DraftKings NBA Picks February 1: The Jokes on Houston

NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 30: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic dunks the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on October 30, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks February 1: The Jokes on Houston

We have one of our lighter Fridays in a while with only five games for our DraftKings NBA tournament before a monster Saturday. We have a lot of talent on this slate with five players priced over $9,500. Now we get some Knicks value too with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee on the way to Big D. Of course, betting on the Knicks rotation is the NBA DFS version of Russian Roulette.

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook ($11,000): Russ has four straight triple doubles, and was one assist away from making it five straight. Fading him is a dangerous proposition right now. You could argue that Russ has more upside than Harden tonight, and you may be right. However, when it comes down to it, I like this matchup with the Heat more for George than Westbrook. When in doubt, use them both!

Kyrie Irving ($9,600): Irving has averaged 42.6 DraftKings points and 33 minutes per game in the three meetings with the Knicks so far this year. The Knicks are a sh!t show anyway, so the trade wont really affect Fizdale’s rotations that much. THJ only had about 15 DraftKings points last game anyway. As usual, there is massive blowout potential here, but Kyrie can do an awful lot of damage in 33 minutes. He’s still worth a look if you don’t want to pay for Westbrook.

Honorable Mention:

Kemba Walker ($8,100): Walker put up 44 DraftKings points on the Grizzlies a little over a week ago. The bad news is that Walker hasn’t cracked 33 since then. There is enough risk here to give me pause and enough value at the position to completely ignore Walker here. I find myself wanting to do that despite the strong first outing against Memphis.

Ricky Rubio ($6,100): Rubio is worth throwing out there against Atlanta for his passing and defense alone. If he can actually get his shot to fall, and let’s face it…..there will be plenty of open ones, Rubio could be in line for a pretty big night. Even if the shot isn’t falling, Rubio is worth using here.

Dark Horses:

Monte Morris ($5,100): The Nuggets finally let Morris have an extended run at the point with Murray out. All he did was rack up 44.75 DraftKings points in a superb all around night. Regardless of Paul’s status, I love Morris for the price. The Nuggets would be fools not to run Morris again. They aren’t the Knicks. Expect to see really good numbers from Monte again.

Kadeem Allen ($3,300): Allen has 33.75 DraftKings points in 36 NBA minutes so far, but what has me eyeing him tonight is the fact that Mudiay and Ntilikina are still out. Trey Burke and THJ were just traded to Dallas. That leaves Allen and Trier as the only healthy point guards. If Dennis Smith is able to make his Knicks debut on the short turnaround, I’m off of Allen. Otherwise, fire him up and watch the point roll in!

My pick: Morris(PG), Allen(G)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 23: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets directs his teammates in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 23, 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 Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

James Harden ($12,900): I was okay with fading Harden earlier this week, but I still sprinkled him in a couple of lineups. I may actually do a full fade today. Harden does have a nice 118 DraftKings points against Denver this year. That is exactly 5x value. So why the holdup? Paul is expected to play 30 minutes, and one of those games against Denver was without Paul. Well, now there is a new wrinkle to this whole thing. Paul has a sore back, and we are once again playing the waiting game. If CP3 is out, you know the drill. Lock in Harden. Even if Paul plays, I doubt it’s the 30 minutes it was looking like he was going to play. Harden is probably worth a look even with Paul in there.

Donovan Mitchell ($8,800): Mitchell is priced up a little against Atlanta. That doesn’t really bother me. Mitchell has only been under 40 DraftKings points twice in the last ten games. Both of those were blowouts in which he played 27 minutes or less. There is a chance that happens here, but Atlanta isn’t like most tanking teams. They actually try. I could see the Hawks hanging around for a while, which could do a lot for Mitchell’s value.

Honorable Mention:

Jeremy Lamb ($5,600): There’s nothing too exciting about Lamb, but he did put up 28 DraftKings points against the Grizzlies in the first meeting about a week ago. That would leave Lamb right at 5x value. I can make room for a sure thing on a smaller slate that looks pretty crazy right now. Lamb is a cash game staple, but I’m not opposed to using him in GPP formats either.

Allonzo Trier ($5,400): I’m all over Trier whether Smith plays in this game or not. The only thing that would shy me away is if Wesley Matthews is also in uniform. If both Smith and Matthews are on the sidelines, I’m a big fan of Trier, and Damyean Dotson looks like a solid dart throw as well. If both are suited up and geared to play, I’m less enthusiastic about Trier and it has everything to do with the price.

Dark Horses:

Dwyane Wade ($5,000): Wade could steal some of Johnson’s thunder here with the way he has been playing lately. Wade has topped 30 DraftKings points in four of the last seven games. The Thunder are a little thin on the wing. I think I like Wade more than Johnson, but there really is no reason both of them can’t hit value here.

Tyler Johnson ($4,200): Johnson can put up points in a hurry on the second unit, so he is always worth a look when his price gets down in this area. The Thunder could be a little thin on the wing if Turd Ferguson’s back is still acting up. However, if Ferguson plays, I’ll use him over Johnson and maybe even over Wade.

My pick: N/A

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 Bet:

Paul George ($9,900): George has at least 50 DraftKings points in seven of the last eight games. That high of a floor makes him one of my favorite targets right away. Perhaps the thing that is most impressive is that George is still putting up these kinds of numbers with Westbrook posting triple doubles. I don’t know that you can go wrong with either tonight, and if Adams is out again, I’m using both. There is plenty of value to pull it off.

Honorable Mention:

Justise Winslow ($5,800): The price on Winslow is still falling a bit which is just fine with me. He is the starting point guard for Miami for the foreseeable future. Winslow plays at least 35 minutes per game and is capable of putting up DraftKings point totals in the high 30’s or better. The Thunder are probably going to pace this up a little, so Winslow is a pretty low risk option tonight.

Joe Ingles ($5,300): I’m tempted to just enter a cash lineup in a GPP tonight because the Knicks have thrown a wrench into this whole thing. A steady lineup may be what it takes to go big in a GPP. Ingles would be at the center of that lineup. Like Lamb, he is very consistent. Ingles has at least 25 DraftKings points in four straight games and seven of the last ten. He’s a lock for that against Atlanta tonight.

Dark Horses:

Nicolas Batum ($4,800): Batum strings together just enough good games to get us interested. Then we play him and he has a single digit game. Batum is at it again, putting up at least 20 DraftKigs points in seven straight and more than 24 in five straight. He’s a solid bargain at this price, but Batum has virtually no upside and his floor is (DFS) hell.

Mario Hezonja ($4,200): Hezonja is seeing the minutes over Knox, so it’s time to pay attention to what the Knicks are doing, even if we know it’s wrong. Hezonja has 66.75 DraftKings points over the last three games, which puts him comfortably above 5x value. If playing Knicks scrubs, why not go all out? Someone has to take all of these minutes.

My pick: Batum(SG), George(SF), Ingles(F)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 23: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Houston Rockets looks on during a free throw in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 23, 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 Bets:

John Collins ($7,400): I don’t really trust this. Utah is not a bad team up front, and Collins has only hit value once in the last eight games for this price. As with most Atlanta games right now, the chances of Collins hitting value hinges entirely on Atlanta keeping this game close. I’m not sure they can do that. I like Collins, but I’m not sure Atlanta can hang around.

Kenneth Faried ($6,900): This is the kind of revenge game that you absolutely want a piece of. Faried played very well when given the chance with the Nuggets. The problem was that they rarely gave him a chance. Faried is playing very well with the Rockets right now. He’s going to show the Nuggets just what they gave up on here. I want all of Faried tonight!

Honorable Mention:

Jayson Tatum ($5,800): Tatum has averaged 34.3 DraftKings points over 30 minutes in the three games against the Knicks so far this year. Boston could really detonate this slate if they are able to get a deal done for Anthony Davis. That would most certainly revolve around Tatum. Until then, enjoy what he can do for you against the Knicks. They really aren’t a good team anywhere on the court.

Jerami Grant ($5,800): The Heat are running with a ragtag bunch at the four instead of just putting James Johnson out there like they did last year. The results haven’t exactly been what they were expecting. The defense has been lacking, which bodes well for Grant tonight. The stars for the Thunder are playing very well right now, but there has been enough left over for Grant. I really only like Grant for this price is Adams is out again. If not, Grant almost needs a ceiling game to hit value for this price.

Marcus Morris ($5,300): Morris has at least 24 DraftKings points in six straight games now. His average against the Knicks is 28.6 in almost as many minutes as Tatum per game. This is likely going to be a blowout, so I like Morris’ chances of racking up pretty good minutes in garbage time. All Celtics are a risk here, but Morris and Tatum are fairly priced, and it’s not like they wont play at all.

Dark Horses:

Bam Adebayo ($4,200): Bam has been the victim of sporadic minutes as have most of the rest of the Heat. Still, for the price, Bam has enough upside to warrant a GPP dart here tonight. I do like this more if Adams is unable to go.

Bruno Caboclo ($3,400): The Grizzlies moved to Caboclo to take over some frontcourt minutes almost as soon as Anderson returned. Anderson and Holiday are too high priced to take a chance on with Bruno poaching minutes, but Bruno’s price is just right for a DFS dart. Caboclo has 57 DraftKings points in 84 minutes over the last three games. He’s worth a look as long as this trend keeps up.

My pick: Faried(PF)

DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 10: Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on December 10, 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 Centers:

Best Bets:

Nikola Jokic ($10,800): There are smash spots. Then there are spots that make a smash spot look like 4x value. This is one of those. Houston has been dominated by opposing centers since Capela went down. They have been dominated in every way possible. Rebounding, scoring, everything. Jokic is going to destroy Houston. The only question is whether they can keep up.

Marc Gasol ($7,800): Gasol destroyed Charlotte for 68.25 DraftKings points in the first meeting against Charlotte last week. Don’t be surprised if he does it again. Charlotte is still a wreck up front. They haven’t improved in the last eight days. This is a smash spot for Gasol once again.

Honorable Mention:

Al Horford ($7,000): Horford has 120.25 DraftKings points in three games against the Knicks so far. The thing that could make this interesting is whether the Knicks play Kanter or not. Kanter returned from Fizdale exile to play some last game. The Knicks may be shorthanded enough to roll Kanter out there again. I would think that has to take some of the luster off of Horford if that is the case.

Noah Vonleh ($6,000): Vonleh has put up a nice 34.4 DraftKings point average in the three games against Boston so far this year. The Knicks have been rolling Vonleh at center with decent success. I would expect more of the same from Vonleh tonight.

Dark Horses:

Dewayne Dedmon ($5,400): Dedmon is actually in a pretty good spot here. Gobert hasn’t been the defensive stalwart that you may expect. Dedmon is still splitting time with the enigmatic Alex Len. If you must play one of them, it needs to be Dedmon.

Nerlens Noel ($3,900): I only want in on Noel if Adams is out. Otherwise I want no part of the Thunder front. Not that Miami is all that good up front. I just don’t trust Adams with the way George and Westbrook are playing right now. Noel on the other hand, is a huge bargain if he starts.

My pick: Jokic(C), Noel(UTIL) or Ferguson if Adams plays.

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