Austin Harmon NBA Saturday Slate Core Four
This Saturday night is a weird NBA night, as we only have four games. That’s normally not a night I want to play cash, and we have a unique situation. The Miami Heat are (likely) still down to eight players. Knowing that, the entire cash field will lock in on four or five Heat players. In that scenario, you’re pretty much playing cash in a three players versus another three players. I’m not playing cash like that. Instead, we can play some of the Heat players and then take calculated chances in GPP. This is a GREAT night to dial back the bankroll, pass the cash games, and play GPP with the NBA Saturday Slate Core Four! These will be subject to change with the NBA chaos, but let’s dive in.
Core Four
Chris Boucher ($6,900 DK/$8,100 FD) – Boucher would be too high for me on FanDuel on a normal night, but the PF position is terrible. DK just isn’t being aggressive enough. I expect him to draw some attention, but when I look and see he’s only a bit more expensive than Kelly Olynyk (on DK)…I’ll take Boucher every time in GPP. It just seems when he gets 24+ minutes a night, the fantasy production follows and he does have a 1.40 FPPM and a 21.5% usage this year. Both those numbers surprised me, and Charlotte is 24th and 30th in paint points and rebounds allowed. He just crushed this interior and the Hornets just don’t have a big man that can hang with Boucher. Just pray Nick Nurse lets him on the court long enough.
Tobias Harris ($7,500 DK/$7,500 FD) – This is going to be chalky even in GPP but sometimes you gotta just work with it. Joel Embiid is out tonight and Sunday (so get used to playing Harris) and that’s the green light for Harris. When Embiid is off the floor this year, we’re talking a 24.6% usage and a 1.48 FPPM. Last season, the usage was two percent higher and the FPPM was lower. With Ben Simmons being very quiet this year (to be kind), Harris is not pricey enough. The Sixers are playing at the fourth-fastest pace in the league and that’s right in the wheelhouse for Harris.
Mason Plumlee ($5,000 DK/$5,800 FD) – I have ideas to attack a two center route on DK with Clint Capela. With Jusuf Nurkic out, Enes Kanter (who can’t defend a pick and roll, something Trae Young does at the fourth-highest frequency in the NBA) is going to be extremely popular and I get it. Even on FD Plumlee is fascinating. This will be rescinded if Bam Adebayo makes it back but if he doesn’t, Plumlee has a very clear path for a big game.
He’s averaging 6.5 paint touches per game and is 16th in rebounding chances per game. PlumDawg only has a 13.3% usage rate but a 1.04 FPPM. Even with Bam in for the bulk of the season, Miami is 20th in rebounding and 22nd in points allowed in the paint. He is a direct pivot to Kanter as well, adding to his appeal. Plumlee was a model darling for a while, and I’m back on board tonight.
Damian Lillard ($9,200 DK/$9,200 FD) – It’s a little early to see what his ownership looks like, but it’s Dame Time tomorrow. I want a big piece of the late night hammer as both teams sit in the top 12 in pace and Portland is 26th in points allowed. Atlanta is 11th, but on a back to back the defensive effort likely slips a bit. Dame has actually been a little bit tough to grasp this year. His last five games include a 36, 71, 38, 33 and a 67. Considering Young is a poor defender himself and the Blazers need to stack wins against teams like these, I expect we get prime Lillard in this game.
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