DraftKings NBA picks December 28: Centers reign supreme tonight.

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 25: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on December 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA picks December 28: Centers reign supreme tonight.

We are down to five games in our DraftKings tournament tonight. There are a couple of stars, but they both have tough matchups. Should we look to build around the more loaded middle tier? We have value plays galore out there with Orlando and Boston in action again. How should we approach this slate? Let’s check it out.

Point Guards

Best Bets:

Damian Lillard ($8,400): The Celtics defend the perimeter as well as anyone (9th vs. PG, 2nd vs. SG), so I will leave the Rockets alone, assuming Paul plays. If not, Harden is certainly worth a look. I am assuming the obvious that Paul is back in the lineup. I don’t trust him in his first game back having to deal with Boston, so a drop to Lillard looks like a good idea. Lillard put up 42.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting with the Sixers, which is right around 5x value.

Eric Bledsoe ($7,100): I mentioned a couple of days ago that Minnesota’s PG defense is improving, but that still wont stop Bledsoe. Bledsoe has at least 32 DraftKings points in 10 of the last 12 games, and should reach that easily tonight. I still like him to hit a shade over 5x value at this price.

Honorable Mention:

Elfrid Payton ($6,800): I was patiently waiting for the Magic to turn Payton loose again, and it looks like they have. Payton has at least 30 minutes and 30 DraftKings points in each of the last four games, including a monster 61.25 effort against Washington. He even hit value against the tougher Miami defense, so Payton should have a nice game here against Detroit.

Ish Smith ($4,900): Jackson’s ankle sprain may be a bit of a blessing in disguise for the Pistons. Smith has outplayed Jackson many times this year, but they didn’t pay Jackson all that money to be a cheerleader. Now Smith gets free reign of the offense, and will be the best DFS value around for at least the next two games. Smith will be in all of my lineups tonight.

Dark Horses:

Terry Rozier ($4,300): I only really like this pick if Brown and Morris remain out. Rozier now has back to back games of more than 30 DraftKings points thanks to injuries to the Boston starters. He is absolutely worth playing at this price as long as he keeps seeing 30 minutes a game.

Tyus Jones ($3,400): Teague was helped off the court last night in the fourth quarter with a leg injury. It seems pretty safe to say that Teague wont be in the lineup tonight. Jones was outstanding for the price range with Teague out earlier this season. I expect the same thing tonight. Jones is going to be a great value play!

My pick: Payton(PG), Smith(G); Smith(PG), Jones(G)

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 29: Jonas Jerebko #8 of the Boston Celtics defends a shot by Mario Hezonja #23 of the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at TD Garden on January 29, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Jimmy Butler ($7,700): Despite some tough matchups lately, Butler has still been putting up at least 44 DraftKings points with the exception of the first game against Denver. He is in the second game of a back to back after which the team played an overtime game last night. There is a chance that the Timberwolves starters could play less minutes, but that isn’t really Thibodeau’s style. Butler put up 39 points last night, and finished well over 50 DraftKings points. He could come close to that tonight.

C.J. McCollum ($7,000): I have a feeling that many will be off of McCollum because of his poor showing against Philly in the first game. McCollum had just 11.75 DraftKings points in 36 minutes, but he was an atrocious 1-14 from the floor and only shot three free throws. Don’t expect another game like that. McCollum should be right around where we need him to be.

Honorable Mention:

Jonathon Simmons ($6,400): Fournier is still listed as questionable. If Simmons plays, I want him in there. Simmons put up 41.5 DraftKings points on the Pistons in the first meeting. Depending on the Magic’s lineup, Simmons could see a larger portion of minutes tonight. Thankfully this is the early game so we will know who is playing before the contest lock.

Marcus Smart ($5,100): Smart didn’t have as big of a night with Brown out as many had expected. Tatum had the better game. However, Smart has the better matchup tonight against Houston, especially if Paul plays.

Dark Horses:

Mario Hezonja ($4,500): Gordon is questionable yet again, so it’s the same old drill here. If Gordon is out, Hezonja will be in my lineup. Especially considering that he put up 41.25 DraftKings points on Detroit in the first meeting with Gordon out. However, if Gordon plays, he will definitely be in my lineup. PF has been a sore spot for the Pistons all year.

Jamal Crawford ($3,800): Crawford was up to his old tricks again last night, which is lighting up the scoreboard from the bench. He has five straight games of double digit points off the bench, and could see a slightly larger role with Teague likely out. Crawford has at least 5x value in all of those games.

My pick: Butler(SG), Smart(UTIL); Butler(SG)

NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 13: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dunks the ball over DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 13, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900): I’m not crazy about this matchup, but Giannis probably has the best chance of hitting value if Chris Paul is in the lineup. The Timberwolves are solid against small forwards, and Giannis has been below value in three of the last four games. However, he is one of the few that can hit 50 tonight. If you are using a stud, I would go Giannis over Harden if Paul plays.

Tobias Harris ($6,600): Harris has been huge in his last two games, putting up 82.25 DraftKings points. He did not hit value against Orlando last week with Hezonja on him, but well all know how inconsistent Harris is. He is playing well enough right now to consider Harris on a short slate.

Honorable Mention:

Kawhi Leonard ($6,000): The Spurs are treating Kawhi with kid gloves, but the fact that he is going to play in two games in three days is a promising sign for those of us waiting to use him in DFS. Leonard’s price is now low enough where he is worth taking a shot on. Leonard played 26 minutes, the most since his return against the Nets on Tuesday. Things are trending up for Leonard. However, this is the Spurs, and if they do decide to rest Kawhi, news likely wont come down until after the asinine full slate lock on DraftKings.

Robert Covington ($5,900): In most instances, Covington is the perfect DFS play. He has the consistency that we all like, with good upside to go with it. Covington’s chances of huge games are not good with both Simmons and Embiid in the lineup, but he is still going to get you 30 tonight with a shot at 35 or more. Covington picked up 30 in the first meeting with Portland, so he is a strong value play.

Dark Horses:

Jayson Tatum ($5,500): This is followed by the same caveat as with Smart. If Morris or Jaylen Brown return, I like this play less. However, Tatum has scored 38 points over the last two games, and has hit at least 5x value at this price in four of the last six games. I prefer Tatum over Smart if one of the two return.

Al-Farouq Aminu ($4,800): Aminu’s rebounding ability gives him a solid floor for a value pick, but he also lacks significant upside now that Portland is mostly healthy. Mo Harkless was the guy that tore it up against the Lakers, but I’m not trusting that just yet. On a small slate like today, you can win money without incurring significant risk. If your goal is to take one down, Harkless could be sneaky.

My pick: Covington(SF); Tatum(SF)

NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 18: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic competes in the 2017 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest at Smoothie King Center on February 18, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Power Forwards

Best Bets:

Aaron Gordon ($7,600): I touched on Gordon a bit above, but this is mostly to reiterate how weak Detroit is at power forward. This is also to state how much dislike the upper tier here. Aldridge with Kawhi playing more minutes looks like a sucker bet, and there is no way I’m throwing Porzingis out there against the Spurs. Gordon is the clear number one if he starts.

Dario Saric ($6,000): Much like Covington, Saric isn’t going to wow you with stats. What he will do is put up solid numbers across the board. Using both Saric and Covington in the same lineup is only advisable in cash games since you need to hit on a value or two to take down a GPP. You wont hit on Saric, but you aren’t going to miss nine times out of ten either.

Honorable Mention:

Taj Gibson ($5,700): Gibson is usually mostly a defender, but he has attacked teams that are weak at the power forward slot. The Bucks have been for most of the year. I don’t really like this matchup if Giannis mans the four, but if it’s Henson, I’m all over it.

Ryan Anderson ($4,900): I have stayed away from Anderson almost religiously all season because he is so inconsistent. However, Boston has been awful against power forwards. Absolutely awful. So awful that they have moved Horford to the four and started Baynes in the middle. It hasn’t helped. Anderson has put up 53.75 DraftKings points in the last two games. He could be in for another night of 6x value here.

Dark Horses:

Marreese Speights ($3,800): Speights put up 22 DraftKings points in 17 minutes in the first game without Vucevic, so it looks like the veteran will see enough run to be a good value play for the foreseeable future. The Adreian Payne well dried up quickly, as the Magic didn’t even look at him after he filled in nicely in the game in which Vucevic was hurt. I like Speights most nights when he plays 17-20 minutes.

Daniel Theis ($3,700): His inconsistency makes him a tough DFS play, but this is a good matchup for Theis with Capela out. Honestly, I think the Celtics should start Theis and move Horford back to center, but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon. For now we just have to enjoy what he provides off the bench. That has been over 6x value in two of the last three games.

My pick: Saric(PF); Anderson(PF)

DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 08: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts after a second-half dunk in action against the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena on November 9, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 114-97. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Center:

Best Bets:

Joel Embiid ($9,600): Embiid’s balky back look fine on Christmas. Now he gets to take on a Portland team that he put up 48.5 on in the first meeting. This is a really good matchup for Embiid. However, you may have to keep a close eye on this leading up to tipoff just in case the back flares up. The Sixers are still taking it easy with their star.

Andre Drummond ($9,400): Drummond was less than stellar in the first meeting with Orlando. So why is he on here? Because he wont have to tangle with Vucevic tonight. That is a huge advantage for Drummond, which is why I’m willing to overlook the first matchup. Biyombo isn’t going to be able to stop Drummond from snagging 20 rebounds tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,900): This is almost a dream matchup for Towns. Henson or Thon Maker can’t stop Towns offensively. Towns only scored 14 points last night, but he still topped 45 DraftKings points for the seventh time in nine games because his all around game is getting better all the time. This mitigates the risk of playing Towns.

Al Horford ($7,100): I like this matchup for Horford with Clint Capela out, but Horford has really struggled lately. Forget hitting value, Horfond has been under 30 DraftKings points in three of the last four games. That makes him a sizeable risk tonight, but against a battered Houston frontcourt, he could come up big. And you can play him at PF!

Dark Horses:

John Henson ($4,800): Henson has been getting good minutes, which makes him worth a look against Towns. Towns is getting better on defense, but he is not there yet. Henson has enough offensive chops to come up with 6 or 7x value here.

Bismack Biyombo ($4,600): Biyombo looked good in his first start in place of Nikola Vucevic. As always, Biyombo is a black hole on offense, but his defense and rebounding keeps him a great value play with his price in this range. He wont win you a GPP, but he isn’t going to lose you one now that he is playing 30 minutes.

My pick: Towns(C), Biyombo(F); Embiid(C), Drummond(UTIL), Biyombo(F)

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