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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. I’d like to point out that the players I’m recommending are best used together for cash game purposes. These players are also decent considerations for guaranteed prize pool (GPP) tournaments when used individually with other contrarian type players.
We’re looking at an exciting 4 game NBA DFS slate that’s packed with intriguing players. There is some injury news out there to keep an eye on. I like to advise all my readers to join the staff at WinDaily in our Discord chat rooms as we discuss some of the important news leading up to tip off, and break down some key players even further.
Strategy
It’s extremely important to understand that this is a cash game article. My focus is to find 8 players on the DraftKings NBA DFS slate that will get the recommended 300 point total that should be enough to finish in the top 50% of double up, 50/50, or head to head games. The roster building process is different for GPP tournaments where it’s wise to use more expensive players for their scoring upside, and pair them with players that may exceed their value to get you in the top 10% of your contest. Finding high risk/reward players while paying close attention to ownership percentages is important to differentiate your lineup in GPP’s. For cash games, ownership is far less important as we’re simply looking to find a roster that will finish in the top 50% of the contest, and win some cash. Proper bankroll management is important for limiting the number of deposits you make with your own money. Doubling a wager in cash games is an excellent way to counter risks you may take playing GPP contests. It’s always better to take shots at bigger GPP contests with the “house” money you’ve already won playing cash games.
DraftKings gives us a $50,000 salary cap to roster 8 players. This gives us an average of $6,250 per player. Getting to the recommended 300 point plateau, we need all 8 players to average 37.5 DraftKings fantasy points (DKFPTS). While it may sound challenging, keeping this elementary math in the back of your head while building your roster is important. Limit your risk as much as possible and find 8 players that fit this criteria. Lets take a look at this NBA DFS slate.
Cash Game Core (Spend Up)
Jamal Murray ($7200) Jamal has been absolute fire lately. He played his average 40 minutes verse Utah on Monday finishing with 36 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. He scored just under 60 DKFPTS in that game, crushing value at just under 10X. Murray did get a bump in salary, but still averages 51 DKFPTS verse the Jazz in his 3 games against them this season. Those numbers equate to a safe 7X value at this salary.
Fred VanVleet ($7600) VanVleets is another guy who has been on point in the bubble. He flies a bit under the radar with players like Lillard dominating the headlines. I love targeting Raptors against this banged up, defensively deficient Brooklyn squad. Fred also got a substantial salary increase after dropping 60 DKFPTS on the Nets Monday. His 4 game average against the Nets dictates 47 DKFPTS this season. That alone would give him 6X value, and I think he’s playing better than those numbers represent.
Cash Game Core (Average)
Serge Ibaka ($5700) Ibaka seems to be fully recovered from a knee issue that sidelined him earlier this month. Serge has played 25+ minutes in the last 2 games and scored 38, and 43 DKFPTS in those games respectively. Keeping with the Raptor target theme, and feasting on this Brooklyn frontcourt seems like easy pickings on this NBA DFS slate. Anything around this 40 DKFPTS average gives us 7X value, and plugging him in at center (and using the value below) allows us to pay up for just about any stud we want.
Including the value below, there should be enough salary to do anything you like. Using another value piece should enable you to pay up for Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, or Joel Embiid. I think for cash games I’m leaning more on finishing my roster build with a balanced approach.
I really like the combination of Jaylen Brown ($7500) and Kemba Walker ($6800) at this point. Boston will be without the services of Gordon Hayward (ankle) for a while. I expect Marcus Smart to be deployed as a defensive specialist to slow down Tobias Harris and annoy Embiid as much as possible. The Celtics will be looking to lean on the other starters to step up their offense.
Other players I’m considering in the mid-range of this NBA DFS slate include Paul George ($8600), Caris LaVert ($8200), Kyle Lowry ($8000), Pascal Siakam ($7500), and Rudy Gobert ($7400).
Cash Game Core (Value)
I’ve been finding it difficult to roster some quality, consistent, affordable forwards on this NBA DFS slate. Listing them here will give me a little savings to squeeze in my spend ups, while filling this difficult position.
Joe Ingles ($5600) Ingles has been averaging around 44 minutes a game verse the Nuggets and scored 37 DKFPTS in both games last week. Bogdonovic opted out of the bubble earlier this season. Even though Conley returned to the bubble yesterday, he still has to self-quarantine for a bit. This leaves the Jazz backcourt wide open for as many minutes as Ingles can handle. Feel confident firing Ingles up once again in that difficult SF position, hoping he exceeds his average 7X value at that salary.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (TLC) ($4700) TLC has looked pretty good lately. He had 26 points and 7 rebounds, for 40 DKPTS against Toronto on Monday. TLC has been playing north of 30 minutes in the last week. I expect more of the same on this NBA DFS slate. Anything over 33 DKFPTS will give us 7X value on this salary, and TLC is also PF eligible on DraftKings. I don’t hate rostering him at that spot enabling me to pay up elsewhere.
Some others I’m considering are Marcus Morris Sr. ($4800), Jordan Clarkson ($4700), Alec Burks ($4600), Ivica Zubac ($4500), Monte Morris ($3700), and Semi Ojeleye ($3000).
Gordon Hayward has already been ruled out for Boston, and Kristaps Porzingas remains highly questionable in the late game today (which is NOT ideal).
I highly encourage all readers to join myself, and the rest of the WinDaily family 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.
