DraftKings NBA Picks March 6: Can anyone stop Towns?

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves chases a loose ball during the game against the LA Clippers at Staples Center on November 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks March 6: Can anyone stop Towns?

We have a pretty full ten game slate tonight, but there are only four players priced in five figures. The middle tier is littered with options though. How should we build here? Is it time to build a balanced lineup, or should we pay for the elite talent?

It was another disappointing night thanks to the Warriors getting blown out, a poor night Vucevic who was in all of my lineups, and no exposure to Towns. It’s a miracle I got anywhere close to the cash line of 281.75.

Dinkpiece ran off with this with 382.5 DraftKings points, a full 16.25 points ahead of second place. He built with Towns and got huge value out of everyone. His lowest total was Aaron Gordon at 39.75. He hit big with Teague, Bojan, Ibaka, Myles Turner, Conley, and Hayward.

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.

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on March 01, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Point Guards:

Best Bets:

Somewhere along the line, the Kings became the worst team in the league as far as fantasy points allowed to point guards. Kyrie Irving hasn’t had the fortune of playing them yet. The Kings are scrappy, and will likely keep this close, so things are lining up for Irving to have a big night. However, it’s the second night of a back to back with the first being against the Warriors. Will he be up to this challenge after putting it all out there last night?

It seems like a better idea to use Luka Doncic against a similarly weak Washington squad. Doncic hasn’t been anywhere close to value in the last two games though, so I am a little nervous about it. However, Dallas has been blown off the court in both of those games, so that stat is a bit misleading. If this game stays close, Doncic is in a great spot.

Ben Simmons racked up 54.75 DraftKings points in just 33 minutes against the Bulls, and that was with Embiid healthy. You could also roll Trae Young out there against the Spurs, but he has cooled off significantly. I simply can’t justify paying that for him with the other great options with great matchups available at the point.

Honorable Mention:

The numbers say that this isn’t a good spot for Kemba Walker, but his production tells a different story. Kemba has 95.75 DraftKings points in two games against the Heat so far. If he can give us that again, Walker will be among the better bargains at the point tonight.

I’m in no hurry to use De’Aaron Fox against the Warriors or Winslow against Charlotte if Dragic is back. Especially when we have Jamal Murray sitting there against the Lakers at a much lower price. Murray has at least 5x value at this price in six straight games. Dennis Smith Jr. is a great pick against Phoenix too, but you know, it’s the Knicks. Who knows what you’re going to get from him.

I can’t in good conscious tell you to fade Rondo right now. He is playing very well with Ball out. I do wonder how much longer the Lakers are going to keep running veterans since the playoffs look very unlikely right now. Still, as long as Rondo is running the show as well as he is, he is firmly in play.

Ricky Rubio has 80.25 DraftKings points in two meetings with the Pelicans so far this year. Rubio was a giant bust on Monday. This looks like a really good rebound night for Rubio, but any time we play someone who shoots like Rubio, it’s a risk.

Dark Horses:

Derrick White is way too cheap right now. He has three straight games of at least 34 DraftKings points, and he gets the soft Trae Young defense tonight. White needs to be in our lineups somewhere. Value like this doesn’t come along every night.

Jordan Clarkson has torched the Nets for an average of 43.3 DraftKings points per game in the three meetings this year. We all know that Clarkson isn’t the most consistent guy, but he has significantly more upside than Teague, Kris Dunn, or Satoransky in this tier. Tyler Johnson against the Nets is just as tempting though.

Unlike most nights, we don’t have a really cheap option at the point that we can turn to. Isaiah Thomas has a revenge game against the Lakers, but if he’s only seeing 16 minutes per game, he isn’t going to help us. Ish Smith is the only PG I would consider under $5,000. He’s a great punt considering Ish has 50.75 DraftKings points over the last two games, and his price actually dropped.

My pick: White(PG), Teague(G); White(PG), Simmons(SF)

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 28: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the closing seconds of the Wizards 101-92 loss to the Chicago Bulls at Capital One Arena on December 28, 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 Shooting Guards:

Best Bets:

Bradley Beal is inching ever closer to five figures. We can’t say that it’s not warranted. Beal has only been under 50 DraftKings points twice in his last ten games, and he was still above 45 in those. This is the kind of consistently high production that we covet from guys we build our lineups around. Beal is one of the safer plays at any price right now.

Donovan Mitchell struggled against the Pelicans in what should have been a great spot for him on Monday. He also struggled in the first meeting with them. To me, DeMar DeRozan is much safer against an awful Hawks perimeter defense. Devin Booker racked up 54.25 DraftKings points against the Knicks earlier this year as well. I would use either or both of them over Mitchell tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Before we start salivating over D’Angelo Russell’s 47.3 DraftKings point per game average against Cleveland this year, remember that one of those game was a 3OT game in which Russell hadn’t even hit 30 DraftKings points by the end of regulation. The price looks right, but Russell hasn’t topped 40 DraftKings points since February 27th.

Jrue Holiday has been remarkably consistent lately. He kept his 40+ DraftKings point streak alive at six straight against this same team on Monday night. I would use him over the inconsistent Zach LaVine or Russell. Even over a red hot Buddy Hield against Boston.

Kelly Oubre dropped 53.75 DraftKings points on the Bucks on Monday night. Logic would say that he should be able to do it to anyone if he can do it to a team like that. Tonight’s tilt with the Knicks looks particularly juicy at this price. I would use Oubre over Richardson, who has struggled against Charlotte this year.

Dark Horses:

The upside is clearly there for Bogdan Bogdanovic, even off the bench. However, with Will Barton and Dwyane Wade priced about the same as him, you get the upside along with the hot streak and a much higher floor. I would even use Jeremy Lamb over Bogdan. Despite his move to the bench, Lamb has averaged 37.5 DraftKings points over the last four games.

We simply can’t trust Tim Hardaway Jr. anymore. If we’re going to use someone we can’t trust anyway, I much prefer the huge upside of Damyean Dotson and Allonzo Trier, who are inexplicably still cheaper than THJ. Even Luke Kennard, who has four 30+ DraftKings points games in his last five, is cheaper than Hardaway.

Deandre Bembry has at least 20 DraftKings points in five straight and six of his last seven games. Yet teammate Kevin Huerter and the struggling Gary Harris are still more expensive. Bembry remains one of my favorite value plays tonight.

My pick: Beal(SG), Bembry(SF); Wade(SG), Trier(G)

SACRAMENTO, CA – NOVEMBER 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during their game against the Sacramento Kings 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 Small Forwards:

Best Bets:

Until the Lakers actually shut down LeBron James, keep using him. This is the only chance he’s going to get to use his “playoff mode” this year. Maybe he should have kicked it in earlier……

I don’t care what the numbers say. Just keep using Simmons and Tobias Harris while Embiid is out. They are carrying Philly right now, and it really doesn’t even matter what the opposing defense is trying to do to them. It’s not working.

Honorable Mention:

The player pool is about the same at SF as SG, but a notable variant is Otto Porter. Porter has been a monster since his disaster against Boston, but I don’t know that I would trust him against Philly. I may have some exposure here, but not much.

Rudy gay has put up more than 36 DraftKings points in two straight games. It looks safe to use him again, though with the Spurs you never know. Still, this is a great matchup against Atlanta. The Hawks are hanging around more lately, so I don’t mind using players against them as much.

What do we do with the Washington front here? Trevor Ariza has dominated Dallas in two meetings this year, but his trademark consistency is under attack because of Jabari Parker’s play off the bench. Ariza is still a solid play for the price, but I almost think I would rather use Parker as the value play even though he doesn’t start.

Dark Horses:

We all wondered how Harrison Barnes was going to fit in with the Kings. It’s pretty clear now with Bagley out. Barnes has played at least 36 minutes in four straight games. This could be a rough matchup for him against Boston, but keep in mind that Barnes put up 71 DraftKings points in 62 minutes against the Celtics while a member of the Mavericks. There is solid upside here.

Jae Crowder just went nuts on the Pelicans for 35 DraftKings points on Monday. Why would that change tonight? Here is another strong value play for us! I trust Crowder a lot more than the minutes of Kevin Knox or the Philly front with Embiid out.

The RotoGrinders optimizer loves Gordon Hayward. Don’t be fooled by that. Bembry is the same price, and so is Mikal Bridges, who has five straight games of more than 20 DraftKings points. Hayward hasn’t cracked 20 once in that span.

My pick: N/A; N/A

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 21: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on January 21, 2019 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 Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Blake Griffin mauled the Timberwolves for 53.5 DraftKings points in the first meeting. Saric and Gibson aren’t equipped to handle him defensively, and Towns is going to be busy with Drummond. Expect another monster from Blake here.

Philly has struggled against power forwards, and Lauri Markkanen has beaten up on teams that struggle against power forwards. I think you see where this is going. I don’t know that I like Markkanen more than Blake, but I can certainly get on board with playing both.

Honorable Mention:

LaMarcus Aldridge hasn’t put up any big lines for a while, but that could change tonight against Atlanta. Still, the Spurs are much more interested in keeping the stars fresh for the playoffs than winning a regular season game against a bad team. I find it hard to trust this despite the good matchup.

Kevin Love put up 34.75 DraftKings points against Brooklyn in only 28 minutes in the first meeting. Since Love came back, he has literally done everything for the Cavs. Love has at least 36 DraftKings points in four straight. Brooklyn wont stop that streak. I could also see using Larry Nance here, but he doesn’t start, so there’s risk here.

Anthony Davis ravaged Utah for 46.75 DraftKings points in just 22 minutes on Monday night. He wont play more minutes than that, but if Davis is going to put up 40 DraftKings points per game regardless, we at least have to consider him here.

Dark Horses:

I will admit that Noah Vonleh is very tempting again since the Knicks are actually playing him, but how long will it last? I understand taking this risk on a lighter slate, but with ten games, we don’t need to take risks like this.

Mike Scott turned in another solid outing, and his minutes should be assured with Jonah Bolden out. Jeff Green is also a solid play here, but I like the upside with Scott considering the minutes are assured. When it comes down to it though, the upside of Harry Giles is hard to ignore. If the Kings start playing him 25-28 minutes, he’s going to put up massive numbers.

Kenrich Williams has played his way back into consideration, but everything at this level is a crapshoot. Gordon Hayward was huge last night against the Warriors, but I’m curious to see if the Warriors will actually turn him loose here in the second night of a back to back.

My pick: Love(PF), Giles(F); Griffin(PF)

DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 15: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets plays the Atlanta Hawks at the Pepsi Center on November 15, 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:

Karl-Anthony Towns should get in car accidents more often. Well, ones that aren’t serious anyway. Since the minor accident for Towns, he has been unstoppable, even in matchups that aren’t all that favorable for him. Towns only had 36 DraftKings points in the first meeting with Detroit, but I don’t care. He hasn’t been below 55 since the All Star Break.

The only reason that I’m not crazy about Nikola Jokic here is because he has played just 55 minutes in two games against the Lakers due to blowouts. Jokic has 82 DraftKings points in that time, so if the game stays close, Jokic could break the slate. The bad news is that we have seen nothing from the Lakers that says they can hang around.