Point Guard
Ray McCallum (DK $3000, FD $3600, 13.7 USG) – We had written up Patty Mills yesterday morning assuming he would draw the start for Tony Parker. Pop went Pop on us and inserted Ray McCallum instead. At the end of the day, both Mills and McCallum aren’t high usage guys who will go HAM on a stat sheet but I do prefer the starter though, given the security of extra minutes. The Spurs are playing the Lakers tonight and much like yesterday, the Spurs are in position to sit the veterans. They’re currently 16 point favorites so I’d be surprised if Parker (hip) or anyone with a lingering injury plays. If McCallum draws the start again, he’d make for a solid value play priced at the minimum. He played 29 minutes last night against the Suns and scored 21 DKPTS (7 X’s value). The Lakers are the only team worse than the Suns at defending PG’s giving up 56.7 DKPTS/46.4 FDPTS per game. If Parker ends up playing, I’d look to someone a bit more pricier like Ty Lawson with Patrick Beverly out.
[Try Daily Fantasy Basketball On FantasyHub Tonight]
Get the latest NBA Odds on XN Sports
Shooting Guard
Joe Young (DK $3500, FD $3800, 26.3 USG) – Fun fact: Joe Young owns the highest USG% (31.5) over the last week for the Pacers minus George Hill, Rodney Stuckey and Ian Mahinmi. Yup, even more than Monta Ellis and PG13. Expect more of the same tonight because the Pacers are still depleted and will likely be blown out in Golden State. The young guys will get their run, no pun intended. Young has averaged close to 20 minutes over his last 2 games scoring 26.05 DKPTS per game. He’s averaging 1.42 fantasy points per min during this stretch, which is Boban territory (more on this later). If you believe IND somehow keeps this game close (currently GS -12.5), Young will be interesting but not as appealing. But if you’re like me and assume GS wins this game pretty easily, Young is an elite value play. Also, with the Heat only playing with 8 healthy players in TOR tonight, I wouldn’t be opposed to rostering Josh Richardson.
Small Forward
Aaron Gordon (DK $4400, FD $4200, 16.6 USG) – Ok, maybe Skiles is really being serious this time. Last time Skiles teased us with potential lineup changes (Wednesday), he went back on his word and kept Channing Frye in the starting lineup (because analytics told him to, which still doesn’t make sense). Then the Sixers crushed them and Skiles brought up potential changes again but this time, everyone believes him so let’s just roll with it. A lot of people are going to be on Justice Winslow starting for Luol Deng in Miami but he really doesn’t do much for me, only averaging .54 fantasy points per minute. I’d much rather spend an extra $400 on Gordon and his .88 fantasy point per minute production. Victor Oladipo is expected to return tonight making things less attractive for everyone in ORL but Gordon shouldn’t be affected much. He’s the kind of guy that doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be productive so don’t let that sway you in a different direction but this is only IF GORDON IS STARTING. I don’t trust those rotations anymore even if he’s continuing to get solid minutes off the bench.
NOTE: Gordon is PF eligible on FD.
Power Forward
Terrence Jones (DK $4700, FD $4500, 19.8 USG) – With Dwight Howard being ruled out for tonight’s game, Terrence Jones and Clint Capela both are in play. The Milwaukee Bucks give up the 4th most fantasy points to power forwards and have the leagues worst defensive rebounding rate. As long as Jones gets his 30 minutes, he’ll exceed value as he’s averaging .91 DKPTS per minute without Howard. Everything is aligned perfectly here for Jones to have a nice game and considering that value at PF is quite thin tonight, he’s one of my favorite plays on the slate. I’m not looking at Amare Stoudamire at all. Maybe Charlie V if Dirk is out again but even that doesn’t do much for me.
Center
Boban Marjanovich (DK $3200, FD $3500, – I mentioned yesterday when writing Boban up that there was no way in hell I was not going to play him. There actually was a moment I considered not playing him (was thinking of pivoting to WCS minutes before the Kings game) but then I realized this was the Suns the Spurs were going up against so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. And as expected, Boban went in full Boban mode. He exploded for 35.8 fantasy points in only 22 minutes! I don’t know what else to say about this guy that hasn’t been said before. Per minutes played, he’s a fantasy God (53.90 DKPTS per 36). When to roster him is the tricky part. Usually, the Spurs have to be large favorites and one of their big men need to sit. It can be a bit risky if the Spurs choose to not rest anyone despite being huge favorites but as long as LMA or Duncan sit, he has a decent chance to see the court. Well today, the Spurs get to face the Lakers and I’d be surprised if Pop played his guys in a game where they’re 16 point favorites on the road. Add in the fact that the Lakers give up the most fantasy points to opposing centers and we might have ourselves back to back Boban nights. But he isn’t necessarily a lock for me tonight because of the value at the position. I can’t recall another night in recent memory that there were so many quality cheap centers to roster. You’re guess is as good as mine when choosing between these 4.
I have them ranked in this order:
- Boban Marjanovich (if Duncan or LMA rest)
- Myles Turner (Mahinmi has been ruled out)
- Frank Kaminsky (Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller have been ruled out)
- Spencer Hawes (expected to start for Cody Zeller)
