Booms, Busts, and Battlestar Galactica: NBA Week 18

We all know the feeling of picking up a dud off the waiver wire during the playoffs.

It's almost like the Academy Awards giving anyone besides Chadwick Boseman the Best Actor award this year.

When your season is on the line, you want to be sure you're making an informed decision on a player who can take you over the top. Here are the hottest and coldest players you may want to keep in mind as you make your push for the fantasy playoffs.

Booms

Jakob Poeltl Center San Antonio Spurs

He might not look like David Robinson, but Jakob Poeltl can sure block shots like him. The young Austrian center has been a last line of defense that has rivaled Helms Deep. Poeltl averaged 3.8 blocks, 12.3 points on 67.9 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 91.7 percent free-throw shooting in his last four games.

Shot blocking options on the waiver wire are thin, but Poeltl is a legit five-category contributor that's only rostered in 75 percent of Yahoo leagues. He is a must-add if he's available.

Kendrick Nunn Guard Miami Heat

Kendrick Nunn might not have a lot of chances to shine when the Heat are healthy, but when someone is hurt, he is more than capable of stepping up. With Miami missing one key rotation player or another, Nunn filled in and averaged 20.5 points on 52.6 percent shooting, 4.0 made three-pointers, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Still, with the Heat continuing to get healthier and building continuity, there might not be any more opportunities for Nunn to put up star numbers. However, if any guard goes down for an extended period of time, snatch him up with confidence.

Reggie Bullock Guard/Forward New York Knicks

Julius Randle is powering the Knicks' nine-game winning streak, but Reggie Bullock's deadeye from three-point range has provided the team and fantasy managers alike with a needed boost as well. In three games last week, the former North Carolina guard averaged 4.7 threes, 16.7 points on 51.5 percent shooting, and 3.3 assists.

The Knicks rank 28th in the NBA in three-point attempts, but Bullock has nearly a 20 percent share of those attempts per game. He won't win you many other categories, but if you need three-point shooting on your team, there are worse options than Bullock.

Isaiah Stewart Forward/Center Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have been a mess nearly the entire year, but tumultuous seasons give players a chance to take advantage of minutes that have to be played. Isaiah Stewart is the latest to make the best of a bad situation.

Even while averaging less than 24 minutes a game, Stewart averaged 11.5 points on 57.6 percent shooting, 10 rebounds, one steal and 1.8 blocks in the last four contests. The volatility of Stewart's minutes is a result of the team trying to decide on whether to play the veterans or give the young stars a chance to show what they can do.

Still, whether he's getting 20 minutes or 33 minutes, Stewart will get you numbers.

Busts

Montrezl Harrell Forward/Center Los Angeles Lakers

Through all of the injuries, losing streaks and uncertainty, Montrezl Harrell and his relentless energy off the bench has been a constant for the Lakers. Now, that may not be the case anymore.

Harrell was DNP'd via coach's decision in the last contest and only averaged eight points and four rebounds in the two games he played last week. Anthony Davis' return as well as the acquisition of Andre Drummond have halted any real impact he will have fantasy-wise for the remainder of the season and he needs to be dropped if he is on your squad.

Donte DiVincenzo Guard Milwaukee Bucks

Victims of circumstance will always happen in fantasy sports and DiVincenzo can't help he's playing with a perennial MVP candidate and two All-Stars. He's had stretches of good play, but he's hit a bit of a rough patch the past week, averaging seven points on 37.9 percent shooting, 1.3 made three-pointers, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in his last four games.

Even though he is starting, the Big Ragu's fantasy situation isn't going to change unless someone goes down. If you're in a pinch for a spot in your league's final, look elsewhere for help.

Aaron Gordon Forward Denver Nuggets

Gordon's contribution to the Nuggets may result in Denver winning its first championship, but his contributions to his fantasy managers has been limited. This past week, he only averaged, 9.5 points on 38.9 percent shooting, 1.3 made threes, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists.

He may be the missing piece for Denver, but the days of him putting up numbers in five categories may be over.

Lou Williams Guard Atlanta Hawks

With Trae Young out, Hawks fans were hoping Lou Williams would provide a scoring boost. Luckily, he has and Atlanta has gone 2-1. Unluckily, he hasn't done much else in a fantasy sense.

Last week, Williams averaged 15.3 points, but he only shot 40.4 percent from the field, made 1.8 made threes, two rebounds and 3.5 assists. Williams is good if you need a scoring boost, especially with Young out, but be prepared to take L's in every other category.