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NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*



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NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

With the holidays rapidly approaching, the NBA is loaded this week with 50 games on the schedule. It’s important to know the intricacies of the schedule to gain an advantage over your opponent in a head-to-head league as starting your best players might not always give you the best chance to win. Here are the moves you want to consider for your team based on the week ahead.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

With elite players such as LeBron James, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook all scheduled to have four games each this week, many of you will be starting off with an excellent foundation. If you do need help filling out the rest of your starting lineup, consider adding the below players who can all provide value based on their schedule.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9
Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat

The Heat are without arguably their best player in Hassan Whiteside (knee) as he has missed the last five games. Olynyk has played well in his absence, averaging 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in those five games. Not only did he play at least 25 minutes in each game, but he started the last two. There is a chance that Whiteside returns at some point this week, but with four games in six days, he’s likely going to see limited minutes when he does return. Olynyk is still available in 53% of Yahoo! leagues and he can provide you with solid all-around numbers.

Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have been decimated by injuries this year, leaving LeVert to average a career-high 26 minutes per game. He’s played more than that lately, logging at least 28 minutes in six of his last seven games. He has provided balanced production by averaging 13.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.0 steals 1.0 three-pointer in those seven contests. LeVert’s 20.9% usage rate is second-best on the team among players to appear in at least 17 games this season. Still available in 62% of Yahoo! leagues, he could be a valuable addition to your squad for Week 9.

Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors clearly don’t like what they are getting out of starting center Jonas Valanciunas as he is averaging a career-low 20 minutes per game. With minutes up for grabs, Poeltl has been able to establish a significant role off the bench. He has played at least 17 minutes in six straight games, four of which he played at least 22 minutes. He has cashed in his opportunity by averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. He’s not going to provide you hardly any assists, but take a look at him if you need help at center. He’s still available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers

There are 13 teams playing at least four games this week, leaving players on the three teams that only play two each to see a significant decrease in value.  Consider benching the below players who would normally be in your starting lineup otherwise.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers

Covington (back) missed Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and is listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s game against the  Minnesota Timberwolves. Do you really want to risk putting him in your lineup with the potential that he plays only one game, or maybe none at all, this week? He’s a streaky shooter, so even if things do change quickly and he is able to play both games, it could be ugly if he’s not playing at 100%. Don’t take the risk, put him on your bench.

Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers continue to show no hesitation to pull Ball in games when he is struggling. He has played 27 minutes or less in three of his last six games, often sitting out big portions of the fourth quarter. He continues to struggle from the field and is attempting way too many three-pointers considering he’s only shooting 24.6% from behind the arc. His counting stats still give him value most weeks, but with only two games for the second straight week, keep Ball on your bench.

Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Lakers

The move to LA has not been successful for Lopez as he is averaging a career-low 23 minutes per game. While never a great source of rebounds for a center, he is not helping fantasy owners by averaging a meager 4.5 rebounds per game this season. To put that into perspective, Trail Blazers backup center Ed Davis is averaging 7.1 rebounds in three fewer minutes per game. Lopez just doesn’t play enough anymore to be someone you want to start in a week with only two games.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17


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Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

Rajon Rondo
FD $5700 DK $5000

We obviously have some huge injuries to deal with on the slate tonight and you’ll see a lot of them be the reason we suggest certain guys. Anthony Davis is the biggest of all. With AD out for the foreseeable future, we’ll see everyone in the lineup pick up some usage and shots. Rajon Rondo has finally made himself comfortable in this offense and he’s been over 35 fantasy points in each of the last 2 games. He shot the 3rd most of anyone on the team as well, which is very rare for him. Rondo hasn’t really gotten any worse since the Boston days. He was a worse shooter then. He’s just not as solidified into his role as the leader. He probably won’t be all year, but he will get some extra numbers for the near future and we’ll look to take advantage while cheap. Oh ya, the Warriors also love to run and offer some extreme upside.

Jarrett Jack
FD $4800 DK $3900

If you’re looking for value and want to go a little bit safer, Jarrett Jack is a phenomenal way to go. Like Rondo, the Knicks are dealing with some injuries that are putting Jack and others into the spotlight. With The two best offensive players in Porzingis and Hardaway out, there are countless shots to go around. Jarrett Jack will have the ball in his hands a lot more than usual here in a solid match-up with the Pacers. Collison isn’t a bad defender, but he has no protection behind him and the Pacers play fast. Jack is safe in all formats at his depressed price tag.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

Victor Oladipo
FD $9200 DK $8700

Victor Oladipo is far from the player we witnessed in Orlando and Oklahoma City. He has turned a corner and is now one of the premier wing players in the league. While he’s not only a menace on offense, he’s one of the few guys who actually make a difference on defense and turns it into efficient FP. He’s been over 68 fantasy points in 2 of his last 5 games, so it’s tough to even call the price a stretch. He’s shooting as much as he wants and stuffing the stat sheet incredibly. Myles Turner is the number 2, but there’s really no 3rd option after that. It allows Oladipo to run the offense at will and you’ll see a lot of similarities between him and what he witnessed in Russell Westbrook last year. With plenty of value to choose from on this slate, Oladipo is one of many pricey options worth consideration.

Jrue Holiday
FD $6700 DK $6300

Aside from DeMarcus Cousins, Jrue Holiday will benefit most from AD out. We looked at Rondo already and he will as well, but Holiday is a bit more reliant on scoring. Davis’ absence gives him the opportunity to shoot a ton and we saw it last game with 18 attempts. In a match-up with a Warriors squad that loves to run and score, Holiday will be needed if they have any hope of keeping it close. His price is down and he’s a safe play in all formats. This is a $7k+ player with AD off the floor. No doubt about it. Even if the game does blowout by halftime and absolute worst case scenario hits, I can’t see Holiday getting less than 25 FP by default. At this price, that’s not even too bad. With an upside well over 45, it’s worth it.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $12400 DK $10600

Full disclosure, Giannis is a bit too expensive for me on FanDuel. Sitting almost a full $2k higher than Durant, I would rather go there. On DK, however, Giannis is just $10.6k and in play everywhere. The Celtics aren’t a team we love to target, but they play at an average PACE and we have seen Giannis go crazy against them twice already this season. He put up FP totals of 71 and 69 less than a week apart. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will try again, but I assume the exact same thing will happen. They will put up a good battle and then have 0 help on the inside. Al Horford is a pitiful defender and a big reason why the Celtics can occasionaly be attacked in the paint. Antetokounmpo is a threat for 80 FP every time he takes the floor and is a safe call for 55. There are a lot of different ways to pay up tonight, so he shouldn’t be more than 15-20% owned across the board.

Robert Covington
FD $7000 DK $6200

We haven’t touched on the 76ers just yet, but we’ll get to two of them real quick here. Starting with Robert Covington, he’s a guy you’re going to want in fast games. He’s prett inconsistent, generally striking dry in games that are slow and lack spacing. When the Sixers run and Covington is able to get open from 3, the sky is the limit. He has immense upside in tournaments and against a Suns squad that plays faster than anyone, in cash as well. This 6ers team should be close to fll health tonight, though Covington may have to fill in at the 4 if Simmons covers for McConnell. You also have to wonder who covers Covington if Warren moves over to Simmons. There’s a lot to like here from Covington and he’ll surely be one of my more popular options.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

Ben Simmons
FD $10500 DK $9800

Ben Simmons is just an extremely good and versatile player. There are no 2 ways around it. He’s putting up numbers that are unprecedented from a rookie and he’s doing in night in and night out. He now sees his best match-up possible against a Suns squad that has nobody to cover him. I assume it’ll have to be T.J. Warren, but he will still struggle and it will give Covington a huge mismatch. They may be forced into Josh Jackson and Marquese Chriss, which is just ugly. The Suns are still holding onto a 108 PACE, which is higher than any team since pace has been recorded. Simmons is a menace on the open floor and should do damage while in the game here. With a 228 total and a -10 line, Vegas thinks this is high-scoring and somewhat competitive. You have a lot of options to make tonight and Ben Simmons is one of the biggest.

Michael Beasley
FD $5000 DK $3500

We looked at Jarrett Jack at PG for the Knicks, but he’s just the tip of the iceberg with Porzingis and Hardaway both ruled out. Michael Beasley saw 24 minutes last game and put up a nice 27 fantasy points. In my opinion, that’s his absolute floor with no Porzingis. Beasley is a great scorer that can give you a much-needed body without your top 2 offensive players. Oh ya, the Pacers also rank dead last against PF’s with over 50 FP allowed each night. Beasley will see between 24-30 minutes with a 25 FP floor and a ceiling we haven’t seen. He put up 60 fantasy points out of nowhere multiple times last year, so there’s no telling with this guy. He’s too cheap, in a great match-up, and going to see the ball more than ever. If you don’t play Beasley here at PF, you’re playing with fire. He probably won’t kill you, but you’ll need to find some strong value elsewhere.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

DeMarcus Cousins
FD $11000 DK $11000

We gave the Pelicans a break for a few positions and now get to the guy who most people on this slate are focused on. Boogieman Cousins. With Anthony Davis injured, he gets to kick it back to the Sacramento days and shoot as much as he wants. He put up a monstrous 28 attempts last game and now sees a much faster-paced match-up. There’s obviously a blowout risk, but Cousins has proven his ability to hurt the Warriors. He can run with Draymond if the game is close and with him getting the ball every possession, you’re sure to see a motivated Boogie. This is one of the more volatile possible match-ups a guy can have, but I can’t get away from Cousins. If it stays close, 90 FP wouldn’t surprise me. Call it crazy, but he’s the way it stays close and it would mean he gets 30+ shots. If it blows out, he sees 28-30 very productive minutes, ending up at 45 fantasy points. This is a guy I would have 100% exposure to if it wasn’t for the next guy we look at.

Enes Kanter
FD $6600 DK $6200

We just looked at Michael Beasley and he’s the more volatile big man to benefit. Enes Kanter is a stellar offensive player when given the opportunity and we’ve seen it over the last 2 games with 40+ FP in both. He now gets an incredible match-up with a Pacers squad that can’t cover the paint. Ranking 24th against centers, Kanter should have no problem coming through with a double-double as a floor and 50 fantasy points as a ceiling. It will certainly be tough to fade Cousins, but knowing you have a solid pivot makes it just a bit easier. Personally, I’ll be trying my best to get Cousins everywhere. It’s a limb I’m going to be hanging on. Good luck tonight!

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/28/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/28/17


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Point Guard

Tyus Jones
FD $5200 DK $4300

We’re going to be paying down at point guard tonight. Jeff Teague is currently on the downside of questionable, so we’ll assume he misses this game. If he does play, Tyus Jones can be ignored. With Teague on the sideline last game, Jones went nuts in 38 minutes with 51 fantasy points. He put up 34 the game before. This is a very good point guard who just happens to be a backup. When given the minutes, it’s quite clear that he’s worth $7k, at least. That match-up with Tim Frazier is great and the Wizards play at a solid PACE. If Teague misses this game, do yourself a favor and play Tyus Jones. You’re not chasing points.

Tim Frazier
FD $4900 DK $4100

We’ll stay in the same game with our other value PG. John Wall is going to miss about 2 weeks, so look for the Wizards to solidify Frazier as their temporary starting PG. He saw 28 minutes last game with Wall out, but I think it’s safe to assume 30-32. He is a good point guard and can stuff the stat sheet in a lot of different ways. Tyler Ulis is a far worse defender than Jeff Teague and the T-Wolves have already struggled against Pg’s (7th worst). Frazier is just a bit cheaper than Ulis and while he has nowhere near the upside, the floors are comparable. In cash games, these are 2 guys I’m all over. You’ll see why it’s necessary very soon.

Shooting Guard

Bradley Beal
FD $8300 DK $7900

The absence of John Wall is going to do a lot more than just give Tim Frazier some minutes. Beal is going to see his usage spike 5+% and will have the ball in his hands far more. This is usually how Beal ends up hurting his ankle, but he’ll likely get stretched for close to 38 minutes and end up shooting 22-27 times. It sounds incredulous, but Wall is the only guy that keeps Beal from shooting. With the keys to the offense, the upside here is limitless. The Timberwolves obviously have some very accredited defenders, but they stink against everyone, so I guess it doesn’t matter when you have Kat and Taj down low. Beal is an elite play in all formats.

Justin Holiday
FD $5500 DK $5500

Let’s venture outside of Minnesota. The Bulls will see a match-up with the Suns tonight that figures to be an extreme pace-up game. Devin Booker is also questionable, so we may be seeing some very weak defenders. Justin Holiday is nothing to write home about, but he’s a solid SG with scoring upside. He excels in faster-paced games and you can be sure this is one of them, considering the Suns play faster than anyone ever. You can count on 32-35 minutes of a streaky SG against a team that will do their best to leave him open. It just comes down to whether he can hit the shots. There’s a lot of different ways to go at SG, so nobody is a must, but Holiday is a solid mid-range option that won’t hurt you.

Small Forward

LeBron James
FD $12000 DK $11300

With Tyus Jones and Tim Frazier holding down the value fort at PG, we may be able to pull both of these guys off. Let’s start with LeBron. On a B2B, I usually wouldn’t like him, but I don’t think he is going to throw in the flag tonight. I know it’s been countless years, but this is his former team and it’s his first game against them with D-Wade. He only played 31 minutes against Philly last night, so he’s ready to play another 35-38 if it ends up staying close. I’m sure it’ll be James Johnson and Justise Winslow that try their hand at LBJ, but I think we know by now how much that matters. James is an elite play and can be locked in for 50 fantasy points. If it stays close throughout, there is no ceiling.

Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $11800 DK $11200

If you’re talking about a ceiling, this is the guy who probably has the highest of which. Maybe this sounds crazy, but I bet he hits 100 FP by the end of the season. I’m by no means insinuating that’s tonight, but I guess it could be. The Kings are a solid match-up for Giannis, who excels in the open floor. I assume it’ll be Justin Jackson who gets the cover, but he’s by no means capable. He’s a below average defender at this point and heavily relies on his length. Ya, good luck with that against this guy. Giannis, like LeBron, is as consstent as could be. He’s a lock for 50 fantasy points, though I do think he ends up higher owned than LeBron. He’s slightly cheaper and LBJ did play yesterday. I’m about even on both, but lean LeBron BARELY.

Power Forward

Derrick Favors
FD $6900 DK $6300

Power forward is by far the ugliest position on the slate. Derrick Favors is the most expensive option. He’s not a bad one, but you know that’s when it’s ugly. He’s been pretty great with Gobert out, putting up 34+ on most nights with a rather frequent 40 burger. His price has risen, but not enough. This match-up with the Nuggets is great whether he plays PF or C. Jokic is by no means a rim protector and we know Kenneth Faried just wants to dunk. They’ve ranked 26th against PF/C for a reason. Favors is an uber-safe option at a position that lacks safety. There are other ways to pay down, but you might as well play Favors if you can afford it.

Bobby Portis
FD $4800 DK $5200

You can go with Markkanen here too, but I like Portis a little bit more and didn’t want to look at the 2 most expensive guys for the 2nd position in a row. Bobby Portis is a great DFS performer and has found a way to be consistent from the bench. Over the last 4 games, he’s seen around 24 minutes and 25 fantasy points in each. If he ever sees the 32+ minutes he should, his floor is closer to 30. Against  the Suns, he should get in the game. He runs better than Markkanen on RoLo and matches up well with Bender/Chriss. Portis is a guy I’ll have a lot of exposure to and i’m hoping he stays under the radar.

Center

Nikola Jokic
FD $9300 DK $8700

With Rudy Gobert out, I’m all but scared to target centers against the Jazz. Especially a guy like Nikola Jokic who is smarter and better than 99% of centers in the league. This is a guy who would be in the NBA if he was a 6’3 guard. He’s just a very smart basketball player and doesn’t really care about being flashy. He’s consistently over 35 fantasy points, but bounces around after that. This match-up against the Jazz should stay close (-4) and I don’t see how Jokic doesn’t take advantage of a weakened interior. His price is fine and with so much value floating around, you can probably fit him in there. If you have to go down to Hassan Whiteside, don’t freak out. He’s cool too.

Robin Lopez
FD $5000 DK $4900

I will be paying up at center tonight (thx PG), but RoLo is a great savings option. He is a safe 25 minutes in a game that will be MUCH faster than the Bulls are used to. His size will also be necessary for the likes of Tyson Chandler and Alex Len. His price is down and he has no problem having a big game when given the opportunity. He gets shots in this offense and Kris Dunn has involved him a little more since getting entered into the starting lineup. He’s not exciting, but a fine way to pay down in cash games. He won’t be the guy that makes you lose. Good luck tonight!

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/27/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/27/17


CYBER MONDAY special only use Code “CYBER30” at checkout for 30% off Seasonal Package
 

Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Damian Lillard
FD $9000 DK $8800

Point guard is always an interesting position. It’s typically one of the higher scoring positions and one that you need to nail on the head. Tonight, by the time 7:00 hits, you’re going to have plenty of options. There are countless injuries on this slate and things are going to get weird. With that being said, there are some guys you can pay up for and Damian Lillard is my favorite. While he is known to be better at home, it’s not been the case this year. I think it has a lot to do with him stepping up as a superstar and entering his prime. He’s deadly everywhere. Tonight, he heads into Madison Square Garden to face off with the Knicks. We all know stars love playing in New York and the Knicks can’t cover point guards. Lillard is fairly priced on both sites and makes sense in both cash games and tournaments. With all the value on this slate, you should have no problem paying for Dame Dolla (Yes, his rap name and he has dropped an album).

T.J. McConnell
FD $5400 DK $4700

There’s going to be a whole lot you need to pay attention to on this slate. Ben Simmons is going to be one of them. If Simmons plays, he’s going to play a lot of minutes at point guard and a match-up with LeBron James. T.J. McConnell would be useless in that scenario. If Simmons is out, there are 30 minutes of PG and a bunch of ball-handling up for grabs. With Simmons out last game, McConnell saw 36 minutes and put up 54 fantasy points. We probably won’t see that for another season or so, but it proves his capability. If given the opportunity, he’s a guy you want exposure to in a game that should remain close. If Simmons is out, McConnell is an elite play in all formats.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
James Harden
FD $11800 DK $11800

With all the value on this slate, you can easily pay up for James Harden. While he’s nowhere near a must and there are other guys you can pay for on the slate, we know the upside Harden has. The blowout is a risk tonight, but if it stays remotely close, you can guarantee 55+ fantasy points out of the beard. If it’s a blowout, it’s because Harden went off, so he won’t see less than 40. His upside is in the 90’s against a Nets team that plays faster than anyone in the past 10 years (109 PACE). They don’t have any perimeter defender to slow him down and certainly don’t have any rim protection. If you have the funds, don’t run away from James Harden against the lowly Nets.

Klay Thompson
FD $7000 DK $7000

As we sit, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala are all questionable. Let’s say all 4 of those guys find a way to play. Thompson would be a normal low-end cash game play in a great match-up against the Kings. If 1 or 2 of them sit, he’s an elite play in all formats that will see an increase in usage and minutes. Now if 3 or 4 of those guys sit, play Klay Thompson. It should allow this game to stay close and we know the kings stink against guards. Thompson will be able to shoot 25+ times without worrying about it and will see a guaranteed 35+ minutes (if stays close). You’re going to have to wait for all the news to break, but could easily end up as one of the top plays on the slate.P.S, Klay Thompson destroys the Kings almost every time and was the team he put up 30+ in one quarter against.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Omri Casspi
FD $4000 DK $3800

This is one of the value plays that could be a must. We just touched on this entire situation with Klay Thompson and there’s no reason to do it again. The Warriors have yet to stretch out Casspi for over 30 minutes, but they might not have a choice tonight if both Iggy and Durant are unavailable. In his recent games with 24-28 minutes, he’s been extremely productive with 1.2 FP per minute. He’ll also have a little personal edge around him facing the Kings team he’s been on for a few years. Near minimum-price, Casspi is a lock for value in both cash games and tournaments. Depending on the injury news, Casspi could very well be in 100% of my lineups.

Joe Harris
FD $4100 DK $3600

We do have 1 solidified piece of news. Allen Crabbe and D’Angelo Russell are both going to miss this game. They both missed yesterday and it results in Joe Harris picking up 36 minutes. It was a tough match-up with the Grizzlies, so who really cares how he produced. Tonight, he gets a far better match-up against a Rockets squad that loves to run. You can bank him in there for another 33+ fantasy points and count him in for 25+ fantasy points as well. He’ll be covered by James Harden and Trevor Ariza and neither will be paying much attention to his game. He can shoot 3’s well and will have plenty of them to shoot. He’s a phenomenal value option in all formats and will get the minutes whether the game blows out or not.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Aaron Gordon
FD $7400 DK $7400

Tonight is going to have a whole bunch of stars and scrubs, which only makes sense. There’s a bunch of value and it forces people into that type of lineup. I will certainly fall victim to the same thing, but will make sure I have Aaron Gordon as a mid-priced option at power forward. The Pacers are the league’s worst team against power forwards and are the only ones to give up over 50+ fantasy points per game. Gordon is an absolute monster this season and he’s been very consistent for his price. Gordon has an ideal match-up tonight and he is a phenomenal play in both cash games and tournaments.

Michael Beasley
FD $4600 DK $3700

Kristaps Porzingis is currently questionable, so add his name to the list of many. If he plays, you can ignore this Michael Beasley play. If Porzingis misses, Beasley is an elite play in all formats. With Porzingis out last game, Beasley ended up with 36 minutes and 40 fantasy points. We know how much Michael Beasley loves to shoot and when Porzingis isn’t out there, he’s allowed to. There’s no way he misses value if he sees 30+ minutes. He is just far too involved in the offense. The Blazers are nothing to be scared of and 25-30 fantasy points is my expectation is ‘Staps is out. The upside for more is there, believe it or not.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks
Joel Embiid
FD $9700 DK $10000

Embiid is just a monster. On a per-minute basis, he may be the best DFS player we have. He’s just ow getting his full allotment of minutes and it’s been quite fun to watch. Tonight, the 76ers face off with the Cavs in what should be a very exciting game. Ben Simmons is questionable and Embiid may see more looks if he misses, but it doesn’t really matter. In a way, Simmons can help Embiid against an elite opponent that will keep it close. The Cavs don’t have any real centers, so it’ll be Kevin love doing his best. Good luck with that, Kevin. Embiid is going to dominate for as long as he’s in the game here and I could see a 60 FP performance without much trouble. 40 is the floor.

Jusuf Nurkic
FD $7,400 DK $6,800

I don’t think Nurkic will be very popular tonight, but that’s great for us. With Porzingis and Kanter both likely to miss, the Knicks don’t have much of any rim protection. Nurkic will have a huge advantage over the likes of Hernangomez, Beasley, and O’Quinn. Nurkic is a big part of the offense and he shouldn’t have any problem getting involved early. I guess Nurkic is just going to be an inconsistent player, because he has been since entering the league. For that reason, I’ll typically reserve him for tournaments. With all the value on this slate, I’ll be finding a way to pay up in cash games for Mr. Embiid. Either way you go is a solid option, but it might be a good idea to pay for the safety at this position. Good luck tonight!!!

 

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

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Point Guard

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

Week 6 brings a bit of a different schedule in the NBA as there is only one game Tuesday and no teams will play Thursday. There are still advantages to be gained over your opponent though by diving deeper into which teams play the most and fewest games. Here are the moves you want to consider for your team based on the schedule this week.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers

There are 11 teams that all play four games each this week, giving their players added value. Fantasy suds like Kyrie Irving, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kristaps Porzingis will be even more valuable with this advantage. If you aren’t lucky enough to have several players from these teams on your fantasy squad, consider adding the players below.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

Denzel Valentine, Chicago Bulls

Valentine has finally moved into the starting lineup for the Bulls after they had really struggled to find a viable starter at small forward. He played at least 32 minutes in both starts, averaging 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.5 three-pointers. Even though David Nwaba has a chance of returning from injury at some point this week, Valentine is still one of the better scoring options on the Bulls. He is still available in 71% of Yahoo! leagues and would be an especially good pickup if you need help with three-pointers.

Mario Chalmers, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are down one of their best players as Mike Conley will be out for at least two weeks due to injury. His absence opens up an opportunity for Mario Chalmers to join the starting five. Chalmers has played well in three starts so far this season, averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. With two of his four games this week being matchups against bad teams in the Mavericks and Nets, Chalmers could be in for some big assists and steals totals. He is still available in 88% of Yahoo! leagues.

Jerami Grant, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have one of the best starting five in the league, but they also have one of the weakest second units. One of their best bench players is Grant, who is averaging 24 minutes per game as a result. While he hasn’t excelled in any particular area, he has been solid with averages of 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Grant has great matchups this week with three of his four games coming against the Warriors, Pistons and Mavericks, all teams that tend to use small lineups. If you need to bench a forward who is only playing two games this week, look for Grant on waivers as he is still available in 92% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers

With so many teams playing four games this week, the players on the three teams that only play two games take a major hit. Consider benching the below players who would normally be in your starting lineup.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6
Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Lakers

Lopez is having a down year overall as he is averaging 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers per game. Part of the problem is that he is averaging a career-low 24 minutes per contest. He always struggled to provide sufficient rebounding numbers out of the center spot, but his value takes a real hit if he’s not playing enough to provide added value from behind the arc. With only two games on the schedule this week, it’s best to put Lopez on your bench.

Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons

Jackson has been a steady source of production for fantasy owners as he is averaging 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.4 three-pointers per game. One of the main reasons for his improvement is that he is shooting 45.1% from the field after struggling to shoot only 41.9% last year. While he does have two decent matchups this week against the Cavaliers and Thunder, he doesn’t excel in any one area enough to keep him in your lineup. Valentine and Chalmers are both shaping up to be better options than Jackson this week.

Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets

Gordon is having one of the best starts to his career as he is averaging 20.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.5 three-pointers per game. One of the main reasons for his hot start is because he was starting in place of the injured Chris Paul. Paul has returned, pushing Gordon back to a bench role. In his last two games off the bench, Gordon is averaging 12.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 three-pointers per game. In his new role and only two games this week, it would be wise to put him on your bench.

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/20/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/20/17

Get 20% off for a limited time off of NBA Seasonal Packages
Use Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 20% off Seasonal Package
 

Point Guard

Tim Frazier
FD $3,100 DK $3,400

John Wall missed yesterday’s game against the Raptors, so we’re assuming he’s going to miss this one against the Bucks. If he does end up playing, you can scratch Tim Frazier completely off the board. He saw 35 minutes last game and came through with 24 fantasy points. He didn’t shoot well and he is typically a guy shot creator and maker. Expect him to pick it up a little bit here with at least 10 shots. He fills up the stat sheet very nicely for a point guard and doesn’t need to do much at this price. He’s an elite play in both cash games and tournaments and a guy I’ll have in 100% of lineups.

Kemba Walker
FD $8,300 DK $7,900

Kemba is dominating. We always see a few of these streaks every year, but this has been a little bit different. He’s been magnificent at home and on the road and it’s pretty clear that he’s emerging as one of the top PG’s in the league. This match-up against the Timberwolves may not seem like the best considering the T-Wolves have some devastating defenders, but they’ve actually allowed the 4th most FP’s to opposing PG’s. Vegas has the Hornets favored by 2 points, so they fully believe in what Kemba and crew is doing. Jeff Teague is a fine defender, but he isn’t a guy that can single-handedly shut anyone down. Especially not a hot Kemba Walker in Charlotte.

Shooting Guard

Brad Beal
FD $7,900 DK $8,000

Continuing to assume John Wall is out, Brad Beal has to be one of the top options on the entire slate. He’s a guaranteed bet for 20+ shots and Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t be able to cover him with Porter deserving nearly as much attention. Khris Middleton is a fine defender, but he’s nothing special. The Bucks have allowed 46.2 FP to opposing SG’s, giving Beal a great shot at 40+ tonight. With Wall out, he’s a lot safer than on most nights. He’ll be in every cash game of mine and at least the majority of tournaments. If Wall plays, Beal becomes a tournament-only option.

Alec Burks
FD $3,300 DK $3,500

You can play Donovan Mitchell too here, but I wanted to look at another value play. Burks has been over 22 minutes in 3 straight games and in turn 22+ fantasy points in 2 of the 3. If you’ve been a basketball fan for a few years now, you know Alec Burks and how much upside he has. He’s not going to see more than 25 or 26 minutes, however, so you put his ceiling around 30-35 fantasy points. His floor is around 15, which is perfectly fine at near minimum-price. I like a lot of expensive options tonight, so these cheap options are very useful.

Small Forward

Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $12,000 DK $11,500

Giannis Antetokounmpo is probably our best DFS NBA player right now. He typically sits around 60 FP and sees a top 10 match-up tonight. The Wizards like to play fast and don’t have any real rim defense. Sure, Gortat is fine, but he’s nowhere near the defender he was just a few years ago. Antetokounnmpo is unguardable, for one, as he’s a 7-foot point guard. It’s pretty understandable to be matchup-proof at that point. Vegas thinks this game will be high-scoring and close, so it’s fair to expect at least 35+ minutes. He’s a safe bet for 50 fantasy points with the upside for who knows how much. He’s going to cost you an arm and leg, but it just very well may be worth it.

Evan Fournier
FD $6,400 DK $6,300

We haven’t touched on the Magic yet, but they are firmly in play. Fournier is the main scorer for this Orlando squad and his price isn’t too high. He struggled against the Jazz, but has typically been consistent on the season. You can count on him to shoot 15+ times in this game and they will need his scoring punch to keep up with Oladipo and Turner. This match-up with the Pacers in an elite one, considering they play at a top 10 PACE and don’t have much of a big man to defend the rim. Myles Turner is fine, but he’s in the NBA for his offense. Small forward is a spot I’ll definitely be paying up at and Fournier is probably the cheapest I’ll go.

Power Forward

Aaron Gordon
FD $7,500 DK $7,200

This isn’t too tough of a play to figure out. On the season, the Pacers rank dead last against PF’s with 55.6 FPPG allowed. Aaron Gordon has struggled in 3 straight performances and it will hopefully keep at least some people off of him. He’s a lock for 35 fantasy points with the upside for 70. He is right there with Fournier in terms of scoring and he excels in the open court. The Pacers love to play fast and Thad Young simply can’t keep up. Gordon has shot 13-for-34 in his last 3 games and you can be sure that won’t continue. Gordon is locked into 100% of my lineups. Nobody is ever a must in NBA DFS, but he’s just a guy I have a phenomenal feeling on tonight. The numbers back it up.

Marcus Morris
FD $4,800 DK $4,900

Marcus Morris still isn’t to full health, but his price is way too cheap and he’s very productive for his 25ish minutes that he is out there. He’s seen 25 minutes in the last 3 games and put up FP totals of 22,27, and 31. The Mavericks are a team that doesn’t cover anyone down low and it has a lot to do with Dirk. He’s still a good scorer, but possibly the slowest and worst defender in the entire league. Morris is under $5k on both sites and will only need to get you 20-25 in cash games. He’s a solid way to get value at a position that doesn’t have all that much.

Center

Marc Gasol
FD $8,200 DK $8,100

Gasol is a stud. He’s always one of the safest options at center, year in and year out. He will then put up 60+ fantasy points every week or so. Tonight, he sees a big match-up with a WC foe in the Blazers. Jusuf Nurkic is a great offensive player, but he’s a very unstable defender. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get into early foul trouble and for Gasol to take advantage of young guys like Noah Vonleh and Plumlee. There is a clear mismatch for Gasol here and he should take advantage in a very close game.

Steven Adams
FD $6,200 DK $5,700

Adams came right back from injury and had 30 fantasy points in 34 minutes. Tonight, he will be needed BADLY against a huge Pelicans team. His defense is the only hope they have to stay close in this game. I think you can chalk 35 minutes up if he stays out of foul trouble and while the Pelicans will score, they don’t really stop centers. They are league average against big men and Adams doesn’t rely on scoring, so the minutes bump will do more than enough. I prefer Gasol and will do my best to pay up, but have no issue settling for Adams in a few lineups.

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/18/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/18/17

Get 20% off for a limited time off of NBA Seasonal Packages
Use Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 20% off Seasonal Package
 

Point Guard

Damian Lillard
FD $9,500 DK $8,800

With a packed Saturday full of football, the NBA has blessed us with a very solid 8-game slate to keep up. We start things off with Damian Lillard, who will be hosting the Kings in Portland. We know Lillard prefers being home and he sees more minutes there as well. The match-up with the Kings is pretty average, considering they all the 11th most FPPG to opposing point guards. Fox and Hill are 2 very different guys. Hill is much better on defense and Fox is offensive-driven. If Fox is in there to match the pace of the Blazers, Lillard should have no problem putting up big numbers on him. His price is fair on both sites and I’m willing to play him in both cash games and tournaments. POint guard isn’t all that great on this slate and Lillard is easily my favorite.

Raul Neto
FD $4,000 DK $3,000

There isn’t a ton of value yet on this slate, so let’s take a look at a guy who does deserve some attention. With Ricky Rubio out of last game, Net0 only played 19 minutes, but went crazy and dropped 32 fantasy points in that time. With that performance, you have to think he sees at least 20-25 minutes tonight against an average Magic squad. His prie is near-minimum on both sites, so he’ll need you about 15-20 in cash games. He’s proven his ability to produce when on the floor, so you can be certain this won’t be one of the guys who just stand in the corner for 28 minutes. You then run into a situation where maybe Neto gets almost 30 minutes, in which case you have to have him everywhere. No matter what, unless more news breaks at PG, Neto is my value guy.

Shooting Guard

MEMPHIS, TN – OCTOBER 21: Tyreke Evans #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2017 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Tyreke Evans
FD $7,400 DK $7,000

The resurgence of Tyreke Evans has been pretty cool. I definitely wasn’t expecting it after he signed with the slowest team of his career. He’s been great in every way imaginable, putting up between 30 and 45 FP in almost every game. He now sees a match-up with a Rockets squad that likes to run. Evans will be out there for both his athleticism in the open court as well as his ability to match the Rockets scoring surge. He’ll presumably match-up with Harden, at least to start, and will have a field day. Expect Ariza to take him for the rest of the game, who isn’t much a lockdown defender anymore anyways. Evans is getting expensive, but he’s consistently producing at this price tag and sees an excellent match-up.

Donovan Mitchell
FD $6,400 DK $6,700

Mitchell would be in play here no matter the circumstance, but Ricky Rubio being out just pushes it over the top. Mitchel has been incredible in his rookie season, putting up 20+ in 8 of his last 9 and 30+ in 5 of them. Without Rubio, he saw 35 minutes and put up 40 fantasy points. It was in a stellar match-up against the Nets, but that doesn’t really matter. He held a 38% usage rate in the game, compared to the 43% Westbrook held in 2016. The point is that he’s doing whatever he wants without Rubio on the floor and he has the trust of coaches. He’s an elite play in all formats and a guy I have more than a lot of.

Small Forward

Harrison Barnes
FD $7,100 DK $6,200

Like every other day, you won’t have much fun rostering Harrison Barnes. Barnes is a very boring player, but he’s extremely consistent. Extremely. He’s the number 1 option on this team and he will shoot between 15-20 times, at least. He sits around 30-40 fantasy points every game and now gets a solid match-up with the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo may see some time on Barnes, but I highly doubt he follows him around all game. He only plays about 1/4 of his time at SF and it would create mismatches elsewhere. This game will remain close throughout and Barnes is sure to see at least 34+ minutes.

Wesley Johnson
FD $3,800 DK $3,700

I know Wesley Johnson scored 50 fantasy points against the Cavs, but that’s not the reason we’re targeting him. With Danilo Gallinari out, he’s sitting around 30 minutes a game and takes plenty of shots. His price is still way down on both sites and you can rely on at least 15 FP, which is all you really need in cash games. The upside for WAY more is obviously there as we just saw it last game. The match-up is very average, but it comes down to minutes = production and the lack of value on this slate. Johnson isn’t exciting most games, but he should get it done pretty easily.

Power Forward

John Henson
FD $5,500 DK $4,800

Power forward is pretty ugly, so let’s take a look at 2 guys you can save a little with. John Henson is matching up with Dirk Nowitzki, who has no chance of staying with his physicality at this point in his career. Henson is playing extremely well and this is exactly when people expected him to get good. he was extremely young and raw when drafted, so it made sense that he was foul-trouble prone and unable to stay on the court for more than 20 minutes. He’s getting 25-30 minutes a game right now and is a fantasy monster when in there. The Mavs lack any interior presence and his size should disrupt.

Dario Saric
FD $4,600 DK $4,500

Dario Saric is still getting the minutes and his price is not nearly high enough. He’s been over 30 minutes in 4 of his last 5 games and the fantasy production has followed. The Warriors are obviously a tough match-up, but Saric will be getting the worst defender out there. Saric was a guy that was putting up 40 FP every night last year and while I doubt that ever happens again, he’s way too cheap for his ability to play. Saric is a little more risky than Henson, but the upside is greater too.

Center

Nikola Vucevic
FD $7,800 DK $6,800

It feels unnatural to recommend a center against the Jazz, but here we are. With Rudy Gobert out for an extended time, we’re seeing Epke Udoh and Derrick Favors at center. This team will see a huge hit against big men and defend the paint in general. However, they will still remain the slow snails they like being. In turn, centers should be in a good spot to produce. Most prefer slow-paced games and now don’t have to worry about a big presence to stop you. Vucevic will be able to dice up both Favors and Udoh down low and can hit from the outside as well. I do think this is a little bit risky, but every single C play comes with risk tonight. Vucevic will shoot 15-20 times here in a game that should remain close throughout. Don’t fade Vucevic because of a guy that’s not playing. He makes u for about 70% of the team defense. Literally.

Willie Cauley-Stein
FD $4,100 DK $4,200

The big question mark in any game that Willie Cauley-Stein plays in is the minutes. If you can handcuff the coach and play him for 33-35 every single night, he would in the $6k-$7k range. He puts up over 1 FP per minute (high) and does so in nearly every match-up. Tonight, a match-up with the Blazers should dictate his size be out there. Jusuf Nurkic is a hoss in the paint and WCS is the only guy good enough on defense to stop him. He’ll also be tasked with slowing the penetration of Lillard and McCollum. If he’s able to stay out of foul trouble, I see his getting 30 minutes here. At least. His upside is in the 50’s and he doesn’t really have a floor. With the minutes, his floor is about 25. I’ll have more Vucevic than WCS, but exposure to both is definite.

 

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 5

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Point Guard

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 5

As you prepare your lineup for your head-to-head league for Week 5, remember it’s important to take a look at the schedule to see where you can gain an edge of your opponent. Not only do you want to target picking up players on waivers who play the most games for the week, but you may also need to make a tough choice and bench one of your better players because they play too few games.  Here are the moves you want to consider for your team.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards

Nine teams have the advantage of playing four games each this week. With the Warriors, Trail Blazers and Wizards among those teams, some elite fantasy players will have an even greater impact this week. If you need help though, consider checking the waiver wire for the players below.

 NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 5
Marquese Chriss, Phoenix Suns

Chriss is only averaging 21 minutes per game this season, but he has still been able to average a respectable 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 three-pointers. He has seen a slight increase in playing time lately as he played at least 25 minutes in two of the last three games. In those two games, he averaged 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 3.0 three-pointers. The four games the Suns play this week come against the Rockets, Bulls and twice against the Lakers. None of these teams have elite defenses and tend to play smaller lineups, which could lead to some very valuable numbers from Chriss. He is currently available in 44% of Yahoo! leagues.

Thabo Sefolosha, Utah Jazz

The Jazz have lost one of their best players in Rudy Gobert for at least a month due to injury, paving the way for more minutes for Sefolosha. He actually started at power forward Saturday against the Nets and finished with nine points, nine rebounds, one assist, five steals and one three-pointer in 32 minutes. This week brings excellent matchups against the Timberwolves, Knicks, Nets and Magic. Sefolosha should see increased playing time throughout the week, making him a valuable pickup who is still available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings

Bogdanovic’s value comes in his offensive production as he is averaging 9.9 points and 0.9 three-pointers in 24 minutes per game. After starting the season coming off the bench, he has now started each of the last seven games. The Kings play the Wizards, Hawks and two games against the Trail Blazers this week, with the games against the Wizards and Hawks providing really favorable matchups. If you need some offense and three-point shooting, Bogdanovic can provide value. He is currently available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.

 

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are the only team playing less than three games this week, dealing a blow to the value of their players. Consider benching the players below as a result.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 5
Carmelo Anthony, Oklahoma City Thunder

Anthony sat out Sunday’s game against the Mavericks with a back injury. While it is largely believed that he was sat as a precaution, it’s still worrisome considering he only has two games on the schedule this week. The matchups are not great either as the Thunder play the Bulls and the Spurs. The Bulls are terrible, so if Anthony isn’t rested for that game as well, he at least might play limited minutes once the game gets out of hand. The Spurs are one of the best defensive teams in the league, so scoring might be hard to come by in that game. If there was ever a week to put Anthony on your bench, this is it.

Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Like Anthony, Adams is also dealing with an injury and has sat out the last two games. When healthy, he’s been extremely valuable this season as he is averaging 12.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 65.2% from the field and 76.0% from the free-throw line. With his status uncertain heading into the weak and the two unfavorable matchups I already outlined, it might be a wise idea to bench him.






NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/11/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/11/17

Point Guard

Ricky Rubio
FD $7,600 DK $7,100

The Utah Jazz are a team that play extremely slow. On most nights, they see less than 100 possessions in a game. Tonight, that won’t be the case. Coming off a late night bout with the Blazers, the Nets will be struggling to keep up with the Jazz here. The Nets play faster than anyone, and it puts a lot of these guys on the other side in play. We start out with Ricky Rubio, who fits perfectly into this match-up. Rubio isn’t reliant on any one stat, stuffing the sheet as well as anyone in basketball. His peripherals have actually been down because of the pace the Jazz typically play at. He has triple-double upside in any fast-paced game and this is certainly one. The Nets are currently playing faster (109.2) than any NBA team ever has. PF is the only position they can really guard, so mark Rubio as an elite cash game play with a huge ceiling in tournaments. The Nets might get blown out, but the Jazz will get their numbers if that’s the case.

Jeff Teague
FD $7,100 DK $6,800

Jeff Teague has been the big surprise on the Timberwolves. While everyone expected him to be decent, he’s made a huge jump from last season. He’s controlling this offense and has the ball in his hands a lot more than anticipated. He’s only produced, over and over, so let’s get on him here against the Suns. After the Nets, the Suns are the 2nd fastest team. PACE is extremely important to PG’s as a +possession is worth more. Guards have been brutalizing the Suns all season long and they’ve given up the 3th most FPPG at 51.2. Teague will see Mike James and Tyler Ulis individually, which should be pretty fun. For Teague. And you if you play him. Point Guard is a spot you’ll want to pay up for. We will get to some value elsewhere.

Shooting Guard

Tim Hardaway Jr.
FD $6,300 DK $6,400

Sure, you can pay up for James Harden. He put up 76 fantasy points against the Jazz, so there really isn’t a bad match-up for the guy. However, I want to play him when he’s playing up in pace. The Grizzlies play extremely slow and have an interior that actually may slow him. There are few guys in the last 20 years that can defend a drive like Marc Gasol. Instead, we’ll look at two mid-range options who are underpriced. Tim Hardaway Jr. went off last game with Porzingis out, ending with 40 fantasy points. He won’t see as many shots tonight, but around 15 as the 2nd option against the Kings is great. SG against the Kings is something we’ve been attacking for a while and Buddy Hield hasn’t stopped it. Hardaway Jr. is a safe bet for 25 fantasy points with the realistic upside of 45.

Donovan Mitchell
FD $5,500 DK $5,600

Donovan Mitchel is my pick for rookie of the year. Maybe the hype will come through and he’ll get buried, but I love how this kid plays and I think he ends up being the leader of the Jazz team one day. As a rookie, he’s been over 30 fantasy points in about every game. He’s typically over 20 fantasy points, but I’m looking at 30 tonight against the Nets. Brooklyn plays incredibly fast, as we’ve already looked at, and it will benefit Mitchell just as much as Rubio. His price is still incredibly fair on both sites and he’s in play in all formats. I’ll have a ton of exposure to this Jazz team in an up-pace match-up with the best possible scenario Nets squad. If this game finds a way to stay close, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of the Jazz guys demolish value.

Small Forward

Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $12,200 DK $11,200

He is so damn good. I don’t know if there’s a player that is more fun to watch than Giannis Antetokounmpo in the league right now. He was already amazing last year, and only got better. They have now added Eric Bledsoe, which I see as a positive. It takes some attention away from Giannis and forces the defense to spread out a bit. This match-up with the Lakers should be fast-paced and close throughout. Brandon Ingram is the obvious choice to cover Giannis because of length, but he’s not big enough. Antetokounmpo bullied him around last year and Ingram has been average so far on defense at best. It’s not really his fault, but the addition of KCP has pushed some offense towards him. We’ve seen a huge price jump on Giannis, but it’s obviously warranted. There’s no real reason to fade besides the price. If you’re going with a stars and scrubs build, I think you need ABC. The floor is around 55 and I don’t think we know the ceiling yet. Bold prediction? I think he hits 100 FP this year at least once.

Wesley Johnson
FD $4,600 DK $3,900

Wesley Johnson is horrible, although he tries to trick you into thinking otherwise on occasion. Why am I recommending a guy who isn’t good? Because Doc Rivers hasn’t realized it yet and minutes + production. Not all minutes are created equal, but Johnson does take some usage (17%) on an offense where it’s available. Danilo Gallinari will miss this game with a hip injury and it secures Johnson over 25 minutes. Against the Pelicans, I’ll take it. They don’t play any defense and the defenders they do have will not have a single care about Wesley Johnson. They have much bigger fish to fry, like a 6’10 gorilla that can jump out of the arena and outrun guards. Johnson is safe for 20 FP with the upside for 40 if his corner 3 gets hot.

Power Forward

PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 4: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers brings the ball up court during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during a preseason game on October 4, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ben Simmons
FD $9,800 DK $8,700

This could go two ways. One, the Warriors come out and absolutely obliterate the 76ers. It’s very possible and if it happens, Simmons won’t hit value. On the other hand, this stays close and Simmons sees insane numbers. When Warriors games stay close, the numbers that starters put up are usually crazy. They play at a fast pace and the only real way to keep it close is to score a ton. Simmons isn’t necessarily the scorer of the team, but he’s about everything else. As just a rookie, he’s playing as well as anyone has. Sure, his jumper needs work, but the guy has an insane basketball IQ and has a model basketball figure. Tonight, he’ll see both Kevin Durant and Draymond Green. I assume Embiid will draw Green, which will give the Warriors some issues with Simmons. His floor is about 20 tonight in a blowout and 50 in a close game, with a ceiling of 70. I won’t recommend him in cash games, but  I think it stays close, so he’ll be in all of mine. This is a guy I’m willing to take a stand on a guy that may not be very high-owned.

John Henson
FD $5,200 DK $4,500

Henson drew the start against the Spurs last game and ended up with 39 fantasy points. With the impressive performance and Greg Monroe officially gone, Henson will likely stay in this starting C role. If we’re able to count on 28+ minutes out of this guy every night, he’s going to be in the $7k’s. He’s a volatile player, of course, but he averaged 1.29 FP per minute in 2016 and is at 1.49 this year. He’s an extremely lengthy and wide dude who has an extreme presence in the paint. Against a Lakers squad who doesn’t really have an interior, he should excel. Brook Lopez can score, but it’s all he does. He has no interest in playing real defense or rebounding. Kyle Kuzma won’t either, as he’s more of a wing forward. Henson should get to a double-double in 20 minutes if he stays out of foul trouble, and everything else is gravy at his price. Power forward isn’t great and both of these guys will be all over my teams.

 

Center

Karl-Anthony Towns
FD $9,700 DK $9,300

When moving up in pace, KAT is my favorite guy to target. That’s usually not the case with centers, but he’s no average big man. He can run with the Warriors, so there’s no team he can’t run with. We touched on Jeff Teague against these Suns early and the game stack is one I love in tournaments. Assuming this game stays close, 2 or 3 guys from each side will blow up their price. Tyson Chandler is looking to be out for the Suns, so it’ll be a far weaker Alen Len on defense, backed up by Chriss and Bender. 2 guys who weight about 150 pounds wet, combined. Towns should have no problem controlling the paint and getting 40-50 FP no matter the outcome of the game. The upside is limitless here if he has one of his crazy games.

Alex Len
FD $4,400 DK $4,900

We’ll get right to the other side of things and look at the guy who will be covering KAT. Tyson Chandler is currently listed as doubtful, so just make sure he’s out before you plug in Len. What Len did last game is he showed the people who like to box score watch how wrong they are. After his insanely dissapoint 6 FP perforance against the Heat, they all ran away and cried the next game. He put up 41 fantasy points. We don’t care about either of those games. Tonight, the Wolves are a team that will warrant the size of Len. Like I said, the alternative to cover KAT are Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender. Expect 30 minutes out of Len if he can stay out of foul trouble, and while KAT is an elite scorer, he’s average on defense. Both of the centers in this game are elite plays. It just depends how you want to build your roster. Good luck everyone!!

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/8/17

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/8/17

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NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

POINT GUARDS

Stephen Curry, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $9,300

Curry has picked up right where he left off last season as he is averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.8 three-pointers per game. He is still productive even when he doesn’t get a ton of playing time due to a lopsided score as he has scored at least 20 points in all three games where he played less than 30 minutes this season. Wednesday brings a favorable matchup against a Timberwolves team that has allowed the fourth most points (24.0) and third most assists (10.0) per game to opposing point guards.

Frank Ntilikina, NY at ORL
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,800

You often have to take risks to cash in big in tournament play. Ntilikina provides an interesting opportunity Wednesday based on how little he costs on both sites. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Ntilikina is finding his groove and has played at least 25 minutes in three of the last four games. While he doesn’t provide much offense, he dished out at least seven assists in all three of those games where he saw increased playing time.  If you want to take a chance on a very cheap play at point guard, Ntilikina is a viable option.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

SHOOTING GUARDS

Avery Bradley, DET vs. IND
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Bradley has seen an increase in playing time of late as he has logged at least 33 minutes in each of the last four games. It’s no coincidence that his numbers were stellar as a result as he averaged 19.5 points, 2.0 steals and 2.8 three-pointers over that stretch. His rebounding is down this season, but the 6.1 rebounds per game he averaged last season were highly unsustainable as his previous career high for a season was 3.8. He will still provide enough value Wednesday and I especially like using him on DraftKings based on his price.

Tim Hardaway Jr., NY at ORL
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,100

Hardaway has the green light to shoot on the Knicks as he is averaging career highs in shot attempts (14.2) and three-point attempts (8.2) per game. Outside of Kristaps Porzingis, Hardaway is the best offensive talent they have on the team. Hardaway is averaging 21.0 points, 3.3 three-pointers and 1.8 steals over his last six games, making him a strong play again Wednesday against the Magic.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

SMALL FORWARDS

Kevin Durant, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $10,400
DraftKings = $9,700

I really don’t have to make much of an argument to justify using Durant on any given night. He has been providing his usual stellar stats as he is averaging 24.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.9 three-pointers per game. This is a promising match up though against the Timberwolves as they have allowed the second most points per game (109.8) in the Western Conference this season.

Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at DET
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,800

Bogdanovic has seen increased playing time on a rebuilding Pacers team that is lacking depth as he is averaging a career-high 29 minutes per game. Increased playing time has led to increased production as he is averaging 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game. He has been even better offensively of late, averaging 15.4 points and 2.4 three-pointers over his last five games. If you are looking to save money at small forward, look no further.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

POWER FORWARDS

Kristaps Porzingis, NY at ORL
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $9,500

Porzingis has been one of the more entertaining players to watch so far this season. His unique set of size and athleticism have lead to some crazy plays on both ends of the floor. His first season without Carmelo Anthony has gone swimmingly as he is averaging career highs in points (30.0), rebounds (7.5), blocks (2.3) and three-pointers (1.9) per game. Although he will cost you a lot Wednesday, the volume he gets is worth the price.

James Johnson, MIA at PHO
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,400

Johnson may be one of the more underrated players in the NBA, but you shouldn’t look past him for your lineup Wednesday. He has the ability to provide excellent all-around production, evident by his averages of 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 three-pointer per game this season. With that type of talent, it provides for a high floor on a nightly basis in terms of DFS production. Expect much of the same from him against a bad Suns defense in this game.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

CENTERS

Hassan Whiteside, MIA at PHO
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $7,400

Whiteside threw up a clunker in his last game against the Golden State Warriors and was benched in the second half for a lack of effort. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said this shouldn’t carry over into tonight’s game, so expect Whiteside to return to his normal allotment of minutes. He has scored at least 21 points and grabbed at least 14 rebounds in three of the fives games he has played this season, providing tremendous value. Look for him to respond with a strong performance tonight, making him an especially good play based on his price on DraftKings.

Enes Kanter, NY at ORL
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $6,200

Kanter has thrived as the starting center for the Knicks as he is averaging a double-double (13.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game) for the first time in his career. What makes his production even more impressive is the fact that he is only averaging 25 minutes per game. The Magic have depth up front with Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo, so the Knicks will be counting on Kanter to provide valuable minutes again Wednesday. If you can’t spend the money on Whiteside, Kanter is a solid mid-tier priced option.