NBA Start/Sit Week 4: Stick with Zubac, Batum on Four-Game Week

The new season already enters its fourth scoring period, and we've got an interesting week ahead with a rare two-game schedule for two teams. Luckily, of the remaining clubs, there are still more with four games on the ledger than those with three, affording us a solid player pool to work with in terms of streaming candidates. Centers with lower start rates on teams with four games are at a premium this week, however, leading us to look for a couple of big men on three-game teams. 

TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers

TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz

TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards

Without further ado, let's examine some of the tougher start/sit decisions for Week 4:

Guards      

Start: Grayson Allen, MIL

24% start rate in CBS leagues

Allen has been taking on some extra responsibility with Khris Middleton (COVID-19 protocols) and Brook Lopez (back) out of action, and although both those players could be back at some point during the upcoming scoring period, the sharpshooting wing has proven worthy of maintaining a solid role in Milwaukee's attack. Allen is sporting career highs in points (14.5), rebounds (4.0), steals (1.0), overall shot attempts (11.1) and three-point attempts (8.5) while draining 40.0 percent of his tries from distance. His ability to contribute in multiple categories to varying degrees, and his full schedule this week make him a candidate for those needing a boost in scoring and shooting categories. 

Start: Tyrese Maxey, 76ers

57% start rate in CBS leagues

Maxey, and not Shake Milton, appears set to continue as the starting point guard for the time being, with the latter likely operating off the second unit whenever the 76ers are back at full health. The second-year guard has earned the playing time with averages of 14.2 points, 4.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds, along with highly efficient 51.9 percent shooting. The eventual returns of Danny Green (hamstring) and Tobias Harris (COVID-19 protocols) shouldn't ding Maxey's production much, either, considering he actually was putting up slightly better scoring and rebounding numbers and still averaging 11.5 shot attempts over the first six games.

ALSO CONSIDER: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hawks (48% start rate in CBS leagues)

Sit: Spencer Dinwiddie, Wizards

64% start rate in CBS leagues

Dinwiddie has been solid overall as the Wizards' starting point guard and played an important role in their strong start. However, he's handicapped by a two-game week and has also seen a notable drop in his offensive usage over the last several games. After putting up a robust 16.2 shot attempts per contest over his first five games of the season, Dinwiddie is down to 9.5 over his subsequent four, leading to diminished scoring numbers that bottomed out at six points on Sunday against the Bucks.

Forwards        

Start: Carmelo Anthony, Lakers

48% start rate in CBS leagues

Anthony has proven an excellent fit in the Lakers' system and should continue to have at least a slightly elevated scoring role with LeBron James slated to remain out until at least Thursday -- and perhaps much longer. Carmelo has already turned back the clock in a couple of categories, putting up his best figures in points (16.5 PPG) since the 2016-17 campaign and his best shooting percentage (48.0% FG) since the 2007-08 season. Additionally, the future-Hall-of-Famer has never shot better from distance, and while his 49.2% figure may not be sustainable, fantasy managers should capitalize while he's hot.

Start: Nicolas Batum, Clippers

28% start rate in CBS leagues

Batum enters the new scoring period with four straight double-digit scoring efforts and averages of 15.5 points (on 60.5 percent shooting, including 55.2 percent from three-point range), 6.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.8 steals over that span. The versatile veteran should continue to draw starts at power forward in place of Marcus Morris (knee), who hasn't played since the second game of the season. Batum's hot hand and strong season-long numbers in rebounds (6.4), steals (1.3), overall shooting percentage (50.0) and three-point shooting percentage (41.7 percent) make him a very viable streaming option on a four-game week.  

ALSO CONSIDER: Thaddeus Young, Spurs (17% start rate in CBS leagues

Sit: Bojan Bogdanovic, Jazz

63% start rate in CBS leagues

Bogdanovic does have a three-game week coming up, but his production can probably be exceeded by a comparable four-game option. The veteran wing has only two 20-point efforts this season in games in which Donovan Mitchell has been in the lineup, and his trademark three-point shot has been particularly inefficient thus far. Bogdanovic is draining a career-low 30.9 percent of his shots from behind the arc, putting a notable dent in his overall value considering long-distance shooting has traditionally been one of the hallmarks of his fantasy profile. 

CENTERS   

Start: Ivica Zubac, Clippers 

15% start rate in CBS leagues

Zubac came through nicely as a suggestion in last week's article, wrapping up the period with three straight double-digit scoring efforts and back-to-back double-doubles. He has another four-game week in front of him and retains a very low start rate, putting him right back into the mix. Zubac has also begun stepping up his blocks production after a slow start in that category this season, recording a total of four rejections during the aforementioned three-game sample. He's done a solid job avoiding foul trouble thus far and can once again offer a boost on the boards and defensive categories, with the potential for serviceable scoring contributions. The return of Serge Ibaka, who debuted Sunday, could eventually eat into Zubac's role, but the Clippers will likely bring the veteran along slowly.

Start: Robert Williams, Celtics

51% start rate in CBS leagues

Williams' scoring has been a bit up and down in the early going, but he's still averaging a career-high 10.0 points per contest to go with solid rebounds (8.3), steals (1.1) and blocks (1.9) production. Just as important, the fourth-year pro has a secure starting role that's seeing him average 31.0 minutes per contest. Despite a three-game week, Williams is still very much a viable starter in most leagues.

ALSO CONSIDER: Drew Eubanks, Spurs (1% start rate in CBS leagues); Bobby Portis, Bucks (23% start rate in CBS leagues)

Sit: Wendell Carter, Magic

59% start rate in CBS leagues 

Carter's inclusion in this category isn't a commentary on his performance this season by any means, as the big man is finally coming into his own with career-best averages of 13.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists, along with a career-high 39.5 percent mark from three-point range. However, like Dinwiddie, Carter is saddled with a two-game schedule, and although he's now a threat for a double-double each time he takes the floor, he should be left on the bench if you have a capable four-game option on your roster.