How bad are the Philadelphia 76ers? What does their ineptitude mean in daily fantasy leagues? Last night Dallas built a safe 73-29 lead by halftime and coasted home to win by 53 points. Tonight the Sixers are obliged to show up Houston, where the main obstacle for the Rockets will be overconfidence.
As we warned you in yesterday’s Spin, the likelihood of garbage time arriving extremely early is the main reason not to load up on Rockets. Why wouldn’t Kevin McHale reduce minutes for Dwight Howard $8600, James Harden $10300 and anyone nursing even the most minor injury? Expect the bench to see extra minutes, with rookies Kostas Papanikolaou $4000 and Tarik Black $3000 getting opportunities to impress.
Also on Thursday, the Bulls taught my Raptors a lesson with Pau Gasol (who I did not use) leading the way. That’s lose-lose and the shrinking bankroll could use a boost this evening.
Plays of the Day
If you haven’t joined DK yet, click for a FREE entry (worth $2) to win as much as $5,000 in tonight’s $40K Layup, where 4,600 of 23,000 teams get paid. DK will also match your initial deposit 100% (up to $600) with bonus money that gets added to your account as you play. High rollers can try the $100K Crossover — $27 to enter, 4,200 teams, top 840 cash. First prize is $15,000.
Lineup construction begins with a critical decision about the best player in daily fantasy basketball. Anthony Davis $11200 has scored between 52 and 66 DK points in four straight games. At home with a day of rest, against the young T-Wolves, he should be near the top of that range, but there are no guarantees. The conundrum is whether to pay that exorbitant salary, or leave AD out and have him drop 30 points, 20 rebounds and half a dozen blocks for many of your opponents.
On Monday, LeBron James $10700 had his best game since rejoining the Cavaliers, who should be flying tonight in Boston against the fourth-worst D in the Association. The over-under on that game is 212.5, and if the Celtics hang in there long enough, LBJ and Kevin Love $8900 will play big minutes. So will Rajon Rondo $8500 and Kyrie Irving $7,700 — take your pick.
The other game that could run up a high score is the Spurs visiting the defenseless Lakers. Tim Duncan $8000, Tony Parker $6700 and Kawhi Leonard $6600 should all play; the champs have had two days off since impressive road wins vs. the Clippers and Warriors on successive nights. Kobe Bryant $8800 will try to keep L.A. in it, but most of his teammates are outclassed.
In Phoenix, the Hornets will try to keep it close. Al Jefferson $8400 is a load, and Lance Stephenson $6700 is improving, with double-digit REB in four straight. Cody Zeller $3900 will start at PF if Marvin Williams (knee) can’t go. The Suns prevailed against Brooklyn despite an off-night from their starting five. It was Isaiah Thomas $5700 and Gerald Green $4600 who sparked a fourth-quarter comeback.
My job isn’t to analyze what’s wrong with the Nuggets, it’s to take advantage (if possible) of what appears to be a locker room mutiny against a hated coach. Don’t bet on them suddenly turning things around. Ty Lawson $7400 was the only starter who showed up on Wednesday and J.J. Hickson $3500 might be the lone big man not in Brian Shaw’s roomy doghouse. Take a shot on Pacers like Roy Hibbert $7300 and Chris Copeland $5900 at home, or ignore this game.
I’m not crazy about the Heat-Hawks matchup, though Paul Millsap $8200 was superb on Wednesday, nor does Jazz-Knicks have much appeal. Pistons-Thunder has a couple of possibilities. Reggie Jackson $7600 is consistently very good. Anthony Morrow $4000 scored 28 points in 31 minutes at Boston on 11-16 shooting. However, he won’t do that again if Jeremy Lamb $4500 (who got the quick hook) plays better.
Nikola Vucevic $8100, Tobias Harris $6800 and Evan Fournier $5800 are the nucleus of a good young Magic team, though if Victor Oladipo $5500 (facial fracture) returns, I’ll re-think Fournier. Channing Frye $5200 is up to 40 minutes and capable of 20-10 with a BLK one of these nights. Milwaukee’s teenage sophomore Giannis Antetokounmpo $4800, whose minutes and responsibility are increasing, is a nice price.
As always, keep on top of breaking news that can affect the value of multiple players. Enter early before the big contests fill, then you can make unlimited lineup changes until the 7:00 ET deadline.
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season.
Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.