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.

Jonathan Kuminga remains in a high-stakes stalemate with Golden State as the Warriors push a four-year deal with a team option, while Kuminga seeks greater control and a path to unrestricted free agency. In August, ownership and front office pressed: Do you want to be here? The stalemate drags into September as the club plans around Curry and a potential post-contest roster strategy, keeping a trade-or-bench path alive.

Key leverage centers on an $8 million qualifying offer, offering next-summer flexibility but risking market value and team control. The Warriors pursue cap-friendly, trade-ready structure with early Bird rights, while Kuminga and his agent push for a player option or other paths to true long-term autonomy. The surrounding chatter links to Horford, Melton, and a broader plan to stay competitive while preserving options.

Fans tab Alperen Sengun as the Rockets’ MVP frontrunner this season, voting 65% in Reacts over Kevin Durant.

Sengun's EuroBasket form has raised expectations; if that momentum translates to Houston and the team stays in the Western Conference playoff mix, he could become a legitimate MVP candidate. Durant remains a veteran counterpoint, but Sengun’s rising star is the focal point for the Rockets’ potential breakout.

Houston’s MVP case hinges on contending in a tough West and Sengun sustaining high usage and efficiency. If the Rockets falter, Durant’s steady production could still carry the narrative—yet the early hype centers on Sengun’s breakout impact.