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DraftKings NBA picks August 3: Don’t pay up for Lakers

By Mike Marteny

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 01: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers while playing the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on January 1, 2020 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. Lakers won 117 to 107. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 01: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers while playing the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on January 1, 2020 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. Lakers won 117 to 107. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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DraftKings NBA
DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 06: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during play against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on March 06, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA guard plays

Utah managed to contain LeBron twice before this season. The King has put up DraftKings scores of peasants since entering the bubble, so I see little reason to pay for him. Yes, he still has arguably the highest upside on the slate, but I want to see something first.

The Lakers also seem to be willing to run the bench more upon the restart. They aren’t going to push LeBron or A.D. until the playoffs. These seeding games mean little to them, and it shows in the usage of the players. Don’t expect the usual LeBron or Davis type scores until the seeding is over or until it matters.

The Clippers embarrassed Jrue Holiday and company on Saturday. Favors led the entire team with 26.5 DraftKings points. That’s it. Jaxson Hayes was second. Don’t expect Memphis to hold them down like that. However, it should work to suppress ownership.

Ben Simmons didn’t show off his three point shot in his first game in the bubble, but he was 8-14 from the floor. If he’s going to shoot like that, he’s worth a look. The downside is that this could be a blowout.

Unfortunately, it didn’t drop the price on Holiday or Ingram. I still like Holiday here considering the damage he did to Memphis earlier this season. Lonzo Ball is possible, but I have my eye more on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who by the way, was third on the team in DraftKings points on Saturday. That should afford him more run at minimum price.

Ja Morant makes a world of sense if building in the middle considering he has 95.5 DraftKings points in his two games inside the bubble. I love him for the price.

I definitely want a Thunder guard or two with Murray likely out again. SGA is my favorite based on price. CP3 is a sold investment, but I’ll likely run him only in a game stack. SGA is more bang for the buck, and that could come in handy.

Three things are certain in life. Death, taxes, and never trust Donovan Mitchell in DFS. I went against that certainty on Saturday. I wont be doing it again.

Much like Ja Morant, bubble life has been good for Derrick White. He’s about the only Spurs player that I trust. However, Lonnie Walker IV is moving up that list if Gay or DeRozan sit out.

The value portion of the program is pretty simple once again. Don’t run Utah against the Lakers. Don’t run the Lakers logjam against Utah. Instead run Aaron Holiday, Torrey Craig, T.J. McConnell, and Ish Smith for value guards. There’s no reason to gamble with anyone else.

Troy Brown’s price went up out of the value range, but he’s still one of my favorite plays on the entire slate.