Fantasy Spin: Friday, January 31, 2014

Durant Road Show in Brooklyn.

Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic (7:00 pm EST); over/under 191.5; Magic -4.5 . INJURIES: MIL: Ersan Illyasova (Q), O.J. Mayo, Zaza Pachulia, Ekpe Udoh (all OUT); ORL:none .

Nikola Vucevic/ORL is back and the minutes restriction has been lifted: the Magic are back at full strength and should handle the injury-riddled Bucks easily.

Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 pm EST); over/under 211; Hawks -4. INJURIES: ATL: Jeff Teague (Q), Pero Antic (OUT); PHI: Arnett Moultrie (OUT) .

The Sixers are playing at home, are healthy, and are playing a team that is without several key players. This is a set up for an upset. Evan Turner/PHI has been consistent and Michael Carter-Williams/PHI is good at exploiting mediocre defenses. Paul Millsap/ATL is the prime Hawks candidate to take advantage of Philly interior weakness.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets (8:00 pm EST); over/under 198; Thunder -3. INJURIES: OKC: Russell Westbrook (OUT); BKN: Andrei Kirilenko (Q) .

The Nets have played good defense in recent weeks, but defending against Kevin Durant/OKC is another matter. Serge Ibaka/OKC and Thabo Sefolosha/OKC have taken on added responsibility to contribute to the Thunder’s series of wins.

Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 pm EST); over/under 191; Grizzlies -1.5. INJURIES: MEM: Mike Miller (Q), Tony Allen (OUT); MIN: Nikola Pekovic (OUT) .

Sacramento Kings at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EST); over/under 215 ; Mavs -7.5. INJURIES: : Rudy Gay (P), DeMarcus Cousins (Q); DAL: Devin Harris (P), Shawn Marion (Q).

Toronto Raptors at Denver Nuggets (9:00 pm EST); over/under 204; Nuggets -2. INJURIES: TOR: DeMar DeRozan (P), Amir Johnson (P), Patrick Patterson (Q); DEN: Ty Lawson (Q), Nate Robinson (OUT), JaVale McGee (OUT)

The Raptors are getting their number two man back (DeRozan/TOR) and they have the health advantage over the Nuggets. If Lawson/DEN can’t go, Denver will be missing their top two point guards, creating serious ball handing issues.

Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz (10:30 pm EST); over/under 202; Warriors -5. INJURIES: GSW: Jermaine O’Neal (OUT); UTA: Richard Jefferson (Q), Trey Burke (Q), Derrick Favors (P).

The Warriors’ shooters were on last night, propelling Golden State to an easy win over the Clippers. Utah hasn’t had a healthy Favors-Hayward/UTA combo in quite some time, limiting the Jazz’s upside. Stephen Curry/GSW is a good bet to bounce back from a “down” game.

Charlotte Bobcats at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 pm EST); over/under 204.5; Lakers -1.5. INJURIES: CHA: Kemba Walker (Q), Ben Gordon (Q); LAL: Jody Meeks (P), Pau Gasol (P), Steve Nash, Steve Blake, Kobe Bryant, Xavier Henry (all OUT) .

The injury woes for the Lakers mount, as Meeks/LAL and Gasol/LAL will likely play with injuries against the Bobcats. Al Jefferson/CHA will be the focal point of the Charlotte offense, while Kemba Walker/CHA may play and provide an outside threat.

 

 

My Lineup

The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $5/$5,000 standard pay out GPP at DraftStreet (99,655 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: Al Jefferson/CHA, Paul Millsap/ATL, Kyle Lowry/TOR
Bargain Plays: Thabo Sefolosha/OKC, Vince Carter/DAL.
Speculative Plays: DeMarre Carroll/ATL, James Anderson/PHI, Ronny Turiaf/MIN

Estimated DraftStreet Points: 215 (+/- 65)

Others to consider: Evan Fournier/DEN (if he starts for Lawson), Thaddeus Young/PHI, Terrence Ross/TOR, Kevin Durant/OKC, Serge Ibaka/OKC, Stephen Curry/GSW, Spencer Hawes/PHI, Randy Foye/DEN.

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