NBA Start/Sit Week 13: Light Schedule, Lakers Enter Two-Game Week

Week 13 brings what could be considered a less-favorable schedule than recent weeks, as the pool of teams with four-game ledgers is much more modest. The bulk of the league will take the floor three times over the next seven days, and we even have one two-game ledger for the Lakers.

However, part of the workaround this week is a pair of three-game options that have been offering strong enough production to factor into the equation in terms of streaming candidates. We also have several appealing four-game players, including a particularly big name who made a favorable impression with a Sunday night return after a multi-season injury layoff.

TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs

TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards 

TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Los Angeles Lakers

Without further ado, let's examine some of the tougher start/sit decisions for Week 13:

GUARDS           

Start: Klay Thompson, Warriors

43% start rate in CBS leagues

Thompson finally got back on the floor Sunday night after a near 31-month absence and was impressive, going for 17 points, three rebounds, one assist and one block across just 20 minutes. Although the playing time was understandably modest after such a long layoff, Thompson should be able to work back to a normal workload over the course of the Warriors' four-game week. Fantasy managers tempted to give the sharpshooter one more week to work out the kinks should consider Thompson was already running with the first unit Sunday and had looked very good in his ramp-up. Thompson confidently put up 18 shots during his relatively brief time on the floor against Cleveland, seemingly indicating he won't take too long to work off any rust. 

Start: Lonnie Walker, Spurs 

11% start rate in CBS leagues

Derrick White entered COVID-19 protocols Thursday and has already missed two games, and Walker has taken advantage of those opportunities. The 2018 first-round pick drew the start in White's most recent absence Sunday versus the Nets, going for 25 points, four assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block over 33 minutes. Walker had already been offering strong production in a bench role as well – he'd averaged 14.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 46.0 percent over the 11 games prior to Sunday – so he's a consideration even with the possibility Walker returns at some point during San Antonio's four-game Week 13.

ALSO CONSIDER: Rajon Rondo, Cavaliers (11% start rate in CBS leagues); Lance Stephenson, Pacers (10% start rate in CBS leagues)

Sit: Russell Westbrook, Lakers

83% start rate in CBS leagues

The Lakers are the only team with a two-game schedule in Week 13, and Westbrook's recent production makes him a fairly clear bench candidate, as a result. The perennial All-Star has experienced some rough patches early in his Lakers tenure, seeing an across-the-board drop in his statistics. Westbrook enters the week having put up just 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists across 31.0 minutes per game over the last four contests. While a double-double, at minimum, is always in play whenever Westbrook takes the court, his floor isn't high enough this week to justify starting him over a four-game player.

FORWARDS        

Start: Marcus Morris, Clippers

56% start rate in CBS leagues

Morris is an exception to the usual rule of trying to roll with streaming candidates who have four-game schedules, as his production while Paul George has been sidelined warrants him consideration despite the three-game week. The veteran is averaging 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest across 31 minutes over his last seven games, shooting 40.5 percent from deep during that span. Morris owns a 25.7 percent usage rate with George off the floor this season and is averaging 21.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per 36 minutes in that split.

Start: Marvin Bagley, Kings

25% start rate in CBS leagues

Bagley has apparently regained his starting power forward job from Chimezie Metu and has averaged 8.6 points and 7.5 rebounds across his last eight games with the first unit. The big man does enter Week 13 in the midst of an atrocious shooting slump (36.5% FG, 2-of-20 3Pt), but Bagley does have the track record to suggest he can snap out of the doldrums. The 2018 No. 2 overall pick is primarily a consideration for his scoring and rebounding, but he's chipped in a few blocks and steals of late. Ultimately, though, Bagley is a fairly underwhelming option. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Max Strus, Heat (10% start rate in CBS leagues); Eric Gordon, Rockets (33% start rate in CBS leagues)

Sit: Kristaps Porzingis, Mavericks

54% start rate in CBS leagues

The schedule may, in fact, work out in Porzingis' favor this week, considering the big man will have until Wednesday to clear COVID-19 protocols before he potentially misses a sixth straight contest. However, his return for that game versus his old Knicks squad is far from certain, automatically making him a risky play. Additionally, Porzingis could also be handled with caution in terms of conditioning for at least one game when he does return, introducing enough doubt to warrant consideration for a seat on the bench.

CENTERS       

Start: Nicolas Claxton, Nets

39% start rate in CBS leagues

Claxton unsurprisingly gets overshadowed by the star power on the Nets, but the young big has been in a very nice groove of late with averages of 13.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals across the last seven games. Claxton has scored in double digits in each of those contests while attempting more than eight field goals per game. While his usage may fluctuate on occasion given who he shares the floor with – which now also includes Kyrie Irving for road games – Claxton sets up as a very appealing streaming option with four games to work with.

Start: Omer Yurtseven, Heat 

41% start rate in CBS leagues

As with Morris, Yurtseven is a three-game player who's still worthy of consideration in Week 13. The rookie has been outstanding during what is now a seven-game starting stint, averaging 12.0 points, 15.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals across 32.6 minutes per contest. Yurtseven even dished out eight assists in Saturday night's surprising road win over the Suns, and he's very likely to remain on the first unit for the entirety of the upcoming week with both Dewayne Dedmon (knee) and Bam Adebayo (thumb) sidelined. Both of those players are nearing the end of their initial timetables, but there's been little indication that either is set to play anytime soon. Eventually, Yurtseven should fade back into obscurity, but he should be viable for at least one more week.

ALSO CONSIDER: Kevon Looney, Warriors (4% start rate in CBS leagues); Isaiah Stewart, Pistons (25% start rate in CBS leagues)

Sit:  Rudy Gobert, Jazz

54% start rate in CBS leagues 

Like Porzingis, Gobert enters Week 13 in health and safety protocols. Utah is in action Monday against the Pistons, and Gobert has already been ruled out. He'll have a chance to return for Wednesday's game against the Cavs, but that's probably a 50-50 proposition, so managers who start Gobert may be at risk of only getting one game from him. Keep the big man on the bench before confidently re-deploying him in Week 14.