The release of the 2023-24 NBA schedule can help fantasy basketball managers decide which players to add or drop in certain weeks. Here is a guide to help optimize your moves this upcoming season.
Fantasy Basketball: 2023-24 NBA Schedule Guide
Early Season
In the opening week of the NBA season, the entire league is playing three games except for the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, and Washington Wizards, who play two. To conserve adds, consider picking up players from the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Utah Jazz. All these teams play three games within four days.
If you’re looking to pick up players who have a hefty schedule early on, the Celtics (weeks three-five), Mavericks (weeks two-four), and Bucks (weeks three-five) all play four games for three consecutive weeks.
Additionally, the busiest teams between weeks one and six are the Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Pelicans, as they each have a total of 21 games. Conversely, the Rockets play a low of 17. Also, the Atlanta Hawks, Bulls, Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Lakers, Grizzlies, Heat, Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and Jazz play at least three games a week during this period. The rest of the league all play two games in a week at least once.
The In-Season Tournament
The latest addition to the NBA is the In-Season Tournament. Starting late in week two (November 3), the tournament consists of group play and knockout rounds. The group stage consists of four games and ends in week six (November 28). These games take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
During week seven, every team will play two games. The NBA is yet to release this schedule as the matchups are based on the results from the group play games. Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds, and the tournament will conclude on December 9 (week seven).
Every game from the group and knockout rounds will count towards the regular season standings except the championship. All teams will play 82 games in the year regardless of their results in the tournament.
Mid-Season/All-Star Break
Following the tournament, there is a significant opportunity to take advantage of. The Nets and Mavericks will play four games weekly for a month (weeks eight-11). During this period, only three teams will play two games in a week, and that’s the Cavaliers (week ten), Los Angeles Clippers (week ten), and Suns (week nine).
Be mindful of adding players from the Nets and Cavaliers in week 12, as they each only have one matchup. The 76ers also play just two games, while the rest of the league has three or four.
Additionally, in week 11, the Pacers begin playing four weekly games for five weeks.
With the All-Star break, week 18 is combined into 17. During this modified week, the Hornets, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Magic, 76ers, Suns, Spurs, and Wizards play a high of five games. The rest of the league is scheduled for four, except for the Heat, who has three. Also, in week 19, the Nets play a league-most five games.
Late Season/Fantasy Playoffs
Typically, most leagues have their playoffs between weeks 20 and 24. The busiest teams down this final stretch are the Celtics, Pistons, Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers, each totalling 19 games across these weeks. The Nets, Mavericks, Pacers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, and Magic play just 17.
The only teams to play a low of two games a week in this period are the Hornets (week 21), Mavericks (week 21), Lakers (week 20), and Timberwolves (week 20).
Finally, to conclude the season in week 24, every team plays four games except the Nets, Cavaliers, Pacers, Lakers, 76ers, and Wizards, who are all scheduled for three.
