Welcome to a new article I’m trying out called “NBA What If”. This article will attempt to list all of the relevant injury situations to monitor for the day’s NBA slate and provide guidance on which players will benefit with either an increase in minutes or usage or both if that player is ruled out. I will also place an asterisk (*) by players that I think are worth DFS consideration if that player is ruled out. Players that have been out for at least five consecutive games I will not list as general playing time and usage patterns should be established.
This will NOT be an interactive article that is continually updated throughout the day as I hope to capture all of the potential relevant injury situations that could impact DFS lineups for the night and pre-determine what players benefit. Ideally, you monitor late-breaking news leading up to tip-off, find out a player is ruled out and come check the matrix below to see who the players are you should consider for your DFS lineups based on that news.
This article series will be a work in progress and I welcome any and all feedback on its usefulness and format either in the Comments below or directly to me on Twitter @Rotopilot.
NBA What If – Friday, January 12
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Bucks | None | ||
| Cavaliers | Isaiah Thomas | Out | Jose Calderon (minutes) Dwyane Wade (minutes)* |
| Grizzlies | None | ||
| Hawks | Marco Belinelli | Out | Malcolm Delaney (minutes) Isaiah Taylor (minutes) Tyler Dorsey (minutes/usage) |
| Hornets | None | ||
| Jazz | Derrick Favors | Probable | Ekpe Udoh (minutes)* Rodney Hood (usage)* |
| Knicks | None | ||
| Magic | None | ||
| Nets | DeMarre Carroll | Questionable | Joe Harris (minutes) Nik Stauskas (minutes) |
| Nuggets | Gary Harris | Out | Will Barton (minutes/usage)* Torrey Craig (minutes) Jamal Murray (usage)* Trey Lyles (usage) |
| Pacers | Myles Turner | Out | Domantas Sabonis (minutes/usage)* Al Jefferson (minutes) Lance Stephenson (usage) Bojan Bogdanovic (usage) |
| Pelicans | Anthony Davis | Questionable | Dante Cunningham (minutes) Cheick Diallo (minutes) DeMarcus Cousins (usage)* E’Twaun Moore (usage)* Jrue Holiday (usage)* |
| Rockets | Tarik Black | Out | Clint Capela (minutes)* Ryan Anderson (minutes)* PJ Tucker (minutes)* Trevor Ariza (minutes)* |
| Rockets | Nene | Out | Clint Capela (minutes)* Ryan Anderson (minutes)* PJ Tucker (minutes)* Trevor Ariza (minutes)* |
| Rockets | James Harden | Out | Eric Gordon (minutes/usage)* Gerald Green (minutes)* Chris Paul (usage)* Ryan Anderson (usage)* |
| Suns | Josh Jackson | Doubtful | Dragan Bender (minutes/usage)* Jared Dudley (minutes/usage) |
| Suns | Marquese Chriss | Out | Dragan Bender (minutes/usage)* Jared Dudley (minutes/usage) |
| Suns | Isaiah Canaan | Questionable | Tyler Ulis (minutes)* Troy Daniels (mintues) |
| Trail Blazers | Damian Lillard | Probable | Shabazz Napier (minutes/usage)* CJ McCollum (usage)* Evan Turner (usage) |
| Warriors | Stephen Curry | Questionable | Shaun Livingston (minutes/usage) Patrick McCaw (minutes/usage) Kevin Durant (usage)* Klay Thompson (usage)* |
| Warriors | Klay Thompson | Questionable | Patrick McCaw (minutes/usage) Nick Young (minutes/usage) Stephen Curry (usage)* Kevin Durant (usage)* |
| Wizards | None |
