The biggest individual DraftStreet NBA contest since Christmas Day runs today. 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 don’t have a DraftStreet account, you can sign up using this link.
The battle for the top Eastern seed between the Heat and the Pacers will be under the NBA spotlight. I will also be watching a fascinating contest between John Wall/WAS and the Suns backcourt duo Eric Bledsoe/PNX and Goran Dragic/PNX. The Suns are scraping for the final Western playoff spot, while the Wizards are looking to move up to ensure an easier first round playoff matchup in the East. Here is today’s Fantasy Spin.
What’s Happening at DraftStreet
Salary Cap: $55/$150,000 (3,000 max entries), $2/$5,000, $11/$5,000, two others.
Pick’em: $11/$2,000, $2/$1,000.
Remember to register at least 10 minutes before the roster deadlines. Wednesday’s contests start at 7 PM EDT.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $55/$150,000 Standard Payout GPP aka The Big Score 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-Paul Millsap/ATL-$16,715, F-Tyreke Evans/NOP-$14,605, G-Deron Williams/BKN-$13,726, C-Gorgui Dieng/MIN-$12,929, G-Brandon Jennings/DET-$12,138, G-Dion Waiters/CLE-$11,648, F-DeMarre Carroll/ATL-$10,907, G-Patrick Mills/SAS-$6,953.
With so many possible combinations of players – for today’s big contest our guiding light should be “go big or go home”. For that reason, we are seeking players with high upside. The riskiest player in the lineup is Jennings/DET, who can disappear on the court at times.
Spurs Continue Their Roll
Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Bobcats (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 192.5; Bobcats -2.5 . INJURIES: BKN: Kevin Garnett (OUT), Andrei Kirilenko (OUT), Brook Lopez (SEASON) ; CHA: none .
Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards (7:00 pm EDT); over/under 210; Suns -2 . INJURIES: PNX: Leandro Barbosa (SEASON) ; WAS: Trevor Ariza (P), Nene Hilario (OUT).
Several Suns are decent plays tonight, among them Goran Dragic/PNX, Eric Bledsoe/PNX and P.J. Tucker/PNX. Gerald Green/PNX has returned to a sixth man role but is now cheap enough to be of value.
Toronto Raptors* at Boston Celtics (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 195; Raptors -3.5. INJURIES: TOR: Patrick Patterson (OUT) ; BOS: Gerald Wallace (SEASON) .
The Raptors will be in the pressure cooker for the rest of the season, with every game impacting their playoff seeding. Coming off a loss to the Cavs, I look for DeMar DeRozan/TOR to lead them in this one. Jeff Green/BOS is one of top speculative plays today.
Cleveland Cavaliers* at Detroit Pistons (7:30 pm EDT); over/under 205; Pistons -6 . INJURIES: CLE: Kyrie Irving (OUT) ; DET: none.
If not for the fatigue factor, a number of Cavaliers would be great value plays today. Dion Waiters/CLE has stepped into Irving’s/CLE shoes and Jarrett Jack/CLE is capable of exploding. Tristan Thompson/CLE’s rebounding skills will be needed against the Pistons’ front court. He has a great bounce back game and is still cheap.
Atlanta Hawks at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 214; Wolves -5.5 . INJURIES: ATL: Kyle Korver (OUT), Al Horford (SEASON) ; MIN: J.J. Barea (Q), Nikola Pekovic (D).
I think this will be a close game, as the Hawks are fighting for playoff position and the Wolves have the home fans to motivate them. Kevin Love/MIN usually puts up solid numbers when he’s rested and Gorgui Dieng/MIN has a nice matchup, provided Pekovic/MIN sits as expected.
Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 188; Pacers -2. INJURIES: MIA: Dwayne Wade (Q), Ray Allen (D) ; IND: Andrew Bynum (OUT), C.J. Watson (OUT).
Both teams are struggling down the stretch, but watch for the highly motivated LeBron James/MIA to put on a show. Dwayne Wade/MIA will be a game-time decision, while Ray Allen/MIA is doubtful. There could be room for Toney Douglas/MIA to sneak in some extra minutes.. The Pacers are struggling to generate offense, because of the regression of both Paul George/IND and Lance Stephenson/IND.
Los Angeles Clippers at New Orleans Pelicans (8:00 pm EDT); over/under 207; Clippers -7 . INJURIES: LAC: J.J. Redick (D); NOP: Eric Gordon (D), Brian Roberts (Q), Jrue Holiday (SEASON), Ryan Anderson (SEASON), Jason Smith (SEASON).
Great matchup between the top two power forwards in the game, Blake Griffin/LAC and Anthony Davis/NOP. Both are safe bets, but only a touch more than fair value. Brian Roberts/NOP was one of my top bargain plays, until word came down that he is dealing with a left knee bone bruise. If Roberts can’t start, Austin Rivers/NOP is his likely replacement and a solid value play on that basis.
Denve Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs (8:30 pm EDT); over/under 216.5; Spurs -13.5 . INJURIES: DEN: Wilson Chandler (OUT), Jan Vesely (OUT), Nate Robinson (SEASON), J.J. Hickson (SEASON); SAS: Tony Parker (P), Tiago Splitter (P), Danny Green (P). Matt Bonner (OUT).
I know there is value among the Spurs players, but it is difficult to find given the roster games Popovich plays. I lean towards the cheaper option, those being Patrick Mills/SAS, Cory Joseph/SAS and the newcomer Austin Daye/SAS. The Nuggets will sorely miss Hickson/DEN, but one result will be increased minutes for the Timofey Mozgov/DEN.
New York Knicks* at Sacramento Kings (10:00 pm EDT); over/under 202; Knicks -1 . INJURIES: NYK: Amar’e Stoudamire (P), Andrea Bargnani (OUT), Kenyon Martin (OUT) ; SAC: Quincy Acy (Q), Isaiah Thomas (Q).
The Knicks’ pitiful effort against the Lakers is a sign that they’re informally given up on the season. The Kings will be motivated only by providing a creditable performance in front of the home fans – which should be enough. Carmelo Anthony/NYK is a decent speculative play, despite playing the second of back to back games. Rudy Gay/SAC is an inexpensive dark horse candidate, while DeMarcus Cousins/SAC is a decent bet for a monster game.
Memphis Grizzlies at Utah Jazz (10:30 pm EDT); over/under 183.5; Grizzlies -7.5 . INJURIES: MEM: Tony Allen (Q); UTA: Alec Burks (OUT) .
Though he is somewhat limited to the upside, Marc Gasol/MEM is a solid lineup anchor.
Yesterday’s News
TOP GUNS:
Dirk Nowitzki/DAL. Led another win over the Thunder. The fundamentally sound Mavericks will be a tough nut to crack in the first round of the playoffs.
Kevin Durant/OKC. Helped by overtime, just a ho hum fantasy performance.
Carmelo Anthony/NYK, Kyle Lowry/TOR, Robin Lopez/POR, Tobias Harris/ORL.
SLEEPERS:
Will Barton/POR. While the starting five were a disappointment, Barton was very efficient with his minutes.
Jose Calderon/DAL, Xavier Henry/LAL, Ryan Kelly/LAL.
LET DOWNS:
Jonas Valanciunas/TOR. A down game after a recent stretch of good ones.
Damian Lillard/POR. The Blazers need Lillard to bring his A game, and they often lose when he doesn’t.
Nicolas Batum/POR, Serge Ibaka/OKC.
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