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The first day of spring is as good a point as any to usher in the home stretch of the regular season. Playoff teams will be resting their key player more frequently to ensure they are fresh for the start of round one of the playoffs. Ten games are on the docket today, including a tough one to call between the Grizzlies and the slumping Heat. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
Salary Cap: $22/$10,000, $2/$5,000, $109/$8,000, 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. Friday’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:
F-Carmelo Anthony/NYK-$19,023, G-Jeff Teague/ATL-$14,573, F-Kawhi Leonard/SAS-$13,162, C-Tyson Chandler/NYK-$12,820, G-J.R. Smith/NYK-$12,531, F-Amar’e Stoudamire/NYK-$10,830, F-Drew Gooden/WAS-$8,980, G-Tim Hardaway/NYK-$7,906.
Heavy investment in the Knicks is reflective of the Sixers’ poor defense, though Henry Sims/PHI has bolstered the paint a touch. Gooden/WAS has emerged as an effective replacement at power forward for the injured Nene/WAS, and could see even more floor time if Marcin Gortat/WAS can’t play. Teague/ATL is playing like an all-star and is still cheap, while Leonard/SAS might be the best player on the Spurs right now.
Heat Will Be Tested by Grizzlies
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 210.5; Knicks -12. . INJURIES: NYK: Andrea Bargnani (OUT) ; PHI: James Anderson (Q) .
I suspect a blowout, as many Sixers players are close to throwing in the towel. Tim Hardaway Jr/NYK is my stealth play, as I expect him to get major minutes and have a lot of space to operate in.
Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 180.5; Pacers -5. . INJURIES: CHI : none; IND: C.J. Watson (OUT), Andrew Bynum (OUT) .
The point is too large. The Bulls are the in form team and that offsets the Pacers home court edge. This one should be a pick’em. Bases on their terrible recent play, none of the Pacers are good plays against the solid Bulls defense, while Joakim Noah/CHI and D.J. Augustin/CHI are only fair value.
Oklahoma City Thunder* at Toronto Raptors (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 204; Thunder -2.5. . INJURIES: OKC: Russell Westbrook (P), Thabo Sefolosha (OUT), Kendrick Perkins (OUT); TOR: Jonas Valanciunas (Q), Patrick Patterson (OUT).
I expect Russell Westbrook/OKC to play, which would make the Thunder the clear favorite in this game. Kevin Durant/OKC is unlikely to provide more than adequate production given his salary and coming off last night’s effort. DeMar DeRozan/TOR is decent value, but avoid Kyle Lowry/TOR, as he will have his hands full with Westbrook.
New Orleans Pelicans at Atlanta Hawks (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 202; Hawks -6.5. . INJURIES: NOP: Anthony Davis (P) ; ATL: Dennis Schroeder (P) .
How close to a healthy Anthony Davis/NOP we will see in this game is a tough all. I recommend avoidance due to excessive health risk. Paul Millsap/ATL and DeMarre Carroll/ATL are solid choices, but I like Jeff Teague/ATL best of all.
Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 191; Heat -6. . INJURIES: MEM: none ; MIA: Dwayne Wade (P), LeBron James (P), Greg Oden (Q) .
Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 195; Nets -10. . INJURIES: BOS: none; BKN: none .
Deron Williams/BKN has led the Nets’ surge and remains a solid play. Mason Plumlee/BKN has surprising athleticism for a big man, but he has a “time share” arrangement with Andray Blatche/BKN and therefore suffers from limited big game potential. Jeff Green/BOS is a dark horse monster game candidate.
Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EDT); over/under 221; Mavs -7.5. . INJURIES: DEN: Ty Lawson (P), WIlson Chandler (P); DAL: none.
Figures to be a high scoring game. IF Lawson/DEN can’t go, Aaron Brooks/DEN becomes a major value play. The big man duo of J.J. Hickson/DEN and Timofey Mozgov/DEN is playable. For the Mavs, Jose Calderon/DAL is a bargain.
Detroit Pistons at Phoenix Suns (10:00 pm EDT); over/under 217; Suns -8. . INJURIES: DET: Andre Drummond (Q); PNX: Leandro Barbosa (OUT) .
San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings (10:00 pm EDT); over/under 208; Spurs -8. . INJURIES: SAS: none ; SAC: none .
Washington Wizards* at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 219; Wizards -6. . INJURIES: WAS: Marcin Gortat (Q), Nene Hilario (OUT); LAL: Nick Young (P), Steve Nash (P),Wes Johnson (OUT), Jordan Farmar (OUT) .
Kent Bazemore/LAL and Kendall Marshall/LAL look like they will start and are decent speculative plays. Trevor Ariza/WAS and Bradley Beal/WAS are breakout candidates, while John Wall/WAS will probably take it down a notch after his superb effort last night.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
Kevin Durant/OKC. When Russell Westbrook/OKC is not there to take away touches, this is a standard game for Durant.
Gorgui Dieng/MIN. Making a big statement for increased minutes.
Stephen Curry/GSW. Solid production and more touches indicate that Curry is over his niggling injury issues – at least for now.
Kevin Love/MIN, John Wall/WAS, David Lee/GSW, Damian Lillard/POR.
SLEEPERS:
Gorgui Dieng/MIN. Tops the list for a second day in a row. He could become one of the dominant rebounders in the game given a full opportunity.
Matthew Dellavedova/CLE. When Alonzo Gee/CLE got in foul trouble, Dellavedova got extra minutes and produced.
Omer Asik/HOU. Dwight Howard’s/HOU replacement and exceeded expectations.
Donatas Motiejunas/HOU and Dorell Wright/POR.
LET DOWNS:
Corey Brewer/MIN, Kevin Martin/MIN and Ricky Rubio/MIN. All three were unproductive,m resulting in a lopsided Timberwolves loss despite a career game from Dieng/MIN.
Harrison Barnes/GSW, Robin Lopez/POR.
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