Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
HIGH FIVE/low five
Daily Fantasy can be quite the grind! Let us do the grinding for you with “High Five/Low Five”. Each day we help put you in the money by presenting you with FIVE of the “top-tier” plays, as well as a quick list of FIVE “value plays”. Houston Rockets’ SG James Harden flies high as Thursday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play of the night.
Let’s rip it up.
HIGH FIVE:
Point Guard: Brandon Knight, MIL ($6,700): Yes, Stephen Curry will probably outscore Brandon Knight this evening, but as far as value is concerned, I’m thinking Knight provides a better return on his salary — especially given the amount of minutes he should see tonight following the news that Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal have been shipped to Charlotte. Tonight’s contest vs. the Denver Nuggets features a 205 over/under, which should allow for Milwaukee to play up in pace. Knight has a vault threshold of 33.5 FPs tonight, and with him having reached 30 FPs in six of his last seven, surpassing value shouldn’t be a problem given the uptick in pace and minutes he’ll receive.
Shooting Guard: James Harden, HOU ($8,600): Without a doubt, Harden should be the top scorer at what is a weak SG position tonight. Fresh off a very nice 61.7 FP performance vs. the Los Angeles Lakers last night (in just three quarters of action), Harden will look to continue that success again in a bit more difficult matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors. Nonetheless, it’s a matchup in what should be a competitive and high scoring game against a team he’s averaged 30.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists against in two meetings this year.
Small Forward: Lebron James, MIA ($11,500): It’s real a coin flip tonight between Lebron and Kevin Durant, as they’ve both been playing out of their mind lately. That said, Lebron is just a tad cheaper, and minus that horrible game against Utah on February 8th, just a tad bit hotter, seemingly playing with something to prove over the past couple of weeks. Also, with Russell Westbrook expected back tonight, his return could eat into Durant’s production just a bit. All those things considered, I’m playing LeBron for a slightly cheaper salary. Again, though, you can’t go wrong with either player.
Power Forward: David Lee, GS ($7,900): I liked David Lee in yesterday’s column and he paid off. I’m thinking he does so again as tonight’s top PF option. Houston has had problems defending the PF position all season, and that trend has continued in recent weeks. Last time out vs. Houston, Lee went for 23 points and 10 rebounds. I expect similar numbers tonight, especially if Andrew Bogut is forced to miss his sixth-straight game.
Center: Dwight Howard, HOU ($9,100): Andrew Bogut is questionable tonight vs. Houston, and his absence would leave the Warriors with nobody that can handle Howard. Howard has been hot lately, topping 40 FPs in five out his last six games, and should have no problem bettering that, perhaps even surpassing his value threshold of 45.5 FPs. With the lack of good options at the center position tonight, Howard is nearly a must play. Don’t miss out.
Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
low five:
Point Guard: Nate Wolters, MIL ($4,300): Wolters has played very well as of late, averaging over 30 FPs in his last four contests. Wolters should top that mark again tonight, with big minutes following the trade of Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal, and in a faster paced game than your normal Milwaukee Bucks’ tilt.
Shooting Guard: Evan Fournier, DEN ($4,000): Fournier is another player that benefits from a recent trade, following Jordan Hamilton‘s move to the Houston Rockets. Fournier was excellent last game, scoring 43.6 FPs, and while a repeat performance is unlikely, reaching value is not. Fournier needs 20 FPs for value tonight, and should have no problem getting that and a little more.
Small Forward: Draymond Green, GS ($3,500): Draymond Green has, statistically, been the primary beneficiary of the time Andrew Bogut has missed. Bogut is again questionable for tonight’s game, and as such, Green should be considered once more. Green has topped 25 FPs in three straight and should at least reach value again tonight if Bogut sits out.
Power Forward: Ersan Ilyasova, MIL ($5,100): Larry Sanders will be out again tonight, and as a result, Ilyasova should see big minutes again vs. a Denver Nuggets team that ranks near the very bottom of the league against the PF position. As always, the fact that Ilyasova is coached by Larry Drew peppers this pick with a bit a risk. Nonetheless, I think Ilyasova is good for 20-25 FPs on a night with very few cheap plays at PF.
Center: Chris Andersen, MIA ($3,800): On such a short slate, there isn’t a lot to love among the value plays, especially at center. Chris Andersen, though, does have a value threshold of only 19 FPs and has been hovering around that with some consistency as of late. He should be able to get near that tonight vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team he put up eight points and seven rebounds against last time out.
Thank you and good luck tonight !!!