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Welcome to The Christmas Playlist! That is proper. Christmas for fantasy basketball is coming early, and I am going to let you understand who and what to play in your lineup and in terms of music for the upcoming week.
Earlier than we soar in, I need to want everybody a protected and blissful vacation! Now, press play and shuffle via the newest fantasy basketball data and my favourite Christmas songs.
🏀 Week 8 wrap up
- Victor Wembanyama turned the sixth participant in NBA historical past with a 30-point, 10-block efficiency on Saturday night. He additionally notched 70-plus fantasy factors for the fifth time this season.
- Jayson Tatum dropped a 43/15/10 triple-double with 9 threes towards the Bulls on Saturday. He turned the fifth participant in NBA historical past to document 40+ factors, 15+ rebounds, 10+ assists and 5+ 3s in a recreation.
- Kawhi Leonard has practiced in full, is touring with the workforce and might return on Friday towards the Warriors
🥇High gamers for Week 8
🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Waiver Pickups
Gamers who must be rostered in all leagues underneath 50%:
Gradey Dick, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Ayo Dosunmu, De’Andre Hunter, Yves Missi, Goga Bitadze.
Gamers who added this week underneath 40%:
Royce O’Neale- SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (23% rostered)
Devin Booker and Grayson Allen are harm, giving O’Neale extra respiratory room for taking part in time. He’s been an efficient fantasy participant at any time when one of many Suns’ massive three has been injured. He is began seven of his final eight video games for Phoenix. O’Neale ranks 92nd in 9-cat leagues and, as a starter, is posting a strong 15-5-3 with virtually 4 triples per recreation. Add him for the Suns’ 4 week.
Jaden McDaniels – SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves (26% rostered)
He’s up three p.c from after I really helpful him final week, so get working y’all. I’ve already outlined that I just like the Wolves’ schedule, enjoying 4 video games with two falling on Wednesday and Sunday. Jaden McDaniels has been a top-60 participant in 9-cat leagues over the previous two weeks and affords fantasy managers a mix of factors, rebounds and shares. If he’s unavailable, search for Nickeil-Alexander Walker (6%) to even be in for some run in Week 9.
Ben Simmons – PG/C, Brooklyn Nets (31% rostered)
The oft-injured Simmons is averaging 12.3 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals in his final three video games with out Dennis Schröder in BK. There’s all the time a danger with Benny, however at the moment, he’s enjoying nicely sufficient to be rostered in factors and 12+ workforce leagues. He’s additionally enjoying 31 minutes per recreation over that span, and with the Nets in promote mode, this may very well be a good alternative for all events concerned to benefit from Simmons being wholesome and enjoying nicely sufficient to be rostered in fantasy.
Larry Nance Jr. – C, Atlanta Hawks (12% rostered)
Nance has historically been a productive fantasy participant when enjoying at the very least 20 minutes and that’s been the case over the previous two video games sans Onyeka Okongwu (knee). The veteran heart stuffed the field rating late final week, averaging 14 factors, 11.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists with three shares. Okongwu will doubtless miss at the very least two further video games this week and the Hawks have a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back that would drive him to overlook at the very least a kind of video games. Nance is a man who may have extra worth in direction of the again finish of the week.
Extra gamers to stream on Wednesday
Gamers to stream over the weekend
- Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnell, Cason Wallace, Dru Smith, Tari Eason and Jake LaRavia. If Ja Morant will get nicked up once more, then add Scotty Pippen Jr.
🗓️ Schedule Highlights
Kicking the week off with a 14-game slate on Monday is much from ideal. You’ll must make some begin/sit selections with 28 groups on faucet. There aren’t any video games on Tuesday due to Christmas Eve. The finest streaming alternatives will come on Christmas Day (Wednesday) and Sunday.
Right here’s the listing of the full variety of video games performed this week:
- Day by day schedule: Monday (14), Tuesday (0), Wednesday (5), Thursday (9), Friday (8), Saturday (9) and Sunday (6)
Groups I’d keep away from streaming gamers from the Cavs, Clippers, Kings and Pelicans as a result of all of them play two video games and they’re not on the popular streamable days of Wednesday and Sunday. Additionally, there aren’t many streamable belongings from the Cavs, Clippers and Nuggets proper now anyway.
Right here’s the remainder of the workforce’s variety of video games performed:
- 16 groups play 4 video games: Celtics, Grizzlies, Hawks, Warmth, Knicks, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves and Warriors
- 10 groups play three video games: 76ers, Blazers, Bulls, Bucks, Hornets, Jazz, Lakers, Pistons, Raptors and Wizards
Of the four-team recreation groups, the Celtics, Nets, Spurs and Timberwolves play on each Wednesday and Sunday, with two further video games within the week. The back-to-back schedule can be discovered under:
- Thursday/Friday: Grizzlies, Magic, Nets, Pacers, Pelicans and Rockets
- Friday/Saturday: Knicks, Mavericks, Nuggets, Suns and Warriors
- Saturday/Sunday: Hawks, Warmth and Thunder
🚑 Harm information
Notable Week 8 accidents
- Magic C Mo Wagner (knee) is out for the season
- Grizzlies G Ja Morant missed Saturday’s contest with a again damage
- Suns G Devin Booker will miss at the very least two video games with a groin damage
- Mavs G Luka Dončić missed the previous two contests with a heel contusion, however he’s questionable forward of Monday’s matchup versus Portland
- Damian Lillard missed the previous two video games with a calf damage
Latest injury reporting for all NBA teams
NBA Injury Report – Monday, December 23
🧑🏿🎄 Christmas Day slate
San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks (Midday ET)
This would be the Spurs’ second cease on their four-game highway journey. These two groups have by no means performed on Christmas Day.
One cause to observe: We have to see Victor Wembanyama redeem himself within the Mecca. In his first and solely look in Madison Sq. Backyard, Wemby scored 14 factors (4-14 FG, 6-6 FT) with 9 rebounds, two assists and a block. I count on he’ll be a lot improved after placing up his finest numbers of the season in December.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks (2:30 p.m. ET)
A rematch of the Western Convention Finals is second on the Christmas menu. These groups additionally haven’t performed on Christmas and hopefully, we’ll see Luka Dončić again for this enjoyable matchup.
One cause to observe: Kyrie Irving not often disappoints on Christmas, averaging 27 factors, 5.5 boards, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals and three 3s in six video games. Additionally, the 14-13 Wolves have misplaced two straight since Anthony Edwards brutally sincere critique of the Wolves offense. Ant-Man’s (*9*), though the NFL needed to hate scheduling the Ravens and Texans throughout the begin of this contest.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (5 p.m. ET)
It is a basic Atlantic division rivalry the place we’ll even have a probability to see a wholesome Sixers squad tackle the defending champions in Boston. Nobody wants a signature win or assertion recreation greater than the Sixers.
One cause to observe: Whereas it might have entertaining moments, Boston is by far the higher workforce. Jrue Vacation hasn’t performed to his customary, and I’ve seen him on several 12-team waiver wires. Perhaps a good recreation towards his former workforce can get him again on observe. I count on J’s to go off because the Sixers nonetheless discover their footing.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors (8 p.m. ET)
Who is aware of what number of instances we’ll see LeBron James and Stephen Curry play towards one another on Christmas. Cherish it — although each groups are having a little bit of an identification disaster.
One cause to observe: LeBron versus Steph is all the time a must-see TV. Relying on the end result of the Spurs/Knicks and this recreation, the Lakers might develop into the winningest workforce on December 25 with a victory.
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (10:30 p.m. ET)
We’ll see if Devin Booker can intestine it out, however loads of notable gamers are nonetheless suiting up for the nightcap. Kevin Durant is averaging 28.6 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 11 video games on December 25. Nikola Jokić dropped a 41/15/15 triple-double on the Suns the final time they confronted one another two years in the past on Christmas Day.
One cause to observe: I am going to take the over on Jokić placing up one other triple-double on the Suns as a result of they haven’t any reply for him. Hopefully, Booker can play as a result of a short-handed Suns workforce may have their hands full. Not for nothing, Russell Westbrook has two triple-doubles on Christmas and is averaging 23/8/8 for his profession on December 25.
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