Fantasy Spin December 20, 2014

What a rotten week for the Spurs — three straight losses, the last two in triple overtime. Damian Lillard (career-high 43 PTS, 6 AST) and LaMarcus Aldridge (32 PTS, 16 REB) were fantastic to own on Friday as each played over 50 minutes. Denver beating the Clippers was a big surprise and the Bulls winning in Memphis without Derrick Rose was a shocker; the Grizzlies shot less than 40%. My night at DraftKings was CBNC (close but no cigar) yet again.

There are seven NBA games on Saturday, bot the Suns at Knicks tip off at 1:00 Eastern and that one is not included. Choose from a six-pack in 7:00 ET contests, and don’t forget Late-only play at 9:00, where the two home teams are heavy favorites.

Plays of the Day

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The Pacers have been a bit better lately, enough to make the Nuggets work. Ty Lawson $9500, Wilson Chandler $5900, Arron Afflalo $5800 and others are stackable. Timofey Mozgov $5500 has been overmatched twice this week by Dwight Howard, but the Russian might wake up against a slumping Roy Hibbert $7000. For whatever reason, Kenneth Faried $5200 has been in the coach’s doghouse all season; he’s averaged 30 minutes the last two games and the buy-low window in traditional leagues may close soon. Danilo Gallinari $4000 and Nate Robinson $3000 both contributed to a decisive 38-point fourth quarter last night.

The loss of Jabari Parker and a lack of frontcourt depth has doomed the Bucks. Chris Paul $10100 and Blake Griffin $11000 can feast, but they played last night and may not need to log major minutes. If I enter any late contests, it will be with one player from this game and the maximum seven from the Nuggets.

There are some truly great players in the early games as well. Anthony Davis $11800 and LaMarcus Aldridge $10800 meet head-on in New Orleans. There’s no reason they can’t both excel, though AD is better rested. The Pelicans have a legitimate chance to upset if the Blazers are (understandably) fatigued. Jrue Holiday $8800 must contain Damian Lillard $8500 for that to happen, and it would help if Tyreke Evans $8100 (knee) returns.

A couple of Hall-of-Famers square off in Texas unless Tim Duncan $8900 gets Popped, which is quite possible after 43 minutes last night. I like Dirk Nowitzki $6700 as a value play; Rajon Rondo $7900 will be passing in his Mavs debut. Tyson Chandler $7100 might be the best bang for the buck this evening at a relatively thin C spot; I wish DK had more flexibility. While Chandler Parsons $6800 is heating up again, we don’t know who will get the most touches in an all-star first unit.

The Rockets have Dwight Howard $9200 to contain Al Horford $7200 and Patrick Beverley $5900 can slow down Atlanta’s backup PG tandem of Dennis Schroeder $5500 and Shelvin Mack $4000 with Jeff Teague $7200 (hamstring) doubtful. Paul Millsap $8400 has come down in price just as he gets a great matchup, but the key to this game — and DFS, if you can afford him — is the amazing James Harden $11600.

It’s a back-to-back for Utah and Charlotte after both won on the road on Friday. Derrick Favors $7400 and Gordon Hayward $7700 led the Jazz in Orlando, while Al Jefferson $8700 and Kemba Walker $8300 torched the 76ers. Gerald Henderson $3900 will get another start at SG while Lance Stephenson (groin) recovers.

Pos	Premium	Midrange	Bargain
PG	Ty Lawson $9500	Patrick Beverley $5900	Austin Rivers $3300
SG	James Harden $11600	Arron Afflalo $5800	G. Henderson $3900
SF	Chandler Parsons $6800	Wilson Chandler $5900	Kyle Anderson $3000
PF	Anthony Davis $11800	Dirk Nowitzki $6700	D. Cunningham $3000
C	Dwight Howard $9200	Tyson Chandler $7100	Joel Freeland $3000