Hoop-Dreaming: DraftKings NBA Plays for Thursday 2-9-17
Hoop-Dreaming: DraftKings NBA GPP Plays for Thursday 2-9-17
Thanks for clicking! I am going to be breaking down tonight’s DraftKings NBA action and discussing the various picks that are aimed to help win some money on DraftKings. The picks are mainly geared for GPP tournaments and will carry more risk but also offer more reward. After all, we are seeking to have one of our tickets be the winner among hundreds of thousands of other entries.
There is a 5 game NBA slate on DraftKings tonight. There is expected to be some uptempo roundball being played tonight with 3 games carrying totals over 218 points. Currently 4 games have a point spread less than 5 points which minimizes the risk of blowouts. There is also star power galore with multiple MVP candidates in action.
Of course, there are always injuries which will open the door for some players to significantly outperform their salary. Make sure and check Fantasy CPR for other helpful NBA articles. Also, don’t forget to look for lineup changes periodically throughout the day and especially before tipoff. Also, you can find me in your GPP tournaments. Let’s take a look at tonight’s games.
Point Guards and Shooting Guards
He does not garner near the type of the attention that his backcourt mate rightfully deserves, but Eric Gordon ($5,100) is capable of hot streaks of his own. The shooting guard has found a system that allows him to thrive as a volume shooter. There will be plenty of jumpers to go around in this game and Gordon will knock down his fair share.
Allen Crabbe ($4,200) will look to take advantage of extra minutes due to the injury to Evan Turner. The host Portland Trail Blazers will be catching the Boston Celtics on the second night of a back-to-back set. The minutes will be there for him and hopefully the production will follow.
It is shaping up to be a high-octane game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Houston Rockets. Kemba Walker ($7,900) and the Hornets will see a boost in possessions this game which will allow for more opportunities for fantasy points. Walker also has the ability to accumulate steals which can separate him from others in his price range.
It has not been quite the year that Damian Lillard ($8,900) and the Trail Blazers had envisioned. However there is still time for Lillard and the team to change that narrative. They both have a good matchup tonight playing at home against a Boston Celtics squad who will be playing on consecutive nights.
After sustaining injuries last year and portions of this year, Wesley Matthews ($5,400) has been rounding into shape. He appears to have found the range with his outside jumper as of late and has had a couple major outings recently. His ownership levels have also risen so keep that in mind.
Small Forwards and Power Forwards
He is not known outside of DFS circles and his homeland but Dario Saric ($4,100) has shown glimpses of what his game could grow into. For the time being though, Saric is relegated to back up duties. However, on a depleted Philadelphia 76ers squad, he has the opportunity to play additional minutes and reach value for his salary.
As is usually the case, the low point total in the game puts somewhat of a damper on Gordon Hayward ($7,300) being able to fully run loose. Even so, Hayward has a nice salary for his potential output and there is always the possibility of the game turning into an uptempo affair.
Hoping for the exact scenario but from the other side of the court will be Harrison Barnes ($6,000). Barnes has a better chance of reaching 6x or 7x than Hayward but is also somewhat limited due to the expected pace of this game. As one of the younger players on the team, perhaps Barnes and his energy can propel them through the 2nd half of the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers will be relying on Ersan Ilyasova ($5,600) as injuries and the grind of the NBA season take their toll on the team. Ilyasova should be able to clear over 30 fantasy points in this game and hit near 6x value. He will pose a matchup problem for the Orlando Magic big men and forwards both in the paint and on the perimeter.
In a marquee matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James ($10,200) and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to continue their recent success. It will be the second night of a back-to-back for James so there is potential for rest and also for a dip in production tonight. Make sure and check any updates throughout the day.
Centers – The Men in the Middle
He is a very risky play at his salary but Nikola Vucevic ($7,700) offers the type of upside needed in large tournaments. If he is able to garner some steals and block a few shots inside the paint then Vucevic will be in position for an excellent outing. The Philadelphia frontcourt is injured and also coming off a loss last night to the San Antonio Spurs.
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At a lower salary point and with higher upside tonight is Rudy Gobert ($6,700). He should have no problem against any of the Dallas Maverick defenders and should rack up plenty of rebounds on both ends of the floor. He will likely be highly owned in tournaments tonight but his salary is hard to look away from.
Dirk Nowitzki ($5,000) turned back the clock against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night with a vintage performance. It is unreasonable to expect these type of games consistently from Dirk but he has clearly shown that there is gas left in his tank. While he will have a hard time on the defensive end in this game, he poses a matchup problem for the Utah Jazz when he is on the offense end.
The versatile Al Horford ($7,200) is the type of center that benefits the most from an up-tempo basketball game where the floor is spaced well. He is quick for his size, has touch around the rim, and can stretch the floor as far as the three-point line. He will be the best center on the floor when he is checked in and should have no problem with the Portland big men.
Tristan Thompson ($4,900) will look to take advantage of a defensively weak Oklahoma City squad who is currently shorthanded at the center position. Thompson is capable of a 20 point and 10 rebound performance any game and tonight is a great opportunity for him to do so. As one of the younger players on the team, his legs should be fresher than some of his other teammates.
Thanks for reading and best of luck tonight!
Best of luck tonight in your DraftKings NBA contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR all day on Twitter for late breaking lineup news and roster updates!