The Philadelphia 76ers fell back to earth upon their return home. The Timberwolves blasted the Sixers on the strength of solid games from Kevin Love/MIN and Nikola Pekovic/MIN. In the nightcap, Darren Collison/LAC provided further evidence that he deserves to be a solid point guard as he and DeAndre Jordan/LAC led the Clippers to an easy win over the Orlando Magic. Most of the Magic starters had poor games, in particular Nikola Vucevic/ORL, who had to leave with an injury suffered during a fall. While there was light action on the hardwood floors, there came news of a significant trade which had Andrew Bynum/CHI leaving the Cavaliers, but not for Los Angeles. Pau Gasol/LAL stays put and instead free agent to be Luol Deng/CLE joins the Cavaliers. Most of the league is in action tonight so there will be some big scores at DraftStreet tonight. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
Fantasy Boom and Bust
Top Performers:
DeAndre Jordan/LAC. I tipped him to dominate the paint and he did. 6 of 10 FGA, 2 of 3 FTA, 17 rebounds, 8 blocks, 1 TO, 14 points.
Kevin Love/MIN. Only blowout conditions prevented Love from being a very good pick instead of a solid pick.
Darren Collison/LAC. Tipped as a solid choice, he exceeded expectations.
Victor Oladipo/ORL. Capable of great games, even coming off the bench.
Sleepers:
Maurice Harkless/ORL. One of the few bright spots for the Magic. 7 of 13 FGA, 6 of 6 FTA, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 TO, 22 points.
James Anderson/PHI. Gained minutes due to the Tony Wroten/PHI sitting out.
Antawn Jamison/LAC.
Alexey Shved/MIN.
Disappointments:
Nikola Vucevic/ORL. He was a high risk pick due to his questionable status and indeed he was not on his game even before having to leave the game with concussion symptoms after a fall. 1 of 7 FGA, 0 of 2 FTA, 8 rebounds, 2 TO, 2 points.
Jameer Nelson/ORL.
Tobias Harris/ORL.
Tuesday at DraftStreet
If you followed my picks last night, you were likely happy with the results. I avoid several duds and hit on most of my picks. My recommended lineup scored 225.75 points with DeAndre Jordan/LAC, James Anderson/PHI, Joe Johnson/BKN, and Kyle Korver/ATL provided excellent value. That was enough points to cash in almost every standard payout league and easily in the top quarter of double-up leagues.
With so games and so many choices, DraftStreet has added extra guaranteed prize pool contests, all closing at 7 pm EST tonight. DraftStreet is offering a pair of $10,000 GPP, one of them for high rollers with a $109 buy in, the other requiring a mere $22. If you like double-up league, today is your day. As I write, there are sixteen double-up GPPs in the lobby, but most of them are filling up fast. The DraftStreet Basketball Championship returns tomorrow with a $55 qualifier. It’s a chance to win your share of a half million dollars, including $100,000 for first place.
Rising Knicks host Slumping Pistons
Washington Wizards at Charlotte Bobcats (7:00 pm EST); over/under 190.5 ; Bobcats -1.5. INJURIES: WAS: Al Harrington (OUT) ; CHA: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (OUT) .
The Wizards’ slump is the result of opponents focusing more on John Wall/WAS and Washington’s support players have been unable to do enough. Chris Douglas-Roberts/CHA is getting full time minutes and his super low DraftStreet salary makes him my top value play tonight.
Philadelphia 76ers* at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 pm EST); over/under 205; Cavaliers -4.5. INJURIES: PHI: Tony Wroten (Q); CLE: Kyrie Irving (Q), Jarrett Jack (Q), Luol Deng (D).
As in several recent Cavs games, the status of Kyrie Irving/CLE will be paramount to our daily fantasy lineup decisions. The other lingering question will be whether new Cavalier Luol Deng/CLE will play and how quickly he will integrate into the offensive system. With this trade, Cleveland catapults itself to solid playoff contention. The Sixers had to travel through the deep freeze and I’m concerned as to how Michael Carter-Williams/PHI deals with the second of back-to back games after mild concussion symptoms. James Anderson/PHI will remain a solid play if Tony Wroten/PHI sits this one out, otherwise he reverts to fair value.
Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers (7:00 pm EST); over/under 187 ; Pacers -7.5. INJURIES: TOR: Tyler Hansbrough (Q) ; IND: none. The Raptors are in a tough stretch of games. Having lost a close one in Miami, they now face one of the best homecourt teams in the league. Kyle Lowry/TOR is a solid lineup anchor, while Lance Stephenson/IND is a great speculative play with tremendous upside.
New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat (7:30 pm EST); over/under 203 ; Heat -7.5. INJURIES: NOP: Jason Smith (Q), Ryan Anderson (OUT) ; MIA: Shane Battier (P), Mario Chalmers (Q).
Without Ryan Anderson/NOP, the Pelicans will have to rely more on the interior scoring of Anthony Davis/NOP than usual. He is capable of a monster performance against the Heat but remains a high risk play.
Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks (7:30 pm EST); over/under 198; Knicks 2-.5. INJURIES: DET: Rodney Stuckey (OUT) ; NYK: Tyson Chandler (D), Raymond Felton (D), Pablo Prigioni (OUT).
The Pistons continue to stumble while the return of Carmelo Anthony/NYK has the Knicks playing their best basketball of the season. Unfortunately, Tyson Chandler/NYK is doubtful due to illness, providing a weak Knicks interior for the Pistons’ big men to exploit.
San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies (8:00 pm EST); over/under 196.5 ; Spurs -5.5. INJURIES: SAS: Boris Diaw (P), Tiago Splitter (OUT); MEM: Tony Allen (Q), Marc Gasol (OUT), Courtney Lee (OUT).
Phoenix Suns at Chicago Bulls (8:00 pm EST); over/under 191 ; Suns -1 . INJURIES: PHO: Eric Bledsoe (OUT) ; CHI: Carlos Boozer (Q).
The Bulls have weakened their team significantly in the short term by trading Luol Deng/CLE for a player they will soon waive (Andrew Bynum/CHI).
Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 pm EST); over/under 199.5 ; Warriors -9. INJURIES: GSW: Draymond Green (Q), Jermaine O’Neal (OUT); MIL: John Henson (OUT), Zaza Pachulia (OUT).
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EST); over/under 210 ; Mavs -9.5. INJURIES: LAL: Xavier Henry (OUT), Jordan Farmar (OUT), Steve Blake (OUT), Kobe Bryant (OUT), Steve Nash (OUT) ; DAL: Shawn Marion (Q), Devin Harris (OUT).
Kendall Marshall/LAL is now priced as a mid-range starting point guard, but is still a touch undervalued. Now that it appears that Pau Gasol/LAL will stay put, he will anchor the Lakers’ offense until Kobe Bryant/LAL returns.
Boston Celtics at Denver Nuggets (9:00 pm EST); over/under 201.5 ; Nuggets -7.5. INJURIES: BOS: Kris Humphries (P), Rajon Rondo (OUT); DEN: JaVale McGee (OUT), Andre Miller (OUT) .
Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz (9:00 pm EST); over/under 196 ; Thunder -6.5. INJURIES: OKC: Russell Westbrook (OUT) ; UTA: none.
Kevin Durant/OKC is such a good offensive player that his fantasy numbers seems to only be limited by his minutes. If you expect this game to be close to the end, Durant becomes a very good value play.
Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings (10:00 pm EST); over/under 217.5 ; Blazers -4.5. INJURIES: POR: Nicholas Batum (P); SAC: Carl Landry (OUT).
Likely to be a high scoring game, so the top players on both sides are good value plays. because of a recent slump, Damian Lillard’s/POR salary has fallen to the point where he is now a top value play.
My Lineup
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $11/$1,000 double-up GPP at DraftStreet ($99,797 spent of $100,000 max):
Stars Worth Starting: Kevin Durant/OKC, Damian Lillard/POR, Gordon Hayward/UTA.
Bargain Plays: Chris Douglas-Roberts/CHA, Richard Jefferson/UTA.
Speculative Plays: Lance Stephenson/IND, Robin Lopez/POR, Wilson Chandler/DEN.
Estimated DraftStreet Points: 215 (+/- 55).
The Fantasy Spin is here every day, around 1 PM EST. Follow me @robdudek for breaking news and pre-game thoughts relevant to NBA daily fantasy.
Hey there, I have cashed in $200 the last two days, any DraftStreet.com picks today for NBA?