Adam Strangis NBA DFS Picks and Pivots: 8.21
Welcome back NBA DFS fans! I’m Adam Strangis and I’ll be covering NBA DFS Picks and Pivots for Brian Tulloch for the next couple weeks. After months of being on pause, the league is back and so is DraftKings with big prizes pools to take down so let’s get started with our top NBA DFS Picks and Pivots: 8.21!
For those of you new to Picks and Pivots, the goal of this NBA DFS article each and every day is to provide you a “First Look” overview of the slate where we use DraftKings pricing as a baseline to help us get started. Rather than simply write out the “top plays,” this article will focus on slate strategy and roster construction with a GPP mindset to help you get started on your initial builds. Without further ado, let’s dive into today’s slate!
NBA DFS Picks and Pivots: Slate Breakdown
Maybe this is going to be a broken record, but I’m looking to stack the late game as much as possible on this slate. The Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks are tied at one game each so this game is vital. Additionally, it has the highest O/U on the slate by 11.5 points.
Clippers vs Mavericks Game Stack
The good news? Luka Doncic and Kawhi Leonard saw their prices go down after game two, making them slightly easier to fit. Luka shouldn’t be under $11,000 and Playoff Kawhi shouldn’t be under $10,000. Both actually have more to give. Kawhi has only shot 3-13 from deep in two games and Luka was limited to just 28 minutes last game and still put up 50 DK points. Give him his minutes, Kawhi hits a couple more three’s and watch those scores pile up.
Now we need some building blocks around the two studs and until they raise his price more, I will continue to use Marcus Morris. He’s played 32 and 35 minutes already and clearly has a major role in this series. $5,000 is about the ceiling price for him, but with both games checking in over 30 DK I’m fine going back to the well. Likewise, Seth Curry has produced back-to-back double digit point games and taken 20 shots combined. Since he’s still under $4,000, there’s room for 6x here and paired with Luka can certainly 6x as a duo.
Secondary Group
How far you want to go with this stack in NBA DFS Picks and Pivots: 8.21 is up to you, but other targets include Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell and possibly even Trey Burke. Sweet Lou was running hot in Game two and poured in 23 real points. You know what you get with him and it’s a lot of real points and some assists.
His normal partner in crime of the bench is interesting as well. The DK game logs don’t look good for Trez so far. However, he played 22 minutes last game, up from 15. If he approaches 26-28, $4,100 has blow up potential in a good way. He’s a risky play but one you absolutely want to be in front of the curve in GPP, not chasing that first big game.
Burke was a great call by Brian in the discord the other night to combat Curry chalk and he flirted with 30 DK points. Now, he had to go 7-11 from the field and only played 17 minutes so I do still prefer Curry. However, it’s likely going to be the same leverage play as it was Wednesday. I’m not interested in Paul George all that much and I beg of you – DO NOT chase the Boban game. I know, he’s super fun and he smashed. He played 9 minutes. You just can’t go after that.
Key Punt
Lastly, this isn’t a player in this game but it’s a punt center that could really pay off or completely flop. Enes Kanter played 22 minutes this past game for Boston and almost doubled-doubled. The game before he only played eight minutes total, and that game was much closer.
I’m not sure if they were just riding the score or if they found something. I suggest taking a couple minutes to skim over this article by Tom Westerholm for masslive.com. Yes, it’s only a suggestion the Celtics start Kanter. But Mr. Westerholm makes a compelling case that Boston could use Kanter to limit Embiid.
Player Pool
There’s some really good pieces to consider from the other games and my interest goes in order – Toronto vs Brooklyn, Boston vs Philadelphia and Denver vs Utah. With Joe Harris leaving the bubble, I suspect Garrett Temple and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to be popular choices in all formats. On the Toronto side, Fred VanVleet continues to be slightly under-priced and a dynamite play. One team I’m likely to fade entirely is the Jazz. With Mike Conley expected back, there’s not a player worth much consideration at salary past Donovan Mitchell.
Players in Consideration – Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Mitchell, Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Josh Richardson
NBA DFS Picks and Pivots: The Wrap-Up
I’ll be trying to get as many pieces from the first and last games of the day in my lineup tonight in GPP. These are the best O/U’s to attack and I think the pricing is really good though those games. My biggest fear leaving out in that scenario is Tatum, but you could always sub him for Kawhi if you prefer. I remain interested in Kanter as a punt to make it all work.
Let’s jump into Discord and talk some hoops my friends. Time to make money!
Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @bucn4life and be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT account here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate as sports FINALLY return.
