Daily Fantasy Basketball: Clippers’ C DeAndre Jordan is Thursday’s top play

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-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”.  Los Angeles Clippers’ C DeAndre Jordan flies high as Thursday’s top Daily Fantasy Basketball play.

Let’s rip it up.

HIGH FIVE:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook, OKC ($7,700): The selection here is more of a product of expected return on salary than any insinuation that Westbrook will be the top scoring PG of the evening.  I think Westbrook certainly has a chance, but I’m guessing that honor will go to one Chris Paul.  Either way, Westbrook will need to get just 38.5 FPs to hit value, a number he’s been clearing on average over the last four games, and in limited minutes.

With some extra run tonight in a competitive game, I fully expect Westbrook can come away with a 40+ FP game.  Also consider: Goran Dragic, PHO ($8,500)

Shooting Guard: Kent Bazemore, LAL ($4,800): Bazemore has been getting steady minutes and producing above value lately, with an average of 26.6 FPG over his last seven games.

Tonight’s game is against a Los Angeles Clippers squad that has performed well against opposing SGs in recent weeks.  Given Bazemore’s proven ability to produce, though, and even against top-notch defenses (see: 35.3 FP vs. Indiana on the road), I like our chances with the young guard in a high scoring game.  Also consider, Gerald Green, PHO ($6,300), who should have his way with Perry Jones III.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant, OKC ($12,100): Although LeBron James is certainly capable of a big game vs. the San Antonio Spurs tonight, I’ll take my chances with Durant in a higher scoring game.  Durant has surpassed 50 FPs seven times in his last ten games, including five games in which he was over 60 FPs.  I fully expect similar results in the 50-60 FP range this evening in Phoenix against a Suns squad that he toyed with for 33 points and 11 rebounds last meeting.

Power Forward: Pau Gasol, LAL ($9,000):  In light of recent performances, Gasol’s price has ticked up to elite level, but he’s still $700 less than our other elite PF option available tonight, Blake Griffin.

Given the necessity of Gasol’s output to his team’s success, I’ll take Gasol over Griffin, who’s seen a dip in his production following Chris Paul’s return to the lineup.  Gasol has averaged over 44 FPs in his last three games, and should be able to get into that 40-45 FP range again this evening.  None of this should be taken to suggest that I don’t like the Griffin play here, but rather that I trust Gasol a tad more to hit value and would like to see if I can make that extra money work for me somewhere else in my lineup.

Center: DeAndre Jordan, LAC ($8,300): It’s pretty obvious that Jordan is the top play at center tonight just by looking at the available players.  He’s been a double-double machine lately, while producing in the defensive categories as well.  Jordan should have no problem dominating the Lakers weak frontcourt this evening and getting 40-45 FPs in this high scoring game.  The only thing capable of slowing DeAndre Jordan down this evening is a blowout.

Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

low five:

Point Guard: Darren Collison, LAC ($5,600): With Jamal Crawford expected to be out again tonight vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, Collison will get the start.  Over the past three games, Collison has scored 33.1, 22.7 and 30.7 FPs and should be able to produce in that range again vs. a weak Lakers’ backcourt.

Shooting Guard: Manu Ginobili, SA ($4,700): Not a lot of value today at SG, especially considering my “HIGH FIVE” pick already represents a great value tonight.  That said, Ginobili has produced recently, and I think he’s got a 20-25 FP game in him vs. the Heat, though for a similar price I definitely prefer Bazemore.

Small Forward: Matt Barnes, LAC ($5,300): Barnes has been averaging over 29 FPs over his last six games and should produce somewhere in that 25-30 FP range again tonight vs. a Los Angeles Lakers team that has ranked dead last at defending the SF. Also consider: Wesley Johnson, LAL ($5,200)

Power Forward: Marcus Morris, PHO ($4,000): Marcus Morris has been doing work over his last three games, averaging better than 25 FPs.  Value is 20 FPs for Morris tonight, and he should be able to get that in extra minutes with the news that Miles Plumlee will miss this evening’s game.  Also consider: Boris Diaw, SA ($4,900)

Center: Tiago Splitter, SA ($4,500): Definitely a “play with caution” type selection, but with the Spurs down a man to injury in their frontcourt, I can see a few extra minutes for Splitter this evening vs. the Miami Heat.  If he can pick up the extra minutes, I can absolutely see Splitter producing value against a weak Miami frontcourt.  It will all depend on how coach Gregg Popovich approaches the situation.  Could be Splitter, could be Diaw.

Thank you and good luck tonight !!!
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