(Graphic via Andrew Yang)
Welcome to The Intermission Sports’ weekly NBA fantasy forecast, for week 13 of the 2020-2021 NBA Season. This is a weekly series where we break down every week’s top performers and biggest floppers in the league. Who should you pick up? Who should you drop? Who should you keep an eye on? Those are the questions we hope to answer in this new series.
As a quick refresher, we’ll quickly brief you on each category. The Prime Pick-Ups category consists of players who we strongly recommend you pick up if you or your opponents haven’t already. The Definite Drops category consists of players we recommend you drop, scrap, whatever word you want to use. Just get rid of them. The Watch-Out Wins category consists of players that we recommend you keep a keen eye on. Players that we think will thrive due to certain circumstances around the league, or if it looks like this might be the year where they get the ball rolling. With that being said, let’s get to it.
Prime Pick-Ups:
Jordan Poole - Golden State Warriors
With Stephen Curry (tailbone) sidelined, Poole has shined as a backup guard for the Warriors. At first glance, the guard’s stats would seem like numbers from your average starter in the league. In the past week, Poole has averaged 24.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3 APG, and 1.3 SPG. Expect Poole’s minutes to drop with Curry’s return, although it would be a good idea for fantasy managers and the Warriors to give Poole more minutes with this kind of production. Potentially as a candidate to replace Damion Lee to play alongside Curry.
Robert Williams III - Boston Celtics
Williams has made a strong case to be the Celtics’ starting big. The centre has made strides during his time on the court, especially on the defensive end. In the last week of play, Williams put up stats of 12 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 2.4 BPG. With numbers like these, Williams has been one of the league's most dominant rim protectors in the month of March, trailing only Rudy Gobert and Myles Turner with 28 blocks across nine games. If you’re able to snatch Williams for your squad, you might want to keep him around for a while.
Talen Horton-Tucker - Los Angeles Lakers
After LeBron James went down with an ankle injury on Saturday, Horton-Tucker stepped up to the job to fill in the gap that King James left. We’ve all seen flashes of greatness from him, as in a performance from last December, the guard exploded for 33 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. The absence of James, gives Horton-Tucker a fantastic opportunity to grow as a player, and show what he’s really capable of. In the last week, THT averaged a stat line of 13.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 3.3 APG.
Definite Drops:
Jalen Brunson - Dallas Mavericks
Once an elite weapon for the Mavericks, Brunson’s performance has only gone downhill in the last week. The Villanova product saw a decline in every major statistical category, with just 6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.7 APG. With Luka Doncic back in the game, expect a decline in Brunson’s minutes, leading to a decline in production as well.
Wendell Carter Jr. - Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are struggling, to say the least. In the six games since moving to the bench behind Thaddeus Young, Carter has failed to surpass 23 minutes of playing time, while posting modest averages of 7.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, and just 0.5 BPG. All while shooting 44% from the field. Carter Jr. will be out with an injury, but don’t expect any big turnarounds after he comes back to the court.
Malik Monk - Charlotte Hornets
When Gordon Hayward went out with a wrist injury, fantasy managers were quick to pick up Monk, who would play as Hayward’s backup. The forward did not disappoint as a backup role but has since dropped to single-point performance every other night. The guard has averaged 7.5 PPG, 1.5 RPG, and 1.5 APG. With the Hornets losing LaMelo Ball to a wrist fracture, this may be an opportunity for Monk to gain minutes, but not by a large margin.
Watch-Out Wins:
Moses Brown - Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder always manage to house new young talent in the league. Insert Moses Brown, the Thunder’s new backup big behind Al Horford. When OKC rests Horford, Brown becomes a great option for the Thunder’s frontcourt. In the last week, Brown put up numbers like 10.5 PPG, 12.5 RPG, and 2.3 BPG. Brown has done an outstanding job bringing energy on both the offence and the defence. With production like this, he puts up a good fight for minutes with fellow Thunder big men Al Horford and Isaiah Roby.
Nicolas Claxton - Brooklyn Nets
After losing Jarrett Allen, the Nets found themselves in a little bit of a struggle in the frontcourt. Nicolas Claxton proved he was the man for the job, helping the Nets find a hidden gem for their frontcourt. Claxton has averaged 11.3 PPG, 5 RPG, and 2 BPG while playing 24 MPG. Expect more minutes for Claxton from here on out.
Danny Green - Philadelphia 76ers
Following months of inconsistency from the veteran guard, Green has finally picked it up, and has had a great week, qualifying him for the final entry on this list. In the last week, Green has averaged 12.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.3 SPG, and 1.3 SPG. If fantasy managers are in need of a defensive boost, with decent scoring abilities, Green is the man for them.