Today’s NBA schedule is split between two afternoon games and five evening contests. Starting us off will be the swooning Knicks, who will try to avoid another Sunday blowout, this time at the hands of the Bulls. DraftStreet has daily fantasy NBA contests including all seven games, closing early, and later one encompassing only the five evening starts. Irrespective of whether you prefer Salary Cap or Pick’em formats, there are large guaranteed prize pool (GPP) contests available. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link . Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
Fantasy Round-Up
TOP GUNS:
Trevor Ariza/WAS. There was speculation that some Wizards would be tired after triple overtime a few days ago.
Zach Randolph/MEM. He’s the engine the Grizzlies need to make hay in the playoffs.
DeMarcus Cousins/SAC. A nice return game. The Kings still lost.
LeBron James/MIA. The masked man had another solid game as the Heat cruised.
John Wall/WAS, Kevin Love/MIN, Andre Drummond/DET, James Harden/HOU.
SLEEPERS:
Andray Blatche/BKN. It’s tough to place your faith in Blatche because he must compete with Kevin Garnett/BKN and Mason Plumlee/BKN for minutes.
Kyle O’Quinn/ORL, Kris Humphries/BOS, Trevor Booker/WAS, Evan Fournier/DEN, Terrence Jones/HOU.
LET DOWNS:
Anthony Davis/NOP. Davis looked like a good bet on the surface but I was highly skeptical of him given the fatigue and matchup issues. He got into foul trouble and never got out of it.
Victor Oladipo/ORL, Blake Griffin/LAC, Brian Roberts/NOP.
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My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $2/$2,000 Standard Payout GPP Early Bird at DraftStreet (closing at 1:00 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-Goran Dragic/PNX-$16,224, C-Al Jefferson/CHA-$16,114, G-Russell Westbrook/OKC-$14,750, F-Serge Ibaka/OKC, F-Carlos Boozer/CHI-$11,737, G-J.R. Smith/NYK-$9,171, F-Maurice Harkless-$8,553, G-Reggie Jackson/OKC -$8,521.
It’s tempting to take a bunch of Magic and Sixers, expecting a wide open game. The problem is many of them, notably Thaddeus Young/PHI and Nikola Vucevic/ORL are expensive and are coming off difficult games last night. I gravitate to ball handlers and that’s why I built my team around Dragic/PNX and Westbrook/OKC. The Thunder have lost defensive minded players to injury but gained offense so I expect a high scoring game against the Bobcats. Jackson/OKC is a solid play if he gets the nod for the spot vacated by Thabo Sefolosha/OKC. Likewise, Harkless/ORL is solid value only if Arron Afflalo/ORL doesn’t play.
Hot and Cold Warriors Battle Raptors
New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls (1:00 pm EST); over/under ; . INJURIES: NYK: Amare Stoudamire (P), Iman Shumpert (OUT), Andrea Bargnani (OUT), Kenyon Martin (OUT); CHI: Jimmer Fredette (Q).
Two teams headed in opposite directions: the Bulls should win by double digits. Jimmy Butler/CHI is my top value play, while I am lukewarm about the two centers – Tyson Chandler/NYK and Joakim Noah/CHI.
Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors (4:00 pm EST); over/under 201; Warriors -2 . INJURIES: GSW: none; TOR: Kyle Lowry (P),Terrence Ross (Q).
If you feel like taking a risk with your lineup, Stephen Curry/GSW is a top monster game candidate. If Kyle Lowry/TOR isn’t near full strength, I don’t see any Raptor who has a hope of limiting Curry.
Philadelphia 76ers* at Orlando Magic* (6:00 pm EST); over/under ; . INJURIES: PHI: ; ORL: Arron Afflalo (Q) .
A rematch after the Magic ended a long road drought in Philadelphia earlier this week. Both clubs lost last night and the energy level might dip. Nikola Vucevic/ORL is the best bet, while Thaddeus Young/PHI has the highest upside for the Sixers but is a touch risky (due to presumed frustration). Maurice Harkless/ORL is the wildcard here, with his value greatly affected by the status of would be returned starter Afflalo/ORL.
Utah Jazz at Indiana Pacers* (6:00 pm EST); over/under 190 ; Pacers -13 . INJURIES: UTA: Jeremy Evans (Q) ; IND: George Hill (D), Andrew Bynum (OUT) .
The Pacers may be fatigued after a surprisingly close game in Boston last night. Home court should provide tonic and Indiana’s superb bench will be fully utilized. David West/IND is my dark horse play and C.J. Watson/IND is worth a look if Hill/IND is scratched.
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs (7:00 pm EST); over/under 212.5; Spurs -5.5
. INJURIES: DAL: none ; SAS: Tony Parker (P).
The Spurs are starting to roll and may decide to rest Parker/SAS one more game. None of the Spurs stand out as keen value plays, particularly because playing time is tough to predict on any given night for San Antonio.
Charlotte Bobcats at Oklahoma City Thunder (7:00 pm EST); over/under 202.5; Thunder -10 . INJURIES: CHA: none; OKC: Caron Butler (OUT),Kendrick Perkins (OUT), Thabo Sefolosha (OUT).
Butler will skip this one and get ready fro Tuesday night. Reggie Jackson/OKC should see major minutes, but who knows how many touches with both Russell Westbrook/OKC and Kevin Durant/OKC on the floor most of the game. Al Jefferson/CHA will be happy he won’t have to face Kendrick Perkins/OKC.
Atlanta Hawks at Phoenix Suns (8:00 pm EST); over/under 214; Suns -8.5 . INJURIES: ATL: Pero Antic (Q), Paul Millsap (OUT); PNX: Eric Bledsoe (OUT)
Goran Dragic/PNX showed no ill effects in his return two nights ago. I expect another big game, as the Hawks interior weakness plays into Dragic’s all-court game.
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