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 freeroll opportunities each night in Daily Fantasy Basketball. Click here to play.
Without further ado, the value plays and lineups for November 15th:
Value Plays
Guard
P.J. Hairston, Shooting Guard, Charlotte Hornets $3,000
With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out again today, Hairston will start for the Hornets. At the minimum, he can reach value at 15 fantasy points. Last night, Hairston reached value in 17 minutes going just 3-for-8 from the floor. Keep an eye on the Hornets’ injuries, as a few players unexpectedly played last night. But if Hairston starts, he faces the Warriors, who have given up the fifth-most fantasy points to shooting guards, and turn the ball over just under 21 times per game, which gives Hairston added value on fast breaks and possible steals.
Other values at guard: Vince Carter, MEM $3,400 and Thabo Sefolosha, ATL $3,800
Forward
James Johnson, Small Forward, Toronto Raptors $3,800
Johnson was a star in the Raptors’ last game, registering 39.25 fantasy points off the bench in 24 minutes. Johnson leads the Raptors’ second unit, and has reached value in all but two games this season. To reach value tonight, Johnson needs to accrue 19 fantasy points, which he has reached in five of the last six games. Johnson and the Raptors face the Jazz tonight, who are amongst the bottom third in shooting percentage against, at 46.8 percent from the floor. In addition, Utah is allowing opponents to shoot over 83 times a game, and with Johnson being one of the top scorers on the second unit, it gives him even more of a chance to reach value.
Other values at forward: Mike Scott, ATL $3,000
Center of the Night
Center is just too difficult a position to find value on a nightly basis, which is why spending is highly advised. Tonight, there is a value play at center.
Chris Kaman, Portland Trail Blazers $4,300
In case you haven’t heard, LaMarcus Aldridge is out for today’s game. That brings Kaman to the starting lineup, and into your lineups everywhere. On DraftKings, a $4,300 salary would bring his expected value to 21.5 fantasy points. It’s safe to expect more than that from Kaman, as he is averaging 18.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per 36 minutes this season. In a starting role, a double-double can be expected, especially since he is replacing Aldridge, who leads the Blazers in multiple categories. The Blazers take on the Nets tonight, who are 27th in the NBA in offensive rebounding and are in the bottom half in allowing fantasy points to power forwards, where Kaman will start.
Lineup
PG – Damian Lillard $7,900
SG – Jamal Crawford $5,300
SF – LeBron James $11,000
PF – Mike Scott $3,000
C – Chris Kaman $4,300
G – Klay Thompson $7,000
F – Draymond Green $6,800
UTIL – J.J. Redick $4,700
*Keep an eye on the inactives, as things in the NBA change at the last second. Good luck tonight.
