Scouting The NBA – 1/8/18

Plays of the Day

Value: Tyrone Wallace is dirt cheap and Jawun Evans isn’t much more expensive as the replacement guards for the Clippers with Milos Teodosic (foot) and Austin Rivers (heel) ruled out tonight. They should both play heavy minutes with a good chance to meet value against the weak Hawks defense.

Fade: Chris Paul is seeing more usage with James Harden (hamstring) on the shelf, but not necessarily enough to exceed value at his rising price tag. You could fade him in a matchup against Kris Dunn and the feisty young Bulls.

 

Point Guards

Steph Curry – (10,500 DK/9,800 FD)

Curry has returned from an ankle injury with a mean streak, as he’s shooting (45-77 FG, 28-52 3PT) while averaging 36 PPG over four appearances and some of those huge lines came while playing limited minutes in blowout wins. The Nuggets, ranked seventh in offensive rating, are capable of keeping pace with the high-scoring Warriors and the fact that they rank 27th in opponents FG shooting (.471%) and cough up the sixth-most APG (24.1) this season bodes well for Curry.

Spencer Dinwiddie – (6,100 DK/6,000 FD)

Dinwiddie has been reliable for the Nets since D’Angelo Russell (knee) hit the shelf and he’s coming off four consecutive solid games. Now he could see even more usage with DeMarre Carroll (knee) out and Caris LeVert (groin) questionable in a matchup against the Raptors, who are actually playing with a lot of pace right now, which has led to solid offensive production from their opponents.

 

Potential Value

Jawun Evans – (4,100 DK/5,100 FD)

Evans should start with Milos Teodosic (foot) and Austin Rivers (heel) out for the Clippers.

 

Longshot

Kris Dunn – (6,600 DK/7,500 FD)

Dunn has flashed tremendous upside in the right matchups and the Rockets play at a blinding pace that’s conducive to DFS goodness.

 

Shooting Guards

DeMar DeRozan – (8,800 DK/9,100 FD)

DeRozan isn’t all that expensive on DK and it’s easy to pay up for him in a prime matchup against the lowly Nets tonight. Brooklyn gives up the third-most 2PTM (31.9) per game this year and DeRozan hits 14.5 twos per game on solid 51.3 percent shooting. He torched the Nets for 31 points on nearly immaculate 14-of-19 FG shooting in a meeting earlier this year and could find the sledding to be even easier with Caris LeVert (groin) doubtful and DeMarre Carroll (knee) questionable tonight.

Tyrone Wallace – (3,600 DK/3,500 FD)

Wallace managed 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals over 31 minutes against the fast-paced Warriors on Saturday and draws a more favorable matchup tonight against a Hawks team that ranks 28th in defensive rating and coughs up the sixth-most FPPG (43.44) to opposing SGs this season. With Austin Rivers (heel) and Milos Teodosic (foot) ruled out and Blake Griffin (concussion) questionable, the Clippers will offer a lot of values this evening.

 

Potential Value

Delon Wright – (4,500 DK/4,800 FD)

Wright has upside on FD due to his ability to pile up defensive stats and he’s a solid play against the weak Nets.

 

Longshot

Lou Williams – (7,900 DK/8,300 FD)

Williams could shoot until his arm falls off if Griffin is inactive in addition to the Clippers starting backcourt.

 

Small Forwards

LeBron James – (11,500 DK/11,400 FD)

After demolishing Orlando’s weak defense for 33 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and six steals on Saturday, the King should have another big game on Monday. The Cavs will need another herculean effort from him on the road against a Wolves team that leads the tough Northwest Division this season. Old foe Jimmy Butler could do a solid job keeping James out of the paint, but LeBron is arguably the best passer in the game and he’ll have plenty of scorers around him with Isaiah Thomas expected to suit up for this potential shootout.

Joe Harris – (4,200 DK/3,700 FD)

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson ($5.8k, $6.9k) and Allen Crabbe ($4.7k, $4.8k) could offer more upside and more risk with the Nets shorthanded on the wing tonight, but Harris is a good punt play with a decent floor. He was already coming on strong with 56 points and 18 boards over four appearances before producing his first double double with 12 points and 10 boards against the tough Celtics defense on Saturday.

 

Potential Value

Taurean Prince – (5,600 DK/5,900 FD)

Prince is a solid bet to meet value against an undermanned Clippers team.

 

Longshot

Gerald Green – (5,500 DK/5,700 FD)

Green is going to get his shots up while playing on the fast-paced Rockets, but his rising price tag makes him a bit riskier.

Power Forwards

Anthony Davis – (9,700 DK/10,900 FD)

Davis has been inconsistent as an option alongside DeMarcus Cousisn and obviously he’s always an injury risk, so he’s best deployed in tournament formats. Tonight’s matchup against the Pistons could become much more favorable for both big men if Andre Drummond (ribs) misses another contest, but Drummond would likely guard Cousins even if active, while The Brow would be free to work against Detroit’s under sized PFs in Anthony Tolliver and Tobias Harris.

Domantas Sabonis – (5,300 DK/5,900 FD)

While he doesn’t offer enough upside to serve as a strong GPP play, Domantas Sabonis has been as consistent as any forward in the mid-tier price range lately. Even with Victor Oladipo back in the lineup, he went for 22 points over 26 minutes against the Bulls and tonight he’ll face a Bucks team that he burned for 24 points over 32 minutes last Wednesday. Milwaukee ranks dead last in total rebounding and Sabonis is playing well as a stretch 4 or 5 when Myles Turner struggles.

 

Potential Value

Montrezl Harrell – (4,300 DK/4,900 FD)

Harrell would become a solid value to consider if Blake Griffin is out tonight.

 

Longshot

Nikola Mirotic – (5,600 DK/6,500 FD)

Mirotic has been up and down lately, but has a chance for a big game against the high-scoring Rockets.

 

Centers

Karl-Anthony Towns – (9,200 DK/9,600 FD)

Towns averaged 26 PPG and 10 RPG on 57.9 percent FG shooting over two meetings with Cleveland last year and the Cavs have become even more vulnerable on the interior with Tristan Thompson (calf) limited all season. Kevin Love is solid down low, but is more of a natural PF and he could struggle to keep KAT from producing a third consecutive big-time double double after he went for 46 points and 39 rebounds over two contests this past weekend.

DeAndre Jordan – (7,800 DK/8,300 FD)

Jordan is more likely to see usage in PnR sets and grab more rebounds if Blake Griffin (concussion) is inactive tonight. Jordan followed up a monstrous double double against the Thunder with 15 points and 11 boards over just 24 minutes in a blowout loss to the Warriors and tonight’s game should be much closer against a Hawks team that’s given up the fourth-most RPG (16.38) to opposing centers over the last month.

 

Potential Value

Boban Marjanovic – (4,500 DK/4,700 FD)

Boban should see more run tonight against Cousins and Davis if Andre Drummond can’t play.

 

Longshot

Willie Cauley-Stein – (6,200 DK/6,900 FD)

The matchup is far from ideal, but Cauley-Stein should see more minutes against the Spurs with Zach Randolph (mouth) questionable.