Overtime. It’s great when your guys are involved, not so much when you’re watching others rack up the ‘extra’ fantasy points. Three of the seven games last night required at least one extra frame. Blake Griffin was the hero in the Clippers’ win, with Eric Bledsoe awesome in defeat. Jeff Green and four members of the second unit kept Boston in their game until John Wall & Co. won it in double OT.
I didn’t have enough of the big producers in my lineups, so the week is off to a slow start. But there’s always tonight — eight NBA games — to get back in the black. More than one looks like a mismatch.
Unhappy players, a rookie coach, public criticism from Phil Jackson and a 1-9 road record is no recipe for an upset. The Knicks are obliged to show up and face Anthony Davis $11700, with nobody capable of stopping him. Jrue Holiday $8000 is another Pelican who could dominate. The possibility of garbage time is the only reason I’m not keying on them.
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Many eyes will be on Memphis, where the Grizzlies are 9-1 and expected to beat Dallas. Marc Gasol $8600 has been scoring more than ever this year and Mike Conley $7400 is the best PG in this very interesting matchup. Tyson Chandler $6900 is rejuvenated and Dirk Nowitzki $6400 is a big-game performer, but Monta Ellis $7900 will be shadowed by stopper Tony Allen $4400.
Cory Joseph $4700 is filling in again for Tony Parker (hamstring) as the Spurs visit Salt Lake City. Almost forgotten after an early-season groin injury, Marco Belinelli $4000 seems back to his sharpshooting ways (17 first-half points on Saturday) and is still cheap, especially with Manu Ginobili $5000 (shoulder) banged up. Tim Duncan $8500 double-doubled in only 19 minutes after a triple-double the night before. Even at 38, the Big Fundamental can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Though I have trouble predicting when Danny Green $5400 and Kawhi Leonard $7700 will get hot, either is playable against the off-key Jazz.
The Cavaliers took it easy on the depleted Nets last night. Kyrie Irving $9300 shot 2-10 from the floor and LeBron James $11700 was less than superhuman. Dion Waiters $3600 was their leading scorer and they used 13 players. The Raptors may also have been looking ahead, needing OT to defeat the surprisingly energetic Nuggets. Although Amir Johnson $5200 got the better of Kevin Love $9000 last time, chronic ankle issues may have flared up again last night. Patrick Patterson $4700 stepped up (19 PTS, 8 REB) and Lou Williams $5000 (26 PTS) was in his Sweet zone. Jonas Valanciunas $5600 double-doubled with 4 BLK, but coach Casey still doesn’t trust the big man’s D in crunch time. Expect defensive intensity, not easy buckets, in this third meeting of the season.
Kevin Durant $10600 is still on a 30-minute limit, so Russell Westbrook $10400 remains the slightly better play and Serge Ibaka $7100 has more talent than any of Milwaukee’s bigs. There will be better nights to use the young Bucks. At home, against Eastern teams, they are underrated.
The Kings are exhausted; though they managed to beat Utah last night and are above .500, this will be their fourth game in five nights. Lesser-used players like rookie Nik Stauskas $3000 and Derrick Williams $3500 could be in line for extra minutes. The 5-16 Lakers deserve to be favored, and in their revamped lineup, Ronnie Price $3700 and Ed Davis $4100 are starting. Davis, Kobe Bryant $9500 and Jordan Hill $6400 are my picks, with Jeremy Lin $5300 and Carlos Boozer $5800 now relegated to bench roles.
A sub-.500 team from the East visits a playoff contender in the West. Chris Bosh $8300 has called out his teammates and Dwyane Wade $7800 is reasonably healthy, but the Heat’s supporting cast isn’t quite good enough. There could be a letdown for the Suns after last night’s tremendous effort against the Clippers. Bledsoe is unlikely to repeat that superb triple-double, but Goran Dragic $7900 and Markieff Morris $6700 can pick him up. Gerald Green $4700 and Alex Len $3000 are potential bargains.
As our Chris Bernucca said yesterday, the Pistons aren’t tanking, they are just terrible. Portland can relax a little and still get the W. There’s no reason for Damian Lillard $8800 or LaMarcus Aldridge $9900 to play maximum minutes at maximum intensity. Kyle Singler $3800 is the only guy from this game to make today’s Short List.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Russell Westbrook $10400 | Goran Dragic $7900 | Cory Joseph $4700 |
| SG | Kobe Bryant $9500 | Dwyane Wade $7800 | Marco Belinelli $4000 |
| SF | LeBron James $11700 | Chandler Parsons $7200 | Kyle Singler $3800 |
| PF | Anthony Davis $11600 | Tim Duncan $8500 | Ed Davis $4100 |
| C | Chris Bosh $8300 | Tyson Chandler $6900 | Alex Len $3000 |
Good luck with all your teams. Hope to see you on the leaderboard.
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.