Adam Strangis NBA Sunday 1/31 Core Four
We only have four games tonight but there is one game that stands above and beyond the rest, at least on paper. The Nets take on the Wizards and that boasts two teams that are in the top six in pace and bottom five in points allowed. Provided this game stays close throughout, it should be an absolute gold mine. I’m going to be very heavy on this game in the NBA Sunday 1/31 Core Four and I fully expect that game to carry some heavy and justifiable chalk.
Russell Westbrook ($9,000 DK/$9,600 FD) – It may seem an odd place to start but West is too cheap for this spot. He was ejected with about 10 minutes to go last game and had played 27 minutes. That means his minutes should be stabilized after he came back from his injury. On the season he has a 30.8% usage are and a 1.34 FPPM. We also know that Westy will want to show out with James Harden on the other side after the breakup from Houston. Westbrook is absolutely one of those players. We already talked about the game environment which is going to be elite. If Harden is out, I’d really love to build around a Westy/Kyrie Irving/Kevin Durant core, but will need some help there.
Jarrett Allen ($5,400 DK/$5,800 FD) – There’s not normally a slate that goes by with us not wanting to attack the interior of the Wolves. Andre Drummond is too expensive for his minutes, but Allen is not. He’s played at least 20 minutes in all six game with Cleveland and has recorded at least 26 in three of them. Minnesota is bottom 10 in paint points allowed and allows the seventh-most rebounds on the year. It’s a massive pace up spot for the Cavs, as the Wolves are inside the top eight in pace. This is the perfect spot for Allen to flash and he has a 1.01 FPPM with the Cavaliers so far. If we spend on the Washington game, the high-end centers will be out of our price range.
Kevin Durant ($10,100 DK/$10,600 FD) – Even if all three Nets play, I’m still going to be interested in KD tonight. He’s got the fresh legs after missing the last game, and boasts the highest usage at 31.7% and the highest FPPM at 1.39 over the past two weeks. Since Harden has started playing in Brooklyn, KD has scored 32, 32, 38, 30, 42 and 20 real points. The 32.3 points per game in that span would rank second. Funnily enough, KD already is second but the gab would close between him and Bradley Beal.
The only poor outing was a 6-21 day from the field, not likely to replicate with Durant. Who will the Wizards throw at Durant? Rui Hachimura? Davis Bertans? KD will eat those guys without even trying. I feel like this is about as close as we get to guaranteeing 30+ real points, and I’m in no matter what.
Darius Garland ($5,600 DK/$5,200 FD) – Garland is another player who’s minutes are back to normal and is too cheap for where he’s at. He’s been using 32 a night for most of the season and has played 29 and 31 the past two games. On the season, Garland has started to show some promise with averaging 15 points and five dimes per night. Andre Drummond has a 31.7% usage rate but with him being dialed back, other players will be asked to do more. Garland already had a 23.1% usage and a 0.91 FPPM on the year. If he starts to pick up some slack from Drummond, he could take off even further. With the fast-paced Wolves and their lack of defense on the other side, Garland is a great value piece to pair with the big guns from Brooklyn and Washington.
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