DraftKings NBA Picks for February 3
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings NBA Picks for February 3
We are up to nine games for the main DraftKings tournaments tonight. Both Westbrook and the slumping Harden are in action tonight. Should we pony up the money for either of them, or roll with a more balanced slate?
Don’t forget to follow @fantasycpr on Twitter for lineup updates as we get them leading to the tipoffs of the games! I am not always able to get back in here and fix my picks when someone sits for the night, but we will update it on Twitter. There was a flurry of inactives yesterday, and many lineup changes, so make sure you check in with our updates!
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Most of my picks end up being a little on the conservative side, so these lineups may be better suited for cash games, though I usually play both types.
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Point Guards
Best Bets:
Isaiah Thomas ($10,000): There are a lot of pitfalls at PG tonight. Russell Westbrook hasn’t reached 5x value in five straight games. It wont happen against Memphis either, since he has averaged 47.5 against them in two games. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a slightly better bet, but he has not hit 5x value in his last five game either. Then you have Thomas, who has been one of the best players in the league this month. He has averaged 52.4 DraftKings points per game over the last ten games with none of them under 45 points. He has a great floor and a high ceiling. If you are spending big, Thomas is the place to do it at this position.
Kyle Lowry ($8,900): Someone forgot to tell Lowry that the Magic are tough on point guards. They are the third best team in the league defending the point, yet Lowry has 91.75 DraftKings points against them in two games. He likely wont be widely used, so this is a nice pivot option.
Honorable Mention:
Damian Lillard ($8,000): I have mixed feelings about Lillard tonight. His price has finally dropped to match his recent run of subpar production. He has a tough matchup in Dallas, but Lillard has scored 94.25 DraftKings points in two games against the Mavs this year. Consider him a risky option who has the potential to come up big.
Jeff Teague ($7,500): He had his hot streak come to a screeching halt against Orlando, but they have done that to many a point guard. Teague has averaged 37.8 DraftKings points in three games against Brooklyn this year. He put up more than 45 DraftKings points in four of five games before the Orlando debacle, so there is potential for a big game here.
Ricky Rubio ($6,700): It’s becoming hard to ignore his good performances against good defensive teams. Rubio racked up over 50 DraftKings points against the Magic, and went for 38 against Cleveland. He also went for 50 against the Spurs a couple of weeks ago. Rubio has averaged 37 DraftKings points per game since returning from a sore hip. His first game against the Pistons wasn’t a good one, but considering the way he is playing right now, he may be worth a flier here.
Dark Horses:
D’Angelo Russell ($5,900): Russell proved his dominance against Denver wasn’t a fluke. He went wild again last night against the Wizards. Boston will provide more resistance, but Russell is on fire right now. The only thing that may stop him is if the Lakers limit his minutes in the second game of a back to back.
Yogi Ferrell ($5,100): Ferrell has averaged 30 DraftKings points per game with Deron Williams out. DWill is still considered questionable for tomorrow. However, I still have this feeling that Dallas may start Ferrell anyway because of the way the team has been playing. If he starts, I trust him enough to use him.
Ish Smith ($3,200): Smith actually played six minutes more than starter Reggie Jackson on Wednesday night. It has nothing to do with injury. Smith has just been on fire lately. He has only missed two shots in his last two games, and has racked up 51 DraftKings points in that span. His hot shooting should give him more minutes, especially since Jackson has been cold. He is an interesting high risk play tonight.
My pick: Thomas(PG), Russell(G); Teague(PG), Russell(G)
Shooting Guards
Best Bets:
James Harden ($12,500): The Beard was finally back over 5x value last night against the Hawks. He could do the same tonight against a Bulls team still looking for direction after the Rajon Rondo bomb went off. Harden is a better play than Westbrook, but I don’t know if he will be better than Thomas when you take the price difference into account. However, if you can get both into your lineup without sacrificing too much elsewhere, you may be on to something.
DeMar DeRozan ($7,700): Word from the Great White North is that DeMar will play tomorrow, but we wont know for sure until shootaround. He put up 39.25 DraftKings points in his last game, which was also against Orlando. If he takes the court, he is a solid play. If he is out again, fire up Norman Powell ($5,700). Otherwise, I doubt Powell plays enough to get 5x value.
Dwyane Wade ($7,000): You have to hand it to Wade. Despite all the distractions, he has been remarkably consistent. If you take out the game that he didn’t start, Wade is averaging 46.5 DraftKings points over the last five games. Harden is better defensively than he was a couple of years ago, but I don’t know that he is good enough to stop Wade when he is playing like this.
Honorable Mention:
Devin Booker ($6,800): Booker has between 33 and 39 DraftKings points in each of his last eight games. That includes matchups against Cleveland, Minnesota, Memphis, and the Clippers, all of whom are pretty good on the outside. He has finally become a consistent threat. Booker struggled in his first game against Sacramento, but I would say that he is a strong bet to do better with the way he has played lately.
Lou Williams ($5,800): LouWill is a perimeter assassin. He has averaged 37.3 DraftKings points over the last four games. His production doesn’t seem to have dipped much with Russell back in the fold. Williams is almost exclusively a shooter though. If he goes cold, he can really hurt your lineup.
Seth Curry ($5,800): Curry has averaged 40.2 DraftKings points per game with Williams out, so if DWill does play, his value takes a bit of a hit. That said, it will likely be Ferrell and Devin Harris who see the biggest cut in minutes with the way Curry can shoot. He is likely worth using even if Williams plays.
Dark Horses:
Victor Oladipo ($5,200): With all of the other SG options, Oladipo is often overlooked. He isn’t going to light up the scoreboard anytime soon, but he has remained consistent this month at just a shade over 5x value. He picked up 24.25 DraftKings points in his only game against Memphis this year, so he should be right around 5x value again.
Glenn Robinson III ($3,200): The wing is awfully crowded in Indianapolis right now, but its not like Monta Ellis or C.J. Miles are running off with the job. Robinson has picked up 46.25 DraftKings points over the last two games despite playing only 21 minutes per game. He has 61.5 in three games against Brooklyn so far this year. He is also an interesting dart throw if you need to go cheap.
My pick: Booker (SG); Curry(SG)
Small Forwards
Best Bets:
Jimmy Butler ($9,000): Butler’s mojo was thrown off coming off the bench against Miami. He was 1-13 from the floor in that game. That has proven to be the exception though. He has averaged 50 DraftKings points per game over the last five games in the ones he has started. Houston is a good matchup for him. Look for another strong game from Butler.
Paul George ($8,100): George had a miserable game against Orlando on Wednesday, goin 3-14 from the field. That ended a streak of four straight 30 point games for George. He gets a reprieve tonight in Brooklyn, who really isn’t good against any position. George has 79.75 DraftKings points in two games against the Nets so far. He should wind up with around 5x value tonight as long as he isn’t ice cold from the field again.
Honorable Mention:
Jae Crowder ($6,200): Crowder has more value if Avery Bradley it out again. Even if Bradley plays though, Crowder has a good shot at 5x value. He has not been below 27 DraftKings points since January 10th. He is one of the safer options in this price range, but he lacks upside.
Wilson Chandler ($5,700): Danilo Gallinari is out tonight, and possibly through the weekend as well. That will thrust Chandler into the starting lineup. Chandler has been over 6x value in the last six games in which he has played more than 30 minutes. He could have a huge night for his price as long as he starts.
Dark Horses:
Caris Levert ($3,900): Levert has averaged 22.7 DraftKings points since he started receiving 22-27 minutes a game eight games ago. A couple of times he has been as low as 4x value, but he has mostly been at 5x or above. He is a relatively low-risk option if you need to go cheap. I trust him more than playing roulette with the Suns’ duo of T.J. Warren and P.J. Tucker.
Matt Barnes ($3,900): With Garrett Temple, Rudy Gay, and Omri Casspi all out for at least a couple more weeks, Barnes should either start or see a ton of minutes. He has 49 DraftKings points over the last two games, and should be able to stay around that 25 DraftKings points per game average going forward.
My Pick: Chandler(SF), Crowder(F), Barnes(PF); George(SF), Barnes(F)
Power Forwards
Best Bets:
Serge Ibaka ($6,200): Power forward is a mess tonight. DeMarcus Cousins only had 35 DraftKings points in the first meeting with the Suns, so I don’t trust him again. Karl-Anthony Towns had just 31 DraftKings points against Detroit in the first meeting. Hell, even Ibaka struggled against Toronto, posting only 38.25 DraftKings points in two games. So why am I giving Ibaka the benefit of the doubt over the other two? Because he has 82.25 DraftKings points over the last two games while playing 37 minutes in each game. He only played 27 per game against Toronto earlier this year. There is reason for optimism here.
Kenneth Faried ($6,000): Nikola Jokic is still listed as questionable, so keep an eye on his status. If Jokic plays, it destroys Faried’s value. He has averaged 40 DraftKings points in the three games with Jokic out. Expecting that against the Bucks is too ambitious, but 5x value is likely.
Honorable Mention:
Zach Randolph ($5,400): Randolph continues to turn in 5x value nearly every night in his bench role. You are playing Randolph for stability, not for upside. The only time he really shows upside is when JaMychal Green is out. However, Randolph is one of the safer bets around, and should be a little over 5x value due to the Thunder missing Enes Kanter. For that reason, Green could be a nice value at $3,900 as well.
Gorgui Dieng ($5,300): Dieng was a non-factor against Cleveland on Wednesday, playing just 21 minutes because of foul trouble. The Pistons are strong up front, but Dieng managed 28.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting. It makes sense that Dieng has a little more upside here since Towns was shut down by Drummond. That is likely what happens again.
Dark Horses:
Al-Farouq Aminu ($4,800): Dallas is one of the better teams up front, but Aminu has matched up well with Dallas in two meetings. Aminu put up 55 DraftKings points in two games. This despite him shooting just 29% from the floor in those games. Aminu has quite a little upside for this price tonight.
Anthony Tolliver ($3,500): It will be interesting to see who the Kings go with at SF with everyone out. Tolliver played well when he started, but did not play as well coming off the bench after Gay went down. Now both Barnes and Tolliver will play a lot with Temple out. My guess is that Barnes gets first crack. I want to play whomever starts tonight.
Tarik Black ($3,200): Black racked up 27.25 DraftKings points in 26 minutes last night while Julius Randle played just six minutes off the bench in his return from illness. Obviously, Randle is not at full strength, and likely wont be tonight either. That could open Black up for another big game.
My pick: N/A; Green(PF)
Center
Best Bets:
Andre Drummond ($7,900): For whatever reason, Towns gets abused on the defensive end. Drummond locked him down on defense in the first meeting, then schooled him on offense to the tune of 52.5 DraftKings points in just 28 minutes. Drummond was a monster in the first game with Minnesota. He will be again. I’m playing him. You should too!
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Marc Gasol ($7,800): On paper, this is not a good matchup for Gasol, but paper doesn’t account for what a good all around player Gasol is. He put up 87 DraftKings points in two games against the Thunder earlier this season. He is safe to use again if you are fading the popular choice in Drummond.
Honorable Mention:
Nikola Vucevic ($7,000): Vucevic dominated the Raptors back on January 29th, putting up 57 DraftKings points in 33 minutes. It is no secret that Toronto is not great up front, but this was surprising considering he splits minutes with Bismack Biyombo. Expect Vucevic to play a larger share of the minutes since he has posted 139 DraftKings points over the last three games.
Myles Turner ($6,900): Honsestly, I would like to play at least three centers tonight. The best matchups on the board are in the middle, so playing on DraftKings has a clear advantage over FanDuel tonight. Turner is not eligible at power forward anymore, which is disappointing. He racked up 128.5 DraftKings points in his first three games against the Nets. Brooklyn wont be able to stop him here either.
Dark Horses:
Jonas Valanciunas ($5,400): He was embarrassed by Vucevic on Saturday, but he still managed to put up 27.25 DraftKings points of his own, putting him squarely at 5x value. He doesn’t have the upside of the more expensive centers, but if you are looking for a cheaper utility player, JoVal should hit 5x value.
Clint Capela ($4,700): Capela played over 30 minutes for the first time since his return to the lineup last night, and he didn’t disappoint. He ended up with 38.75 DraftKings points against a decent Atlanta team. Chicago is average in the middle. If Capela plays like he did last night, average wont cut it.
Salah Mejri ($3,600): Mejri played 21 minutes amidst the trees from Philadelphia and racked up 42.25 DraftKings points with Andrew Bogut out. Portland also has size in the middle, and given the way Mejri played on Wednesday, he should be given at least 20 minutes in this one as well. However, if he doesn’t start, there is risk involved.
My pick: Drummond(C), Mejri(UTIL); Drummond(C), Turner(UTIL)
Stay tuned for our FanDuel picks, and our picks for NHL and the PGA tour! We even have some EPL picks coming your way! Once again, make sure to follow our Twitter feed leading up to tipoff! If Porzingis and Williams play, the whole second lineup will implode!