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.

Dirk Nowitzki Foundation staged its 7th Celebrity Tennis Classic, drawing Mavs veterans and the next generation. Cooper Flagg joined as honorary player, while Nash, Blackman and Marion mingled with guests, plus Elvis Andrus representing cross-sport appeal. The day blended charity with star power and a feel of Mavericks lineage.

Nowitzki, now an Amazon Prime analyst, said the Mavs are stacked and health will decide the season, while Flagg’s coin-toss moment signaled rookie integration into a club chasing depth and continuity. The event underscored a bridge between championship DNA and fresh talent in Dallas.

The occasion highlighted the franchise’s celebrity pull and community ties, reinforcing Dallas basketball’s prestige as it eyes the 2025 campaign with optimism and a clear path for emerging stars.

The Knicks bolstered their depth this off-season with Guerschon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson and Malcolm Brogdon, setting a clear window to challenge in the East. Yet Mario Chalmers challenges that outlook, saying New York still lacks a dominant big who can anchor both ends and change the ceiling. Karl-Anthony Towns has grown into a more well-rounded defender for the Knicks, but the gap at the rim remains a talking point. Indiana, Boston and others shuffled, but the Cavaliers and Knicks are positioned as frontrunners in a crowded conference as a new era under a fresh Knicks identity begins shaping itself with Mike Brown at the helm.

EuroBasket final pits Türkiye's Alperen Sengun against Germany's Franz Wagner, signaling a shift to a younger, deeper guard-forward era.

Sengun averages 20.8 PPG, 11 REB, 7 AST; Wagner 21.1 PPG, 5.6 REB; Schroder 20.9 PPG, 6.6 APG as Germany's veteran floor general. Türkiye and Germany enter final 8-0, with big margins.

Watch Sunday Sept. 14, 2:00 PM ET from Riga via Courtside 1891 or DAZN.