Tomorrow, the biggest individual DraftStreet NBA contest since Christmas Day takes place. The winner of the 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 want a cheaper way in, there are “last chance” satellites running today for as little as $1. If you don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link.
Tuesday’s NBA schedule contains a curiosity: all four visiting teams are betting favorites. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
150K satellites (for March 26 main event): four, ranging from $1 to $11 buy in.
Salary Cap: $11/$6,000, $2/$5,000, $55/$8,000, two others.
Pick’em: $2/$2,000, $22/$2,000.
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadlines. Tuesday’s contests start at 7 PM EDT.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $11/$6,000 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-Kyle Lowry/TOR-$16,965, F-Nicolas Batum/POR-$16,041, F-Amir Johnson/TOR-$13,855, C-Tyson Chandler/NYK-$12,970, F-Amar’e Stoudamire/NYK-$11,945, F-Shawn Marion/DAL-$10,560, G-J.R. Smith/NYK-$10.301, G-Tim Hardaway Jr./NYK-$6,684.
This is a lineup suitable for double-up contests as well, filled with relatively low risk players. Notable in their absence are two candidates for highest DraftStreet point getter, Carmelo Anthony/NYK. and Kevin Durant/OKC. I regard them as fair value and deploying one of them would require the presence of several cheap options. For those tolerant of greater risk, Russell Westbrook/OKC is a worthy play.
Thunder Seek Revenge in Dallas
Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 196; Raptors -4 . INJURIES: TOR: Patrick Patterson (OUT); CLE: C.J. Miles (OUT), Kyrie Irving (OUT).
With the Nets and Bulls breathing down their necks, the Raptors need to demonstrate their superiority over the wounded Cavaliers and dominate. On paper, Kyle Lowry/TOR i s the clear top value play tonight, but DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson/TOR are not far behind. If you need a speculative play, one of Jarret Jack/CLE, Matthew Dellavedova/CLE or Dion Waiters/CLE fits the bill.
Portland Trail Blazers at Orlando Magic (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 204.5; Blazers -6 . INJURIES: POR: LaMarcus Aldridge (OUT), Joel Freeland (OUT); ORL: Jameer Nelson (OUT).
Aldridge/POR is getting closer to returning, which will end the mini-boom in Nicolas Batum’s/POR fantasy production. The paint matchup between Robin Lopez/POR and Nikola Vucevic/ORL is an intriguing one, with the fantasy edge going to the Magic center. Victor Oladipo/ORL remains solid value as long as he continues to start.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 211.5; Thunder -3 . INJURIES: OKC: Hasheem Thabeet (OUT), Thabo Sefolosha (OUT), Kendrick Perkins (OUT); DAL: Jose Calderon (P).
Expect a little less from Kevin Durant/OKC with Russell Westbrook/OKC returning. Westbrook himself is a risky speculative play: on the one hand, his DraftStreet price is low; on the other, there is a significant risk of him reinjuring his knee.
New York Knicks at Los Angeles Lakers (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 216.5; Knicks -7.5 . INJURIES: NYK: Tyson Chandler (P), Iman Shumpert (Q), Andrea Bargnani (OUT); LAL: Xavier Henry (Q), Pau Gasol (D), Kobe Bryant (SEASON), Steve Nash (D), Jordan Farmar (OUT).
Gasol/LAL is suffering from vertigo, which makes him “fantasy unplayable” for the foreseeable future. Ace rebounder Jordan Hill/LAL has found his way back to the starting five and is a good value play until his price rises further. Plenty of Knicks are playable in what figures to be an up tempo game, most notably guards J.R. Smith/NYK, Tim Hardaway Jr./NYK and Raymond Felton/NYK.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
Blake Griffin/LAC. He was needed for the duration in a surprisingly close game.
Tyreke Evans/NOP. Led an impressive Pelicans comeback against the Nets.
LeBron James/MIA. Par for the course.
Anthony Davis/NOP, Joakim Noah/CHI, Ramon Sessions/MIL, Gordon Hayward/UTA.
SLEEPERS:
Austin Daye/SAS. Due to some extra “phantom” scratches, new hire Daye was put to th test in garbage time.
Steven Adams/OKC. One of his best games of the year.
Cory Joseph/SAS, Patrick Mills/SAS, Zaza Pachulia/MIL, James Anderson/PHI.
LET DOWNS:
Kevin Love/MIN. Suffered from matchup problems and back-to-back fatigue.
Gary Neal/CHA. Couldn’t hit a shot and languished in the second half.
Aaron Brooks/DEN, Roy Hibbert/IND, Brandon Knight/MIL, D.J. Augustin/CHI.
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