DraftKings NBA picks December 8: Can Toronto stop Embiid again?
By Mike Marteny
![Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers loses the ball as Pascal Siakam #43 and Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors defend (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers loses the ball as Pascal Siakam #43 and Marc Gasol #33 of the Toronto Raptors defend (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6e0ef246b1e9c485de0cf61a5b29ad086bb67f5b29f7484e2115a6df6ef1d12e.jpg)
DraftKings NBA Small Forwards:
Best Bets:
LeBron James ($10,500): I like LeBron more if he plays his normal small forward position instead of the point today. I’m not sure it matters all that much. Minnesota is probably going to try to keep Covington on him as much as possible anyway. The win over Portland was a strong game for LeBron, but he let A.D. dominate the awful Portland front. We should be back to LeBron running the show and packing the stat sheet tonight.
Jimmy Butler ($8,800): As expected, Butler torched the Bulls for 50.75 DraftKings points in the first meeting even though he only took ten shots. Butler got a ton of points from the foul line too. This wont be as intense with the game in Miami instead of Chicago, but don’t expect Butler to let up here either. And if Winslow is out, Butler is going to see ample time running the point, which gives his value a little more of a boost. I’m expecting a really good one from Jimmy here.
Honorable Mention:
Paul George ($7,800): George has been marginally safer than Kawhi as far as value goes and that will continue so long as George is cheaper. Kawhi has been better over the last couple of games, but against Washington last Sunday, it was George who took them for 45.5 DraftKings points in just 30 minutes. George is definitely worth considering here.
Robert Covington ($5,400): The Lakers are likely going to contain Covington on the offensive end, but his defensive stats give him a solid enough floor to use anyway. If Wiggins misses another game, Covington will see a little more involvement on the offensive end. If the Timberwolves do let Wiggins play, I will likely look elsewhere though. There’s not a lot of upside here. There’s even less if Wiggins is back in the picture.
Dark Horses:
Troy Brown ($4,100): Brown is who we think he is. He’s getting more run with McRae out, but not a lot and there still isn’t a whole lot of upside. However, the additional minutes have pretty much made Brown’s value bulletproof and matchup-proof. He’s going to get you somewhere in the low 20’s for DraftKings points, which is what we’re looking for.
James Ennis ($3,900): Richardson is out again and there’s a chance that Thybulle is out as well. Thybulle was about the only guy really stealing minutes from Ennis anyway. Ennis should see decent run off the bench and put up his normal solid stat line. There’s little upside, but safe value could help decide this slate.