Fantasy Basketball: NBA Draftkings Lock Plays 12/8

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 23: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks up at the clock during a 108-107 Los Angeles Lakers win at Staples Center on January 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NBA Draftkings /

Hey guys! Welcome back to another NBA DraftKings Lock Plays Article! We have a nice 8 game slate tonight, a slate that isn’t too big and not too small. Lets get ready to dive in and find the players we need to lock in. And as always, don’t forget to check out the other articles here at FantasyCPR!

We have a team that covers every single inch of the NBA DraftKings slate and on all DFS platforms like Draftkings, Fanduel, and Fantasy Draft! We also have a daily free roll on Fantasy Draft! How can you not be down for that when the top three winners get a $25 ticket! Now lets get to researching! Good luck and cash out!

Fantasy Basketball: NBA Draftkings Lock Plays 12/8

NBA Draftkings Point Guard

Kyrie Irving vs. Chicago Bulls

Salary: $9,000

The Boston Celtics get to head to Chicago to face the Bulls tonight and Kyrie Irving is in a spot where he can exceed his value easily. We hear the debates about point guards in the league and who is the best, Irving is up there. This season he is averaging 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assist on the season while averaging 43 fantasy points per game which is slightly above his value. Irving is averaging 32 minutes per game with a usage rate of 28%. In his previous five games, he has scored 37.75, 58.25, 41.50, 37.25, and 41.50 fantasy points. While he has his games, very few, where he doesn’t hit value, don’t expect that tonight.

The Celtics have scored over 120 points in three of their last five games, giving us more reasons to roster Irving. The Celtics play at a pace of 103 possessions per game while the Chicago Bulls play at a pace of 104 possessions. While the two teams don’t equal the fastest pace of the NBA, they play at a rate where Kyrie Irving will have his chances to dominate. The last factor that makes Irving a lock play is that the Bulls allow point guards to average 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assist per game, giving Irving that major upside.

Other Options To Consider: Darren Collinson (Ind), Trae Young (Atl *Due to Pace), John Wall (Was *Currently Questionable)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 03: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter of the game against New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 03, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

NBA Draftkings Shooting Guard

Bradley Beal vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Salary: $8,800

While there may be a major overhaul in Washington, Bradley Beal still has a nice match-up versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wizards have been adding guards over the past day which means John Wall or Bradley Beal may be on the move. While I think Beal could be dealt, hopefully to Charlotte to play with Kemba Walker, there are talks that John Wall could be heading to Los Angeles to play with King James. Don’t forget that Wall has the questionable tag currently so we will have to be on the lookout for news up until lock time. Bradley Beal has a usage rate of 26% and is averaging 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He hasn’t been playing consistent enough to warrant the $8,800 price tag that he has tonight but he does have back to back games of 52 fantasy points or more. He dropped 52 fantasy points versus the New York Knicks and 58.5 fantasy points versus the Atlanta Hawks. His usage rate only goes up if John Wall is out or in route to Los Angeles which makes Beal a more appealing play.

The Washington Wizards haven’t been playing up to the standards that we’re used to but this is a game versus the Cavaliers who are playing back to back tonight after facing the Sacramento Kings last night. Cleveland is allowing shooting guards to average 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assist per game. While the Cleveland Cavaliers still can’t crack the 100 possessions per game, the Washington Wizards average 107 possessions per game. This could call for a blowout with the huge difference of pace between the two teams but it could also cause for the Cavaliers to pick up the pace and play. But what we do know is that Beal is in store for a good game where he can exceed his value easily.

Other Options To Consider: De’Angelo Russell (Bkn), Tim Hardaway Jr. (NYK *Boss Says So), Bojan Bogdanovic (Ind)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 16: Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to being called for a foul against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on November 16, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves are debuting their City Jerseys honoring the late artist Prince. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 112-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

NBA Draftkings Small Forward

Robert Covington vs. Portland Trailblazers

Salary: $6,400

Robert Covington is probably one of the most frustrating players to use in the DFS world besides Jabari Parker. Covington isn’t someone who usually returns value but is used to the point where he should. He has returned value though in his past five games where he scored 44.25, 41.75, 39, 32.50, and 31.50. He gets the usage also since being traded to the Timberwolves for Jimmy Butler. While the Wolves don’t have the prettiest lineup where it’s really just Karl Anthony-Towns and whenever Andrew Wiggins decides to show up. Covington is averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game while averaging 35 minutes per game which is a career high for him. He went from playing with major all-stars like Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to playing with just KAT, giving him a bigger upside this season on any given slate.

Both, Minnesota and Portland, play at a pace of 103 possessions per game which means it won’t be the highest scoring game or fastest but Covington will get his chances. Portland is allowing small forwards to average 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assist per game. With Portland’s ability to poorly defend small forwards just gives Covington another upside to throw him in your lineup.

The minutes and usage that Covington is seeing with the Timberwolves since joining them makes this match-up a lock. The concern here is that Covington needs the help of Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins because if they don’t show up then this will be a game of catch-up which we obviously don’t want. The final downside to Covington with this game against Portland is that if it does get out of hand then we can expect him to ride the bench instead.

Other Options To Consider: Lebron James (LAL), Gordon Hayward (Bos), Juan Hernangomez (Den)

NBA Draftkings Power Forward

Danilo Gallinari vs. Miami Heat

Salary: $6,900

Danilo Gallinari, one of my favorite guys to play when he has a nice match-up and tonight he gets to face the Miami Heat. Gallinari has always been a guy who can go off any given night due to the fact that he gets his shots off. The man isn’t scared to shoot or do what he believes he has to do. He is the second ranked player when it comes to usage on the Clippers where he has a usage rate of 21%. Tobias Harris is the top ranked forward in usage on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gallinari averages 31 minutes per game while averaging 19 points and 6 rebounds per game. In his previous five games, he has scored 55.5, 31, 35.5, 37.25, and 29.75 fantasy points. The Clippers have had to rely on Gallinari and Tobias Harris since the departure of Blake Griffin last season due to a trade and DeAndre Jordan due to free agency during the off-season. The pace between these two teams make this match-up even better.

The Clippers play at a pace of 106 possessions per game while the Miami Heat play at a pace of 104 possessions per game. The Miami Heat do defend the power forward position pretty well or better than some of the other teams on this slate. They do give up 22 points and 11 rebounds to the entire power forward position as a whole unit.

Gallinari will see the likes of Hassan Whiteside (unless he stays back for the birth of his child), Bam Adebayo and Josh Richardson but that shouldn’t hold him back from hitting his value tonight. The pace, usage, and match-up is there but the salary will be difficult with the others if you’re trying to stack all of the lock plays together.

Other Options To Consider: Tobias Harris (LAC), Jayson Tatum (Bos), John Collins (Atl), Kyle Kuzma (LAL), Lauri Markkanen (Chc)

NBA Draftkings – Center

Enes Kanter vs. Brooklyn Nets

Salary: $7,300

Like the boss, @2locksports, always says “Centers Against Brooklyn”. But its Enes Kanter who can go off on any given night if the New York Knicks uses him correctly. He hasn’t been the most consistent lately with scores like 42, 24, 19.25, 38.5, and 32.25 fantasy points. His play is erratic and we can get a complete dud tonight. Kanter does average a double double on the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds while averaging 27 minutes per game.

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His usage rate is 21% but he has to share the court with a young Knicks team. While that is a downside, it’s also an upside due to the fact that if the young guys do have a bad night, Kanter can pick up the slack easily. Mario Henzoja is the only other big mane that can take the minutes from Kanter if his night is going well. But we also have to worry about Kevin Knox due to the fact that he can and has been doing work as a rookie. Also there is Tim Hardaway Jr. and we know he loves to shoot so that could slow down Kanter.

The Knicks and Net do play at similar paces while the Knicks play at a pace of 104 possessions per game and the Nets play at a pace of 103 possessions per game. Brooklyn gets absolutely dominated by Centers, allowing them to average 27 points per game and close to 20 rebounds as a whole per game. Really, this couldn’t be a better match-up for Kanter and the Knicks. Kanter has the usage, the minutes, and the upside versus the Nets to make him a lock play on this 8 game slate.

Other Options To Consider: Nikola Jokic (Den), Marc Gasol (Mem), Bam Adebayo (Mia), Al Horford (Bos)

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