Daily Fantasy Basketball is back, which means each day XN Sports will have a column detailing advised plays and lineups for the remainder of the NBA season. For those familiar with DraftKings, their daily fantasy basketball is formatted differently this season. There is no multi-position eligibility, which makes it a bit harder to set your lineup.
For those unfamiliar with DraftKings, you are given $50,000 in cap space to select a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, center, a guard, a forward, and a utility player. There are no points deducted for missed shots, which changes the strategy from other sites. To read the full scoring, click here. Keep in mind that a double-double awards a bonus, which can be the difference between cashing in and winning nothing.
Generally, the goal for value is at five times a players salary. That brings a lineup to 250 fantasy points, which will cash on most days.
Give DraftKings a shot, as there will be a few free roll opportunities each night in Daily Fantasy Basketball. Click here to play.
Without further ado, the value plays and lineups for November 2nd:
Value Plays
Guard
Shane Larkin, Point Guard, New York Knicks $3,000
In just a four game slate, it’s tough to find any values. But with Jose Calderon listed as out for tonight’s game, Larkin should start and play serious minutes at point guard for the Knicks. In his first two games, Larkin was able to score 43 combined fantasy points and reach five times his salary in both contests. Larkin has averaged 27 minutes in each of the Knicks games this season and will likely see the same, if not more, tonight against Charlotte.
The Hornets have played incredible defense as a whole in this young season, but one of the two games was a 71-69 loss to the Grizzlies in an incredibly low-scoring game. In the Hornets first game, the Bucks scored 106 points and Brandon Knight (starting point guard) scored 22 points, notched 13 assists and grabbed eight rebounds for a total of well over 50 fantasy points. Larkin has a hidden plus matchup, and that can be exploited with his low price of the minimum.
Other values at guard: No other cheap values in this short slate.
Forward
Shawne Williams, Small Forward, Miami Heat $3,500
With Josh McRoberts coming back from injury, Williams’ minutes were supposed to decrease. But against the Sixers, Williams played 29 minutes and took nine shots with McRoberts active. Williams is averaging 23.8 fantasy points in two games this season and if he reaches his average that is almost seven times his salary, which is excellent value in a short slate. Williams and the Heat will face the Raptors, who are last in the NBA in defending the three, which Williams has attempted 11 of so far this season. Get him into your lineups at small forward and reap the benefits of cap flexibility.
Other values at forward: No other cheap values in this short slate.
Center
Chris Kaman, Center, Portland Trail Blazers $3,600
It’s advised, especially in a short slate, to spend on a center. But for those who want a value big man, Kaman is the guy in this slate. At just $3,600, value is attained with 18 fantasy points. In the Blazers’ first two games, Kaman reached 23.5 in each contest, which is good for almost seven times his salary. Can he keep up the pace? That remains to be seen, but considering Kaman has scored the same amount of fantasy points in the same amount of minutes, he has the ability to be a value in your lineups. The Blazers will face the Warriors today, and Golden State is the third-worst offensive rebounding team in the NBA so far this season. A double-double is a possibility for Kaman, but it isn’t needed at his price.
Other values at center: No other cheap values in this short slate.
Play of the Day
Lineup
PG – Shane Larkin $3,000
SG – J.J. Redick $4,200
SF – Shawne Williams $3,500
PF – LaMarcus Aldridge $8,900
C – Chris Kaman $3,600
G – Stephen Curry $10,400
F – Rudy Gay $7,500
UTIL – Chris Bosh $8,900
