Fantasy Basketball Top Plays and Fades, Sunday December 30

LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 09: Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers calls a play during the second half of a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on January 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Fantasy Basketball Top Plays /

Welcome into the Sunday edition of Fantasy Basketball Top Plays and Fades! Many folks might be focused on the NFL but we have a really nice five game slate tonight!

I hope everyone is ready for some more Lakers chalk and if you’re not, this probably isn’t the slate for you. With LeBron James still scheduled to be out, the rest of his teammates will continue to pick up the slack and they get an incredible matchup on top of that which makes them some of the Fantasy Basketball Top Plays. We’ll have some injuries that need monitored through the day and could radically change the slate(like seemingly every day in the NBA) but let’s get moving on who we need to look at!

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Fantasy Basketball Top Plays Point Guard

Top Play – Lonzo Ball, Lakers

It might seem redundant but I will likely be playing a lot of Lonzo Ball tonight because I don’t like fading minutes and touches. Yes, it’s only a two game sample size but since LeBron has been absent from the lineup, Ball is averaging 40 minutes a game and 104.5 touches. The price hasn’t even shot up that dramatically on either site at this point and without LeBron and Rajon Rondo, Ball is averaging 1.10 FPPM. At the amount of minutes that he’s being asked to play, under $7,000 is simply too cheap. Now we add in that he just torched the Kings for 60+ DK points a fe nights ago and Sacramento has been terrible all season against PG and you have a situation that I don’t think you can run from in cash game formats.

Honorable Mention – Don’t fade Russell Westbrook if Paul George remains out, otherwise De’Aaron Fox

Fade – None

I’ll be totally honest, there’s not a point guard that I really want no part of, especially on FD. Westbrook is fine regardless of George, Ben Simmons might be missing Joel Embiid which raises his stock and Damian Lillard just smoked the Warriors. On the lower end, you have a guy like Tyus Jones for the Wolves because Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague are likely out. I’d would be lying if I called someone a fade, so I won’t do that tonight. As is always that case, don’t hesitate to reach out on Twitter @bucn4life and fire away with any questions.

ORLANDO, FL – NOVEMBER 14: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers is seen during a NBA game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on November 14, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

Fantasy Basketball Top Plays Shooting Guard

Top Play – Jimmy Butler, Sixers

This becomes one of the lock plays of the slate if Embiid does miss the game, but even if he’s active I have some serious interest in Butler. With the exception of Kevin Durant last night, Portland has fared poorly against wing players and DK has Butler priced under $7,000. I do understand that because things have been up and down in Philly, but that’s still too cheap no matter the circumstance. With Embiid off the floor, Butler has a usage rate of 33.5 percent and a 1.38 FPPM. Even with Embiid on, it’s almost 1.10 and with Butler playing a ton of minutes every night, the price isn’t high enough this evening. Even on FD that doesn’t offer late swap, Butler is worth the play tonight.

Honorable Mention – Luka Doncic, Mavericks(even with Dennis Smith back)

Fade – Andrew Wiggins, Wolves

This isn’t a player that I usually land on anyways because there is such a lack of peripherals. He just doesn’t do much but score the basketball and the Heat haven’t been the team to test that against so far this season. Miami allows the third fewest real points which is a pretty large red flag. Even with the likely absence of Rose and Teague don’t get me all that excited. I will grant he sees a very nice bump in usage but the bulk of it will still be dominated by Karl Anthony-Towns. When the opposing team rates well defensively against a scorer, I’m willing to take my chances that he doesn’t go for 30+ to make me regret it. Wiggins hasn’t done that to me very often this season.

Honorable Mention – Justin Holiday, Bulls

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 08: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat dunks the ball during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Fantasy Basketball Top Plays Small Forward

Top Play – Justise Winslow, Heat

In case you didn’t know, Point Winslow is a real thing. The Heat have been using him as their primary point guard often this year with Goran Dragic beat up but coach Erik Spoelstra announced in the press that Winslow is the man at the point for the foreseeable future. That seems to have struck home with Winslow as he’s responded with three straight 20+ point efforts. While Minnesota doesn’t look like a great spot for him, it’s also important to remember that they’re playing with backups. Winslow has seen at least 30 minutes these past three games on top of the points and I think he should be able to perform well against Jones and Okogie. The weakness for the Wolves is they give up the fourth most assists to point guards and Winslow is enjoying a career high 21.4 assist ratio this year. He’s simply not expensive enough for his new role.

Honorable Mention – Brandon Ingram, Lakers

Fade – Kawhi Leonard, Raptors

I will admit to Kawhi not being a full fade if Kyle Lowry were to miss again, but if Lowry returns to the lineup that would take Leonard basically off the table for me. He truthfully hasn’t been all that great these past handful of games while Lowry has been on the shelf. The DK price isn’t awful, but he’s in five digits on FD and I just can’t pay that for a player who’s not hitting 50 points and now could go back to sharing the ball with Lowry. While Leonard is generally matchup proof, the Bulls are actually about middle of the road against the position. That might not seem like much, but when you’re as bad on defense as the Bulls are, average is quite the accomplishment. I would rather pay up just a little bit and play Paul George if he’s back in the lineup, which is expected.

Honorable Mention – None

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 04: Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors shoots a jumper over JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Fantasy Basketball Top Plays Power Forward

Top Play – Serge Ibaka, Raptors

I might be off his teammate, but I love some Serge Ibaka tonight. His first game back from a knee issue was a bit of a letdown but he got back on track in a big way against the Magic. He racked up 39 DK points and for some reason, his price didn’t move. I don’t understand how that happens but I’ll happily take advantage of the discount. Ibaka has played a ton of center this season and the Raptors are still missing their primary backup, Jonas Valanciunas to injury. Ibaka has played at least 30 minutes in both games back and should be able to feast on the weak Bulls interior. Ibaka is averaging over 13 rebounding chances per game and six paint touches per contest. Meanwhile, the Bulls are in the bottom seven of the league in paint points and rebounds given up. Ibaka is a gift in this spot at this price tag and I plan on using it in almost every lineup I make tonight. The blowout is a bit of a concerting, but the Magic just ran Toronto out of the gym so they’re far from untouchable.

Honorable Mention – Kyle Kuzma, Lakers

Fade – Lauri Markkanen, Bulls

It’s not eve that I hate Markkanen because I really don’t. I’m just going to have a very large mental block paying for him on either site. DK might make a little more sense because the price gap between he and Kuzma is huge at $1,100. The issue on the other side is Ibaka is $900 cheaper and I would rather play him. On FD, Markkanen and Kuzma are basically the same price so even though I need two of them on there, I would just play Ibaka and Kuzma. Markkanen is a fine play and will likely come in pretty low owned. Markkanen’s scoring is one of his best assets and the Raptors do allow the seventh fewest real points. That’s plenty of reason to leave him mostly out of my player pool tonight.

Honorable Mention – Dario Saric, Wolves

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 20: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts after being fouled during the fourth quarter of the game against New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 20, 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) /

Fantasy Basketball Top Plays Center

Top Play – Jusuf Nurkic, Blazers

This one is a tough spot because there are a couple choices. The back to back scares me a little bit with Nurkic since he does see about two fewer minutes a night in that scenario. Two minutes might not seem like a ton, but when you only average 27, two minutes is a big chunk. He comes into this one in monster form, clearing 40 points on both sites. Now we have to deal with the other side of the equation – Philly. If Embiid plays, the Blazers are gong to need Nurkic on the court as much as he can handle it to try and contain the big man for the Sixers. The flip side is if Embiid is out, there is nobody that can hang with Nurkic down low. Even in just 25 minutes, he can dominate. I like Nurkic either way and if Embiid gets ruled out post-lock and you already have Nurkic, that could be a really nice edge.

Honorable Mention – Willie Cauley-Stein, Kings

Fade – Hassan Whiteside, Heat

I think there’s actually a bit of a chance that Whiteside just felt doesn’t play tonight after playing just 18 minutes in the last game. Part of that could have been the four fouls he had but he was dealing with a hip ailment leading up to that game. It’s possible that flared up in the middle of the game but either way, Whiteside just ins’t where I want to go tonight. The Wolves are 11th best against centers and with KAT being more of the leader on the floor now, centers haven’t been a spot to target against them. Without a reasonable explanation as to the minutes dropping, Whiteside is riskier then you need to go tonight at the center position. Maybe it was just the blowout because the game before, Whiteside did play 31 with four fouls. It just doesn’t seem necessary tonight.

Honorable Mention – Ivaca Zubac, Lakers

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