DraftStreet is ready to blow the competition away with a monster contest just a few weeks away. On March 26, 2014, $55 will buy-you in to a $150,000 guaranteed prize pool aka the NBA Big Score, with a shot at $50,000 if you finish with the top score. The top 400 finishers will win at least $100, with the top seven getting $1,000 or more. The format is the familiar 100K salary cap, in which you choose eight players with a total virtual salary not exceeding $100,000. For a shot at entering the Big Score for a discount, you’ll find satellites open for registration in the NBA lobby at DraftStreet, priced from $1 to $11.
Monday finds a relatively light schedule of seven evening games in the NBA. Phoenix hopes to keep its playoff hopes alive with a win against the formidable Clippers, while the Heat try to get things rolling at home against the Wizards, with or without Dwayne Wade/MIA. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
Featured DraftStreet Contests
Salary Cap: $22/$10,000, $5/$5,000, $2/$5,000 and two other standard payout GPPs.
50K satellites (for Wednesday): $1/$110 (5 tickets), $5/$220 (10 tickets), $2/$110 (5 tickets) ; 150K satellites (for March 26 main event): $11/$440 (8 tickets), $2/$220 (4 tickets).
Pickem: $11/$3,000, $22/$1,000.
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadline. Monday contests start at 7 PM EDT.
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 7:00 pm EDT). 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:
C-Al Jefferson/CHA-$18,624, F-Gordon Hayward/UTA-$14,302, G-Kemba Walker/CHA-$12,847, G-Jeff Teague/ATL-$12,534, F-Matt Barnes/LAC-$12,256, F-Khris Middleton/MIL-$10,394, C-Enes Kanter/UTA-$9,432, G-J.R. Smith/NYK-$9,312.
Kanter/UTA is a bargain center who has had a string of productive games. Smith/NYK is a risky play, but a the kind of high-upside cheap play that you need to win a standard payout GPP. Hayward/UTA is a relatively safe play, as he always gets lots of touches for the Jazz. Teague/ATL has a minor ear issue but all indications are that he will be ready to go.
Raptors Visit Surging Nets
Denver Nuggets* at Charlotte Bobcats (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 209.5 ; Bobcats -5. . INJURIES: DEN: none ; CHA: Gerald Henderson (OUT).
Ty Lawson/DEN returned and the Nuggets played better. The Bobcats rely on the dual threat of Al Jefferson/CHA inside and Kemba Walker/CHA outside. If the Bobcat stars play well, they should win a relatively high scoring game at home.
Washington Wizards at Miami Heat* (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 204 ; Heat -6.5. . INJURIES: WAS: Kevin Seraphin (Q), Nene Hilario (OUT) ; MIA: Dwayne Wade (Q) .
Since LeBron’s/MIA historic game, the Heat have struggled by their own standards. Expect another tough game, especially if Wade/MIA sits.
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 214.5 ; Knicks -16. . INJURIES: PHI: none ; NYK: Tyson Chandler (Q), Andrea Bargnani (OUT), Kenyon Martin (OUT).
A classic case of star players being risky due to the high probability to a blowout. Carmelo Anthony/NYK is too expensive, but J.R. Smith/NYK is well worth the risk.
Toronto Raptors* at Brooklyn Nets* (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 196.5 ; Nets -2. . INJURIES: TOR: Patrick Patterson (OUT) ; BKN: Andrei Kirilenko (Q), Paul Pierce (Q), Kevin Garnett (Q).
A spate of injuries could ruin the good run the Nets are on. The Raptors have weaknesses in the paint, but are otherwise stringy defensively. I don’t think the Nets will be able to exploit that weakness, but the Raptors will also find it difficult to score points. For fantasy purposes, I see a low scoring game without a lot of DraftStreet value.
Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz (9:00 pm EDT); over/under 201.5 ; Hawks -1.5. . INJURIES: ATL: none ; UTA: none .
The Hawks’ best chance for a win on this road trip now that they have Paul Millsap/ATL back. Gordon Hayward/UTA will be ctive for the Jazz and Jeff Teague/ATL is a nice high risk/high reward play.
Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 203.5 ; Magic -1. . INJURIES: ORL: Victor Oladipo (Q) ; MIL: Larry Sanders (OUT) .
I think the Bucks should be favored in this one, with Khris Middleton/MIL being one of my sleepers tonight.
Phoenix Suns* at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 220 ; Clippers -10.5. . INJURIES: PNX: Eric Bledsoe (OUT), Leandro Barbosa (OUT) ; LAC: Jared Dudely (Q), Jamal Crawford (OUT), J.J. Redick (OUT) .
A rematch of last week’s contest in Phoenix. The Clippers looked shaky against the Hawks, so expect a close game here. DeAndre Jordan/LAC and Matt Barnes/LAC are good plays, while Darren Collison/LAC, Blake Griffin/LAC and Chris Paul/LAC are fair value.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
James Harden/HOU. He steers the Rockets’ bus, and got them going after a slow start.
Anthony Davis/NOP. Aided by overtime, the gadget arms were fully operational all game
DeMarcus Cousins/SAC. As a fantasy stat center, he’s in an elite group.
Kevin Love/MIN. Another solid performance, but the Wolves’ loss might be the end of their playoff hopes.
Joakim Noah/CHI, Kyle Lowry/TOR, Kevin Durant/OKC, Greg Monroe/DET.
SLEEPERS:
Jodie Meeks/LAL. In the complicated Lakers’ guard picture, Meeks is the most reliable.
Kris Humphries/BOS. One of three Celtics big men who are capable of big games
Devin Harris/DAL, Marcus Thornton/BKN, Ryan Kelly/LAL, Wesley Matthews/POR, Corey Brewer/MIN.
LET DOWNS:
Isaiah Thomas/SAC. Once a solid every day pick, he’s stumbled a few times in recent weeks.
Paul Pierce/BKN. Played briefly before being injured.
Andrew Bogut/GSW. Terrence Jones/HOU.
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