DraftKings NBA Picks for February 14
By Mike Marteny
DraftKings NBA Picks for February 14
We only have three NBA games, and only one DraftKings tournament on Valentine’s Day. You know, the world’s largest Hallmark holiday. I don’t need a day to be nice to my significant other. I try to be nice to her all the time. You guys should do the same instead of fueling a fake holiday!
All kidding aside, we need to really reach to set ourselves from the pack tonight. Who are the best options to do that? Let’s take a look at some trends and past performances to try and get a lead on the pack tonight.
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.
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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:
Kyle Lowry ($8,100): The revolving door at point guard for the Bulls has still managed to defend fairly well, but Lowry torched the Toros for 65.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting. Despite what the stats say, he should be one of the safer bets tonight. He has hit at least 5x value in eight of the last 11 games. He should again tonight.
Darren Collison ($7,100): Collison has struggled against the Lakers so far this year, only tallying 52.5 DraftKings points in two games. However, he has played well lately, averaging 41.2 DraftKings points per game over the last three games. The scoring to offset the losses of Rudy Gay, Omri Casspi, and Garrett Temple had to come from somewhere. Collison has done his part.
Honorable Mention:
Ricky Rubio ($6,900): Rubio only had three less DraftKings points (41 to 38) than Kyrie Irving in the first game these two played. Rubio is $1,500 cheaper, and is a far better bet to hit 5x value than Irving is. He has at least 40 DraftKings points in three of the last four games. In the game he missed value, Rubio played just 21 minutes. So long as he is given run, he is a strong bet tonight.
Dark Horses:
Jordan Clarkson ($3,700): Clarkson has seen his minutes decline with D’Angelo Russell back, but Russell has really struggled against the Kings this year. The Kings are more vulnerable to spot shooter, which Clarkson is. He has 44.75 DraftKings points in two games against them this year, which places him close to 7x value if he can do that again.
Jerian Grant ($3,600): Any of the trio of point guards the Bulls roll out there are risks, but Grant is slightly less of one. Not only does he start, but he is also the lowest priced of the three. Grant has averaged 19 DraftKings points per game over the last five games, which puts him right at 6x value, and a much more consistent pick that Rajon Rondo or Michael Carter-Williams. MCW does have more upside, but he is also $1,300 more.
My picks: Lowry(PG); Rubio(PG), Clarkson(G)
Shooting Guards
Best Bet:
DeMar DeRozan ($8,000): DeRozan racked up 54 DraftKings points in the first game against the Bulls. With Dwyane Wade doubtful though, that could be bad news for DeRozan if Butler moves up to SG. Still, on a light night, you can do a lot worse than DeRozan. He is averaging 39.7 DraftKings points over the last ten games, which put him right at 5x value.
Honorable Mention:
Lou Williams ($5,400): LouWill has 52.25 DraftKings points on Sacramento this year, which would put him a shade over 5x value. His minutes have remained consistent because his shooting has. He has over 5x value in six of eight games with Russell back. Tonight should be no exception.
Ben McLemore ($4,500): This injury to Garrett Temple may have cost him his job. McLemore has put up 29.8 DraftKings points per game in his three starts so far, and should have a game in that area against the Lakers. His inconsistency got him benched earlier in the year, but he could win the job outright if he keeps playing like this.
Dark Horses:
Nick Young ($4,300): Young has been all over the place as far as fantasy production goes. In the last five games alone, he has been as low as 8.75 DraftKings points and as high as 40.5. He has a total of 38.75 DraftKings points in two games against the Kings this year. He is a dart throw on a day that demands you to stick one to win big.
Brandon Rush ($3,000): Lance Stephenson has been underwhelming, and Shabazz Muhammad has been very inconsistent. Rush is still starting, and therefore will have first crack at teeing off against a shaky Cavs perimeter defense. Muhammad put up 29.5 DraftKings points on them in the first meeting, but Stephenson wasn’t on the team and Rush was unavailable. How will the minutes be split in this one?
My pick: DeRozan(SG), Williams(G); McLemore(SG)
Small Forwards
Best Bets:
LeBron James ($10,500): James put up 62 DraftKings points in just 34 minutes in the first tilt with Minnesota, so they obviously can’t defend him. James has actually been pretty solid lately as far as hitting 5x value. He has done so in eight of the last 11 games, and has even hit 6x value a couple of times. He looks safe to use. If this game becomes a blowout, He will most likely be why since Kevin Love is out again like he was in the first meeting.
Jimmy Butler ($8,600): Early reports indicate that Butler will play. If he does, he is a great play with Wade out. Butler took Toronto for 67.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting. You should temper expectations since he has been nursing a bad heel, but if he is on the court, expect some good numbers out of him.
Honorable Mention:
Andrew Wiggins ($7,600): This price tag is a little high for me because Wiggy only put up 25.5 DraftKings points on Cleveland in the first meeting. That said, he has been picking up a lot of extra scoring with Zach LaVine out. Wiggins is averaging 42.8 DraftKings points per game with LaVine out. Expect tonight’s total to be somewhere between his first meeting with Cleveland and that average, which should leave him somewhere around 5x value.
Matt Barnes ($5,100): Barnes has averaged 29.5 DraftKings points since injuries started decimating this team. He should be a comfortable 5x value against the Lakers, but the fact that he still is not starting caps his potential for a huge game.
Dark Horses:
DeMarre Carroll ($4,200): Carroll is a good speculative play if Butler is out. He only had 17.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting with the Bulls, but Carroll has been over 5x value in three of the last four games. He is a risk, but one that could pay off if he faces off against McDermott instead of Butler.
Doug McDermott ($3,800): Dougie racked up 34.5 DraftKings points in the first game against Toronto, and the Bulls were mostly at full strength. He should see significant run again tonight, which makes him an enticing dart throw.
My Pick: McDermott(SF); James(SF), McDermott(F)
Power Forwards
Best Bet:
DeMarcus Cousins ($12,100): Cousins is the only player tonight that can get you 60 DraftKings points with any kind of consistency. In fact, Cousins has topped 60 DraftKings points in six of the last ten games. In two games against the Lakers this year, he has averaged 58.5 DraftKings points. 60 is well within reach for Cousins.
Honorable Mention:
Channing Frye ($4,900): Frye picked up 32 DraftKings points starting in place of Kevin Love the first time these two teams met. He also held Gorgui Dieng to 12.5 DraftKings points. It looks like it could be another nice game for Frye here even though his consistency is mostly lacking.
Anthony Tolliver ($3,900): Tolliver has averaged 20.8 DraftKings points over the last ten contests. He was playing well enough even before the rash of injuries, so that hasn’t affected his output much. Tolliver is the still the starter, so he is slightly more safe than Barnes, but Barnes has a lot more upside.
Tarik Black ($3,900): Black earned more run in the Lakers rotation because of his strong play with Julius Randle out. Black is now putting up about as many points as Randle is in far less minutes and for a much lower price. He has averaged 23.8 DraftKings points over the last three games while playing only 20 minutes a game.
Dark Horses:
Bobby Portis ($3,500): Portis picked up a season high 24 DraftKings points on Sunday against the Timberwolves. Keep an eye out to see if the Bulls are going to play him again. Several injuries forced him into a season high 31 points. If the Bulls look like a M*A*S*H* unit again, Portis is a strong bet.
Nemanja Bjelica ($3,200): Bjelica went buck wild on the Bulls on Sunday, racking up 35 DraftKings points in just 19 minutes. Considering that all of Minnesota’s other option at shooting guard have failed, mostly miserably, since Zach LaVine went down, the team could (should) elect to give Bjelica a shot at taking the job. Keep an eye out to see if he starts, but even if he doesn’t, he is the only one producing at the position. He makes for an intriguing play, albeit a risky one.
My pick: Cousins(PF), Tolliver(F), Bjelica(UTIL); Cousins(PF), Frye(UTIL)
Center
Best Bets:
Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,000): I didn’t recommend Towns in the first meeting against the Cavs because they are tough on centers. Well, Towns isn’t your average center. He racked up 55 DraftKings points on the Cavs the first time around. Can he do it again?
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Honorable Mention:
Tristan Thompson ($5,500): Thompson made short work of Towns without Kevin Love last time around. He racked up 44 DraftKings points for this low price. He may not get quite that many, but I’m on Thompson for at least 6x value tonight, if not more.
Jonas Valanciunas ($5,400): Valanciunas picked up 26.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting with the Bulls this year. Considering the Bulls could be severely short handed, Valanciunas could be a nice play, though the Bulls will be a full strength in the middle for the most part.
Dark Horses:
Ivica Zubac ($3,800): The Lakers still don’t have much of a plan at center, it seems. Timofey Mozgov has been ineffective at best. Tarik Black has done fairly well in limited minutes. Zubac has been effective against some teams, and not so much against others. Sacramento presents a good matchup for whomever the Lakers give run to at center. If it’s Zubac, he could be a great value.
Lucas Nogueira ($3,400): The Raptors have been using Nogueira at power forward to get him and Valanciunas on the court at the same time. The results have been mostly favorable, like they were against the Bulls the first time around. Nogueira racked up 25.5 DraftKings points in that game. If he can do it again, you have a hell of a bargain.
My pick: Thompson(C); Nogueira(C)
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!