Welcome to the 2020-21 Fantasy Basketball Week 9 Weekly Planner!
After a rough and rowdy Super Bowl, parade, and football dominating the headlines we move past the NFL season. We can officially bookmark the NBA as the king now. They are from here on out going to dominate the headlines.
DFS, fantasy, sports betting and much more will be highlighted with the NBA for the rest of the season. Each week at Fantasy Six Pack we break down everything from DFS to fantasy for you to digest and help you win some cash.
Now let's dive into the article and discuss which teams have the toughest matchups and which have the most favorable matchup.
To go along with that I'll also be providing you with weekly streams and sits at several positions. If you're feeling really lucky, perhaps you can try your hand at some betting. You can also use this bonus code to get some extra deposit money.
2020-21 Fantasy Basketball Week 9 Weekly Planner
Dominate your Fantasy Basketball league with customized team advice using the Fantasy Pros MyPlaybook.
Schedule Run Down: February 15th - February 21st
Road Back-to-Backs
- Nets (Mon @ SAC, Tue @ PHX)
- Blazers (Tue @ OKC, Wed @ NO)
- Nuggets (Tue @ BOS, Wed @ WAS)
- Spurs (Tue @ DET, Wed @ CLE)
- Heat (Wed @ GS, Thu @ SAC)
- Raptors (Thu @ MIL, Fri @ MIN)
- Suns (Fri @ NO, Sat @ MEM)
- Warriors (Fri @ ORL, Sat @ CHA)
- Kings (Sat @ CHI, Sun @ MIL)
Home/Away Back-to-Backs
- Pelicans (Tue @ MEM, Wed vs POR)
- Pistons (Tue vs SAS, Wed @ DAL)
- Thunder (Tue vs POR, Wed @ MEM)
- Bulls (Fri @ PHI, Sat vs SAC)
Four Game Slates
Raptors, Kings, 76ers, Thunder, Knicks, Pelicans, Timberwolves, Bucks, Heat, Grizzlies, Clippers, Rockets, Warriors, Pistons, Nuggets, Bulls, Nets, Celtics, Hawks
Three Game Slates
Wizards, Jazz, Spurs, Blazers, Suns, Magic, Lakers, Pacers, Cavaliers, Hornets
Two Game Slates
Mavericks
Pickup of the Week
Hamidou Diallo, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (35.2% owned)
It's no secret that the Thunder are rebuilding. After trading stars Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Steven Adams, and Paul George in recent years they have resorted to building through young players and the draft. Well, the process may have been sped up with Diallo.
Over the past week, the Thunder have gotten to see exactly what they have with the young shooting guard is. With a rash of injuries to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Theo Maledon, George Hill, and other Thunder players, it's forced Diallo into a massive role change.
Hamidou Diallo smash play tonight 🚀
👉🏽 Hill, SGA, Maledon all out
Since 2/3
🔥 35.5 MPG
🔥 16.8 PPG
🔥 7.0 RPG
🔥 4.0 APG
🔥 1.5 SPG35.25 #Draftkings points per game in this span. Should smash against the Lakers.#NBAtwitter
— Kyle Williams ✪ (@betonthegame) February 10, 2021
I've been very active writing about Diallo as of recent. His past few games have vaulted him into a top-80 fantasy player. Take a look at those stats above and tell me you aren't impressed. With the young shooting guard averaging 35+ minutes a game and his clear scoring touch, I love him as a fantasy add.
Hamidou Diallo has scored 15+ points in 7 straight games, has his second double double in a row and is a game-high +10.
People forget Hami was a 5 star recruit and Top 10 nationwide prospect out of high school. That talent is showing this season.
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 11, 2021
This guy can flat out play and has major upside. By the end of the year with guys like Hill likely being gone and even potentially Al Horford, it could open up more minutes for Diallo. The Thunder clearly like him as a prospect and he should easily be considered a top-70 fantasy player by years end.
Sit of the week
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks
With the Mavericks being the only team that plays two games this week, it obvious that he has to be considered a sit. Just based on the two game's he may not even outscore some guys on the waiver wire like Hamidou Diallo. If you look at Porzingis's average and multiple it by his games played it's only projected he scores about 73 fantasy points.
If you match up those 73 points against a waiver player who averages 20 a game and plays four-game he outscored Porzingis just on his volume. You can find guys on the waiver wire who score 20+ points in fantasy very easily.
Kristaps Porzingis isn't the same defender we've seen in the past. This is rough to watch... https://t.co/7OWSo8sGbh
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) February 5, 2021
Porzingis just isn't the same player as he used to be. As you can see above teams are targeting him on defense making him unplayable at times. His injuries are slowing him down. Just another reason for you to sit the injury-prone Porzingis who has missed multiple games so far this season.
To make matters worse, the veteran center has to play up against one of the hardest defensive centers this season in the Pistons. They rank second in fantasy points allowed to centers only behind the 76ers. I'm fading Porzingis this week due to his injuries, lack of games, and better options on the waiver wire.
Team to Target
Denver Nuggets
Being one of 19 teams that play four games already gives him a 33% advantage over the league. The Nuggets four games are absolutely elite. Take a look.
- Tuesday @ Celtics
- Wednesday @ Wizards
- Friday @ Hornets
- Sunday @ Hawks
What an absolute beauty of a schedule. Anytime you get to play the Wizards it's a win for fantasy owners. The Wizards rank 1st in terms of the pace of play and make even defensive teams like the Knicks play fast-paced basketball. Take a look at the Wizards' first quarter during Friday's game between the two.
Here’s why pace of play matters
The Knicks (30th in pace) vs. the Wizards (1st in pace)
After the 1st quarter 🔥
Mitchell Robinson
- 8 pts, 7 rebs, 1 assist, 1 blockJulius Randle
- 7 pts, 6 rebs, 2 assistsRJ Barrett
- 4 pts, 2 rebs, 3 assistsTarget pace-up players in DFS
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) February 13, 2021
Just look at the 1st quarter stats, and that's just one game the Nuggets play this week. The Hawks and Hornets both ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of pace but both are good teams to target against their guards due to the inability of those positions to play defense. The Hawks rank dead last in terms of fantasy points allowed to the point guard position. That's an easy target spot for guys like Monte Morris, who should be a waiver candidate for the week.
The Wizards also rank in the bottom three against guards as well, so once again target guys like Gary Harris and Monte Morris for the week.
Last but not least we get to the Celtics as a matchup. They do rank low in terms of pace and are usually a fantastic defensive team. But the whole story isn't there with Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker, and a rash of other injuries that have sunk the Celtics team on defense.
I'm targeting the Nuggets with guys like Paul Millsap and Monte Morris in big situations this week.
Team to Avoid
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are an easy choice to fade this week. The only team to play two games which mark as the lowest amount on the week 9 slate. What's worse is the Mavericks don't offer much value, to begin with.
They rank 20th in terms of pace so they are a super low fantasy point producer, to begin with. But the matchup for most of the Mavericks team members isn't fantastic. They play the Pistons who are a force in fantasy against forwards and centers. Then get to travel to play Houston who has been a defensive powerhouse since the trade of Harden.
John Wall has been a menace on defense this year with a defensive rating of 102.6 🔒 with 14 games played, Wall has recorded 13 STL and 11 BLK this season. The Rockets are 2nd in defensive efficiency. NBA All-Defensive team coming soon 😤🚀 pic.twitter.com/bem7pkN75K
— Jedi Master 💫 (@uhh_iforgot) February 8, 2021
The matchups are brutal, Houston is a top-level defender, two to be exact. With the team playing two games and both being tough matchups you're all but forced to fade anyone not named Luka Doncic on this team.
Week 9 Biggest Movers
Kevin Huerter, SG/SF, Atlanta Falcons
After a scorching hot week number 8, Huerter has set the league on fire. With guards Cam Reddish struggling and De'Andre Hunter being ruled out 7-10 weeks, it's forced Huerter into the spotlight. Boy oh boy has he shined in it.
With De’Andre Hunter out for 7-10 weeks, guard Kevin Huerter is an absolute must add & play.
Since Hunter got hurt here’s how he’s performed.
👉🏽 37.1 Minutes
👉🏽 16.5 Points
👉🏽 3.5 3-Pointers
👉🏽 3.3 Rebounds
👉🏽 4.5 Assists
👉🏽 1.3 StealsMust add & play in #DFS
— Kyle Williams ✪ (@betonthegame) February 10, 2021
His numbers are flying off the chart. Last week, I even wrote up about him as one of my favorite must adds. Huerter just continues to play 35+ minutes a game and is shooting outstanding from three and the field. His bonus lyes in the defense as well, he's logging 1.3 steals since the Hunter injury.
If by chance the young guard remains on your wire he is a must-add in all formats.
Injuries to Monitor
- Paul George (foot) day-to-day
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee) day-to-day
- Christian Wood (knee) out a week
- James Wiseman (wrist) out a week
- Kevon Looney (ankle) out two weeks
- Mike Conley (hamstring) day-to-day
- John Wall (back) day-to-day, won't play back-to-backs
- Lauri Markkanen (shoulder) day-to-day
- Marcus Smart (calf tear) out a week
- Aaron Gordon (left ankle sprain) out four-to-six weeks
- OG Anunoby (calf) day-to-day
- Larry Nance (wrist) out 6 weeks
- Goran Dragic (ankle) day-to-day
- Wendell Carter Jr (calf) out four weeks
- Jae Crowder (foot) day-to-day
- George Hill (knee) out a few weeks
- Patrick Beverly (knee) day-to-day
- Jarrett Culver (ankle) out 7-14 days
- Brandon Clarke (calf) day-to-day
- Seth Curry (illness) day-to-day
- Jrue Holiday (covid-19) out indefinitely
- D'Angelo Russell (leg) out two more games
- Evan Fournier (knee) day-to-day
- Brandon Clarke (calf) day-to-day
- Mitchell Robinson (hand) out indefinitely
- PJ Washington (league safety protocols) out indefinitely
- DeAnthony Melton (shoulder) day-to-day
- Otto Porter Jr (shoulder) out indefinitely
- Marvin Bagley (calf) day-to-day
- Cole Anthony (shoulder) day-to-day
- Gary Harris (thigh) could return soon
- PJ Dozier (hamstring) out at least two games
Visit the F6P Fantasy Basketball Page for more advice during the 2020-21 season.
