NBA Lineup Optimizer Picks for 03/03/17

James Leer

Welcome to another daily fantasy breakdown for the NBA. We have a slate of 10 games tonight, which means there is a lot of room for potential value in your NBA lineup optimizer picks tonight.

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PG
Russell Westbrook @PHX – $13000 FD – $13100 DK
Projected Points – 63.45 FD – 67.98 DK
Westbrook usually dominates the Suns when he plays them. In his last two games vs. Phoenix he has scored an average of 76.9 FD points and 85.25 DK points. Even with his crazy high salary, he should hit and even exceed value tonight as the Suns play at one of the fastest paces in the league.

Dennis Schroder vs CLE – $6500 FD – $6200 DK
Projected Points – 31.83 FD – 34.27 DK
Dennis Schroder could be an under the radar play for today. The Cavaliers come into the game giving up 36.3 FPPG and 8 AST/game. In the last two matchups vs Cleveland, the Cavs fast place allowed Schroder to exceed projections handsomely. Now is the time to strike with Schroder’s salary coming down a bit because of the suspension.

SG
Evan Fournier vs MIA – $5300 FD – $5600 DK
Projected Points – 26.92 FD – 29.38 DK
We open up with two value-licious plays for you in the shooting guard position. One of them being Evan Fournier. Fournier always seems to perform well against the Heat when he plays, exceeding projection in the last 7 of 7 times he has played them. He’s one of the leading point / minute getters on Orlando and should score into the 30’s today.

Devin Booker vs. OKC – $6200 FD – $6700 DK
Projected Points – 27.9 FD – 30.53 DK
Our other value shooting guard spot is Devin Booker. As mentioned previously The Suns play at one of the fastest paces in the league, couple that with the fact that OKC is sixth and you have a recipe for the highest total of the night (225). Phoenix generally keeps games close on their home court which should work in Devin’s favor. Don’t be surprised to see Booker to hit 30+ FPT’s tonight.

SF
Gordon Hayward vs. BKN – $8000 FD – $7600 DK
Projected Points – 27.9 FD – 30.53 DK
Anytime the Nets are involved you can be sure there are at least a couple of guys racking up the fantasy points on the opposing teams. Brooklyn is currently playing at the fastest pace of the league which only works against them. You should see the usage rate spike tonight for Hayward as Rodney Hood has been labeled as out for the second night in a row.

TJ Warren vs. OKC – $5400 FD – $5800 DK
Projected Points – 25.65 FD – 26.56 DK
I can’t help it, this PHX vs. OKC game is so attractive on paper that it’s just too hard to resist. In two out of the last three games vs. OKC, Warren has been in the perfect lineup doubling and tripling his projections. Warren comes into the game with a high floor (~29) and is likely to crush projections performing at a 7x-8x value.
I’m in love with this spot and game, if that isn’t already evident.

PF
Dario Saric vs. NYK – $7300 FD – $7400 DK
Projected Points – 34.66 FD – 37.27 DK
I’m expecting big things from Saric as he takes on the Knicks tonight even though he threw up a virtual dud in his last match vs. the Heat. Prior to the blowout, his numbers hit the stratosphere averaging 37.7 FD points per game over the course of his last 7. The Knicks are giving up 41.6 FD points against power forwards this year per game, which means Saric should be able to return to the numbers that he has been putting up over the last two weeks.

Serge Ibaka @WAS – $6900 FD – $6700 DK
Projected Points – 32.93 FD – 34.53 DK
Serge Ibaka has filled the starting role well in Toronto. His usage rate has spiked since Lowry
went down with a right wrist injury. Hitting an average of rougly 36 minutes in his last four games, with two of the last 4 in the perfect lineup Ibaka has become exactly what the Raptors were hoping. Look for him to continue to step up to the plate.

C
Rudy Gobert vs. BKN – $7500 -FD – $7300 DK
Projected Points – 36.66 FD – 38.43 DK
As mentioned with Hayward, the Nets really struggle on the court. In his last two games vs. Brooklyn he has scored an average of 43.5 FD PTS. He should continue to have no problem dominating them down low. Stacks of UTAH, OKC, PHX are all completely viable plays in every format tonight.

Al Horford @LAL – $6000 FD – $6200 DK
Projected Points – 34.3 FD – 36.04 DK
It’s no secret the Lakers are just bloody awful at Defense. So far this season, the Lakers have allowed an atroucious 50.6 FD points (!) against Centers. While Horford as been a bit touch-and-go as of late, if the game stays close you can look for him to hit ~5x value.