DraftKings NBA Picks January 17: Which big are you building with?

FanDuel NBA: WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on November 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. 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 Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks January 17: Which big are you building with?

There are six games on Thursday, which is one of the heavier Thursdays we have had this year for our DraftKings NBA tournaments. However, one of those is in London during the afternoon, so that one is off the main slate leaving us with five games. The Knicks and Wizards get their own showdown. I have a question: Aren’t we supposed to send good teams when trying to grow the market overseas?

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:
Russell Westbrook ($11,800): Russ hung 60 on the Lakers the first time around, so I would be willing to use him here again. His ceiling isn’t as high as it once was with George along for the ride, but his floor is still right around 50. If he gets 50, it is going to aggravate us? Maybe a little, but then we’re just being spoiled. There are only three players in five figures tonight. Russ may have the highest ceiling of all of them.

Kemba Walker ($8,700): Kemba’s price is still jacked up from his December run, but he might actually be worth it against the Kings. On paper he should be. After all, Kemba shredded the Spurs for 52.5 DraftKings points on Monday. My issue here is that he just played the Kings on Saturday and only got 38.75 DraftKings points in 34 minutes. If he were to come in at that mark tonight, it’s not nearly enough.

Honorable Mention:

De’Aaron Fox ($8,100): In that same game, Fox put up 43.25 against Walker. It makes sense to pocket the $600 and use Fox instead. Fox doesn’t have near the ceiling that Kemba does, but Walker has struggled in January up until this week. I could see using Kemba over Fox in GPP formats, but not in cash games.

Kyle Lowry ($7,400): Lowry put up 41 DraftKings points on the Suns the first time around, and should be in for a similarly big game here. Lowry has at least 35 DraftKings points in seven of the last eight games. The one that he missed was a foul plagued 23 minutes in a blowout win over the Nets. Lowry should be fine here. The Suns may be bad, but they are at least staying competitive most of the time.

Dark Horses:

DeAnthony Melton ($4,300): I’ve largely ignored Melton with Booker back, but Melton has put up solid totals alongside Booker because of his big assist totals. Melton has at least 5x value in eight of the last nine games, including one game where he didn’t hit a shot from the floor. Booker’s numbers are down and not just because the Suns are easing him back into action. It’s because Melton is actually playing well as the distributor.

T.J. McConnell ($3,700): McConnell is doing well as the first guard off of the Sixers bench. His upside is very limited in a bench role, but if he is going to keep dropping 20+ DraftKings points, we are losing out on a really strong value pick by not playing him. The bargain tier is pretty empty at point tonight. McConnell is the most sure thing down here.

My pick: Fox(PG), Melton(PG), McConnell(G)

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 18: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 18, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:

Best Bet:

Victor Oladipo ($7,600): Oladipo has to wake up at some point, right? He has only topped 30 DraftKings points once in the last five games, and he barely went over against the Knicks. Temptation is big at this price, but Oladipo has done nothing in the last couple of weeks that would justify playing him here. Although if you want to gamble, Oladipo has 99.75 DraftKings points in the two games against Philadelphia this year. That’s more than I trust Booker against Toronto.

Honorable Mention:

Zach LaVine ($6,500): Without the revenge narrative, I’m not a big fan of Jimmy Butler, so I’ll drop down to LaVine. Denver does defend guards pretty well, but LaVine smoked them for 48.75 DraftKings points earlier this year in a game in which Dunn missed. It’s hard to gauge what to expect here. I just know that LaVine wont hit 48 again, but he should be somewhere on the right side of 30.

Buddy Hield ($6,100): Hield’s price is finally down to a more manageable level. He was playing out of his mind for a while, but the price stayed there long after Hield cooled off. Hield just put up 32 DraftKings points on this Charlotte team over the weekend, so I have no issue using him at this price. 5x value looks likely, and we all know what his upside is.

Dark Horses:

Bogdanovic ($5,600/$5,500): In tonight’s episode of Choose That Bogdanovic, we have both of our heroes staring down a less than kosher matchup, but there is light at the end of their tunnel. Bogdan went for 32.5 against this same team over the weekend. Bojan looked solid against Philly earlier this year, and is on some kind of roll. Both are decent mid range plays tonight, but Bogdan has the advantage. Use him if only playing one Bogdanovic.

Malik Beasley ($4,900): Beasley is really only in play if Gary Harris is out or limited again. It’s going to get tough once Denver gets healthy because they have a lot of guards that have earned playing time, Beasley being one of them. Beasley has averaged 26.7 DraftKings points over the last four games with Harris out. He’s a strong value play if he ends up starting again.

My pick: Bogdan(SG); Oladipo(SG)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates his alley oop dunk during a 107-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 02, 2019 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Paul George ($9,800): George roughed up the Lakers for 53.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting between these two teams. With the way the Lakers are playing right now, I have a hard time trusting them to keep this game close. There is blowout potential here involving some pretty high priced players. That could keep pwnership down. If the game manages to say close, that could really help you out.

Ben Simmons ($9,200): I’m usually off of Simmons at this price and with Philly at full strength, but it’s hard to be with the way he is playing right now. Simmons has 183.75 DraftKings points over the last three games, and put up 55.25 in just 26 minutes against Minnesota on Tuesday. If you don’t trust any elite options, Simmons looks like a great pivot. He only put up 43.25 DraftKings points in the first game against the Pacers though. With the way Simmons is playing right now, I’m not sure it matters.

Honorable Mention:

Kyle Kuzma ($6,900): Kuzma was pretty much a non factor in the first meeting. You can bet that wont happen again. Aside from a bad game against Utah, Kuzma has been playing well since his return. He is also the most accomplished offensive player with the King off the court. A few others have stepped up here and there, but this is going to run through Kuzma.

Will Barton ($5,300): Barton was up to 23 minutes, the most he has played since his return, against the Warriors. Maybe Harris being out had something to do with Barton’s 29.5 DraftKings points, but probably not. When Denver was given the choice of Barton or Harris last year and again this fall, Barton was their choice. He can do a lot of damage against the Bulls if the minutes are up around 25.

Kelly Oubre ($5,200): It was encouraging to see Oubre flit with 30 DraftKings points even with the return of Booker and in just 24 minutes. That means he can still be a solid value play. Of course, his upside is nowhere near as high. It does appear as though the Suns are willing to let Oubre have some run to see if he has a place on this team. He should continue to play about half the game, and is worth using in good matchups.

Dark Horses:

Norman Powell ($3,900): This is a purely speculative play since the Raptors have rested Kawhi in most back to back sets. We have another of those tonight. If Kawhi sits, Powell is an elite play at this price. If Kawhi is still in, Powell doesn’t get enough action to warrant paying this much for him.

Chandler Hutchison ($3,700): Hutchison is starting to get some run for the Bulls with pretty favorable results. The rookie has 47.5 DraftKings points over the last two games. Denver is not a great matchup here, but it’s good enough to play Hutchison for this price.

My pick: Barton(G), Hutchison(SF); Kuzma(SF)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 11: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during a free throw in the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 11, 2019 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:

Best Bet:

Domantas Sabonis ($7,100): It is hard for me to play a non starter when the price gets this high because we pretty much need a ceiling game here. Sabonis has 75.75 DraftKings points in just 62 minutes against the Sixers this year, so the upside is there for him tonight. With a lack of other options at the position tonight, Sabonis looks pretty good, even at this price.

Honorable Mention:

Thaddeus Young ($5,800): Good things happen when you turn a power forward loose on the Sixers. Thad had 63.75 DraftKings points in 60 minutes against Philly earlier this year. Only Boston has held Young under 30 DraftKings points since the calendar flipped to January. You can bet the Sixers wont be able to do it.

Paul Millsap ($5,800): Millsap racked up 34 DraftKings points in 32 minutes in the first meeting with the Bulls. This isn’t really a smash spot for Millsap with the Bulls healthy up front, but I don’t see them locking him down either. The only real question here is whether Denver is willing to let Millsap play 30 minutes. He has only hit that threshold twice in the last 11 games.

Marvin Bagley ($5,200): Bagley is back and making up for lost time. He has 79.25 DraftKings points in the last three games, and has a good matchup against a smaller Charlotte team up front. The Kings have still taken it easy with Bagley, but minutes don’t really matter when he’s putting up numbers like that. The upside just isn’t very high.

Dark Horses:

Marvin Williams ($4,800): Williams took Bagley for 29.5 DraftKings points over the weekend, and these two should have a nice little battle here again. Both players shouldn’t have much of an issue hitting value, but Williams plays more minutes at a lower price if you are on the fence about which Marvin you want.

Jabari Parker ($3,600): Parker has worked his way back into the rotation even though the former second overall pick was out of the rotation “for good” earlier this year. Through hard work, Parker has made an impression on Boylen, and has racked up 53 DraftKings points in just 36 minutes over the last two games. The Bulls are mostly healthy now, so I wouldn’t expect to see huge minutes for Parker despite his outstanding play of late, but he at least has his foot in the door. Parker provides a whole lot of upside for a very low price.

My pick: Young(PF), Parker(F); Sabonis(PF), Parker(F)

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – NOVEMBER 8: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Houston Rockets and Gary Clark #6 of the Houston Rockets block Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder from shooting two points during the first half of a NBA game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on November 8, 2018 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 J Pat Carter/Getty Images) /

Best Bets:

Nikola Jokic ($10,600): Jokic destroyed the Bulls in the first meeting, racking up 60.5 DraftKings points in only 32 minutes. Jokic was a letdown on Tuesday, but the matchups don’t get a whole lot better than this. You could make a case for Jokic being the best play on the slate tonight and I would have a hard time arguing with you.

Joel Embiid ($10,100): On paper, this is not a really good spot for Embiid. The Pacers are statistically one of the best defenses in the league against centers. Embiid doesn’t care. He has 116.75 DraftKings points in two games against the Pacers. Embiid could be the best raw play on the slate as this game should stay close. Denver and Chicago may not.

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Honorable Mention:

Steven Adams ($7,200): Adams put up 41.75 DraftKings points on the Lakers the first time around. He going to do it again. This is probably one of the more sure things on the slate. Stacking Adams with one of the more expensive options could be a good plan of attack tonight.

Deandre Ayton ($6,600): Ayton took it to Toronto in the first meeting for 47.5 DraftKings points in one of the better outings of a nice rookie year. I don’t think Toronto can stop him here either. With so many good options at center, Ayton may be ignored here. That’s a good thing for those of us looking for some reasonable value.

Serge Ibaka ($6,500): We saw Ibaka just dominate Boston on the interior last night, and the same could happen tonight against the Suns and their prized rookie. Ibaka picked up 28 DraftKings points in just 22 minutes against the Suns the first time around. If he gets his recent norm of around 30 minutes, Ibaka will have no trouble hitting value.

Dark Horses:

Bismack Biyombo ($4,200): Biyombo has overtaken Willy. Both of them play about the same number of minutes, but Biyombo does far more with them that Willy does. They are going to need his size against Cauley-Stein. Biyombo has 64 DraftKings points over the last three games. That leaves him right at 5x value, and a good value play.

Richaun Holmes ($4,200): Holmes just will not be denied. He has 115 DraftKings points over the last four games, which comes out to about 7x value. I always have room for that in my lineup. Holmes only played 12 minutes in the first game with the Raptors and was a non factor. He should do better this time around.

My pick: Jokic(C), Adams(UTIL); Embiid(C), Ayton(UTIL)

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