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. Meanwhile, another chance at $10,000 in the 50K Big Score is almost upon us. Tomorrow’s big event is open for registration. Overlay has been a feature in recent weeks, so don’t miss out.
Tuesday sees a relatively light schedule of seven evening games in the NBA. The Indiana Pacers are in the midst of their first significant slump of the season and their number one seed status is under threat. 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: $11/$8,000, $2/$5,000, $55/$10,000.
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: $22/$3,000, $2/$2,000.
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadline. Tuesday’s contests start at 7 PM EDT.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $11/$8,000 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:
G-Russell Westbrook/OKC-$18,334, F-Rudy Gay/SAC-$14,813, F-Josh Smith/DET-$14,745, G-Lance Stephenson/IND-$12,913, G-Jimmy Butler/CHI-$12,705, F-Boris Diaw/SAS-$11,403, C-Tiago Splitter/SAS-$7,882, F-Kyle Singler/DET-$7,205.
Westbrook/OKC has taken a greater share of the touches than Kevin Durant/OKC and that is good for the former’s fantasy stats, but perhaps to the detriment of the team. Butler/CHI, because of his minutes, is as reliable as they come. Gay/SAC is the riskiest play among the eight.
Red Hot Rockets Descend on Oklahoma
Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 195 ; Pacers -12. . INJURIES: BOS: Avery Bradley (OUT) ; IND: Ian Mahimi (Q), C.J. Watson (OUT), Andrew Bynum (P).
Mahimi’s/IND injury has led to the likely Pacers debut tonight of Andrew Bynum/IND. If I were to advise the Pacers, I’d say let Lance Stephenson/IND loose and see what happens. Jeff Green/BOS is coming off a hot shooting night and is worth a look.
Sacramento Kings at Detroit Pistons (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 212 ; Pistons -3.5. . INJURIES: SAC: none ; DET: Josh Harrellson (OUT).
The Pistons soft defensive play has led to their marginal spot in the standings. This is a team with the talent and depth to play at least .500 but somehow doesn’t get it done. However, tonight they will be playing an even less motivated team.
Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 198 ; Grizzlies -3. . INJURIES: POR: none ; MEM: none.
Perhaps only the Bulls play a tougher brand of defense than the Grizzlies. Portland’s regulars may be suffering from fatigue due to their season-long minutes build up. Easy win for Memphis unless Portland goes crazy from the three point line.
Milwaukee Bucks* at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 214 ; Twins -14. . INJURIES: MIL: Larry Sanders (OUT) ; MIN: Ronny Turiaf (OUT).
If the game is close, Kevin Love/MIL is almost a lock for 50+ DraftStreet points. Kevin Martin/MIN is a nice speculative play.
San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 189.5 ; Spurs -4. . INJURIES: SAS: Danny Green (P) ; CHI: none .
Coming off a dominating win over the Heat, the Spurs may be the best team in the league. Their quick passing game will meet its match in the Bulls defense, but if they can contain Joakim Noah/CHI they should win.
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 217 ; Thunder -4. INJURIES: HOU: none ; OKC: Thabo Sefolosha (OUT), Kendrick Perkins (OUT) .
Based on recent form, the Rockets should win easily. My guess is they will make an effort to go inside to Dwight Howard/HOU tonight. Russell Westbrook/OKC versus James Harden/HOU will be a battle to watch, though Patrick Beverley/HOU will likely draw the defensive assignment.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 208.5 ; Warriors -5. INJURIES: DAL: none ; GSW: Stephen Curry (P).
The Mavericks have quietly kept afloat in the Western Conference, while the Warriors have shown flashes of brilliance. Expect the Warriors to struggle until Curry/GSW (quad) is fully healthy.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
Michael Carter-Williams/PHI. His multi-dimensional game was on full display.
Al Jefferson/CHA. Few teams have anyone who can stop Jefferson from getting off the mid-range jumper and it usually goes in.
LeBron James/MIA. Better than his most recent games, but just par for the course.
Blake Griffin/LAC, Khris Middleton/MIL, Kyle Lowry/TOR, Marcin Gortat/WAS.
SLEEPERS:
Gary Neal/MIL. He and Middleton/MIL rallied the Bucks in the second half.
P.J. Tucker/PNX, Tim Hardaway Jr./NYK, Marvin Williams/UTA
LET DOWNS:
Trevor Ariza/WAS. A bad matchup for him against the tough Miami perimeter defense.
DeMar DeRozan/TOR, John Wall/WAS.
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