Emirates NBA Cup Final
The final showdown of the Emirates NBA Cup is set to take place on Tuesday, featuring a clash between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. It’s important to note that this matchup won’t have any bearing on official league standings or statistics, meaning it will also be excluded from fantasy basketball considerations.
Week 9 Game Schedule
As the NBA resumes its regular schedule, the latter part of Week 9 looks promising, particularly Thursday and Saturday when a plethora of games are on the docket. Taking a closer look at the Week 9 game schedule, several teams are positioned to play varying numbers of games:
- Teams playing 4 games: Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors
- Teams playing 3 games: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
- Teams with 2 games: Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers
Back-to-Back Games
As for back-to-back matchups, there are no scheduled games on Monday or Tuesday, with action resuming Wednesday onward. Significant back-to-backs occur on Thursday (for Atlanta, Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, and San Antonio) and Friday (Boston and Philadelphia), while additional back-to-backs are slated for the weekend for Houston, Sacramento, Toronto, and Washington.
Highlights from Week 9
For the Knicks and Spurs, their engagement in the Emirates NBA Cup final is just a precursor to a packed Week 9 with four total games. Although Tuesday’s showdown is not included in standard league statistics, it leads into a busy schedule for both teams. They will face additional games on Thursday and Friday while concluding their week on Sunday.
Particular attention should be paid to Victor Wembanyama from San Antonio and Mitchell Robinson from New York, as their performances may impact fantasy leagues significantly. Wembanyama is poised for a robust week, especially with two of his team’s games against the Washington Wizards. After an injury setback, Robinson’s involvement and productivity remain uncertain.
Conversely, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder will face a tough Week 9 with just two scheduled games, both finishing up their slate on Friday. The Cavaliers’ situation is somewhat alleviated as they won’t contend with back-to-backs. They are managing without Evan Mobley, who is sidelined for two to four weeks, while a potential return for Jarrett Allen could bolster their ranks following a finger injury.
On the other hand, the Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein has just returned from his injury but may not be ready to contribute fully during back-to-back games against the Clippers and Timberwolves. This could mean Cason Wallace might take on more responsibilities if Hartenstein needs rest.
Game Load Distribution
Among notable trends, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday will have the least action, while the busiest days are Thursday and Saturday, the latter offering ten games. Specifically, Tuesday will witness a mere two games, where the Cavaliers take on the Bulls, and the Grizzlies visit the Timberwolves. Despite their minimal presence in Week 9, several teams scheduled for three games could still provide fruitful fantasy options amidst injury issues.
Teams like Houston, Miami, and Toronto will enjoy the most favorable schedules, logging four games total throughout the week. Each will play three of those games in the final four days. Intriguingly, Toronto’s R.J. Barrett‘s return from a sprained MCL via a PRP injection remains a question mark and will influence fantasy managers heading into the busiest part of the schedule.
Regarding the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid is anticipated to see limited action, likely only participating in one of their two games amidst back-to-back commitments. This presents a strategic consideration for his managers, particularly given the rivalry with the Knicks on the horizon.
In total, eight teams will see action in three games between Thursday and Sunday, and with various injury concerns nourishing unpredictable outcomes, Week 9 promises to be a dynamic and pivotal period for fantasy basketball managers.
