For many standard leagues, Week 22 is semifinal week in the fantasy playoffs. Teams with little to no chance of reaching the NBA’s postseason have begun to utilize uncommon rotations, and some teams with postseason ambitions are struggling with injuries. One team that qualifies for the latter is Cleveland, which has been without three starters (Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, and Evan Mobley) as it looks to hold onto third place in the Eastern Conference. And that is where this week’s fantasy basketball schedule breakdown will begin.
Week 22 Games Played
4 Games: ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, GSW, HOU, LAC, LAL, NYK, OKC, PHI, SAC, SAS, UTA, WAS
3 Games: BOS, DET, IND, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOR, ORL, PHO, POR, TOR
Week 22 Storylines
– When will the injured Cavaliers starters return?
The Cavaliers had one of the better schedules for fantasy leagues that run their playoffs between Weeks 21 and 23. Cleveland was one of four teams playing four games in those three weeks, but that doesn’t do much good if the team isn’t healthy. Donovan Mitchell (nose), Max Strus (knee), and Evan Mobley (ankle) have all been sidelined, and the former is also dealing with a lingering knee issue. Not only has that not done the Cavs any good regarding their position in the East, but it has also been a negative in fantasy basketball.
Mobley is listed as questionable for the Cavaliers’ March 24 game against Miami; if cleared to return, this would be his first action since March 5. Mitchell and Strus have already been ruled out for Cleveland’s final game of Week 21, as has reserve Dean Wade (knee). Cleveland plays four games in Week 22, beginning with Monday’s game against Charlotte, and the schedule will keep players like Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Isaac Okoro, and even Sam Merrill on the fantasy radar.
– Pistons, Pacers, Suns, and Trail Blazers lose value after Friday
Detroit, Indiana, Phoenix, and Portland all have three-game weeks that conclude on Friday, so they’ll be of little use to managers needing production at the end of Week 22. However, in the case of Detroit and Portland, those rosters have players who may still be worth the risk due to injuries. James Wiseman, Duop Reath, and Jabari Walker are three players widely available in fantasy leagues who could be worth the risk despite the game schedules not being the best.
Injuries suffered by Jalen Duren (Detroit) and Deandre Ayton (Portland) have freed up minutes and opportunities, and neither team has much incentive to rush their more established players back into game action. Something else to watch ahead of Week 22 will be the status of Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, who injured his knee during a March 22 loss to the Clippers. The results of his MRI are expected to be revealed by the start of Week 22, and a prolonged absence would boost the values of Scoot Henderson and Dalano Banton, even though the former has struggled with inefficiency for most of his rookie campaign.
– Nineteen teams end Week 22 with games on Friday and Sunday
Add in Orlando, which has a Friday/Saturday back-to-back, and two-thirds of the NBA will play two games over the final three days of Week 22. San Antonio, Utah, and Washington are three teams playing on Friday and Sunday that have no hope of reaching the postseason, possibly resulting in “injury management” days for some of the teams’ more established players. Will Washington continue to make Kyle Kuzma available for every game? As for Utah, Lauri Markkanen and John Collins have already sat out games for injury management reasons, and it’s fair to wonder if Victor Wembanyama could meet a similar fate in San Antonio. Most of the 20 teams that will play two in three days to end Week 22 have four games on their schedule, so fantasy managers may be able to get three games out of players with “rest day” concerns.
– Is Mitchell Robinson truly close to a return to action?
The Knicks center…
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