DraftKings NBA Picks February 14: Make Paul George your valentine

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 14: A man wears heart patterned trousers and Union Jack patterned shoes on February 14, 2019 in London, England. MPs are set to debate and vote on the next steps in the Brexit process later today as Prime Mimister Theresa May continues to try to get her deal through Parliament. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks February 14: Make Paul George your valentine

Happy Valentine’s Day! You know, every guy’s least favorite Hallmark holiday. Any true man knows that he should love his wife/significant other the same on this day as any other. However, since not all significant others may feel that way, DraftKings has our back. There are only three games for our DraftKings NBA tournaments tonight. That way we can pay proper attention to the other halves of our life. If DFS is your significant other, there is still plenty to like about this slate. Let’s check it out!

Last night I made ten lineups. All hit more than 250, and six of them went for more than 300. However, the money line was all the way at 305.75. My best lineup was 331.5 DraftKings points. It would have been a lot better if I had more exposure to the triple overtime game and if Durant wasn’t scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Krazykretch took it down with a ludicrous 400.5 DraftKings points. He needed 30 from D’Angelo Russell in overtime to salvage Russell’s line. He hit with the Toronto front, Jordan Clarkson, Hayward, Beal, Jarrett Allen, and Collin Sexton. You needed a ton of exposure to the Nets-Cavs game.

I get asked a lot why I chose one player over another in a certain tier, so I am switching things up a little. Instead of just putting the plays I like from each price tier, I’m going to put in more of my thought process in here instead of just telling you what to do. If you don’t think my logic is sound, then you can make your own choice.

Tonight is a night to pick a lineup or two and stick with it. There’s only so much you can do on a three game slate. Be on the lookout for a lot of value coming down the night before the All Star Break.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 02: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during a 107-100 Thunder win 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 Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Russell Westbrook looks like the strongest play on the slate, but looks can be deceiving. He “only” has 151.25 DraftKings points in 99 minutes against the Pelicans this year. If Russ is only going to play an average of 33 minutes, that’s not enough. The Pelicans are worse than they were earlier this year too, so I’m not in a hurry to pay up for Westbrook in a blowout. I still think he makes it 11 straight though. The Thunder will give him that.

Honorable Mention:

Kemba Walker has only played a combined 53 minutes against the Magic this year because neither game has been close. If this game manages to stay close, Walker could have a strong game here. However, with the way some of the other pricing is, I don’t know why we would pay for Kemba either.

Orlando is the only team that has held Trae Young under 30 DraftKings points in nearly a month. I doubt the Knicks do it. The problem is that Young hasn’t been great against the Knicks this year, and he need 40 DraftKings points to hit value. That seems like too much above his average for me. Up until last night, I thought Dennis Smith Jr. would be a great play, but the Knicks rotations struck again. DSJ played well, but Trier and Allen picked up big minutes.

Dark Horses:

Point guard thins out very quickly after DSJ. Even if Elfrid Payton returns, I’m not using him in a game in which his minutes will be very limited. That leaves D.J. Augustin against Charlotte, a team in which he had probably his worst game of the season against earlier this year.

If I trusted Shelvin Mack, I would run him as a backup. However, Kadeem Allen looks like the place for value. The only thing is you have to put faith in the Knicks rotation, and we know what a disaster that can be. Tim Frazier is still in play if Payton is held out again, which he likely will be.

My pick: Westbrook(PG), Allen(G); Young(PG), Allen(SG)

BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 10: Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 10, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Jrue Holiday is the only SG above $5,700. Why will I pay for him today? I the three games against the Thunder this year, Holiday has more DraftKings points than Russell Westbrook does, and he is $3,200 cheaper. I like Holiday in this situation. However, is A.D. the only one that has mailed it in, or is it rubbing off on teammates? The Pelicans have lost to a gutted Memphis team and been blown out by Orlando this week.

Honorable Mention:

Like I mentioned, the chasm is great at SG. Jeremy Lamb looks like a nice option, but Orlando has held him in check this year. I would much rather go with the suddenly, and consistently, hot Evan Fournier. Taking a shot on Terrence Ross to get back on track is not on my to do list. Ross has only 37.5 DraftKings points in 37 minutes against Charlotte this year. You have to choose your battles with Ross, and this doesn’t seem a good place to do it.

With Dennis Schroder scheduled to miss tonight’s game as well, you really only have Kevin Huerter left in the mid range. I have a feeling that the ankle may still be contributing to his wildly inconsistent lines from night to night. He’s tempting against the Knicks, but Kent Bazemore is probably the better choice.

Dark Horses:

Apparently my secret is out because Terrance Ferguson is finally priced above $4,000. Ferguson is not that heavily involved in the offense, or the defense for that matter. He does almost nothing but score. The reason people chase Ferguson is because of the guaranteed minutes. He could see even more with Schroder out. Will the production follow?

E’Twaun Moore was kind of a forgotten man with New Orleans since he was hurt when everyone else was. Moore was a non-factor against Memphis, but he exploded for 26.75 DraftKings points in 26 minutes against Orlando on Monday. Look for Moore to get good run here for a Pelicans team that desperately needs a spark.

Ray Felton may be picking up more minutes for the Thunder, but it was Deonte Burton who took Schroder’s scoring role off the bench. Burton exploded for 25.5 DraftKings points and 18 real points in 26 minutes. I would chase Burton over Ferguson right now based solely on production.

My pick: Fournier(SG); N/A

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 23: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 23, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 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 Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

At this point, Paul George should cost more than Westbrook. George has outscored Westbrook in his three games against the Pelicans as well. Despite Russ’s historic streak, George has averaged 62.8 DraftKings points over that ten game span. Russ is almost ten behind that pace! Play George and figure out the rest later.

Honorable Mention:

Jonathan Isaac is possibly the most underpriced player on this slate. He and George will be in every lineup I make. Isaac has at least 25 DraftKings points in nine straight, and has passed 30 six times. And people still pay more for Gordon……

Kenrich Williams was a bust for the first time against Orlando, and it wasn’t all because of the blowout. Williams still played 32 minutes, but wasn’t a factor at all. His price also jumped $500. For the first time since Williams joined the starting five, I may be out on him tonight.

Dark Horses:

This should be a smash spot for Kevin Knox. Should being the operative word. However in three games against Atlanta so far this year, Knox has a whopping 51.5 DraftKings points in 70 minutes. The price is very intriguing, but there is simply no basis for taking this risk. In a GPP format though, Knox is probably worth the risk. Of course, you can have Taurean Prince for about the same price and he has 61 DraftKings points in 63 minutes over two games against the Knicks this year.

You could make a case for using Nicolas Batum here, and I really can’t argue. However, there’s this guy on the other side named Wes Iwundu who has topped 20 DraftKings points in back to back games for $1,300 less than Batum. Batum is the play in cash games, but for GPP, I’ll take a chance on Wes.

My pick: George(SF), Isaac(PF), Prince(SF), Iwundu(UTIL); Isaac(SF), Knox(F), George(UTIL), Batum(G)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Julius Randle #30 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a Pelican foul during a 112-104 Laker win at Staples Center on December 21, 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 Harry How/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

No, I wont even pay $9,000 for Anthony Davis right now. He had three points, six rebounds, and no assists last game in 25 minutes. What incentive do the Pelicans have to even integrate him in this team right now? His mind is obviously somewhere else. One of two things will happen here. One, Davis’s pride will be hurt, and he’ll go for 60 DraftKings points in 25 minutes. Two, the Pelicans will play him 20 minutes or less to preserve him for the All Star game and he will be as mediocre as last game. I’m leaning towards the latter. Once again, Julius Randle is the big to own here, but honestly, it’s hard to use any Pelicans players right now. This is a disaster for DFS purposes as well as a black eye for the NBA.

Honorable Mention:

John Collins racked up 44 DraftKings points on the Knicks the first time around. There’s no reason to think that this will be any different. I would much rather pay for Collins that try to decide whether Davis will show up or not.

The only thing below Collins is Randle. You could play Dewayne Dedmon here, but there are better options below this.

Dark Horses:

Noah Vonleh has averaged 33.4 DraftKings points in three games against the Hawks this year, but there is no reason to believe that we can trust him here. Vonleh’s minutes over the last five games: 21, 3, 25, 18, 17. Good luck with that.

Power forward is actually a wreck all the way around tonight. Good think Knox and George are eligible here. You could take a chance on Patrick Patterson starting for Jerami Grant, but he did almost nothing last game. Darius Miller hit 5x value on Tuesday, but you want more than that in a value play.

My pick: N/A; Collins(PF)

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 23: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic plays the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 23, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 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 Vucevic has only played 45 minutes in two games against Charlotte this year. This is an outstanding matchup for Vucevic, but I don’t know if we can trust this. Vucevic is worth a GPP dart if you don’t mind high risk/high reward situations.