Isaiahs Protocol for the NBA DFS slate on 1/29

Isaiah’s Protocol for the NBA DFS slate is built around DraftKings pricing, but is good across the industry with some slight adjustments to salaries on the various sites

We have an intriguing 6 game NBA DFS slate to look at tonight. Vegas set the Houston/Portland game with a 236 point total and Houston favored by 1.5. The Chicago/Indianapolis game has a total of 214 with the Bulls being 9 point underdogs. In addition to the injury news, this game becomes one of the least appealing. Victor Oladipo (knee) will make his return and join a much deeper backcourt than the one he left. There are also questionable tags on Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner. On the flip side of this game its easier if I list the healthy players. Kris Dunn, Thaddeus Young, and Coby White are currently the only Bulls that are not listed out or questionable. James Harden, Clint Capela, and Andre Drummond are all listed as questionable as well.

I advise all my readers to join the staff at WinDaily in our Discord chat rooms as we discuss important news as it unfolds.

THE STUD

Russell Westbrook ($10400) Westbrook is quickly becoming my favorite high priced superstar in the NBA. He carries a 35.6% usage rate and scores 1.39 fantasy points (FP) per minute. Russell is also a consistent threat for a triple/double on any NBA DFS slate. Portland ranks 19^th in defensive efficiency (DEFF) and 28^th in (DvsA) which is a rank given to the opponent when facing this player’s archetype. Westbrook had 69.3 DraftKings fantasy points (DKFPTS) the last time these two teams played each other and has shown that he can produce with or without Harden on the court. There’s should be enough value tonight to fit Westy on your roster.

I want to quickly mention Kyrie Irving ($9100). Kyrie is not listed on the injury report tonight after sitting out the last game due to personal reasons. He was a very good friend of Kobe Bryant, and seems to be having a very hard time coping with the legends pre-mature, unfortunate passing on Sunday. We all are, myself included. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has stated that he will not be speaking to Kyrie and it remains unclear if he will play on this NBA DFS slate. Irving has averaged 58.6 DKFPTS in two games vs. the Pistons this season and has a nice salary for that kind of production. Kyrie could go big, or fall flat if he’s on your roster, so be smart with your decision here.

THE CORE

Buddy Hield ($7100) It may be a little point chasing of me, but I love this salary on Hield. Buddy has been coming off the bench for the last two games, but it hasn’t slowed him down a bit. He may actually be a little better after shooting over .500 in field goal (FG) and 3 point % in those contests. He has a 26% usage rate and scores 1.01 FP/min. on the season. The Thunder rank 28^th in DvsA as Hield may avoid solid defense from both Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for most of the night. Buddy dropped 44.3 DKFPTS against OKC last time around and looks to be going toe to toe with Dennis Schroeder on the second unit tonight.

CJ McCollum ($6900) Again with the point chasing? It may appear that way. I think DraftKings has failed to raise some salaries on this NBA DFS slate. After missing a week with an ankle injury, CJ returned to play 36 minutes. He scored 39.25 DKFPTS on a stout Pacer defense. CJ also shot 11/21 (.524) and 6/9 (.667) from behind the arc. McCollum has a 25.7% usage rate and scores a FP/min. Harden is not a very good defender and Houston ranks 28^th in DvsA. CJ could very well get 6X value on this NBA DFS slate by exceeding 40 DKFPTS tonight. That is exactly what he has averaged in the last 2 contests against the Rockets.

Others in consideration: Domantas Sabonis, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Chris Paul, Jonas Valanciunas, Dillon Brooks

THE VALUE

Jakob Poeltl ($5600) Lamarcus Aldridge (thumb) has already been ruled out tonight. Poeltl averages 34.4 min./gm. without him in the game. On the season he scores 1.07 FP/min., has a 17.1% rebound rate, 13.9% assist rate, and 7.9% block rate. Jakob has a tough match up against Rudy Gobert as the Jazz rank 1^st in DEFF and 2^nd in DvsA. This is a value/minute play as Poeltl is projected to score 34 DKFPTS for just under 7X value at this salary.

Reggie Jackson ($4500) Derrick Rose will be back tonight making the Piston starters a little unclear. The Nets rank 16^th in DEFF and 18^th in DvsA and Reggie has a 26.9% usage rate. There is a lot to pay attention to (Rose, Drummond, Kyrie) but I think Jackson provides a solid floor for some much needed salary relief on this NBA DFS slate tonight.

There’s a lot to think about tonight so I highly encourage all readers to join myself, and the rest of the WinDaily team in the Discord chat rooms as we break down and discuss our favorite plays. Thank you for reading my content and feel free to leave a comment, or hit me up on Twitter @IsaiahsProtocol.

GOODLUCK AND HAVE FUN