Want to turn $22 into $10,000. Read on.
First, the regular spin.
If you had the key Toronto and Washington players, you were pleased to see their game go to three overtime periods before Washington won by attrition (three key Raptors had fouled out). The four Raptors and Wizards players held the top fantasy spots at DraftStreet. The Milwaukee Bucks surprised most of us by hanging close to the Pacers to the final minutes before losing 101-96. The nationally televised games were blowouts, with the Heat and Nets building large leads in the second quarter and coasting to victory. Tonight sees a major Pick’Em contest at DraftStreet, with $40,000 on offer, including $10,000 for first place. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
Gort Stands atop the Pyramid
TOP GUNS:
Marcin Gortat/WAS. Played much of the overtime periods before fouling out. 12 of 23 FGA, 7 of 11 FTA, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks, 1 TO, 31 points.
John Wall/WAS. Was on pace for a mediocre game but turned it on in overtime and was the difference in the final minutes of period three. 12 of 20 FGA, 6 of 8 FTA, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 7 TO, 31 points.
Kyle Lowry/TOR. Outplayed Wall for most of the game. He fouled out in the third OT period, critically weakening the Raptors. 6 of 18 FGA, 5 of 7 FTA, 9 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 TO, 18 points.
DeMar DeRozan/TOR, Roy Hibbert/IND
SLEEPERS:
Greivis Vasquez/TOR. Terrence Ross/TOR went down with injury in the first half and Vasquez benefited from extra minutes in the second half and overtime. 11 of 19 FGA, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 6 TO, 26 points.
Chris Singleton/WAS, Shane Battier/MIA, Mason Plumlee/BKN, Khris Middleton/MIL.
LET DOWNS:
John Henson/MIL. Had a tough matchup against the Pacers’ bigs. 0 of 4 FGA, 0 of 2 FTA, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 TO, 0 points, 22+ minutes.
Chris Bosh/TOR, Joe Johnson/BKN, Tim Hardaway Jr./NYK.
DraftStreet NBA Contests
Normally, this column focuses on salary cap leagues at DraftStreet, where you can choose any players involves as long as you fulfill position requirements and keep total salary under $100,000. Today, DraftStreet is running a massive 40K Pick’em contest. The Pick’em format gives you a list of players in eight predetermined tiers to choose from. The total pool is $40,000 with $10,000 for first place and room for 2,000 entries. For a full explanation, watch this short video
This is the last day of the month and the last day for regular DraftStreet players should ensure they earn enough DraftStreet Credits to make it to their desired level. I’ve renewed my Bronze status by earning over 1,500 Street Creds. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up HERE and begin amassing DraftStreet Credits.
Bulls Face Tough Road Test
Utah Jazz at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:30 pm EST); over/under 193.5 ; Cavs -4.5 . INJURIES: UTA: none ; CLE: Anderson Varejao (OUT), Dion Waiters (OUT), C.J. Miles (OUT).
The Jazz were impressive against the Suns, but now have to play the Cavaliers on the road. Spencer Hawes/CLE has taken hold of the starting center role and is a solid play at his current price.
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder (8:00 pm EST); over/under 192 ; Thunder -5.5 . INJURIES: MEM: Beno Udrih (D) ; OKC: Kendrick Perkins (OUT) .
The Thunder are not in sync. While Russell Westbrook/OKC gets the rust off, Kevin Durant/OKC find himself uninvolved in far too many offensive possessions. What should happen on every possession is: Westbrook/OKC brings the ball up to half court, then gives the ball to Durant. The Grizzlies will keep this one close unless Durant has an unreal shooting day.
Golden State Warriors at New York Knicks* (8:00 pm EST); over/under 200 ; Warriors -4.5 . INJURIES: GSW: none ; NYK: Iman Shumpert (OUT), Kenyon Martin (OUT), Andrea Bargnani (OUT).
The Warriors had a shooting outage against the Bulls but should bounce back. The good news is that Andrew Bogut/GSW is back playing and his minutes should return to normal soon. Stephen Curry/GSW almost always bounces back from a poor game, but Klay Thompson/GSW is better value tonight.
Charlotte Bobcats at San Antonio Spurs (8:30 pm EST); over/under ; . INJURIES: CHA: Luke Ridnour (P), Gray Neal (P) ; SAS: Tony Parker (Q).
Kawhi Leonard/SAS had an impressive return and that boosts the Spurs to the top spot on my unofficial Western Conference power rankings. I like Al Jefferson/CHA and I doubt that Tim Duncan/SAS and Tiago Splitter/SAS will do much to slow him down. Andre Drummond/DET, another imposing center racked up the fantasy number and I expect Jefferson to do the same.
Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EST); over/under 193 ; Mavs -4.5 . INJURIES: CHI: none ; DAL: none.
New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns (10:30 pm EST); over/under ; . INJURIES: NOP: Anthony Davis (D), Jrue Holiday (OUT) ; PNX: Goran Dragic (Q), Leandro Barbosa (Q), Eric Bledsoe (OUT).
Though Davis/NOP hasn’t been formally ruled out, I am assuming the Pelicans will give him a few games off to fully recover. As such, Alexis Ajinca/NOP is primed to take over the main shot blocking role. Ish Smith/PNX remains a great value play as long as he starts and Dragic/PNX is out.
Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 pm EST); over/under 214; Lakers -2. INJURIES: SAC: DeMarcus Cousins (OUT) ; LAL: Chris Kaman (Q), Nick Young (OUT), Kobe Bryant (OUT).
Given how important Cousins/SAC is to the Kings, the Lakers might actually be favorites tonight. Of course, Pau Gasol/LAL continues to be a fifth wheel in the Lakers offensive scheme, so if you have the cap room, you might want to look at Rudy Gay/SAC and/or Isaiah Thomas/SAC.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $5/$5,000 Standard Payout GPP at DraftStreet (closing at 7:30 pm EST). You are required to have three guards, three forwards, one center and one wildcard/utility player for a legal eight-player lineup in DraftStreet NBA contests:
G-Kyrie Irving/CLE-$16,711, C-Al Jefferson/CHA-$16,446, F-Tristan Thompson/CLE-$12,219, G-Jimmy Butler/CHI-$12,163, C-Spencer Hawes/CLE-$11,964, F-Kawhi Leonard/SAS-$11,955, G-Ish Smith/PNX-$9,838, F-Alexis Ajinca/NOP-$8,402.
Others to consider: Joakim Noah/CHI, Rudy Gay/SAC, Isaiah Thomas/SAC, Pau Gasol/LAL, Carlos Boozer/CHI, Taj Gibson/CHI, Trey Burke/UTA, Klay Thompson/GSW, Marco Belinelli/SAS, Jarrett Jack/CLE, Marvin Williams/UTA, Richard Jefferson/UTA.
A quick run through my top choices in the Pick’em format:
Tier 1: You can’t go wrong with either Kyrie Irving/CLE or Joakim Noah/CHI
Tier 2: Al Jefferson/CHA just ahead of both Thomas/SAC and Gay/SAC
Tier 3: Kemba Walker/CHA a hair over the other four.
Tier 4: Gordon Hayward /UTA has the most upside.
Tiers 5-8: too many close ones to call, but consider: Jimmy Butler/CHI, Tristan Thompson/CLE, Trey Burke/UTA, and Klay Thompson/GSW.
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