FanDuel daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup-December 23
High Salary PG
Russell Westbrook-Oklahoma City Thunder (12,800): One way to look at tonight is that there are a ton of value options to help you counteract taking on a monster salary like Westbrook to build around. For that strategy to work, you have to get a big night from your star and pick the right sleepers. Westbrook is in Boston tonight with his almost 13K salary. To really be worth that much he has to get at least 60+ fantasy points. He has over 60 fantasy points in three straight coming into tonight and had 57.4 fantasy points against Boston in OKC back on December 11. His last three game have been absolutely crazy with 26-11-22 (points-rebounds-assists) for 73.2 fantasy points, 46-11-7 for 67.7 fantasy points, and 42-10-7 for 62.5 fantasy points. Westbrook can put on a show and put up up monster numbers in any given matchup and he will continue to carry all the weight of the Thunder offense with backcourt-mate Victor Oladipo already ruled out. Westbrook is a solid play, but anyone at this price is a risk as well since anything less than total greatness will be a letdown.∗∗
Damian Lillard-Portland Trail Blazers (9,000): Lillard and the Blazers host former-teammate LaMarcus Aldridge and the Spurs in Portland tonight. He should be able to find room to operate tonight since the Spurs shutdown defenders are at other positions besides PG as we saw last night when Chris Paul and Raymond Felton put up good numbers against them. Lillard has been a good numbers machine lately with at least 44 fantasy points in six of his last ten. He had 24-4-15 for 51.3 on Tuesday against the Kings but only 29-3-4 against Dallas the following night. At home against San Antonio, I think Lillard will be near 50 fantasy points again especially since he’ll be ready to remind Aldridge what he left behind.∗∗∗
Isaiah Thomas-Boston Celtics (8,200): Thomas and the Celtics got a win on the road in Indiana last night to complete their undefeated road trip and come home to face the Thunder. They have won four in a row since Thomas returned and he has posted games of 35.1 fantasy points (26-3-5), 31.4 fantasy points (23-2-4), 61.6 fantasy points (44-3-6), and 42.7 fantasy points (28-1-9). Thomas missed his chance to take on the Thunder earlier this month with a groin injury, but he should make a good play tonight against OKC who allows the eight-most fantasy points per game to opposing PG.∗∗∗
Kyrie Irving-Cleveland Cavaliers (7,500): Irving has been on fire for Cleveland their last few games and gets a great matchup tonight against the Nets who allow the most fantasy points per game to opposing PG. Irving has at least 39 fantasy points in his last three games including 31-6-13 against the Bucks on Wednesday for 55.7 fantasy points. Part of Kyrie’s recent numbers have been the absence of Kevin Love, but even if Love returns tonight, Irving’s matchup against the Nets and recent form make him a solid option to consider. ∗∗∗∗
Dennis Schroder-Atlanta Hawks (7,100): Schroder and the Hawks soar to the Mile High City to face the Nuggets who are the third-worst team in the NBA at limiting opposing PG fantasy points. Schroder should be able to take advantage of the matchup after posting at least 31 fantasy points in seven of his last eight and ten of his last twelve. Schroder has scored at least 20 points in three of his last four while continuing to hand out good assists and limit turnovers. He should be able to help the Hawks to a big point total tonight in Denver as he continues his breakout campaign.∗∗∗∗
Jeremy Lin-Brooklyn Nets (6,400): Lin had a very solid all-around performance on Thursday against Golden State finishing with 10-8-11 with two blocks and two steals in 32 minutes for 39.1 fantasy points. He has at least 22 fantasy points in all five games since returning from an extended absence, and he looks like he’s ready to be a regular in the midrange of our FanDuel daily picks. He’s a little boom-or-bust still, but he has lots of upside to like tonight against the Cavs who allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing PG.∗∗
Next: High Value PG