Pistons and Hawks Cancelled due to Poor Weather.
To out good fortune, the Pistons-Hawks have announced cancellation of their game well ahead of time. Recent injuries and illness to star players have left very few good value plays among high priced talent. One of the few that is left and is nearing full strength is Kevin Love/MIN, who faced a non-rested Pelicans squad with questions hanging over Anthony Davis’s/NOP finger. Rajon Rondo/BOS seems very likely to sit, which would make Phil Pressey/BOS the value play of the day if he starts. The possible return of Kings stars DeMarcus Cousins/SAC and Rudy Gay/SAC would diminish the value of every teammate save Isaiah Thomas/SAC.
My gut tells me that DeMar DeRozan/TOR will sit for one more game, allowing Kyle Lowry/TOR to take over as sole driver of the Raptors offense and get Terrence Ross/TOR more touches. Though the Spurs are hobbled, if the Bulls are without Joakim Noah/CHI they will have big problems in the interior against Tim Duncan/SAS. And I haven’t mentioned the injury concerns related to Ty Lawson/DEN, James Harden/HOU and various Milwaukee Bucks. If you wait until the final 30 minutes before setting your lineup, some of these issues will clear up and a few more bargain plays will present themselves.
Orlando Magic* at Toronto Raptors (7:00 pm EST); over/under 195; Raptors -10. INJURIES: ORL Nikola Vucevic (OUT); TOR. DeMar DeRozan (Q).
Oklahoma City Thunder at Miami Heat (7:00 pm EST); over/under 203; Heat -3. INJURIES: OKC: Russell Westbrook (OUT) ; MIA: Dwayne Wade (P).
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics* (7:30 pm EST); over/under 204; Celtics -3.5 . INJURIES: PHI: Arnett Moultrie (OUT); BOS: Rajon Rondo (OUT), Avery Bradley (OUT).
New Orleans Pelicans* at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 pm EST); over/under 203.5; Wolves -8. INJURIES: NOP: Anthony Davis (P); MIN: Nikola Pekovic (OUT).
Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 pm EST); over/under 201; Suns -8.5. INJURIES: PNX: Eric Bledsoe (OUT) ; MIL: Larry Sanders (P), O.J. Mayo (OUT), Ekpe Udoh (Q), Zaza Pachulia (OUT).
Houston Rockets* at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EST); over/under 211; Mavs -3. INJURIES: HOU: James Harden (Q), Francisco Garcia (Q); Greg Smith (OUT), Omer Asik (OUT); DAL: none.
Charlotte Bobcats at Denver Nuggets (9:00 pm EST); over/under 208; Nuggets -8. INJURIES: CHA: Kemba Walker (OUT) ; DEN: Ty Lawson (Q), Darrell Arthur (P), JaVale McGee (OUT).
Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs* (9:30 pm EST); over/under 189; Spurs -8. INJURIES: CHI: Joakim Noah (Q), Kirk Hinrich (Q) ; SAS: Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter (all OUT).
Memphis Grizzlies at Sacramento Kings (10:00 pm EST); over/under 192; Grizzlies -4.5. INJURIES: MEM: none; SAC: Rudy Gay (Q), DeMarcus Cousins (D).
Washington Wizards* at Los Angeles Clippers (10:00 pm EST); over/under 206.5; Clippers -8.5. INJURIES: WAS: Al Harrington (OUT); LAC: Chris Paul (OUT).
My Lineup
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $2/$5,000 standard pay out GPP at DraftStreet (99,797 spent of $100,000 max). You are required to have one center, three guards, three forwards and one wildcard/utility player for a valid DraftStreet lineup:
Stars Worth Starting: Blake Griffin/LAC, Kyle Lowry/TOR, Al Jefferson/CHA
Bargain Plays: Phil Pressey/BOS (if he starts), Anthony Tolliver (CHA)
Speculative Plays: Evan Turner/PHI, Terrence Ross/TOR, Terrence Jones/HOU.
Estimated DraftStreet Points: 210 (+/- 55)
Others to consider: Kevin Durant/OKC, LeBron James/MIA, Kevin Love/MIN, Anthony Davis/NOP, Ricky Rubio/MIN, Jannero Pargo/CHA, Greg Stiemsma/NOP, Greivis Vasquez/TOR.
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