Thunder Oust Blazers, Spurs Next
Boston Celtics* at Washington Wizards (7:00 pm EST); over/under 193.5; Wizards -9. INJURIES: BOS: Rajon Rondo (Q), Avery Bradley (D), Jerryd Bayless (OUT) ; WAS: Trevor Booker (Q), Al Harrington (OUT).
The Wizards are a team without great weakness and one great player. John Wall/WAS is the straw that stirs the drink. I have an inkling that Washington will try to go to their frontcourt players more than usual in this game. The Celtics bench will be thin if Rondo/BOS and Bradley/BOS can’t go, which should result in more minutes for Phil Pressey/BOS.
Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 pm EST); over/under 187; Cavaliers -4. INJURIES: CHI: Kirk Hinrich (OUT) ; CLE: none .
The media will focus on Luol Deng’s/CLE first game against his former team, but my focus will be between two fantasy stud centers, Joakim Noah/CHI and Anderson Varejao/CLE. On paper, both are excellent value plays and it’s difficult to choose between them. D.J. Augustin/CHI gets the keys to the Bulls offense and they will be the better for it. If you like betting point spreads , the Bulls +4 is the best bet I’ve seen in several days.
Atlanta Hawks at Orlando Magic* (7:00 pm EST); over/under 201.5; Hawks -5.5. INJURIES: ATL: none ; ORL: Nikola Vucevic (OUT).
Two teams heading in opposite directions. I think this game will be closer that the line suggests, with Orlando adapting to the absence of their center Nikola Vucevic/ORL. Watch the playing time apportioned to Jeff Teague/ATL and Shelvin Mack/ATL for future reference – there is a changing of the “guard” in progress.
Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors (7:00 pm EST); over/under 201.5; Raptors -1.5. INJURIES: DAL: Samuel Dalembert (Q) ; TOR: Tyler Hansbrough(OUT), Landry Fields (OUT)
The Raptors specialize in losing close games, so it seems. They don’t have anyone who matches up well with Dirk Nowitzki/DAL. The Monta Ellis/DAL versus Kyle Lowry/TOR battle will be fun to watch. Chuck Hayes/TOR has been a revelation on defense.
Los Angeles Clippers at Charlotte Bobcats (7:00 pm EST); over/under 199; Clippers -6. INJURIES: LAC: Darren Collison (P), Chris Paul (OUT) ; CHA: Kemba Walker (OUT) .
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7:30 pm EST); over/under 204.5; Knicks -8. INJURIES: PHI: Arnett Moultrie (D), Tony Wroten/PHI (OUT), Brandon Davies (OUT) ; NYK: Kenyon Martin (OUT), Amare Stoudamire (OUT).
The Sixers have numerous defensive weaknesses and with the exception of their center Spencer Hawes/PHI they can’t shoot the three pointer. Other than that things are going well. Michael Carter-Williams/PHI had a bounce back game, but it was based on his dribble drive, not his outside shot. The Knicks haven’t been much better: if you can contain Carmelo Anthony/NYK you stop their offense.
Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 pm EST); over/under 197; Pistons -4.5. INJURIES: DET: none ; MIL: Luke Ridnour (P), Larry Sanders (Q), O.J. Mayo (Q), Zaza Pachulia (OUT).
Rodney Stuckey/DET, Josh Smith/DET and Brandon Knight/MIL are good speculative plays.
Sacramento Kings* at Houston Rockets (8:00 pm EST); over/under 216; Rockets -10. INJURIES: SAC: none ; HOU: Terrence Jones (Q), Francisco Garcia (OUT), Greg Smith (OUT) .
Rudy Gay/SAC led the Kings to a relatively easy victory over the Pelicans last night. Tonight should be a shoot out, which suits DeMarcus Cousins/SAC and Isaiah Thomas/SAC just fine. While the Rockets have more firepower, the Kings could surprise. Several players on both teams are good value plays, based solely on the number of scoring opportunities they will get. Monitor the health of Terrence Jones/HOU, as his availability will greatly affect the value of Chandler Parsons/HOU and Omri Casspi/HOU.
Indiana Pacers at Phoenix Suns (10:30 pm EST); over/under 196.5; Pacers -6. INJURIES: IND: none ; PHO: Eric Bledsoe (OUT).
Oklahoma City Thunder* at San Antonio Spurs (8:00 pm EST); over/under 204.5; Spurs -6. INJURIES: OKC: Russell Westbrook (OUT) ; SAS: Tiago Splitter (OUT), Danny Green (OUT).
Kevin Durant/OKC faces one of the smartest defenses in the league, albeit one missing key interior player Tiago Splitter/SAS. For the Thunder to win, Thabo Sefolosha/OKC will need a lock down defensive game.
My Lineup
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $2/$5,000 standard pay out GPP at DraftStreet ($99,616 spent of $100,000 max). You are required to have 1 center, 3 guards, 3 forwards and 1 wildcard/utility player for a valid DraftStreet lineup:
Stars Worth Starting: Anderson Varejao/CLE, Rudy Gay/SAC, Isaiah Thomas/SAC
Bargain Plays: Donatas Motiejunas/HOU, D.J. Augustin/CHI
Speculative Plays: Brandon Knight/MIL, Jason Thompson/SAC, Rodney Stuckey/DET.
Estimated DraftStreet Points: 210 (+/- 65)
The above is a high risk lineup, suitable for very large field standard payout contests. It contains many high risk players and I don’t recommend it for double-up leagues.
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