DraftKings NBA Picks December 25: Harden is your Christmas gift

SACRAMENTO, CA – NOVEMBER 10: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings stands on the court during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden 1 Center on November 10, 2018 in Sacramento, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) DraftKings NBA /

DraftKings NBA Picks December 25: Harden is your Christmas gift

After a Christmas Eve off day, our DraftKings NBA picks are back with the unofficial beginning of the NBA season. There are five games staggered throughout the day so you can ignore your family and watch basketball all day if you want! DraftKings is the place to play this slate since they brought late swap back. Now if someone sits in the middle of the day, you still have options to switch them out!

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($10,300): Almost all of the NBA stars are in action for Christmas Day. Westbrook is no exception. However, in his career against the Rockets, Westbrook has averaged under 50 DraftKings points per game. If you are using a stud from this game, it needs to be Harden. You can use Westbrook if you are that crazy about low ownership, but he may not get you what you want.

Stephen Curry ($9,000): I’ve mostly sworn off Curry with the Warriors healthy, but there is potential here against the Lakers. They don’t really defend any position very well. Curry is an elite scorer, but he hasn’t been doing a lot else this year. The price is low enough to consider, but again, I’m not really crazy about paying up for Curry.

Honorable Mention:

Damian Lillard ($7,800): Lillard didn’t have a big game in the first meeting with Utah. However, with the way that Lillard has played lately, I wouldn’t bet on Lillard failing here. This price seems way too low here. I would honestly take Lillard over Curry regardless of price.

Eric Bledsoe ($6,800): For as big of a game as Mudiay had against the Bucks, it still came in under Bledsoe’s 96.25 in two games against the Knicks. Bledsoe is probably going to be a pretty chalky play here due to his big games against the Knicks earlier this year. Mudiay is the guy to go after for lower ownership. Bledsoe is far less risky and $100 cheaper.

Dark Horses:

RIcky Rubio ($5,400): Rubio celebrated lighting up Portland for 42 DraftKings points on Friday by also torching the Thunder on Saturday. The thing to take note of here is that Rubio’s assists are on the way up. We have been waiting to see the consistency. Two games isn’t much to go on, but we know that Rubio is capable of good numbers and he did this against two good defensive teams. I’m a little nervous that we are asking him to duplicate that feat, but given that Rubio only needs 27 DraftKings points to hit value, he is completely worth this price.

George Hill ($3,400): The value tier at point is barren after Rubio. However, the Bucks have been playing Hill good minutes off the bench. His last couple of teams haven’t really used him for offense of the bench. Hill has proven that he is still capable of putting up solid numbers in limited minutes.

My pick: Lillard(PG), Rubio(G); Bledsoe(PG), Rubio(G)

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 13: Eric Gordon #10 of the Houston Rockets plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 13, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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 Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:

Best Bet:

James Harden ($10,900): A revenge game with Paul out? Oh yeah! Harden has at least 58 DraftKings points in six straight games, so this started even before Paul went down. Harden is the only real lock play on this slate. There is also enough value to stack him with one or two of his closest friends. With all of the options to choose from, don’t let the bells and whistles distract you from Harden’s stats with Paul out.

Honorable Mention:

Klay Thompson ($6,700): Thompson was cold against the Clippers and again last night, but this is a nice matchup against the Lakers. My issue with Thompson is the same as it is with Curry. While most players seem to be priced down on this slate, the Warriors are not. Not any of them. That makes everyone on the team a risky play.

Eric Gordon ($5,800): Gordon has 65.25 DraftKings points in the two games with Chris Paul out. That makes him a strong mid range value pick. This game has the lowest spread on the slate, but Vegas doesn’t think it will be that high scoring. Maybe it’s because of Westbrook’s struggles. Maybe it’s the absence of Paul. I don’t know that I really buy it. I still view Gordon as one of the best mid range plays.

Dark Horses:

Brandon Ingram ($5,300): Ingram has put up 59.75 DraftKings points in the two games since his return. One of those games was against a pretty good Memphis team. Ingram and Kuzma have proven to be quite the team, and this Lakers team is pretty dangerous because of it. I’ve mostly viewed Ingram as overpriced since his return, but he isn’t here. He is in line for a really good game against the Warriors.

Marcus Smart ($4,400): The matchup against the Sixers isn’t a good one, but Smart has been on a roll lately. Smart has averaged 30 DraftKings points per game over the last four games. We have seen Smart become more involved in the offense without sacrificing any of his defensive chops.

My pick: Harden(SG); Gordon(SF), Harden(SG)

SACRAMENTO, CA – DECEMBER 19: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts after making a three-point basket against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on December 19, 2018 in Sacramento, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

LeBron James ($10,100): The King has averaged 55 DraftKings points per game in 27 tries against the Warriors in his career. LeBron has had mixed success on Christmas Day. He laid an egg last year. That could serve to keep ownership down. Of course, the wealth of better options will do the same.

Paul George ($9,700): In the NBA version of Face/Off, Russell Westbrook is now Paul George and George is now Westbrook. George is ravaging opponents over the last four games with Westbrook going somewhat cold. If I’m running anyone back with Harden, it’s George. Not just because he’s cheaper, but because outside of Harden, George has been the most unstoppable player of the last ten days.

Honorable Mention:

Ben Simmons ($8,400): Simmons hammered the Celtics for 61.75 DraftKings points in the first meeting. However, that was without Butler, so we don’t really know how this is going to turn out. I would trust Simmons more than Butler, and this is a very decent price on him.

Khris Middleton ($6,500): Middleton has at least 30 DraftKings points in each of the last four games. In the two games against the Knicks, Middleton has 67.25 DraftKings points in just 53 minutes against New York this year. Middleton seems to be a safe play on Christmas Day, but his upside on a team with Giannis in a possible blowout scenario is non existent.

Dark Horses:

Joe Ingles ($5,700): Ingles has three straight games of more than 33 DraftKings points. One of those was against the same Portland team that closes the Christmas night festivities. Most late night hammers are big names. Ingles isn’t a big name, but the results could be pretty close to that of the big names. Ingles looks very underpriced because forwards against Portland are a thing!

Kevin Knox ($5,600): Knox racked up 42.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Milwaukee. Knox’s numbers have fluctuated back and forth lately. That happens with any rookie. However, the Knicks seem committed to running Knox and let him develop. That makes him a strong mid range pick.

My pick: Ingles(SF), Knox(UTIL); N/A

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) /

DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700): This game has the highest spread on the slate, but so far, that hasn’t affected Giannis against the Knicks. Giannis has 136 DraftKings points in 78 minutes against the Knicks in those two games. It’s Christmas. It’s Madison Square Garden. The Knicks aren’t getting blown out of this one. That makes Giannis a big time play against the Knicks.

Kevin Durant ($9,300): Okay, not all Warriors are jacked up price wise. Durant almost looks cheap. He is about the only Warriors player that I would trust with the entire team healthy. KD has 126.5 DraftKings points over the last two games. If I trust any Warriors player, it’s Durant.

Honorable Mention:

Marcus Morris ($5,900): The Sixers are depleted at the four, and they have been since they traded Saric and Covington. This is a huge spot for Morris. He destroyed Philly for 34.5 DraftKings points in just 20 minutes in the first meeting. The Celtics are pretty much healthy, so that does limit Morris some. That said, he’s going to put up big numbers even if he only gets 20 minutes again.

Noah Vonleh ($5,200): Vonleh gets good run whenever the Knicks run small, and they should against the Bucks. The only problem is that the Knicks have already faced the Bucks twice and Vonleh hasn’t hit value either time. I do see him getting good run here as well, but whether it will result in him hitting value or not is anyone’s guess.

Dark Horses:

Jerami Grant ($4,500): Grant has been playing a lot of minutes lately and putting up some pretty big numbers. The issue here is that Houston still locks down power forwards. There are better options at the price, even in this same game. However, with the level that Grant is playing at now, I have no issue with running him out there.

P.J. Tucker ($4,300): Tucker has been more involved in the offense even before Paul when down. He has at least 5x value in each of the last six games. Sometimes a lot more. I’ve been riding Tucker for the last few slates, and I see no reason to stop now.

My pick: Morris(PF), Tucker(F); Morris(PF)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 21: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Wells Fargo Center on November 21, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Centers

Best Bet:

Joel Embiid ($9,500): Embiid struggled against Boston in the first meeting, only putting up 44 DraftKings points and hitting just 9 of 21 shots. If he gets a couple more of those to drop, next thing you know, he’s at value. I’m not crazy about the matchup, but when Embiid takes the court, we all take notice.

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Honorable Mention:

Steven Adams ($6,700): It’s fun watching Adams and Capela grapple with each other, but it isn’t all that conducive to fantasy goodness. It wasn’t for Capela anyway. Adams put up 40.5 DraftKings points on Capela in the first meeting. For this price, I don’t mind taking a shot with him again tonight since the drop from Embiid is a steep one.

Draymond Green ($6,300): Draymond is too cheap. I’ll just clear that up right away. He has 79 DraftKings points over the last two games. The Lakers are similarly weak inside just like Dallas and the Clippers. This is a huge spot for Green. It’s a gift that Green is this price.

Dark Horses:

Ivica Zubac ($4,400): There’s no word on what the Lakers are going to do once McGee comes back. What they should do is keep running Zubac out there. Zubac has 71.75 DraftKings points over the last two games with McGee out. That’s more than McGee and Chandler were putting up combined! Keep an eye on this. If Zubac starts again, I’m all in!

Brook Lopez ($4,300): BroLo put up 61.25 DraftKings points in 58 minutes in the two meetings against the Knicks so far. We aren’t going to see Lopez post huge numbers with all of the other talent on this team, but he is going to crush value here at this price.

D.J. Wilson ($3,700): Wilson is still getting good run with the Bucks, but value has been hard to come by. You can tell just by watching that he has good talent. Talent doesn’t always mean a lot in the world of DFS.

My pick: Zubac(C); Lopez(C), Zubac(UTIL), Green(F)

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