Over 2,000 entries fought it out for a top prize of $10,000 in the Wednesday 50K yesterday. “Marblesnap” finished with 270.0 DraftStreet points to triumph, only a half point better than “scoobylov3r”. Your humble scribbler had two entries, one of which finished tied for 37th place. If you missed out on some of the best value anywhere in daily fantasy, you have another chance next week. If $10,000 isn’t quite enough to whet your appetite, how about $50,000? The winner of the DraftStreet NBA Big Score will win $50,000 out of a total prize pool of $150,000, with the top 400 finishers winning at least $100. All it takes to enter is a DraftStreet account and $55. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link.
Thursday is national telecast day and (surprisingly) neither the Miami Heat nor the New York Knicks are in action. The early game features the solid Chicago Bulls hosting the Houston Rockets. The nightcap sees the Lakers try to catch lightning in a bottle twice against the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
DRAFTSTREET B-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP HEADS INTO DAY THREE
The much anticipated DraftStreet Fantasy Basketball Championship is underway, with 30 qualifiers playing for a share of $500,000. This is a multi-day affair, with the bottom half of contestants falling out of the competition. Day two took place yesterday and the bottom 10 entries dropped out of the first prize chase, earning $3,000 for their troubles. Some of the biggest names in daily fantasy are gunning for the top prizes, and you can follow the action HERE. Check back here for Day three updates, during which the final ten play for the big money.
MEGA SATELLITE TO THE BIG SCORE
For a mere $5, DraftStreet is giving you a chance to win a $55 voucher, good for entry into the Big Score on March 26. The mega satellite (click link) takes place tomorrow and doles out 300 vouchers. As a bonus, the top three spots pay out cash: $5,000, $2,5000, and $1,000 respectively. I’ve already booked a ticket into this special event.
TODAY AT DRAFTSTREET
Salary Cap: $22/$8,000, $2/$5,000, $109/$6,000.
50K satellites (for next week): $1/$110 (5 tickets), $5/$220 (10 tickets), $2/$110 (5 tickets) ; 150K satellites (for March 26 main event): $5/$440 (8 tickets), $11/$440 (8 tickets).
Pickem: $11/$2,000, $2/$1,000.
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 $2/$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:
G-Russell Westbrook/OKC-$19,134, F-Paul Millsap/ATL-$16,065, F-Serge Ibaka/OKC-$15,430, G-Brandon Knight/MIL-$12,815, G-Jodie Meeks/-$10,570, F-DeMarre Carroll/ATL-$10,199, C-Pero Antic/ATL-$8,915, F-Caron Butler/OKC-$6,834.
Thunder Seeks Revenge Against Lakers
Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 193; Rockets -2.5 . INJURIES: HOU: none ; CHI: none.
Each team will wish to play at their own tempo, so expect a mixed result. The Bulls’ halfcourt game revolves around Joakim Noah/CHI so expect major numbers from him. The Bulls solid team defense should limit James Harden/HOU.
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 209.5; Hawks -9. INJURIES: MIL: Ersan Ilyasova (P), Larry Sanders (OUT) ; ATL: Lou WIlliams (Q).
This game features many bargain options. DeMarre Carroll/ATL is a good value play, as is starting center Pero Antic/ATL. Paul Millsap/ATL is due for an explosion as well. On the Bucks side, Khris Middleton/MIL has been a productive cheap play and Zaza Pachulia/MIL is a cheap option at center.
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 pm EDT); over/under 227; Thunder -16.5 . INJURIES: LAL: Pau Gasol (P), Nick Young (OUT), Jordan Hill (OUT), Kobe Bryant (OUT) ; OKC: Thabo Sefolosha (OUT), Kendrick Perkins (OUT).
This one is tough to read for DraftStreet purposes. If the game stays close, then most of your big producers will come from this game. If it is a blowout, several bench players will benefit (but who?). Russell Westbrook/OKC is a safe bet here but Kevin Durant/OKC is a little overpriced. Pau Gasol/LAL is a solid play if he is not limited by his minor injury.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
Anthony Davis/NOP. If you needed proof that the Brow is an elite fantasy player, last night’s 50+ DraftStreet point performance against the Grizzlies is it.
Blake Griffin/BKN. Another typical west coast game – of a kind that Griffin thrives in.
Carmelo Anthony/NYK. I opined that Melo would produce fat stats as the Knicks had limited options.
Chris Paul/LAC, Nikola Vucevic/ORL, Kyrie Irving/CLE, Rudy Gay/SAC, Dirk Nowitzki/DAL.
SLEEPERS:
Henry Sims/PHI. He’s got a shot to establish himself because the Sixers have few options at center.
Cole Aldrich/NYK. He was named the starting center not long before game time and became an intriguing super bargain play.
Danny Granger/LAC, Mirza Teletovic/BKN.
LET DOWNS:
Trevor Ariza/WAS. Two bricked games in a row is rare for a player of Ariza’s caliber.
LaMarcus Aldridge/POR. Suffered a significant back injury.
Maurice Harkless/ORL, Steve Blake/GSW.
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