The superstars will be out on Thursday night. In daily hoops we don’t care who wins, the ‘perfect’ game is fast-paced, with overtime. Or triple OT, like the masterpiece last night between the Grizzlies and Spurs.
Danny Green was amazing (seven 3-pointers, five blocks) in defeat and Marc Gasol heroic. DFS is all about predicting individual excellence within the team framework. Congratulations if you used them and the other Wednesday standouts.
Two of this evening’s four games could be similarly great. Smarting from a loss after 16 straight victories, the Warriors host the Thunder. Russell Westbrook $11700 has been phenomenal and Kevin Durant $10600 is almost all the way back. The NBA’s best fantasy backcourt — Stephen Curry $10400 and Klay Thompson $7400 — will be just as hard to stop. Harrison Barnes $5000 is a masked man playing with a broken nose, so Draymond Green $7500 is also critical and Marreese Speights $4900 will be needed off the bench. OKC relies on Serge Ibaka $6600 and Steven Adams $4300 up front.
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Anthony Davis $11800 goes up against James Harden $11600 in a battle of megastars that somehow isn’t part of the TV doubleheader. Harden, the fantasy MVP and a contender for the real award, had 41 points and 10 assists last night to help beat Denver in OT. The Rockets might be cautious with Dwight Howard $9000 (24 PTS, 16 REB, 4 BLK in 43 minutes) in this back-to-back. If he does play, former teammate Omer Asik $5800 will try to slow the big man down. Tyreke Evans $8300 and Ryan Anderson $6200 are other possibilities for the Pelicans. Patrick Beverley $5500 is a lockdown defender, so Jrue Holiday $8500 might not earn that salary. Donatas Motiejunas $5500 is still producing since Howard returned.
Today’s first sample lineup (right) is classic stars-and scrubs, built around AD. Three co-stars in the $7500 range, one for $5600 and three ultra-cheap longshots is the best supporting cast you can assemble when spending 23.6% of your salary on one roster spot. You may prefer other players, but the construction is similar. Referring to my Short List at the bottom of the page, it’s one from the left column, three or four from the middle and the rest from the right.
The opposite approach is to balance spending and ignore all of the premium-priced studs. Still using four of the same players, I’ve replaced AD and the scrubs with Ibaka, Asik, Beverley and Adams. On the left below is the resulting‘safer’ lineup for a 50/50 contest, though it’s not necessarily a tournament winner, where taking risks that succeed is rewarded with huge payoffs.
There’s an uninspiring appetizer before tonight’s delicious main course on TNT. It’s not easy being Carmelo Anthony $10300 and having to carry a bad team into Chicago. Pau Gasol $9400, Jimmy Butler $7200 and Derrick Rose $7300 are all playable. Joakim Noah $7100 (ankle) is supposed to return, but Taj Gibson $6800 (ankle) is now questionable, so Nikola Mirotic $5100 retains value for now. The possibility of a blowout exists unless Melo is superb. That’s why I’m looking at bargain-priced Knicks who might play the garbage-time minutes, like Pablo Prigioni $3300, Shane Larkin $3000 and Jason Smith $3000.
DeMarcus Cousins $10000 is an enigma in his anticipated return from a long bout with meningitis. It’s hard to imagine he’s 100% in terms of fitness or stamina, so a minutes limit seems likely. Rudy Gay $9200 deserves credit for showing up every night despite an Achilles problem and won’t have to work as hard for his shot now that DMC is back. Darren Collison $6700 also benefits; he’s due to break out of a 3-18 shooting slump. The Bucks have lost Jabari Parker for the season (condolences to his owners in H2H and Roto) and we can’t be sure just yet who will get the biggest boost. Jared Dudley $3800 started last night but was quiet. Giannis Antetokounmpo $5500 played only 18 minutes before rolling an ankle. Khris Middleton $5600 (17 PTS in 33 min.) started the second half and is the one to pick up in traditional leagues. Zaza Pachulia $4000 is more reliable than Larry Sanders $4700 if you need a cheap C. Unless Brandon Knight $6900 plays very well in this back-to-back, the Kings should prevail.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | Russell Westbrook $11700 | Derrick Rose $7300 | Pablo Prigioni $3300 |
| SG | James Harden $11600 | Klay Thompson $7400 | Austin Rivers $3400 |
| SF | Carmelo Anthony $10300 | Draymond Green $7500 | Khris Middleton $5600 |
| PF | Anthony Davis $10700 | Serge Ibaka $6600 | Nikola Mirotic $5100 |
| C | Dwight Howard $9000 | Omer Asik $5800 | Zaza Pachulia $4000 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.