If you missed out on last night’s Big Wednesday 50K you didn’t get your share of significant overlay. “Gateman07” destroyed the field by amassing 304.25 DraftStreet points ,taking the $10,000 top prize. Ricky Rubio/MIN and Aaron Brooks/DEN provided tremendous value for the winner and only Josh Smith/DET performed below expectations.
We are less than a week away from the biggest single NBA contest at DraftStreet since Christmas Day. $55 will buy your way into a shot at a $50,000 first prize. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
Salary Cap: $22/$8,000 , $2/$5,000, $109/$6,000, three others.
150K satellites (for March 26 main event): four, ranging from $1 to $11 buy in.
Pick’em: $11/$2,000, $5/$500.
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadlines. Thursday’s contests start at 7 PM EDT.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $5/$500 Double-Up contest 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:
F-Kevin Durant/OKC-$22,913, F-Nicolas Batum/POR-$17,642, F-Terrence Jones/HOU-$12,803, G-Wesley Matthews/POR-$10,992, G-Patrick Beverley/HOU-$9,882, C-Zaza Pachulia/MIL-$9,710, G-Mo Williams/POR-$8,695, C-Gorgui Dieng/MIN-$6,918.
Though he will play on back-to-back days, Dieng/MIN is a very low risk/high upside play. I chose Durant/OKC on the assumption that Westbrook/OKC won’t play: the OKC-CLE game will therefore be closer and the Thunder superstar will be needed down the stretch. Jones/HOU came up with a big game last time and is super cheap.
Westbrook Might Rest Against Cleveland
Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 199.5; Thunder -9.5. INJURIES: OKC: Russell Wetbrook (Q) ; CLE: Dion Waiters (P), Luol Deng (OUT), Kyrie Irving (OUT), C.J. MIles (OUT).
Naturally, the status of Westbrook/OKC affects the value of all of the Thunder players, from Kevin Durant/OKC on down to Caron Butler/OKC. If Westbrook sits (as I expect, given the weak Cleveland squad), Reggie Jackson/OKC becomes a solid play, Derek Fisher/OKC an intriguing bargain play, while Durant and Butler get a significant boost.
Minnesota Timberwolves* at Houston Rockets (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 214; Rockets -7.5. INJURIES: MIN: Ronny Turiaf (OUT) ; HOU: Omri Casspi (Q), Dwight Howard (OUT).
Without Howard/HOU, the Rockets will lean on Terrance Jones/HOU for rebounds.
Washington Wizards at Portland Trail Blazers (10:00 pm EDT); over/under 206; Blazers -4.5 . INJURIES: WAS: Nene Hilario (OUT) ; POR: LaMarcus Aldridge (OUT).
Milwaukee Bucks at Golden State Warriors (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 204; Warriors -14.5 . INJURIES: MIL: none ; GSW: Andrew Bogut (Q), Jermaine O’Neal (Q), Andrew Iguodala (OUT).
Given the thinner Warriors lineup, the Bucks should stay close. Zaza Pachulia/MIL is my top sleeper, though a bit risky. If Bogut/GSW sits, Pachulia will have an excellent matchup.
Yesterday’s News
Many DraftStreet participants were thrown for a loop when news emerged just before roster deadline that superstar Anthony Davis/NOP had some sort of infection and would miss the Raptors-Pelicans game. With only eight roster spots, a goose egg from a high priced player is lethal. In the 50K contest last night, 13% of the lineups had Davis, including one of my two submissions.
TOP GUNS:
Ricky Rubio/MIN. He produces all over the floor when he is on his game.
Aaron Brooks/DEN. He filled in for Ty Lawson/DEN in exceptional fashion.
Pau Gasol/LAL. The Lakers star hasn’t packed it in yet, despite the hopelessness of the team’s situation.
Kawhi Leonard/SAS, Kevin Love/MIN, Carmelo Anthony/NYK, Tim Duncan/SAS, Marc Gasol/MEM.
SLEEPERS:
Aaron Brooks/DEN.
Gorgui Dieng/MIN. As with Brooks, Dieng filled in for an injured starter and too k full advantage.
Udonis Haslem/MIA. Normally a defensive specialist, the rare absence of LeBron James/MIA created extra chances.
Shawn Marion/DAL, Samuel Dalembert/DAL, Alexis Ajinca/NOP.
LET DOWNS:
Nikola Vucevic/ORL. He was clearly hurt but game it a go before being pulled after less than 10 minutes PT.
Brandon Jennings/DET. His disappearance in plain sight is evidence that you shouldn’t rely on him.
Dante Cunningham/MIN, Kemba Walker/CHA.
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