Fantasy Basketball: NBA Draftkings Lock Plays 12/11

Welcome back to another ‘Lock Plays’ article for the NBA Draftkings Slate. We have a small slate of just 3 games after a injury plagued Monday. This is where we need to avoid the chalk and dig deeper for this research. So lets get to covering every position on all 3 games.

NBA Draftkings – Point Guard

Chris Paul vs. Portland Trailblazers

Salary: $7,800

This position has taken me over an hour to decide on because this NBA Draftkings slate is so small and difficult. But Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets get to take on the Portland Trailblazers with a point total of 220. Now Chris Paul and James Harden haven’t really returned value as they should be the top performers on the team. Surprisingly, they aren’t. Paul has scored 39.75, 41.75, 23.25, 18.25, and 40 fantasy points in his last five games. Nothing that screams  “Lock Play” for him. Paul has a usage rate of 24% and is averaging 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assist per game while playing 34 minutes. The time on the floor is there, we just need to see the performance too.

The Portland Trailblazers are allowing point guards to average 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assist per game which is basically what Chris Paul has been averaging. The Houston Rockets are only averaging 100 possessions per game while the Portland Trailblazers are averaging 103 possessions per game. They do have a slower pace between the two teams but do have a total point line of 220. We could get a shootout with this one and if so, Chris Paul should benefit from that.

Other Options To Consider: Damian Lillard (Por), Kyle Lowry (Tor), Gilgeous-Alexander (LAC), Fred VanVleet (Tor)

NBA Draftkings – Shooting Guard

DeMar DeRozan vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $9,200

DeMar DeRozan is playing on a whole different level right now even with the chaos going on in San Antonio. He gets to continue his streak of dominance tonight facing the Phoenix Suns who probably couldn’t even beat top ranked High School Basketball team right now. Even though it’s against the Phoenix Suns, DeRozan and the Spurs have a high point total with 218.50 points. DeMar DeRozan has a usage rate of 31% while averaging 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assist per game.

In his previous five games, DeRozan has scored 57, 30, 48.25, 63, 51.50 fantasy points. He is nearing his value or exceeding his value while being on the floor for 35 minutes per game. DeRozan has every single opportunity to return his value or exceed easily. These two teams do play on the slower end with the Spurs playing at a pace of 102 possessions per game and the Suns play at 103 possessions per game. With a small 3 game slate, we have to make due with what we are offered.

The Suns may not play the best defense or the best of anything really but they do hold shooting guards to 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assist. Those numbers line up correctly with what DeRozan averages per game. The next closest option on the San Antonio Spurs is LaMarcus Aldridge but his stats are lower in every category besides blocks, which Centers should lead on any team. So while Aldridge may put up nice numbers, DeRozan is the one to go with when focusing on a top player with the San Antonio Spurs but there may be chalk if people choose to avoid James Harden and his price tag.

Other Options To Consider: Lou Williams (LAC *If Healthy), C.J. McCollum (Por), James Harden (Hou)

NBA Draftkings – Small Forward

Rudy Gay vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $6,400

We’re sticking with the same game, back to back positions. I know we have others like Tobias Harris, Kawhi Leonard, and even Danilo Gallinari on this slate also but Rudy Gay comes at a price that can help with salary in the long run. Gay has a usage rate 21% this season while averaging 27 minutes per game. The downside is that Gay has an odd schedule of play this season with Coach Pop sitting him either after back to back games or just every other game. But Rudy Gay is averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assist this season even with all of the odd scratches.

Gay has scored 28.25, 3.75, 46.25, 26, and 48.75 fantasy points in his past five games and is averaging 28 fantasy points per game so far. When Gay sees the floor, he puts up the points and with the struggles of the Spurs.

The Phoenix Suns are giving up 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assist to the Small Forward position this year. We also have already covered the possessions per game by both teams and we know what we’re in for with both teams as the both play at similar paces. While we have plays in this Phoenix Suns game, we know what can happen and how quickly it happens.

The Suns have been getting destroyed right at tip-off and while that also sounds good when the slate starts, it can hurt in the long run with the coaching style of Coach Popovich. Also we need to watch the news of Gay since this can be considered a game where the Suns get blown out, Rudy Gay could be scratched even before lock.

Other Options To Consider: Kawhi Leonard (Tor), Tobias Harris (LAC *Could even go Danilo Gallinari), Josh Jackson (Pho *Watch For T.J. Warren News on minute restriction)

NBA Draftkings – Power Forward

Pascal Siakam vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Salary: $6,300

The Toronto Raptors have been on a roll this season since trading for Kawhi Leonard. While Kyle Lowry may not be the happiest that his best friend was shipped out, the Raptors have seen a huge improvement. The Raptors are sitting at 21 wins and 7 losses and the entire team is benefiting from it. Pascal Siakam is one of those that have been benefiting from it. He has scored 27.25, 34.5, 27, 32.5, and 35.25 fantasy points in his last five games and is averaging 30 fantasy points per game.

Siakam is at a usage rate of 17% which isn’t the prettiest but he does average 30 minutes per game. He is averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assist per game also. Siakam has a salary that is easy to build with but he also won’t see the chalk like other power forwards on this slate.

Now turning to the defense of the Los Angeles Clipper, they do allow power forwards to average 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assist per game which screams a double double, extra points on Draftkings! Another upside with this game is the pace is increased with the Toronto Raptors playing at a pace of 105 possessions per game and the Los Angeles Clippers playing at a pace of 106 possessions.

We know both teams can and will shoot, giving more upside to Siakam because if he can get on a roll, he’ll exceed value easily. While he does play in the front court with Kawhi Leonard, he still manages to keep up with his low usage rate. There are multiple options to go with at the Forward position of Toronto as the rotation will most likely be used on many lineups tonight.

Other Options To Consider: Serge Ibaka (Tor *Other Cheap Option), Montrezl Harris (LAC), Kawhi Leonard (Tor)

NBA Draftkings – Center 

LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Phoenix Suns

Salary: $8,100

I know I said if you are using DeMar DeRozan then he will probably be the one to use from the Spurs top stars but that may change. Also, I know I’m stacking the Spurs in this article versus the Suns but it’s hard not too. The total isn’t low for it being a low paced game and being two of the slower paced teams. But LaMarcus Aldridge has a nice stat line versus the Suns and since they are struggling really bad this year, lets not pass up this opportunity. Aldridge has a usage rate of 26% and is averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assist per game this season. Almost a double double for the big man. He is also averaging 33 points per game so he has the time and opportunities to take charge if we see DeMar DeRozan have an off night.

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Now Aldridge hasn’t returned value in his last four games which is a huge concern for anyone building a lineup with him. But don’t fear, Aldridge has a nice history against the Suns. In 41 games against the Phoenix Suns, which is a nice sample size, LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds. He knows the Suns pretty well as we can see it by the stats. There aren’t too many dominating options on this slate but you have to take the history of Aldridge versus the Suns and go from there.

The Phoenix Suns struggle just like the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards do against Centers. The Suns allow Centers to average 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists which is nothing but amazing to read. The Suns are giving up double doubles to the position and while that’s what Aldridge is basically averaging on the season. This slate is by far one of the hardest to gauge and read plus with this game, Spurs versus Suns, it makes it more difficult to choose from when the stats align.

Other Options To Consider: Clint Capela (Hou), Jonas Valanciunas (Tor), Jakob Poeltl (SA)

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