DraftKings NBA Picks April 6: Will A.D. dominate the Suns again?

We are back up to ten games for our NBA Friday. As the season winds down, even tanking teams are more apathetic than usual. Nine of the teams are fighting for a playoff spot or playoff positioning. That is less than half of the teams in action tonight. If you can’t keep up with the news before lock, this may be the time to switch gears to MLB until the playoffs. Due to resting, or just throwing youngsters out there. 75% of my picks will be obsolete by the time you read this.

Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Ben Simmons ($9,700): On paper, this is a good matchup for Simmons, but he has only averaged 37.9 DraftKings points per game in three tries against the Cavs this year. Of course, part of that could be because Embiid was ripping up the middle. This is an important game for seeding purposes, and both teams are hot right now. Expect Simmons to come up big in this one.

Terry Rozier ($7,200): Kemba has dominated Orlando this year, but you simply can’t count on him right now. He checked out when Charlotte was eliminated from the playoffs. Same with John Wall against the Hawks. The Wizards can likely win this game without Wall, so they may hold him out on the second game of a back to back. So that leaves Lowry against the team that has allowed the least fantasy points to point guards this year or Rozier against the terri-Bulls. This is an easy decision. Boston wants to get Rozier as many reps running this team as he needs to get him ready for the playoffs.

Honorable Mention:

Jeff Teague ($6,900): I like this matchup against the Lakers for Teague. He returned last night after being held out on Tuesday with a sore ankle. He looked fine last night, so assuming that he didn’t reaggravate the injury, Teague should be good to go tonight. If he is, I want a part of him against the Lakers.

Rajon Rondo ($6,600): Rondo has played well leading the Pelicans as they push for a playoff spot. He often hits value despite rarely scoring in double figures. Honestly, that is the only reason Rondo isn’t a must play against he Suns. He isn’t a scorer, and this game will likely get out of hand, meaning the Pelicans are going to try to find places to rest Rondo, Jrue, and A.D. tonight.

Tyler Ulis ($5,900): Ulis has at least 30 DraftKings points in five straight and six of the last seven. This is his team going down the stretch. The Pelicans don’t defend the point well, so expect another strong outing from Ulis here.

Dark Horses:

Darren Collison ($5,500): This is a bit of a risk here since the Raptors defend the point well. However, Collison has averaged 34 DraftKings points per game on Toronto in the three prior meetings. Collison should have the benefit of lower ownership here, and is a great value if he can hit that threshold again.

Tyler Dorsey ($3,900): Dorsey has finally outplayed Isaiah Taylor to the point where Dorsey is starting. Dorsey has 84.25 DraftKings points over the last three games, and is a huge value at this price point. There are enough studs to pay for, so enjoy the value!

Marquis Teague ($3,300): Teague is outplaying Kobi Simmons with Evans sitting out the rest of the year. There may or may not be upside here, but Teague is playing around 25 minutes per game and hitting close to 6x value at this price. You can do worse for a value pick.

My pick: Dorsey(PG)

Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Bradley Beal ($7,900): There is a lot of fool’s gold at the top of the position tonight. Oladipo has been great lately, but the Raptors have allowed the least fantasy points to shooting guards this year. I mentioned Holiday’s situation before. I don’t trust him to play more than 30 minutes. On paper, this is a great matchup for DeRozan, but he hasn’t hit value against the Pacers yet this year. That leaves Beal, and even this isn’t a slam dunk. The only reason I would consider Beal is because I expect Wall to be limited at best tonight in a game in which he shouldn’t be needed.

Tim Hardaway Jr. ($6,400): He is a shooter on a team that lacks them. He has yielded a lot of production to Trey Burke lately, but the Heat should be able to shut down the point. That should leave a few more looks for Hardaway, and we all know what can happen when he gets hot.

Honorable Mention:

Buddy Hield ($6,200): So, I finally took the plunge on Hield earlier this week, and he broke my lineup. I can’t be too down about it. It’s just his second sub-20 game since the All Star Break. I have him for both of those. At any rate, this is a great matchup against Memphis. Hield is in play here as much as I may not want him to be.

Bogdan Bogdanovic ($5,400): Interestingly enough, Bogdanovic’s success does not hinge on what Hield does. Both have had big games in the same game. Bogdanovic is far more consistent, but he doesn’t have the upside that Hield does. Use the one that suits your lineup the best.

Josh Hart ($5,300): As long as Ball is out, Hart is a solid play. Especially when you consider how bad Minnesota is against the point. If Hart can hit 5x value against the Jazz and Spurs, I’m not one bit worried about his ability to hit value tonight. In fact, Hart has a shot as 6x or better.

Dark Horses:

MarShon Brooks ($5,200): Brooks has averaged 36.5 DraftKings points in three games this season. The Grizzlies are wanting to see what they have in Brooks, and what they have right now is a guy hitting 7x value for DFS owners. We approve. Run him 35 minutes a game!

Malik Monk ($4,400): Monk is getting great run for the Hornets since they are out of it anyway. Monk has 81.75 DraftKings points in 72 minutes over the last three games. Monk is a strong value pick once again tonight.

Danuel House ($3,900): The Suns, Hornets, and Grizzlies are all playing the young players over the veterans. At this point, I would be shocked if Warren or Booker play another minute this season. That leaves plenty of run for House, who has 61 DraftKIngs points over the last two games.

My pick: Brooks(SG), Monk(G), House(F)

Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

LeBron James ($11,500): LeBron didn’t hit 70 last night. What a bum! He only had 64.75 last night. LeBron is averaging 62.3 DraftKings points against Philly this year. The Cavs and Sixers are the two hottest teams in the league right now. They are jockeying for the three seed in the East. This is where James usually comes up big. This is going to have a real playoff feel to it.

Josh Jackson ($7,400): Jackson has only been under 30 DraftKings points once since Warren went down. The Suns are liking what they see in Jackson too. He is one of the safest bets at any price, which makes Jackson a cash game warrior. There is significant upside here against the Pelicans as well, which makes him enticing in GPP formats too.

Honorable Mention:

Marcus Morris ($6,800): Morris continues to show his offensive chops for a team without Kyrie Irving. Now that the Celtics are going to be like this throughout the playoffs, expect Boston to give this a little more run than usual now that they know they aren’t just buying time until Kyrie returns.

Harrison Barnes ($6,700): The Pistons have no answer for Barnes at all. Barnes picked up 39.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Detroit. We have seen Barnes have big games here and there. He lacks significant upside, but should come with low ownership.

Robert Covington ($6,400): Covington has 14 steals, five blocks, and 21 rebounds over his last three games. Covington does so much more than just score, which makes his floor very safe. I like Covington here tonight as a mid range play. The Sixers are playing very well right now, and Covington is a big part of it.

Dark Horses:

Mario Hezonja ($5,900): Hezonja has 97 DraftKings points over the last three games. The Magic look like they are going to let Hezonja close out the season for them. That makes him a very good value at this price.

E’Twaun Moore ($5,200): Moore put up a whopping 48.25 DraftKings points on Memphis on Wednesday . Moore wont always score like that, but he has the potential to put up some big numbers on any given night. Especially against a defenseless team like the Suns.

Marco Belinelli ($4,600): Belinelli continues to be huge for the Sixers off the bench. However, all he does is score. Belinelli has at least 20 DraftKings points in every game of Philly’s win streak. He is a pretty low risk option right now, but with all of the tanking teams playing youngsters big minutes, there are likely higher upside picks out there for this price.

My pick: James(SF)

Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Anthony Davis ($12,000): The West is still wide open. The Pelicans are just a half game up on the eighth spot and the first out. Denver and Minnesota have the same record after last night. Davis has 131.75 DraftKings points in just two games against Phoenix this season. Davis is capable of having a monster night. He is probably worth the price.

Julius Randle ($7,800): The Spurs finally held Randle under 30 DraftKings points. That has been quite a feat in March and into April. There is a good chance that Randle gets back on track against Minnesota tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Lauri Markkanen ($6,300): Markkanen has four straight games with more than 30 DraftKings points and in five of six since his return. Boston doesn’t defend the power forward well, so there is definitely some upside here.

Markieff Morris ($6,200): Morris has given the Hawks some problems this year. Morris has averaged 30.9 DraftKings points in three games against Atlanta this year. The potential is real for Morris in this one. The Wizards are in the playoffs, but if they can hang on to the seven seed, they get Boston over Toronto in the first round. You can be damn sure they want to stay in seventh.

Marquese Chriss ($5,800): Chriss struggled with his shot against the Kings, but still hauled in 13 boards to keep himself very near value. The Suns are going to let Chriss keep running here. His shot attempts went down with Len back, but if he still hit 50% of them, he would have hit value. There is decent potential here against the Pelicans.

Dark Horses:

Anthony Tolliver ($5,700): The Pistons are very non-committal on Blake’s return. It could happen tonight. He could miss the last four games. We just don’t know. What I do know is that Tolliver is hitting at least 6x value if Griffin is out again tonight. If Griffin it out, I want Tolliver.

Ersan Ilyasova ($5,700): Ilyasova is a strong play for as long as Dario Saric remains out. There is a chance that we could see Saric tonight, so keep an eye on this one. If Saric is back, Ilyasova’s price is too high for him to hit value playing just 20 minutes a game.

Johnathan Motley ($3,900): Motley played a staggering 41 minutes on Wednesday against Orlando and came up with 27 DraftKings points. There is a good chance that Dallas runs with Motley for big minutes again. if he starts, Motley is a great value play.

My pick: Davis(PF)

Center:

Best Bets:

Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,100): Towns has only averaged 43.4 DraftKings points in three games against the Lakers this year. Towns had a nice game in the loss last night. He needs to come up big here again so Minnesota doesn’t miss out on the playoffs. That is a very real possibility right now.

Dwight Howard ($9,200): This is a tough one. Howard hasn’t slowed down despite Charlotte being out of contention. His double-double streak is at seven games, and Charlotte doesn’t seem to have anyone at center they want to play over him. I don’t understand that part with Willy there, but it is what it is. Me? I don’t trust it. This could collapse at any time with Charlotte out of contention.

Honorable Mention:

Kelly Olynyk ($6,600): This is an interesting situation in Miami. Whiteside complains about minutes, dominates in 28, everything is fine. Whiteside is quiet before next game, outplayed by Olynyk, benched down the stretch. I would like to avoid this situation, but I understand that the options are pretty thin at center. If choosing one, it has to be Olynyk right now.

Kyle O’Quinn ($5,700): O’Quinn has destroyed value starting for Kanter over the last two games. His price is up, but I’m not worried about the production. There is plenty of potential here with O’Quinn starting another game for the Knicks. It could be even better if Beastley sits, so keep an eye on that as well.

Dark Horses:

Alex Len ($5,100): Len made a triumphant return with 17 points and 15 rebounds against the Kings. The Suns are going to see if Len figures into their long term plans. Therefore, he should be in for big minutes over the last few games. That makes Len a solid play against the Pelicans tonight.

Richaun Holmes ($4,500): Holmes has put up 55.25 DraftKings points over the last two games. He is getting good run with Embiid still out, but the upside is seriously capped since Holmes doesn’t start and plays inconsistent minutes.

Ivan Rabb ($4,000): Rabb has put up 45.5 DraftKings points over the last two games, and that was with Gasol in there. Gasol is officially out tonight, so Rabb should get serious run tonight. Deyonta Davis will get good run too, but Rabb should be the starter and get most of the minutes.

My pick: Len(C), Rabb(UTIL)

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