Availability questions linger for Jimmy Butler
The first week of 2023 stands to be a busy one. Twenty-one teams will play four games in Week 12, and 22 will play a back-to-back. The loaded schedule will make for some interesting roster decisions, with teams that have rested players in the past, including the Clippers, Heat, and Pelicans, among the busiest. Let’s look at the Week 12 schedule breakdown and some key storylines that need to be considered when setting your lineups.
Week 12 Schedule: Games Played
4 Games: ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MIA, MIN, NOP, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, SAS, TOR, UTA
3 Games: BOS, DEN, GSW, MEM, MIL, NYK, ORL, SAC
2 Games: WAS
Top Storylines to Watch
— How many games will fantasy managers get out of Heat’s Butler?
Jimmy Butler has appeared in 23 of Miami’s 37 games thus far, and he’s been inactive for four of their last nine, including Saturday’s win over the Jazz. Miami begins its four-game week Monday night in Los Angeles against the Clippers, and while there are no back-to-backs, it’s fair to wonder if Butler will be available for each game. Of the last four games he’s missed, two (December 14 vs. Oklahoma City, Saturday vs. Utah) have been part of a back-to-back. So the absence of such games on the Week 12 schedule does not guarantee that Butler will be available.
One player impacted by Butler’s status is Victor Oladipo, who is providing top 100 per-game value in 9-cat formats over the last three weeks. Still rostered in just 17% of Yahoo leagues, he’s coming off of a game Saturday in which he played 35 minutes, recording a stat line of 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block, and four 3-pointers. Oladipo has missed two of the 13 games that Miami has played since he made his season debut on December 6, averaging 9.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 3-pointers in 26.2 minutes during this stretch. Those numbers aren’t great, but adding Oladipo as a “safety net” wouldn’t be the worst path for managers who have…
