After Big Day, Naji Marshall Leads Friday's Fantasy Basketball Streamers
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Friday.
Well, we've reached another weekend! By the time we come out on the other side, it will be March, a time when postseason basketball begins kicking into gear. That is mostly college until we hit the middle of April, but at least it gives us a taste of what the NBA playoffs could (hopefully) bring.
In the meantime, we are chugging through the final stretch of the season, waiting for those last few weeks when games will really start to mean something. Fantasy basketball is also winding down, and for those still in the running, every point counts (or rebound, or assist, or…whatever).
Let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Friday. 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 teams and players with the best matchups each day!
Memphis Grizzlies @ Dallas Mavericks
We'll start with a game in which we are looking to target both teams today, though both are close to the fringe. The Grizzlies play at the 10th-fastest pace and have the 10th-worst defensive rating. They are the one team today that we would look to target on a normal day.
The Mavericks play at the fourth-fastest pace but have a defensive rating more than a half-point better than the league median. Dallas was a top-10 defensive team by that metric for much of the first half but have slowed down a little, so there is some vulnerability despite the Mavs sporting a better-than-average rating on D.
Dallas Mavericks
Guard
Cooper Flagg hasn't played since February 10, something that changes the dynamic of the Mavericks' lineup. Christie and Williams are similar to each other as fantasy players, with Christie grabbing a few more rebounds and shooting 3-pointers while Williams records more assists and steals. Jones is a lesser statistical guy who isn't on our fantasy radar.
Forward
P.J. Washington missed yesterday's game and could play today, something that would squeeze everyone here a bit. Marshall is my favorite streamer from this group, a guy averaging 15.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game over the full season. He has been at his best since the new year, averaging 17.5 points per game in January and 18.8 in February before yesterday's game. Oh, and about yesterday: Marshall finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in 42 minutes.
Middleton has played just six games with Dallas, but he has been productive, reaching double-digit points four times and grabbing at least five rebounds in five of those games. Thompson does a little shooting and scoring, but that's all he adds, and he isn't a great fantasy player anymore.
Center
Gafford missed yesterday's game but could return for this one. He and Bagley have mostly been splitting the center minutes recently, with Bagley putting up better numbers. Bagley has scored in double figures in every game since the All-Star break and had double-doubles in the first two.
Memphis Grizzlies
Guard
We have a lot of names here who have been playing lately, and that has to do with injuries as much as anything else. Jerome has only played eight games, but he is averaging 19.6 points, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.6 3-pointers per game, already putting him near 50% fantasy ownership.
A second-round rookie, Small didn't start getting real minutes until the very end of January. In eight February games, Small is averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1 steal, and 2.1 3-pointers while scoring double-digit points six times. He's a decent option who has come a bit out of nowhere.
Pippen and Spencer haven't been great statistically and are a level below the other two. Cedric Coward also hasn't played since February 9, and when he returns, that will affect the minutes of these guys; Coward's return is uncertain, though it could come today.
Forward
Wells and Jackson have been similar statistically, both averaging double-digit points but not adding a lot else. They are OK lower-level streamers if you need scoring, but you could probably find a better option. Hendricks has played just eight games with Memphis, and though he has averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in those contests, Hendricks is a half-step lower than Wells and Jackson.
Center
Aldama is a good fantasy player but has appeared in only two games since January 18 and none since February 4. His return is possible here but far from certain. Anderson has missed the past three games, but even if he returns, he's not generally on the fantasy radar.
That would seem to leave Prosper with a chance to perform well, and while he has been inconsistent, Prosper has scored in double figures in five of his past seven games; there's a little low-level intrigue, particularly if the other two are out again.
New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee plays at the sixth-slowest pace, but they have the eighth-worst defensive rating in the league, so on a day short on quality targets, we can look toward the Bucks. Milwaukee currently sits 11th in the East, 1.5 games behind the Hornets.
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains out, and his return might be the only thing that could propel this team into the play-in. (They might be just as happy to miss it altogether and hope for luck in the lottery.)
The Knicks are 1.5 games behind Boston for second in the East, and that would be a major hurdle to clear, as the No. 2 seed would have home-court advantage in a potential conference semifinal matchup. Making the postseason isn't the issue for New York; it's getting positioned to do the most damage possible that will define their regular season.
Guard
The Knicks play a short rotation, and since their five starters are owned in most fantasy leagues, it leaves a dearth of streaming options. Shamet is averaging 9.8 points and 2.2 3-pointers per game, OK rotational work, but it doesn't make him a fantasy piece.
Alvarado is right at those same numbers in seven games with New York while adding a few more assists and steals. Alvarado might be the slightly better option, but neither guy is a must-have player.
Forward
Sochan just hasn't gotten on the court with the Knicks, combining for 30 minutes and four points in four games. He's nowhere near the fantasy radar right now.
Center
Robinson is a reserve player who would see his stock rise if an injury happened in front of him, but until then, he's better left out of your fantasy lineup.
