Well, this is it.
For awhile anyway.
The last big slate of games before the NBA All-Star Break.
Tonight we have a 14-game slate to work with. Only Chicago and Washington are off tonight. There are two games Thursday, but let’s face it, the ASB kind of starts after tonight, and for a whole week.
This is a tough slate to predict early considering players who are questionable could sit to get extra rest going into the break or we can see players rest to get an extra day prior to lock. I am going to play it pretty safe tonight with my official picks.
Our coverage of the NBA will return next Thursday when the NBA resumes the regular season. In that time, enjoy the time off from DFS (unless you play some of the fringe sports or golf) and hopefully tonight will end on a high note for you!
Below are 5 guys, one at each of the major positions, that I feel will hit 5x or better. After a pitiful Monday night, let’s get back on track.
Point Guard
Jeff Teague – Indiana Pacers – vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – $7,400
Analysis: Teague put up a 50 burger in an earlier matchup against the Cavaliers. Paul George commands the usage in this offense, but Teague could see a bump in production due to his plum matchup against Kyrie Irving. LeBron could decide he wants to lock down George at any moment, but so far this season we haven’t seen him do that. Teague’s price is fair and he should have a safe floor in one of the higher totals on the slate. This also is a pace up game for both teams and should be a shootout with both teams wanting to end the “first half” of the season on a high note. With no Kevin Love for the Cavs, that should bode well for this game staying close as well.
Shooting Guard
Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – $7,200
Analysis: I don’t like to pay too much for shooting guards unless it’s James Harden or a SG in a great matchup, but guess what, DraftKings has decided that Patrick Beverly should be SG eligible and James Harden should ONLY be point guard eligible. Anyway, that’s my rant, but let’s talk about Booker. The Lakers are one of the worst teams against shooting guards and are playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Swaggy P isn’t a good defender and Booker has been struggling more of late, but has had some tough defensive matchups. I want exposure to this game, but Bledsoe is priced up and not trustworthy, T.J. Warren probably goes off after burning everyone last time out and Tyson Chandler isn’t playing the minutes I want to see, so that leaves Booker, who should see the minutes and generally has a 30-35 point floor. Booker is a solid option in what should be a high-scoring, close game.
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets – $10,800
Analysis: Is The Greek Freak playing Brooklyn? Yes. Is Brooklyn one of the worst defensive teams? Yes. Is Brooklyn at home? Yes. Is Brooklyn a fast-paced team? Yes. Is Giannis the main cog in the Bucks’ offense without Jabari? Yes. Ok, That’s a lot of checked boxes. Plug him in.
Power Forward
Juancho Hernangomez – Denver Nuggets – vs. Minnesota Timberwolves – $4,600
Analysis: Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. Chalk. But I don’t care. Juancho (the better name of the Hernangomez brothers) should get minutes even if Wilson Chandler plays. There;s no Darrel Arthur, no Faried, etc. Mason Plumlee should get some run, but I will play the upside with Juancho at this elevated price that is far too cheap. If Wilson Chandler doesn;t play, that should make things even more reliable for Juancho.
Center
Tristan Thompson – Cleveland Cavaliers – vs. Indiana Pacers – $5,500
Analysis: For many of the reasons I like Jeff Teague, I also like Tristan Thompson. This is a pace-up game where Kevin Love is not going to collecting rebounds and putbacks down low and Channing Frye will hover outside the 3-point line. Bigs against the Pacers have been successful all season long and Thompson sees a big uptick in minutes and production with Kevin Love off the floor. Thompson is cheap and could eat if he is able to get Myles Turner into foul trouble (something Turner has had trouble with all season long). The floor is high in this matchup and the minutes should be secure in a close, high-paced, high-scoring game.
