New York Mavericks bring PBR to NYC with a three-night UBS Arena stand, signaling expansion into a major market.

Led by Kody Lostroh, the 2009 world champ, the squad stresses hard training, trust, and a tight locker room as five riders face five bulls in an eight-second duel—Vegas-style playoff energy in the Big Apple, backed by Marc Lasry's investment.

Milwaukee pivots from star-driven risk toward a win-now, space-based arsenal, stretching Damian Lillard’s deal to protect future flexibility while chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo’s prime. The plan replaces Brook Lopez with Myles Turner and fills the roster with shooting and veteran depth, betting that a healthy Giannis can elevate the supporting cast to a deep playoff run.

Even with Lillard’s Achilles setback, Milwaukee argues the path preserves cap room and roster cohesion, placing trust in Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, Gary Trent Jr. and others to stabilize non-Giannis minutes. If the chemistry clicks, the Bucks could reclaim elite three-point efficiency and defensive resilience, making the 2025-26 season a crucial hinge point for Giannis’ legacy and the franchise's trajectory.

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.

Defenses harden and isolation is fading as the NBA tilts toward ball movement, pace, and floor-spreading shooting. Celtics, Pacers, and OKC show how cutting, movement, and shared scoring unlocks offenses that torched defenses this season. Even Lakers-style heavy big-three rosters like Suns, Nets, and Clippers paid a playoff price when isolation carried too much weight. Raptors glimpse a future built on chemistry and multi-weapon scoring, not one star.

For fantasy, the shift favors versatile shooters and playmakers who can contribute off the ball. Target players who thrive in off-ball movement, catch-and-shoot opportunities, and rapid ball-sharing—less reliant on individual isolations and more on team-driven offense and pace.