Fantasy basketball success hinges on the season’s schedule as much as on talent. Yahoo playoffs run Weeks 21–23 (Mar 16–Apr 5), with an extended Week 17 for the All-Star break, creating distinct rest windows and streaming opportunities. The NBA Cup adds weekly scoring quirks, with Group Play and Quarterfinals typically counting toward fantasy, while Semifinals and Championship do not. Back-to-back (B2B) risk distributes unevenly—some teams endure 16 B2Bs, others as few as 13—shaping rostering decisions in late-season windows.

While a few teams offer heavy game volume in the fantasy playoffs (notably 12-game weeks for Rockets, Grizzlies, Magic, Wizards), others deliver thin weeks (9–10 games for Nuggets and Knicks) that can sink head-to-heads if your stars sit. The nuggets of strategy: map B2B stress to injury history, leverage depth on high-volume weeks, and watch for shifts as the schedule evolves toward the final sprint.

Rockets season-ticket base up 25% ahead of Kevin Durant’s first season, signaling a surge in fan demand as Houston shifts toward title contention. Durant’s arrival amplifies national exposure with 28 national TV games set, including Amazon and NBC slots, and a home opener against Detroit looming after a road tilt at Oklahoma City. Attendance and corporate partnerships are rising as the organization leans into Udoka’s system and Amen Thompson’s emergence, with Durant and his twin brother adding front-office excitement.