Welcome to the Fantasy Vibe Check, your place to vent about the highs, lows, and headaches of the NBA and fantasy basketball.
See who I’m vibing with, and let me know in the comments or at @DanTitus about what somehow reminds you of fantasy basketball.
🙌 I’m excited about Jalen Williams being considered for four positions
Last week I was curious to see if Jalen Williams would be considered for center. I’m excited to report that Yahoo on Monday made J-Dub the only player in fantasy basketball eligible for four positions. Fantasy managers can now start Williams at SG, SF, PF and C. It’s no coincidence either: the Thunder are 3-1 since installing Williams as their new starting center and he will hold out until Isaiah Hartenstein (hand) is ready to return.
The interesting thing about Williams being considered for center is that, according to Cleaning the Glass, he has now logged more possessions at center (179) than at shooting guard and small forward combined (176). So it begs the question: Could Williams even start at shooting guard or small forward? Yahoo doesn’t remove eligibility once it’s granted, so fantasy managers who have Williams will reap the benefits of being able to move him fluidly through their lineups.
The last players I remember getting four-way eligibility were LeBron James and Boris Diaw (throwback), so this is a rare occurrence that could end up being a cheat code similar to Marques Colston getting TE eligibility back then in fantasy football.
🤞 I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a few players returning from injury
— Kristaps Porziņģis (ankle) practiced with the Celtics’ G-League team, the Maine Celtics, on Monday and was recalled by the Boston Celtics after practice.
Porziņģis has been out of commission since the NBA Finals after undergoing surgery in June to repair a torn retina and a dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in his ankle. It was a rare injury, and hearing that he has moved on to the next phase of his recovery is a positive sign that he is looking to return to action.
No official date has been set, but the Celtics and Porziņģis are targeting a return around mid-to-late December. Even with a minutes restriction, bringing Porziņģis back into fantasy lineups will provide a boost to everyone who has put him away since Draft Night.
– Dejounte Murray (hand) returned to practice on Monday and according to Pelicans HC Willie Green, Murray has done some shooting and field work but has not yet been cleared for contact. Still, seeing Murray back with his teammates and getting shots off is what fantasy managers want to hear after losing Murray after just one game this season. Murray had a recovery timeline of four to six weeks and we are about 3.5 weeks into the process. Barring any setbacks, Murray should return around the first week of December.
– Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will be reevaluated on Tuesday. The Sixers point guard led the league in minutes played before straining his right hamstring against the Clippers on Nov. 6. Maxey was expected to miss at least two weeks, so the November 19 review is in line with the communicated timeline.
The Sixers (and fantasy managers) need Maxey back. Philly is 1-5 without him, and their offense looks terrible as Joel Embiid and Paul George continue to find their footing after injuries with this new Sixers team.
Those selecting basketball’s hottest rookie, Jared McCain, may want to consider selling high due to Maxey’s impending return. I wouldn’t be upset if you kept him, though, as it’s increasingly likely he’ll remain an offensive threat in this rotation.
🤔 I’m confused about the fantasy basketball schedule in week 7 and week 8
Looking ahead, those in the standard Yahoo leagues will notice that when Week 7 rolls around, it will be a two-week scoring period, from Monday, December 2 through Sunday, December 15. The NBA schedule will be in flux during that period because we don’t. I do not know the participants or seeding for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup tournament.
Here’s a look at the number of games teams played in Week 7:
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Teams playing six games (15): Bulls, Cavaliers, Celtics, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Kings, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, Pacers, Pelicans, Suns, Timberwolves and Warriors
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Teams play five games (10): 76ers, Bucks, Grizzlies, Jazz, Knicks, Mavericks, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs and Wizards
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Teams play four games (5): Clippers, Nets, Missiles, Thunder, Trailblazers
Here is an overview of the number of matches played by teams in week 8:
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Teams playing three matches: Kings, Pelicans
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Teams playing two matches: 76ers, Bucks, Bulls, Celtics, Cavaliers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Jazz, Knicks, Lakers, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, Pistons, Raptors, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves, Trailblazers, warriors and wizards
There is an overwhelming difference in the number of games played in weeks 7 and 8. The Emirates NBA Cup Championship is a reason for the few games in week 8. There are no games on December 16, 17 or 18. December 16 is a day off. day in preparation for the Emirates Cup Championship match on December 17, and then there’s another day’s break from basketball until it returns on December 19.
Week 8 is from December 19 to 22: from Thursday to Sunday. Given the huge disparity in games between Week 7 and Week 8, there is an opportunity to adjust the schedule to more evenly balance the number of games played during this three-week period.
