2022-23 Fantasy Basketball Week 21 Planner

Welcome to the 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball Week 21 Planner!

It is finally here! Congratulations to those that made playoffs and to those who did not, better luck next season! Week 21 is the first round of playoffs for most default-rule leagues. It is best to fine-tune your team to capitalize on beating your opponent! This will sometimes mean dropping unfavorable players.

Check out our 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball Week 21 Drop List by our very own Charles Vakassian for players wearing you down! Charles has outlined some pretty interesting perspectives and offers some intriguing insight.

Slow Schedule Alert

The start of next week will be slow for most of the league as we approach the point in the season where games played become a significant advantage.

The following teams will only play one game each from Monday through Thursday next week:

Atlanta Hawks (Monday)
Charlotte Hornets (Tuesday)
Chicago Bulls (Wednesday)
Los Angeles Clippers (Wednesday)
New Orleans Pelicans (Tuesday)
New York Knicks (Tuesday)
Philadelphia 76ers (Wednesday)
Portland Trail Blazers (Tuesday)
Utah Jazz (Monday)
Washington Wizards (Tuesday)

Week 21 Playoff Streamer Consideration

It is important to decide who to stream (assuming you can get ahead of your opponents on the wire).

Elements to consider are minutes, performance in the last 6-9 games, their role (for players resting or injured) alongside their potential upside. You will also need to be very vigilantly looking for players updates and notes to make the proper moves.

For example, for the Monday-Tuesday back-to-back, here are the good options:

Detroit Pistons

James Wiseman (C)

Wiseman remained the starting center even with Jalen Duren (C) back in the lineup. While it disappoints managers who have Duren on the roster, managers who have Wiseman should benefit greatly from him the rest of the way, barring a change in the Pistons' starting lineup. With averages of 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 61.5% from the field, he has been a top-100 contributor over their last four games.

As long as he is the starter, managers should anticipate that level of performance. Meanwhile, Isaiah Stewart (PF/C) will be sidelined for 3 to 4 weeks with a left shoulder impingement, giving Wisemen more time to show that he isn't a dud.

They told us James Wiseman doesn’t play defense 😂

pic.twitter.com/SQZLdEHTC3

— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) March 5, 2023

Isaiah Livers (SG/SF)

Livers contributed 18 points (7-20 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 1-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and four steals in 38 minutes of Saturday's 121-115 loss to Indiana. Due to Jaden Ivey's (PG/SG) illness, Livers scored a season-high 18 points on substantial usage.

The defensive prowess of Livers is not unusual. He has been a reasonably valuable two-way player for the Pistons this season, adding a lot of value when they are down a player. Livers ought to have free reign given Bojan Bogdanovic's (Achilles) (SF/PF) probable season-ending absence.

Isaiah Livers scored a career-high 18 points tonight against the Pacers. He is averaging 14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over his last three games. pic.twitter.com/Zh3SclARXi

— Pistons PR (@Pistons_PR) March 12, 2023

Milwaukee Bucks

Joe Ingles (SF/PF)

Ingles finished Saturday's 116-125 loss to the Warriors with 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-6 3Pt), five rebounds, seven assists, and two steals in 32 minutes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's (PF) injury to his right arm prevented him from playing, so Ingles gave the offense a much-needed boost. He scored in double figures for the fourth time over his past six games and dished out at least seven assists this season. Ingles is averaging 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the month of March.

When guys like Giannis, Jrue Holiday (PG/SG), and possibly Khris Middleton (SF/PF) will want to rest up before their first round playoff showdown, Ingles should receive a significant lift.

Joe Ingles went for the distant layup 😲pic.twitter.com/hy2obv2eKL

— Bucks Nation (@BucksNationCP) March 2, 2023

Grayson Allen (SG/SF)

In Saturday's 133-130 loss against the 76ers, Grayson Allen hit 7-of-10 from the field, scoring 20 points with three rebounds, three assists, and six 3-pointers in 30 minutes. During the past two weeks, Allen has consistently been among the top 100 players in 9-cat variants. Allen is averaging three 3-pointers, 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and nearly a steal per game for the month of March.

He is listed in 20% of Yahoo leagues, but as the Bucks begin to rest players in anticipation of their own playoff run, he merits consideration in more leagues for fantasy playoffs.

Best TS% among guards this season:

1. Steph Curry (66.8%)
2. Austin Reaves (66.1%)
3. Isaiah Joe (66.0%)
4. Damian Lillard (64.8%)
5. Terence Mann (62.8%)
6. Luke Kennard (62.6%)
7. SGA (62.6%)
8. Tyrese Haliburton (62.4%)
9. James Harden (62.3%)
10. Grayson Allen (62.2%) pic.twitter.com/YNKZb2pO7t

— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) March 9, 2023

Phoenix Suns

Terrence Ross (SG/SF)

Ross played 23 minutes off the bench in Saturday's 128-119 loss to the Kings and finished with 18 points (7-13 FG, 4-10 3Pt), two steals, one rebound, and one assist. Ross has played longer than 20 minutes in each of his last two games while averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 three-pointers, 2.0 steals, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 rebounds.

Prior to Kevin Durant's (SF/PF) ankle injury, Ross had played a combined 30 minutes in his previous two appearances. For the duration of Durant's absence, Ross appears to have a strong case fitting the three-point profile the Suns will look towards. But, because he shot 57.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range during the previous two games, expect some offensive regression from Ross.

Suns Devin Booker reacts to Terrance Ross catching fire in the second half scoring 24 pts in the win. pic.twitter.com/yoCVo7YGIX

— Patrick Breen 🌵 (@pjbreenphoto) March 9, 2023

Josh Okogie (SG/SF)

Josh Okogie helped put up 15 points (4-for-10 FGs), four rebounds, three 3-pointers and one steal versus the Sacramento Kings Saturday night. While he had only made three 3-pointers in his career 10 times before this season, Okogie has already reached seven games this season of three-plus 3-pointers made.

He has developed into a fantastic 3-and-D starter on the wing, and he gels exceptionally well with the Suns' offensive culture. With Kevin Durant and Landry Shamet (SG) (foot) both out, Okogie should get all the minutes he can handle and it doesn't hurt that he is averaging one steal per game in the month of March.

Josh Okogie drains his 6th triple to tie his carrer-high record 👌pic.twitter.com/yFHcO4TeDQ

— Suns Nation (@SunsNationCP) March 4, 2023

Who will be your pick up?