Get off the beaten path with RadThad’s NBA DFS Breakdown, plays designed to help you take down a GPP!!
What’s up my peeps? Happy Saturday! I hope you’re all enjoying a safe and socially distanced weekend! Tonight’s seven-game NBA DFS slate is a lot “meatier” than the four-game slates we had last weekend, so I hope you’re ready to take advantage of lots of fantasy “goodness.”
There are a number of “beefcake” options to choose from today, so you’ll want to have exposure to some of the top “studs” if you want to take down a tournament. You will also need to stay on your toes, as things tend to change quickly on slates like this. The slightest bit of late-breaking news can completely change your lineup, so be prepared to pivot, if necessary. I’ll be sure to post updates to this article as needed and send out alerts via the “Twitter machine.”
Remember that this is a GPP article so don’t get flustered if some of the “chalkier” names are listed below. As always, the “meat” of the article is at the bottom, so I won’t get offended if you want to start there.
UPDATE #1:
-In addition to Victor Oladipo (HOU) resting Saturday, John Wall (HOU) has been upgraded to “probable”. Wall has missed the teams last five games due to a knee injury, but he should absorb a ton of usage with Oladipo out and Christian Wood (HOU) not with the team for Saturday’s matchup against the Dallas Mavericks (ankle). Wall may be on a minute limit, however, he’s still in play as a low owned tournament option with upside.
-Joel Embiid (PHI) is now listed as “questionable” for Saturday’s game against the Detroit Pistons with back tightness. If he sits you want to target Tobias Harris (PHI), Dwight Howard (PHI) and Ben Simmons (PHI), in that order.
–Jamal Murray (DEN) has been added to the Denver Nuggets injury report and is considered “questionable” with a shoulder injury. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit after playing 40 minutes against the Phoenix Suns last night. This will be your prime opportunity to jump on Monte Morris (DEN) in tournaments.
–Kristaps Porzingis (DAL) is now considered “doubtful” for tonight’s matchup against the Houston Rockets. This will give guys like James Johnson (DAL), Josh Green (DAL) and Willie Cauley Stein (DAL) a boost. At the moment I’m only considering Johnson, but I’ll have to revisit the situation.
–Devin Booker (PHO) will not play in Saturday’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to a hamstring injury. Everyone on the team will get a boost, by default, however, I’ll focus on guys like Chris Paul (PHO) and Mikal Bridges (PHO).
-D’Angelo Russell (MIN) will sit tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans. That means I’ll be jamming in Malik Beasley (MIN) into a ton of tournament rosters.
Point Guard
- Luka Doncic (DAL)
- Steph Curry (GSW)
- Kyrie Irving (BKN)
- John Wall (HOU)
- Monte Morris (DEN)
Hon. mention: Cameron Payne (PHO)
Shooting Guard
- Donovan Mitchell (UTA)
- Zach LaVine (CHI)
- James Harden (HOU)
- Kendrick Nunn (MIA)
- Jordan Clarkson (UTA)
Hon. mention: Wayne Ellington (DET)
Small Forward
- Kevin Durant (BKN)
- LeBron James (LAL)
- Jerami Grant (DET)
- Mikal Bridges (PHO)
- Malik Beasley (MIN)
Hon. mention: Josh Jackson (DET)
Power Forward
- Anthony Davis (LAL)
- Draymond Green (GSW)
- Jarred Vanderbilt (MIN)
- Thad Young (CHI)
- James Johnson (DAL) if Porzingis sits
Hon. mention: P.J. Tucker (HOU)
Center
- Nikola Jokic (DEN)
- Rudy Gobert (UTA)
- Deandre Ayton (PHO)
- Steven Adams (NO)
- Naz Reid (MIN)
Hon. mention: Montrezl Harrell (LAL)
Top Stud (over $8K on FD): Luka Doncic (followed by Nikola Jokic)
Top Stud (over $8K on DK): Luka Doncic (followed by Nikola Jokic)
Top Value (under $5K on FD): DeMarcus Cousins (followed by Jae’Sean Tate)
Top Value (under $5K on DK): Delon Wright (followed by Cameron Johnson)
NBA DFS Notes
– If you’re taking the “studs and scrubs” approach, Luka Doncic (DAL), Nikola Jokic (DEN), LeBron James (LAL) and Joel Embiid (PHI) have the highest ceilings on the slate (in that order).
– On FanDuel, my most common cash core of players consists of James Harden (BKN), Jae’Sean Tate (HOU), Zion Williamson (NO) and DeMarcus Cousins (HOU). You can actually throw Jaelen Brunson (DAL) in there, as well. I expect these guys to be very heavily owned, so consider using other options in tournaments.
– On DraftKings, I’m getting a lot of Cousins, Brunson, Williamson and Victor Oladipo (HOU). LeBron James (LAL) also seems to be popping up in a lot of my optimal lineups.
– If you’re looking to construct a low owned lineup, here are a few recommendations that will buck the current roster construction trends for this slate:
- “How many Houston Rockets is too many?” Okay, so no one is really asking this question at the moment. However, Victor Oladipo (HOU) is playing in the second game of a back-to-back. Don’t be shocked if he ends up sitting after putting in 35 minutes of work last night against the Detroit Pistons. DeMarcus Cousins (HOU) and Jae’Sean Tate (HOU) will likely be heavily owned players today. However, you’ll also want to take a look at guys like Eric Gordon (HOU) and Ben McLemore (HOU) if Oladipo is out.
- Spend up at the center position. DeMarcus Cousins (HOU) dropped 36.25 DraftKings points on the Detroit Pistons last night and will likely be the highest owned center option yet again when the Rockets take on the Dallas Mavericks. That’s great in cash games. However, in tournaments, you may want to consider spending up at the position. Guys like Nikola Jokic (DEN) and Joel Embiid (PHI) have been nothing less than elite this season. They also have two of the highest ceilings on the slate and make excellent GPP pivots.
- Take a stroll on “narrative street.” Last night, Shaquille O’Neal came down hard on Utah’s Donovan Mitchell (UTA) in a post-game interview, telling him that he “doesn’t have what it takes to get to the next level.” It was pretty harsh. Mitchell’s off-court response was, “Aight.” However, I’m expecting a much greater on-court response from him tonight against the Golden State Warriors. Sure, “narratives are real until they aren’t.” However, in this instance, I’m willing to roll the dice with Mitchell in the hopes that he makes this a “statement game.”
- Continue to go all or “Nunn.” First of all, I need to issue an apology to Kendrick Nunn (MIA) and his family. I really didn’t think he was a viable fantasy option. However, he’s put up 34.75, 47.0 and 40.0 DraftKings points in his last three outings. His price has gone up, and he is coming off the bench, but he’s been seeing 35 minutes a game with both Jimmy Butler (MIA) and Tyler Herro (MIA) out. He should see the same amount of run tonight against the Brooklyn Nets and still has upside as a potentially low owned option in GPPs.
Peep out today’s NBA DFS Cheat Sheet!
