DraftKings Early NBA picks December 2: Kyrie should dominate the Suns

We have three early games in the NBA today, so we have a DraftKings tournament for that! With a small slate, we have to get creative with our lineups. Let’s find some under the radar stars!

Point Guards

Best Bets:

Kyrie Irving ($9,200): Name a point guard that hasn’t lit up the Suns this year. Go ahead, I’ll wait. You aren’t going to find one. The Suns are being torched by opposing point guards, especially those like Irving that put the point in point guard. Irving put up 36 points against the Sixers on Thursday. Expect a repeat performance tonight, with perhaps a few more assists.

Spencer Dinwiddie ($7,000): The Hawks have improved against the point lately, but that may just be because there are easier ways to attack this team. At any rate, Dinwiddie isn’t going to be much of a value at this price, but 5x value is likely against the Hawks. I don’t like Dinwiddie enough to use him over Kyrie, but he is a solid option at the SG or G slots.

Honorable Mention:

Austin Rivers ($6,100): Rivers has essentially become Lou Williams, just $1,700 cheaper. Rivers has at least 6x value in three of the last four, and was over 5x value in the other. I don’t trust LouWill enough to pay that much for him, but Rivers is lighting it up off the bench. I don’t mind using him at all!

Dark Horses:

Tyler Ulis ($4,200): Ulis has been outperforming Mike James again lately. James still has a little more upside, but Ulis has been the more consistent one lately. However, if you have followed this at all this season, it fluctuates back and forth. You are taking a sizeable risk with either one, honestly.

Devin Harris ($3,900): Harris stepped up with Dennis Smith Jr. battling a virus on Wednesday. Smith will likely be close to full health tonight, but Harris’s skill set is better against the Clippers than that of Barea or Yogi Ferrell. Harris has at least 20 DraftKings points in four of the last five games, so the coaches are trusting him more than any other backup guard right now.

My pick: Irving(PG)

Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Kent Bazemore ($6,000): I don’t really care for any of the top SG options tonight. You couldn’t pay me to use Devin Booker against Boston’s best SG defense and Jaylen Brown has been awful lately. So it falls to the maddeningly inconsistent Bazemore. The Nets aren’t great on the perimeter, but Bazemore was mildly disappointing against the Cavs in his last outing. There is risk involved with all of these.

Marcus Smart ($5,700): With Brown struggling, someone has to be stepping up. The Celtics have a ton of options on the wing, but I trust Smart a little more because of his defensive prowess. Smart is worth a look at a horrifyingly weak position.

Honorable Mention:

Allen Crabbe ($5,100): Crabbe has been upgraded to probable with his sore back. That is good news for the Nets and DFS players alike. Crabbe picked up 31.75 DraftKings points in his first game against Atlanta. He could end up being the highest scorer at the position today.

Caris LeVert ($5,000): LeVert also had a nice game against Atlanta the first time around. He picked up 30 DraftKings points in that one. The Nets have several lower priced options that could have big games against the struggling Hawks defense. I am targeting this game for value plays.

Dark Horse:

Marco Belinelli ($4,700): Belinelli continues to light up the scoreboard on the second unit for the Hawks. His minutes have increased due to his recent hot streak since the Hawks need all the scoring they can get. Belineilli should see plenty of open shots again today, making him a strong value play.

My pick: Crabbe(SG), LeVert(G)

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Harrison Barnes ($6,700): Barnes continues to consistently put up solid numbers for Dallas. He has at least 27 DraftKings points in each of his last ten games, so his floor is pretty solid as well. Barnes was stymied against the Clippers in the first meeting, but he wont have to tangle with Blake Griffin this time around. This should be another strong game for Barnes.

T.J. Warren ($6,400): Don’t worry about his poor game against Detroit. Even LeBron and Giannis struggled against the Pistons. Warren should bounce back against Boston. Small forward is one of their weaker positions, but I like this play a whole lot less if Smart is starting and guarding him. I will look elsewhere if that comes to fruition.

Honorable Mention:

DeMarre Carroll ($5,900): Oh look, another Net that put up solid numbers on the Hawks the first time around! Carroll picked up 31.75 at a bit higher price than LeVert and Crabbe. The difference is that Carroll has been far more consistent against everyone else. I expect another solid game from Carroll as well, and a fairly Net heavy lineup today.

Marcus Morris ($4,900): Morris moved to the bench in favor of Aron Baynes on Thursday, but it was Barnes who put up the better numbers. Morris also has a chance to have a good night against his former team. He has at least 22 DraftKings points in each of the last eight games, which makes Morris a pretty low risk option. However, he doesn’t have a lot of upside on this team.

Dark Horse:

Wesley Johnson ($4,800): Johnson continues to start for the beat up Clippers, but Sam Dekker is moving in on his action. Johnson is stale player with little upside, but he still hits value most games at this price, Dekker would be an intriguing play if we knew he was going to get consistent minutes.

My pick: Barnes(SF), Warren(F)

Power Forwards

Best Bets:

Jayson Tatum ($6,200): Tatum has not hit 5x value over the last four games, but I think it has a lot do with the quality of opponents than the rookie not playing well. Tatum sees consistent minutes for Boston up front, so he should get back on track against a weak Phoenix front.

Trevor Booker ($5,500): Booker put up 28.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Atlanta, and that was when they were only down Ilyasova up front. Now they barely have healthy bodies to put up there. Booker could dominate in this situation tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Ersan Ilyasova ($4,500): Mike Muscala is still out, and Dedmon is going to be out for a while. Oh, and Luke Babbitt is out as well. And it turns out that John Collins has a sprained shoulder. It’s all hands on deck for the Hawks up front right now, which makes for some intriguing value plays. Ilyasova had a very nice game against the Cavs. He could do close to that against the Nets, especially if Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is still out. Actually, it may not matter since Ilyasova may have to play more than 40 minutes tonight. Play til you puke, Ersan!

Dark Horses:

Marquese Chriss ($4,000): Chriss is so inconsistent that I normally wouldn’t touch him. However, if Alex Len is out, Chriss will get good run against the second worst team in the league against power forwards. If you want separation, this could be a place to get it, but the risk is very high.

Tyler Cavanaugh ($3,300): He can walk? Get him a uniform! That was an actual conversation from the Atlanta front office on Thursday. Okay, maybe not, but you get the point. Ilyasova, Cavanaugh, and Plumlee are the only bigs that can play for Atlanta up front right now.

My pick: Booker(PF), Ilyasova(UTIL)

Center:

Best Bets:

Al Horford ($8,100): Horford could take over this game if Tyson Chandler can’t go. Even if Chandler does, he likely wont play enough minutes to really put a dent in Horford’s stat line. The Celtics should be able to run with the Suns. I only hope they keep it close since Boston has the best players on the slate this afternoon.

DeAndre Jordan ($7,300): Jordan was still shut down by Utah on Thursday, but he will have a bit of an easier go against Dallas tonight. Jordan has been a beast in the past with Blake out. I expect him to do the same this time around.

Honorable Mention:

Dirk Nowitzki ($5,000): Dirk put up 27.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting with the Clippers, and that was with a healthy Griffin. The ageless wonder still gives Dallas a strong 25 minutes per night. He is here if you need him, but Dirk no longer has much upside.

Greg Monroe ($4,700): So……I know the Suns are rebuilding and all, but it’s not like Monroe is 35 years old. They play Tyson Chandler, and the guy is almost my age! Just play him already! Monroe produces good numbers when he starts. If he’s starting, I like him tonight. If not, I want no part of it.

Dark Horses:

Montrezl Harrell ($4,000): Harrell was brought over for Griffin insurance, and the policy paid out 5x value in the first game without him. Harrell isn’t a force on offense, but he should easily hit value as long as his price stays this low.

Miles Plumlee ($3,400): The Hawks actually called me and asked me to suit up for them tonight. That’s how desperate they are. Okay, maybe they didn’t, but they may as well have if they are willing to roll with Plumlee…..

My pick: Jordan(C)

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