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Sunday sees a light schedule in the NBA, with three afternoon games and four evening games. Early leagues at DraftStreet close at 1 PM EDT, while the deadline for evening league adjustments is 6 PM EDT. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
Salary Cap: $11/$3,000, $2/$2,000, $55/$3,000 (all Early start), $2/$2,000, $22/$5,000, $109/$5,000 (Late start), and three others.
150K satellites (for March 26 main event): five, ranging from $1 to $11 buy in.
Pick’em: $2/$2,000, $11/$2,000 (both Late start).
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadlines. Sunday’s contests start at 1 PM EDT and 6 PM EDT.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $2/$2,000 Standard Payout GPP (Early start) at DraftStreet (closing at 1:00 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-$19,881, G-DeMar DeRozan/TOR-$14,732, F-Kenneth Faried/DEN-$14,200, F-Amir Johnson/TOR-$13,869, F-Amar’e Stoudamire/NYK-$11,399, G-Jodie Meeks/LAL-$10,676, C-Timofey Mozgov/DEN-$8,489, G-Matthew Dellavedova/CLE-$6,700.
Knicks Seek to Solidify Playoff Spot
Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors (1:00 pm EDT); over/under 203.5; Raptors -7. . INJURIES: ATL: Kyle Korver (OUT), Al Horford (SEASON) ; TOR: Terrence Ross (P)Patrick Patterson (OUT) .
DeMar DeRozan/TOR and Amir Johnson/TOR remain superb bargains in this matchup. The Hawks will miss outside threat Korver/ATL and so the offensive responsibility will fall on Paul Millsap/ATL and Jeff Teague/ATL.
Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves (3:30 pm EDT); over/under 218; Wolves -3.5. . INJURIES: PNX: Leandro Barbosa (SEASON) ; MIN: Nikola Pekovic (D), Ronny Turiaf (OUT) .
With Gorgui Dieng’s/MIN rise in price and Pekovic’s/MIN possible return, the rookie center has lost a lot of his DraftStreet value. Dieng might be a play in evening contests if word comes down that Pek has to sit one more game. Kevin Love/MIN is fair value, while Goran Dragic/PNX and Eric Bledsoe/PNX are a decent tandem start.
Washington Wizards at Denver Nuggets (5:00 pm EDT); over/under 216; Nuggets -1. . INJURIES: WAS: Nene Hilario (OUT); DEN: J.J. Hickson (SEASON), Nate Robinson (SEASON)
With Hickson/DEN now out for the season, Timofey Mozgov/DEN should see plenty of extra minutes and that makes him the top value play at center today. Washington is playing its third game in four and so should be feeling fatigue.
Milwaukee Bucks at Sacramento Kings (6:00 pm EDT); over/under 205; KIngs -8.5. . INJURIES: MIL: Nate Wolters (SEASON), Larry Sanders (SEASON) ; SAC: Isaiah Thomas (P), Quincy Acy (Q), Carl Landry (SEASON) .
DeMarcus Cousins/SAC is a touch over fair value, but a risky play given his tendency to “lose focus”. Milwaukee should keep this game close, especially since Thomas/SAS isn’t in full health. Rudy Gay/SAC is a dark horse monster game candidate.
Cleveland Cavaliers* at New York Knicks (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 199; Knicks -9.5. . INJURIES: CLE: Luol Deng (Q), C.J. Miles (OUT), Kyrie Irving (OUT) ; NYK: Andrea Bargnani (Q) .
The Cavaliers made their playoff push in acquiring Luol Deng/CLE and Spencer Hawes/CLE but it appears they will fail, even in the ultra-weak East. Cleveland simply can’t win consistently without a healthy Irving/CLE.
Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 207; Mavs -4. . INJURIES: BKN: Kevin Garnett (OUT), Brook Lopez (SEASON) ; DAL: Monta Ellis (P) .
A clash of two surging teams. Whereas the Nets are hunting down the Raptors for the number three seed in the East, the Mavericks are fighting for their playoff lives in the West. Advantage Mavs.
Orlando Magic* at Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 pm EDT); over/under 216; Lakers -4.5. . INJURIES: ORL: Jameer Nelson (Q) ; LAL: Steve Nash (Q), Xavier Henry (OUT), Jordan Farmar (OUT), Kobe Bryant (SEASON) .
We won’t know until nearer game time, but if Nelson/ORL sits out, Oladipo/ORL becomes a very good play. I like Jodie Meeks/LAL as a speculative play. The two centers, Pau Gasol/LAL and Nikola Vucevic/ORL are solid lineup anchors.