Gems

With four teams either tied for first in the Eastern Conference or a mere 0.5 games behind, things will get interesting down the stretch of the NBA season. Preseason favorites like the Nets and Lakers are now projecting to be on the road in a potential must-win Play-In game, while others continue to make impressive runs since the All-Star break. It’s a Mojito Monday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

The Studs

Tonight, Nikola Jokic will be a lock for me in every NBA lineup. As you will see in the second section of the article, there will be ample room to get two of the studs on this slate, and The Joker needs to be one of them. Every game is crucial to the Nuggets at this stage of the season, as they look to fend off the Timberwolves to avoid the Play-In tournament, who are a mere 1.5 games back of them for the 6 seed. Jokic has sported a 33.2% usage rate in March, posting a 29.7/12.2/7.6 scoring line on 61.9% shooting. With a matchup versus a Hornets team that ranks 28th in the league to skilled centers, allowing some of the worst scoring and rebounding rates in the league, Jokic is in for a big day.

Simply put, the Spurs are in a must-win spot against one of the worst teams in the NBA. Murray, who leads the league in steals, will thrive in transition versus a Rockets perimeter offense that leads the league in turnover rate. Other than sitting last in the NBA in defensive rating, Houston also bleeds fantasy points against primary ball handlers, most notably allowing one of the highest assist rates to primary ball handlers, where Murray has averaged 9.3/game on the year.

The Value

Indiana Pacers (+7.5)

Malcolm Brogdon and Isaiah Jackson will be out for tonight’s game against the Hawks, and while options such as Justin Anderson and Terry Taylor have been useful in the last week, I’m not forcing any Pacers into my NBA lineups. Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield remain active, and Goga Bitadze is still questionable, leaving many questions surrounding this offense at the time of writing.

Boston Celtics (+4)

Al Horford and Robert Williams have already been ruled out, opening up a ton of minutes in the Celtics frontcourt. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum is a prime candidate to be rested with knee soreness tonight, paving the way for Jaylen Brown to lead the charge on offense, next to Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. With Toronto having a small lineup that plays position-less basketball, the Celtics can utilize a combination of their offensive players with Grant Williams at the ‘5’, should Daniel Theis not be able to keep pace.

Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies (-10.5)

Steph Curry remains out for the Warriors, while Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Otto Porter Jr. are likely going to rest for tonight’s game against the Grizzlies, who will be without Ja Morant. Rather than looking to the combination of Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors offer a ton of value with Jonathan Kuminga, Nemanja Bjelica, and Gary Payton II.

OKC Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers (+2.5)

It will be imperative to get this game right on tonight’s NBA slate, as it will be wildly popular. Not only does this one tip off three hours after lock, but there are still players waiting to be confirmed, in addition to nearly every roster player being ruled out on both sides of the ball. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey out for the Thunder, the trio of Tre Mann, Theo Maledon, and Aleksej Pokusevski will be interesting targets, while Portland has Trendon Watford added to the injury report, opening up things for the likes of Greg Brown, CJ Elleby, and Drew Eubanks to log heavy minutes in the frontcourt.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

With four teams either tied for first in the Eastern Conference or a mere 0.5 games behind, things will get interesting down the stretch of the NBA season. Preseason favorites like the Nets and Lakers are now projecting to be on the road in a potential must-win Play-In game, while others continue to make impressive runs since the All-Star break. It’s a Mojito Monday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

The Studs

Tonight, Nikola Jokic will be a lock for me in every NBA lineup. As you will see in the second section of the article, there will be ample room to get two of the studs on this slate, and The Joker needs to be one of them. Every game is crucial to the Nuggets at this stage of the season, as they look to fend off the Timberwolves to avoid the Play-In tournament, who are a mere 1.5 games back of them for the 6 seed. Jokic has sported a 33.2% usage rate in March, posting a 29.7/12.2/7.6 scoring line on 61.9% shooting. With a matchup versus a Hornets team that ranks 28th in the league to skilled centers, allowing some of the worst scoring and rebounding rates in the league, Jokic is in for a big day.

Simply put, the Spurs are in a must-win spot against one of the worst teams in the NBA. Murray, who leads the league in steals, will thrive in transition versus a Rockets perimeter offense that leads the league in turnover rate. Other than sitting last in the NBA in defensive rating, Houston also bleeds fantasy points against primary ball handlers, most notably allowing one of the highest assist rates to primary ball handlers, where Murray has averaged 9.3/game on the year.

The Value

Indiana Pacers (+7.5)

Malcolm Brogdon and Isaiah Jackson will be out for tonight’s game against the Hawks, and while options such as Justin Anderson and Terry Taylor have been useful in the last week, I’m not forcing any Pacers into my NBA lineups. Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield remain active, and Goga Bitadze is still questionable, leaving many questions surrounding this offense at the time of writing.

Boston Celtics (+4)

Al Horford and Robert Williams have already been ruled out, opening up a ton of minutes in the Celtics frontcourt. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum is a prime candidate to be rested with knee soreness tonight, paving the way for Jaylen Brown to lead the charge on offense, next to Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. With Toronto having a small lineup that plays position-less basketball, the Celtics can utilize a combination of their offensive players with Grant Williams at the ‘5’, should Daniel Theis not be able to keep pace.

Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies (-10.5)

Steph Curry remains out for the Warriors, while Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Otto Porter Jr. are likely going to rest for tonight’s game against the Grizzlies, who will be without Ja Morant. Rather than looking to the combination of Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors offer a ton of value with Jonathan Kuminga, Nemanja Bjelica, and Gary Payton II.

OKC Thunder @ Portland Trail Blazers (+2.5)

It will be imperative to get this game right on tonight’s NBA slate, as it will be wildly popular. Not only does this one tip off three hours after lock, but there are still players waiting to be confirmed, in addition to nearly every roster player being ruled out on both sides of the ball. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey out for the Thunder, the trio of Tre Mann, Theo Maledon, and Aleksej Pokusevski will be interesting targets, while Portland has Trendon Watford added to the injury report, opening up things for the likes of Greg Brown, CJ Elleby, and Drew Eubanks to log heavy minutes in the frontcourt.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Late season NBA has arrived, meaning there are not only playoff seeds up for grabs, but also a plethora of players sitting out on a nightly basis. We’ll begin with a preview of the slate, but be sure to keep up with the news. It’s a Fajita Friday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Golden State Warriors @ Atlanta Hawks (-2.5)

Steph Curry (foot) remains out for the Warriors, meaning there will be many looks to go around on offense. With the Hawks ranking struggling to guard primary ball handlers thanks to Trae Young’s 117.6 defensive rating, which is second worst in the NBA, Jordan Poole is the player I’m interested in here. With Curry off the floor, Poole sees a team-high 30.6% usage rate while also leading the charge with a 1.11 FPPM. Not only has he been great in spot starts, but Poole also has 20 or more points in eleven straight games, where he’s sported a 27% usage rate and has posted a 25.6/3.3/4.9 scoring line on 54.6% shooting.

Trae Young is the only Hawk that interests me on this slate. With Atlanta seemingly locked into a Play-In spot, seeding is still up for grabs, as they sit a mere two games back of Brooklyn for the 8 seed. With 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games, Young comes into this one as one of the hottest players in the NBA on the offensive side of the ball.

Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers (+3.5)

This game is essentially a “tanking” battle, but there’s no denying the appeal it has for DFS purposes. Portland will be sitting Josh Hart and Justice Winslow tonight, in addition to seemingly every other roster player they have. The combination of Drew Eubanks and Kris Dunn make for intriguing targets on this NBA slate, as the two are fighting for roster spots in the closing days of the season.

The Rockets are looking to solidify their odds of getting the #1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, and I think this is a game where we see their young core flourish. Specifically, the quartet of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, KJ Martin, and Kevin Porter Jr. will all be in for the most run here. With Christian Wood likely active for this one barring any changes leading up to lock, I anticipate Alperen Sengun being virtually unrostered, but the big man has been as efficient as any rookie coming off the bench, posting a 1.14 FPPM on the season and now gets a matchup versus a Rockets team that not only sits dead last in the NBA in defensive rating, but also ranks 29th in the league versus opposing skilled big men.

Honorable Mentions:

• Utah Jazz @ Charlotte Hornets (+3.5)
• NY Knicks @ Miami Heat (-6)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Late season NBA has arrived, meaning there are not only playoff seeds up for grabs, but also a plethora of players sitting out on a nightly basis. We’ll begin with a preview of the slate, but be sure to keep up with the news. It’s a Fajita Friday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Golden State Warriors @ Atlanta Hawks (-2.5)

Steph Curry (foot) remains out for the Warriors, meaning there will be many looks to go around on offense. With the Hawks ranking struggling to guard primary ball handlers thanks to Trae Young’s 117.6 defensive rating, which is second worst in the NBA, Jordan Poole is the player I’m interested in here. With Curry off the floor, Poole sees a team-high 30.6% usage rate while also leading the charge with a 1.11 FPPM. Not only has he been great in spot starts, but Poole also has 20 or more points in eleven straight games, where he’s sported a 27% usage rate and has posted a 25.6/3.3/4.9 scoring line on 54.6% shooting.

Trae Young is the only Hawk that interests me on this slate. With Atlanta seemingly locked into a Play-In spot, seeding is still up for grabs, as they sit a mere two games back of Brooklyn for the 8 seed. With 20 or more points in seven of his last eight games, Young comes into this one as one of the hottest players in the NBA on the offensive side of the ball.

Houston Rockets @ Portland Trail Blazers (+3.5)

This game is essentially a “tanking” battle, but there’s no denying the appeal it has for DFS purposes. Portland will be sitting Josh Hart and Justice Winslow tonight, in addition to seemingly every other roster player they have. The combination of Drew Eubanks and Kris Dunn make for intriguing targets on this NBA slate, as the two are fighting for roster spots in the closing days of the season.

The Rockets are looking to solidify their odds of getting the #1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, and I think this is a game where we see their young core flourish. Specifically, the quartet of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, KJ Martin, and Kevin Porter Jr. will all be in for the most run here. With Christian Wood likely active for this one barring any changes leading up to lock, I anticipate Alperen Sengun being virtually unrostered, but the big man has been as efficient as any rookie coming off the bench, posting a 1.14 FPPM on the season and now gets a matchup versus a Rockets team that not only sits dead last in the NBA in defensive rating, but also ranks 29th in the league versus opposing skilled big men.

Honorable Mentions:

• Utah Jazz @ Charlotte Hornets (+3.5)
• NY Knicks @ Miami Heat (-6)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Only four games on today’s NBA schedule but there are plenty of good spots to pick from. Two teams are missing some key players, making them stick out above the rest, but others cannot go ignored as we look to get to the top of the leaderboards. It’s a Taco Tuesday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks (-6.5)

With Khris Middleton (wrist) ruled out for tonight’s game, my NBA lineups will start with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks currently hold the tie breaker for the third seed in the Eastern Conference over the Celtics, but are also not only tied with the 76ers for the second seed, but are also a mere 2.5 games back of the one seed. Every game counts, and this is where their best players need to be exactly that. Enter Giannis, who has the potential to lead the NBA slate in scoring with a 1.73 FPPM and 35% usage rate with Middleton off the court this season.

While Giannis will be a building block, do not overlook the potential pairing of he and Jrue Holiday. With Middleton off the court this season, it is Holiday, not Giannis, who sees the biggest increases. Sporting a 23.3% usage rate and 1.10 FPPM on the season, Holiday sees increases to 29.1% and 1.23, respectively, while also getting the desired matchup versus a Bulls perimeter defense that has been vulnerable in the absence of Lonzo Ball.

Golden State Warriors (-8)

With Steph Curry (foot) being ruled out for the foreseeable future after a collision with Marcus Smart, all eyes will be on the Warriors offense and how they adjust without the best shooter of all time. Leading the charge for the Warriors is none other than Jordan Poole, who sees a drastic 5.6% increase in usage rate to 30.6% with Curry off the court, while posting 1.10 FPPM. In a matchup versus an Orlando defense that ranks 22nd in the NBA versus scoring primary ball handlers, Poole has the ceiling of someone I want to get exposure to in the mid range of the pricing grid.

Elsewhere, Klay Thompson has a good chance to lead the team in FGA tonight, but the price tag is a bit lofty for someone that relies on pure scoring to produce fantasy points. Thus, I’ll be turning to the frontcourt for my second Warrior in the form of Draymond Green, Otto Porter Jr., Jonathan Kuminga, or Nemanja Bjelica. This second Warrior as a part of our NBA lineups is contingent on Moses Moody missing a second straight game with a shoulder injury, and an update on Gary Payton II’s minutes, who makes his return to the lineup tonight. Stay tuned in Discord.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Only four games on today’s NBA schedule but there are plenty of good spots to pick from. Two teams are missing some key players, making them stick out above the rest, but others cannot go ignored as we look to get to the top of the leaderboards. It’s a Taco Tuesday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks (-6.5)

With Khris Middleton (wrist) ruled out for tonight’s game, my NBA lineups will start with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks currently hold the tie breaker for the third seed in the Eastern Conference over the Celtics, but are also not only tied with the 76ers for the second seed, but are also a mere 2.5 games back of the one seed. Every game counts, and this is where their best players need to be exactly that. Enter Giannis, who has the potential to lead the NBA slate in scoring with a 1.73 FPPM and 35% usage rate with Middleton off the court this season.

While Giannis will be a building block, do not overlook the potential pairing of he and Jrue Holiday. With Middleton off the court this season, it is Holiday, not Giannis, who sees the biggest increases. Sporting a 23.3% usage rate and 1.10 FPPM on the season, Holiday sees increases to 29.1% and 1.23, respectively, while also getting the desired matchup versus a Bulls perimeter defense that has been vulnerable in the absence of Lonzo Ball.

Golden State Warriors (-8)

With Steph Curry (foot) being ruled out for the foreseeable future after a collision with Marcus Smart, all eyes will be on the Warriors offense and how they adjust without the best shooter of all time. Leading the charge for the Warriors is none other than Jordan Poole, who sees a drastic 5.6% increase in usage rate to 30.6% with Curry off the court, while posting 1.10 FPPM. In a matchup versus an Orlando defense that ranks 22nd in the NBA versus scoring primary ball handlers, Poole has the ceiling of someone I want to get exposure to in the mid range of the pricing grid.

Elsewhere, Klay Thompson has a good chance to lead the team in FGA tonight, but the price tag is a bit lofty for someone that relies on pure scoring to produce fantasy points. Thus, I’ll be turning to the frontcourt for my second Warrior in the form of Draymond Green, Otto Porter Jr., Jonathan Kuminga, or Nemanja Bjelica. This second Warrior as a part of our NBA lineups is contingent on Moses Moody missing a second straight game with a shoulder injury, and an update on Gary Payton II’s minutes, who makes his return to the lineup tonight. Stay tuned in Discord.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Tonight’s NBA slate will surely look different as we approach lock, with multiple teams on the second half of a back-to-back while others have unclear injury reports at the time of writing. For now, let’s dive into our preview; it’s a Mojito Monday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.

One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.

Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:

• Proprietary Projection Model
• Articles of the Day
• Cheat Sheet

New Orleans Pelicans @ Charlotte Hornets (-7)

Two teams battling for positioning in the Play-In picture of the NBA playoffs, the Pelicans and Hornets both desperately need this win tonight. Despite Brandon Ingram (hamstring) being listed as questionable tonight, he did not travel with the team to San Antonio, meaning the offense will likely be up to CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas tonight. In addition, Devonte’ Graham (hip) sat out yesterday’s game, and even if he makes his return to the lineup on the second half of a back-to-back, I have interest in both McCollum and Valanciunas in their respective individual matchups.

McCollum has now posted 20 or more points in seven straight for the Pelicans, sporting a 30.4% usage rate and has posted a 25.4/4.7/7.6 scoring line on 49% shooting. Despite the foul trouble against the Spurs, Valanciunas turned in a 26/12/4 performance against Clint Capela yesterday, and if he’s able to stay out of foul trouble against Mason Plumlee, he’ll be in for a big night against a Hornets frontcourt that ranks 26th and 24th in the NBA in scoring and rebounding, respectively, to opposing skilled big men.

The Hornets are fairly priced tonight, so I’m not forcing a run back in this game. However, the trio of LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Miles Bridges will all be in for big minutes, if you can stomach paying north of 8K for one of the three. On such a big NBA slate, Montrezl Harrell will go virtually unrostered, and if you think Plumlee gets into trouble early on versus Valanciunas, Harrell will benefit versus a Pelicans frontcourt that sits 24th in the NBA in scoring to opposing skilled big men.

Miami Heat @ Philadelphia 76ers (+1.5)

We can’t truly identify the elite targets in this game before final injury reports are released, but the game environment itself screams playoff atmosphere between two of the Eastern Conference’s best. Miami has listed Jimmy Butler (ankle) as questionable, while Philadelphia may rest one of Embiid or Harden on the second half of a back-to-back.

Should Butler sit this one out, Herro becomes an interesting tournament play. On such a large NBA slate, most will shy away from the lofty price tag, but the favorite for 6MOY has simply been electric off the bench this season. Having scored 20 or more points in 11 of his last 12 games, Herro sports a ridiculous 29.2% usage rate off the bench during that span, posting a 25.4/4.8/3.5 scoring line along the way.

Miami’s defense is as good as it gets in the NBA, both on the perimeter and on the inside, but the duo of Harden and Embiid are two of the best offensive players the league has to offer. With Embiid off the court, Harden’s splits are outright ridiculous: his usage rate jumps from 25.5% to 37.8%, while his FPPM jumps from 1.31 to 1.67. Despite Miami’s elite defense, Harden at $10,000 makes no sense, should Embiid sit this one out. Wait for the news (if any) and act accordingly.

Honorable Mentions:

• LA Lakers @ Cleveland Cavaliers (-6.5)
• Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls (-4.5)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life