The NBA slate on Tuesday night is just four games but it might as well be only a two-game set. There are two games with a Vegas totals over 225 points and two games with totals under 210 points. Take a wild guess where most of your exposure should be on Tuesday. Since it is just a four-game slate, today’s NBA Hot Sheet will be FREE for your viewing pleasure.
The grid below is a snapshot of today’s slate that shows the overall rating for each position for each team. The numbers highlighted in red are in the top 25% of their position for the slate and indicate good plays. Meanwhile, the numbers highlighted in blue are the positions that are in the bottom 25% of their respective position for the slate and are positions to avoid.
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Hot Sheet for December 18th
Droppin’ Dimes
LeBron James (LAL) – The Lakers/Nets matchup is one of the “Over 225” games on the slate, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that LeBron James makes the list. We typically like to roster big men against the Nets but with the Lakers limited in fantasy producing big men, James will fill the big man role.
John Wall (WAS) – While the Lakers/Nets matchup should have some fantasy production, the Wizards/Hawks matchup is where I want to get the majority of my exposure with the 235-point Vegas total in what should be a competitive game. Wall has put up 34 or more points in two of his last three games and the Hawks have allowed the 2nd most points, rebounds and assists to PGs this season.
Bradley Beal (WAS) – The Hawks are also generous to SGs giving up the 5th most points, 6th most rebounds, 3rd most assists and 2nd most steals this season. It will be difficult to roster both Wall and Beal, so pick your favorite or use whichever one help fit your build.
D’Angelo Russell (BKN) – If I’m getting exposure to the Nets side of their matchup with the Lakers it will be with either Russell or Spencer Dinwiddie. Both are similarly priced, but I’ll give the slight edge to Russell, especially in GPPs as he faces his old club. He is also coming off a great game with 32 points, six rebounds and seven assists against the Hawks on Sunday.
John Collins (ATL) – Next up is a trio of Hawks in that great game environment against the Wizards. Collins is by far the priority of the trio. He has been a monster over the last seven games averaging 22.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, the Wizards have been generous to PFs allowing the 7th most points, most rebounds and 6th most assists to the position this season.
Trae Young (ATL) – Scoring and assisting is what Young does best and the Wizards play right into that by allowing the most points, assists and three-point attempts to opposing PGs this season. Some might pass over Young due to his inconsistent game log but the matchup is too good to ignore on a short slate, especially in GPPs.
Dewayne Dedmon (ATL) – Rounding out the Atlanta trio is Dedmon who is coming off his best game of the season and maybe his career with 24 points and 12 rebounds while hitting all five of his three-pointers. Granted it was against the Nets but he could continue his hot streak against the Wizards who have given up the 8th most points and 3rd most rebounds to opposing centers this year.
Monte Morris (DEN) – I guess I have to recommend someone from a different game so give Morris a look for the Nuggets. He has reached double-digit points in six straight games and continues to see around 25-30 minutes a game with the Nuggets banged up backcourt. The Mavericks have allowed the most points to opposing SGs this season.
Trevor Ariza (WAS) – Ariza should make his Wizard debut on Tuesday night against the Hawks. With Otto Porter out, I expect Ariza to jump right into significant minutes. His salary is reasonable for the minutes I expect him to play and he gets a plus matchup and game environment in Atlanta. It will take a little bit of a leap of faith to plug Ariza in but I believe it will be worth it.
Trey Lyles (DEN) – The use of Lyles is somewhat dependent on the status of Juan Hernangomez for Tuesday’s game. If Hernangomez is out, then Lyles should play 30+ minutes against the Mavericks. In the last two games that Lyles has played at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 9.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
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