With the first week of the NBA season in the rearview mirror, Week 2 will offer the standard routine for the association. Only one team (Philadelphia) plays two games, while 15 will play four times during Week 2. The 76ers remain in a holding pattern regarding two of their stars, but the schedule may work in their favor. On the other end of the spectrum, Denver, Portland and Sacramento will have to play two back-to-backs over seven days. Let’s take a look at the Week 2 schedule for the NBA and some key storylines.
Week 2 Games Played
4 Games: ATL, BOS, BKN, CLE, DAL, THEN, THE, MEM, NOR, ORL, BY, SAC, SAS, TOR, UTA
3 Games: CHA, CHI, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, OKC, PHO, WAS
2 Games: PHI
Week 2 Plots
– Is this week we see Joel Embiid and Paul George in action?
The 76ers did not get off to the start many expected, with the absences of Embiid and George having a lot to do with that. Still, the Week 2 schedule is shaping up well for a potential return, even if it lowers the fantasy values of the team’s supplemental pieces. Philadelphia is the only team scheduled to play two games in Week 2, the first being a home matchup with the Pistons on Wednesday. With the final game of the week scheduled for next Saturday against the Grizzlies before the 76ers head west for a road trip, the schedule sets up well to keep Embiid and George fresh should they play. Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin, and Kelly Oubre Jr. are more valuable when Embiid and George sit. However, they may all be eligible regardless of what the 76ers doctor decides.
– Denver, Portland and Sacramento have to navigate two back-to-backs
NBA schedules waste no time in getting to the business of back-to-backs, with many teams ending their Week 1 slate with such a setup. For Week 2, three teams will have to tackle two back-to-backs. Portland’s first back-to-back begins with a home matchup against New Orleans on Sunday in the final game of Week 1, followed by a road game in Sacramento the following night. As for the Kings, both of their back-to-backs are during Week 2.
Mike Brown’s team begins their road trip in Utah the night after hosting Portland, and they will finish their Week 2 slate with a Friday/Saturday road back-to-back against the Hawks and Raptors. The third team with two back-to-backs is Denver, which, like Sacramento, will play three of four on the road. The Nuggets start the week with Monday/Tuesday B2B in Toronto and Brooklyn and end with Friday/Saturday against the Timberwolves (road) and Jazz (home). The good news is that none of these teams are currently dealing with significant injuries to key players, but that doesn’t preclude their respective coaching staffs from giving someone the night off if they see fit.
– Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday are set to be good flow days
Those are the lighter days on the schedule, with the NBA playing four games on Tuesday and Thursday and three on Sunday. As part of a four-game week, the Nets play Tuesday and Sunday, making them a team for managers looking to add value to focus on. Maybe Dennis Schroder (35% listed, Yahoo) jumps into the mix because of his spot in the rotation, but his percentages (42.9% FG, 66.7% FT) haven’t been the most impressive in the Nets’ first two games. Also, playing on two of those light game days are Dallas (Thursday and Sunday) and New Orleans (Tuesday and Sunday).
Given the injuries to Trey Murphy and Dejounte Murray, Jordan Hawkins (13% listed) might be worth a look in the deep league, especially before the Pelicans’ game against the Hawks to end Week 2. Rookie Yves Missi (15%), who counted two steals and five blocks in the first two games of the season, should also be considered. He played four more minutes per game (22.5 to 18.5) than Daniel Theis, despite the veteran getting the starting nod in wins over the Bulls and Trail Blazers.
– Raptors may soon welcome back major contributors
Toronto played its first two games without RJ Barrett (shoulder), and Immanuel Quickley (pelvis) went down during the team’s season-opening loss to the Cavaliers. The former could return as soon as Saturday’s game against the Timberwolves, putting him on track to be available to start a four-game Week 2 slate on Monday. As for Quickley, he did not travel with the team to Minneapolis. The good news for Toronto is that they will play three of their four Week 2 games at home. The downside is that the slate includes a Friday/Saturday home back-to-back against the Lakers and Kings.
We’ll see how much Barrett and Quickley can play and how the Raptors will handle those two in the back-to-back. Gradey Dick is a player worth keeping regardless of RJ and Quickley’s statuses, while Ochai Agbaji is not (he probably shouldn’t even be aired). Another name for fantasy managers to watch out for, especially in deep leagues, is rookie Jonathan Mogbo. He has a fantasy-friendly game, especially for those who need defensive stats.
– Miami, Washington and Clippers schedules
The Heat, Wizards and Clippers all play three games during Week 2, but their schedules will affect how those teams are rated in terms of fantasy value. Miami and Washington play all three games on the busier days of the week (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday), while the Clippers play three games in four days, starting with Portland on Wednesday. In the case of the first two teams, their lesser-heralded players who get streaming attention on lighter days may not be worth watching. As for the Clippers, players other than James Harden and Ivica Zubac can be left on the waiver wire, especially in leagues that require a lineup before the start of games on Monday.
Bright Play Days
tuesday (4 Games)
DEN vs BKN
DAL vs. MIN
SAC vs. UTA
NOR vs. GSW
Thursday (4 Games)
A THOUSAND against HIMSELF
HOU vs. VALLEY
SAS vs. WAY
PHO vs. LAC
sunday (3 Games)
that vs. BKN
ATL vs. NOR
ORL vs. DAL
Back-to-backs
Sunday (Week 1)-Monday: ATL, IND, MIL, FOR
monday-tuesday: DAL, DEN, SAC, UTA
Tuesday-Wednesday: BKN, GSW, NOR
Wednesday-Thursday: LAC, MEM, SAS
Thursday-Friday: None
friday-saturday: BOS, CHA, CLE, DEN, MIN, OKC, POR, SAC, TOR
saturday-sunday: None
Sunday-Monday (Week 3): ATL, DET, NOR
