Welcome to a new article I’m trying out called “NBA What If”. This article will attempt to list all of the relevant injury situations to monitor for the day’s NBA slate and provide guidance on which players will benefit with either an increase in minutes or usage or both if that player is ruled out. I will also place an asterisk (*) by players that I think are worth DFS consideration if that player is ruled out. Players that have been out for at least five consecutive games I will not list as general playing time and usage patterns should be established.
This will NOT be an interactive article that is continually updated throughout the day as I hope to capture all of the potential relevant injury situations that could impact DFS lineups for the night and pre-determine what players benefit. Ideally you monitor late-breaking news leading up to tip off, find out a player is ruled out and come check the matrix below to see who the players are you should consider for your DFS lineups based on that news.
This article series will be a work in progress and I welcome any and all feedback on its usefulness and format either in the Comments below or directly to me on Twitter @Rotopilot.
NBA What If – Tuesday, January 9
| Team | Player | Status | If OUT |
| Mavericks | None | ||
| Lakers | None | ||
| Heat | None | ||
| Thunder | Andre Roberson | Out | Terrance Ferguson (minutes) Alex Abrines (minutes) |
| Magic | Jonathan Simmons | Questionable | Mario Hezonja (minutes)* Elfrid Payton (usage)* |
| Blazers | Damian Lillard | Out | Shabazz Napier (minutes/usage)* CJ McCollum (usage)* Evan Turner (usage) Pat Connoughton (usage) |
| Kings | George Hill | Questionable | De’Aaron Fox (minutes/usage)* Skal Labissiere (usage) Willie Cauley-Stein (usage)* |
| Kings | Frank Mason | Doubtful | De’Aaron Fox (minutes/usage)* Skal Labissiere (usage) Willie Cauley-Stein (usage)* |
| Raptors | Kyle Lowry | Out | Delon Wright (minutes/usage)* Fred VanVleet (minutes/usage)* Norman Powell (minutes/usage) DeMar DeRozan (usage)* Serge Ibaka (usage)* |
