draymond Green is set to return here, so Santos and Hield probably won't have enough minutes available.
Center
Horford and Post are very similar fantasy players, not playing enough minutes or putting up enough stats to be on our fantasy radar most days. The only difference is that Horford is months away from turning 40, and Post is about to turn 26.
