Rebanse Fam, What is Up?! Kamusta kayo??? We are back for another fantasy-filled basketball schedule analysis, and this time it’s a tricky one. A lighter NBA schedule is on deck this week as the In-Season NBA Cup approaches its finale. The Quarterfinals tip off on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the Semifinals on Saturday. On Tuesday, we’ll see Miami vs. Orlando and New York vs. Toronto, and on Wednesday, it’s Phoenix vs. OKC and San Antonio vs. the Lakers.
The winners of these matchups will advance to the Semifinals on Saturday, December 13, while the losing teams will be scheduled to play either Sunday, December 14 or Monday, December 15. All of these games will count toward fantasy leagues. However, the NBA Cup Championship Game on Tuesday, December 16, will not count for fantasy, so plan your lineup accordingly. These dates are actual dates from the US Time Zone, so just add +8hours for Philippine Time (most likely the following day)
Week 8: (December 8 – 14)
- 3 Games:
- IND, MIN, NOP, SAC
- 2 Games:
- ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, GSW, MIL, PHI, POR, WAS
- 1 Game:
- BOS, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, LAC, MEM, UTA
*** Take Note that the Heat, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, Suns, and Raptors will either play 2 games or 3 games this week, while the Lakers and the Spurs will either play 1 or 2 games, all of which depend on NBA Cup results.
Four teams hit the floor three times this week, but the quality of those matchups is mixed. Only the Pacers and Pelicans draw green-light schedules, while the Timberwolves and Kings land firmly in the red. With such a light slate, games played = pure gold, so hot FAs like Jay Huff and Maxime Raynaud can give you a sneaky edge.
Ten teams suit up for two games, and among them, the Cavaliers stand out with a dream schedule of matchups against the Wizards and Hornets, two of the juiciest teams to attack in fantasy. Right behind them are the Bulls, Spurs, and Trail Blazers, all facing the generous Pelicans’ defence. On the flip side, the Heat and Raptors get thrown into the fire with B2B battles against the Magic and Knicks, two of the toughest defensive draws of the week.
Eight teams play just one lonely game this week. The Grizzlies at least catch a fantasy-friendly matchup vs. the Jazz, while the Clippers run into the defence-first Rockets, which is a tougher draw. With so few games spread across the league, this is one of those weeks where start/sit decisions can swing your entire matchup. And if your league locks lineups at each player’s first game, wait until the last possible moment to set your rotation because every advantage matters.
B2B Games:
None
Games Spread:
- Mon: 3 Games
- Tue: 2 Games
- Wed: 2 Games
- Thu: 4 Game
- Fri: 7 Games
- Sat: 2 Games
- Sun: 7 Games
Top Streaming Options:
- Jay Huff
- TJ McConnell
- Derik Queen
- Jeremiah Fears
- Jose Alvarado
- Russell Westbrook
- Maxime Raynaud
- Malik Monk
If you’re into fantasy hoops, you should really check out Daily Fantasy, the Philippines’ basketball fantasy game that uses real player stats for every matchup. They also have a Referral Program that gives you 100 coins so you can join more lineups and take more shots at winning.
