DFSGhost 
A smaller NBA slate for Sunday is no surprise, while the NFL takes the spotlight. Some teams should be getting players back from injury today, while others will likely be missing some. It’s a Sunday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
- Proprietary Projection Model
- Articles of the Day
- Cheat Sheet (coming soon)
Point Guards
LaMelo Ball ($7,800 DK / $7,800 FD)
While his shooting has taken an ugly turn in his last two games, there’s no denying LaMelo Ball’s importance in this Charlotte Hornets offense. Sporting a 29.2% usage rate on the season, Ball has posted a 17.3/5.5/6 scoring line while taking over 16 shots per night. Despite shooting a horrendous 5-for-28 in the last two games, the Hornets have found ways to close games, and Ball’s matchup versus a Portland defense that struggles mightily versus primary ball handlers is the spot we need to consider with most of the top point guards relying on situational dependency to be effective on tonight’s NBA slate.
Jalen Green ($5,600 DK / $5,800 FD)
The second overall pick of this year’s NBA draft will be the cornerstone to a Houston Rockets era post-James Harden. Logging 30 or more minutes in 4 of 5 games for the Rockets this season, Green has also taken double-digit shot attempts each night, including a resounding 27 3PA in his last three contests. While he will continue to experience growing pains in his rookie campaign, Green’s volume is simply undeniable, and while the Lakers have a tremendous interior defense thanks to Anthony Davis, their perimeter defense is one of the weakest in the league, thanks to the acquisition of Russell Westbrook.
Honorable Mentions:
- Russell Westbrook ($9,700 DK / $9,400 FD) – need LeBron to be OUT
- Damian Lillard ($9,400 DK / $8,400 FD)
Shooting Guards
CJ McCollum ($7,700 DK / $8,600 FD)
There are few shooting guards I’ll consider above the 5K price range today, but CJ McCollum certainly warrants a write-up for tonight’s NBA slate. While it has been Damian Lillard’s struggles that have taken the spotlight in the early stages of the season for Portland, McCollum has quietly gone about his business, sporting a 30.1% usage rate while averaging 24.2 PPG on 45.9% shooting, taking nearly 20 FGA per night, including 10 from behind the arc. While Charlotte’s frontcourt will be a primary point to attack on every slate, their net defensive rating of 110, ranking 23rd in the league, makes this defense attackable from all positions.
Honorable Mentions
- Donovan Mitchell ($9,000 DK / $8,100 FD)
- Value Spot
Small Forwards
Kevin Durant ($10,500 DK / $10,800 FD)
While most studs on this NBA slate are dependent on situational dependency for their success, Kevin Durant is one of two in this article that – if everything stands as is – will be a focal point at the top of the pricing grid. With his 31% usage rate this season, KD has carried this Nets offense with his 28.5/10.2 double-double average, while shooting 56.1% from the floor. I can provide so many different analytics as to why he’s my favorite stud at the time of writing, but realistically, let’s just keep it at Detroit has no one to guard him.
Miles Bridges ($7,400 DK / $8,000 FD)
Even with the return of PJ Washington, Miles Bridges stands out in a game that is most definitely stackable on such a small NBA slate. Scoring 20 or more points in five of Charlotte’s six games this season, notably, his last 5 in a row, Bridges looks primed to be in a breakout year thus far. Logging 35.7 MPG for a young Charlotte offense, Bridges has been the key contributor they needed alongside LaMelo Ball with Terry Rozier sidelined, where it has been Bridges taking nearly 19 FGA per night while shooting 50.9% from the field. Facing a Trail Blazers defense that has been decimated on the inside over the past few years certainly helps, especially with Robert Covington needing to help Jusuf Nurkic on the inside due to the latter’s poor defensive ability.
Honorable Mentions:
- Value Spot
Power Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000 DK / $11,300 FD)
After yesterday’s disappointing performance, I still doubt that Giannis won’t be the highest rostered player on tonight’s NBA slate. His upside is second to none, and with the number of injuries Milwaukee is going through, it only gets better – if that was even possible. Going up against a multi DPOY in Rudy Gobert will be a daunting task, but if anyone can surpass expectations, it’s the two-time MVP. Last season, the two faced one another twice, where Giannis averaged 32/11.5/5 on 57.5% shooting. On a slate with few studs that interest me at the time of writing, it’s Giannis and KD over everyone.
Jerami Grant ($6,700 DK / $7,400 FD)
While Detroit is widely expected to be blown out by the Brooklyn Nets, and rightfully so, one of the players that will be able to prevent that is Jerami Grant. With the Nets being vulnerable – to say the least – on the interior, Grant certainly has the upside in this matchup to provide us with upside in the midrange of the pricing grid of tonight’s NBA slate. Despite the lack of efficiency from the floor, Grant’s minutes and usage have both been steady in the early stages of the Pistons’ season, where he’s logged 30 minutes each night and has taken 13+ FGA.
Honorable Mentions:
- Kelly Olynyk ($5,400 DK / $6,000 FD)
- Carmelo Anthony ($5,000 DK / $5,300 FD)
Centers
- Rudy Gobert ($8,400 DK / $8,200 FD)
- Jusuf Nurkic ($7,300 DK / $7,400 FD)
Honorable Mentions
- Value Spot
You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life
