Gems

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

We have a loaded NBA slate on tap for tonight considering only two teams were in action yesterday with March Madness beginning. There will be an overwhelming number of options to choose from, so it will be crucial to identify which games we need exposure to and reduce the size of the player pool. 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

Memphis Grizzlies @ Atlanta Hawks (+6)

One of the games that grades out the best in my model is the track meet between the Grizzlies and the Hawks. With John Collins (finger) already ruled out, and Danilo Gallinari (biceps) leaving Wednesday’s game only to not return, the Hawks can be awfully short tonight. Trae Young would be a staple point in our NBA lineups, pending that he is cleared to play; the top of the pricing grid is loaded with options that are all underpriced, but Young’s price decreased once again despite posting a 31.2/4/10.8 scoring line over his last five games through a 31.4% usage rate. Facing Ja Morant, who carries a 110.9 net defensive rating, is a matchup I want to exploit.

On the Memphis side of the ball, we’re sticking with primary ball handlers, as Ja Morant is slated to return to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s contest with a back injury. As much as I love Trae Young’s offensive game, he is simply atrocious on the defensive side of the ball, sporting a 117.5 net defensive rating, which is the second-worst amongst qualifying players in the NBA. Morant, who carries a 33.5% usage rate while posting a career-high 27.5/5.8/6.7 scoring line, is a contender to lead the slate in scoring.

New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs (-3)

While this game will likely go overlooked on tonight’s NBA slate, it shouldn’t. The Spurs sit 4th in the league in pace, while New Orleans has averaged nearly 120 PPG since acquiring CJ McCollum – make no mistake about it, this one will shoot out, and there’s a ton to love for tournaments.

Beginning with the Pelicans, McCollum draws a tough matchup versus the best perimeter defender in the NBA in Dejounte Murray (yes, I said what I said), so I’m likely to go elsewhere. In the absence of Brandon Ingram (hamstring), Devonte’ Graham has seen increased run in clutch minutes, but his questionable status for tonight makes things awfully interesting for this rotation. Going completely overlooked on this NBA slate is none other than Jonas Valanciunas, who gets a friendly matchup versus a Spurs frontcourt that sits 28th in both scoring and rebounding to opposing true big men. The tag is a decent one to pay, but JoVal has legitimate 20-15 upside in this game.

You know the drill by now; the Spurs are on tonight’s NBA slate, meaning I have interest in Dejounte Murray. The Pelicans already struggled mightily versus primary ball handlers, and acquiring CJ McCollum only made it worse. Enter Murray, who won’t garner much attention at all near the top of the pricing grid, being sandwiched between the likes of Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant, and Trae Young. Murray comes into this one with nine straight games of 20 or more points, increasing his volume drastically since the departure of Derrick White to Boston. The All-Star has also averaged 26.7/8.7/9.7 over that span through a 30.8% usage rate, while the Spurs are also just 1.5 games back of the Pelicans for the final spot in the Play-In round – just saying.

Honorable Mentions:

• Dallas Mavericks @ Philadelphia 76ers (-2.5)
• Indiana Pacers @ Houston Rockets (+3)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

We have a loaded NBA slate on tap for tonight considering only two teams were in action yesterday with March Madness beginning. There will be an overwhelming number of options to choose from, so it will be crucial to identify which games we need exposure to and reduce the size of the player pool. 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

Memphis Grizzlies @ Atlanta Hawks (+6)

One of the games that grades out the best in my model is the track meet between the Grizzlies and the Hawks. With John Collins (finger) already ruled out, and Danilo Gallinari (biceps) leaving Wednesday’s game only to not return, the Hawks can be awfully short tonight. Trae Young would be a staple point in our NBA lineups, pending that he is cleared to play; the top of the pricing grid is loaded with options that are all underpriced, but Young’s price decreased once again despite posting a 31.2/4/10.8 scoring line over his last five games through a 31.4% usage rate. Facing Ja Morant, who carries a 110.9 net defensive rating, is a matchup I want to exploit.

On the Memphis side of the ball, we’re sticking with primary ball handlers, as Ja Morant is slated to return to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s contest with a back injury. As much as I love Trae Young’s offensive game, he is simply atrocious on the defensive side of the ball, sporting a 117.5 net defensive rating, which is the second-worst amongst qualifying players in the NBA. Morant, who carries a 33.5% usage rate while posting a career-high 27.5/5.8/6.7 scoring line, is a contender to lead the slate in scoring.

New Orleans Pelicans @ San Antonio Spurs (-3)

While this game will likely go overlooked on tonight’s NBA slate, it shouldn’t. The Spurs sit 4th in the league in pace, while New Orleans has averaged nearly 120 PPG since acquiring CJ McCollum – make no mistake about it, this one will shoot out, and there’s a ton to love for tournaments.

Beginning with the Pelicans, McCollum draws a tough matchup versus the best perimeter defender in the NBA in Dejounte Murray (yes, I said what I said), so I’m likely to go elsewhere. In the absence of Brandon Ingram (hamstring), Devonte’ Graham has seen increased run in clutch minutes, but his questionable status for tonight makes things awfully interesting for this rotation. Going completely overlooked on this NBA slate is none other than Jonas Valanciunas, who gets a friendly matchup versus a Spurs frontcourt that sits 28th in both scoring and rebounding to opposing true big men. The tag is a decent one to pay, but JoVal has legitimate 20-15 upside in this game.

You know the drill by now; the Spurs are on tonight’s NBA slate, meaning I have interest in Dejounte Murray. The Pelicans already struggled mightily versus primary ball handlers, and acquiring CJ McCollum only made it worse. Enter Murray, who won’t garner much attention at all near the top of the pricing grid, being sandwiched between the likes of Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant, and Trae Young. Murray comes into this one with nine straight games of 20 or more points, increasing his volume drastically since the departure of Derrick White to Boston. The All-Star has also averaged 26.7/8.7/9.7 over that span through a 30.8% usage rate, while the Spurs are also just 1.5 games back of the Pelicans for the final spot in the Play-In round – just saying.

Honorable Mentions:

• Dallas Mavericks @ Philadelphia 76ers (-2.5)
• Indiana Pacers @ Houston Rockets (+3)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

With only four games on the NBA schedule tonight, it will be imperative to find ways to get different, especially with one team garnering a ton of interest with their star listed as doubtful. 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

Memphis Grizzlies @ Indiana Pacers (+7)

Simply put, all eyes will be on the Grizzlies lineup tonight. With Ja Morant listed as doubtful, most will start their NBA lineup with two Grizzlies, if not three. In 14 games as a starter this season, Tyus Jones has impressed, posting a 12.1/3.5/6.2 scoring line on a mere 17% usage rate. While he will likely be the highest rostered player on this slate, you need to play him – it’s that simple. Otherwise, both Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks are far too cheap for their ceilings in this one. Bane sees a mere 1.3% increase in usage rate, but his shot attempts increase drastically as well as a 0.06 rise in FPPM to 1.09, while Brooks is in his second game after returning from injury, looking to ramp things up for the playoffs.

On the flipside of this game, Tyrese Haliburton gets a glorious matchup versus Tyus Jones, but I’d prefer to have Malcolm Brogdon (concussion) miss this game before paying the hefty tag on Haliburton. Otherwise, a handful of Indiana players are questionable once again in what can only be described as a lost season, so this rotation can be awfully bare as we lead up to lock.

Brooklyn Nets

If you’re looking to pay up on this NBA slate, there are a few options, including the duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for the Nets. The advantage to playing KD? He not only offers a stud as a poor forward slot, but he also has the most upside of anyone on this slate. However, this can be a game where Brooklyn gets things going on offense where we see him looking to feed Kyrie whilst KD himself is fresh off a 53/6/9 outing versus the Knicks, where he took a ridiculous 37 FGA in the absence of his teammate. If you can manage to get Kyrie with someone like Jimmy Butler at the forward position, that would be my lean at the time of writing, but all things hinge on the status of CJ McCollum (see below) as to whether I play a Brooklyn stud at all.

Honorable Mention:

• If CJ McCollum is activated for the Pelicans’ game versus the Suns tonight, I will have a back and forth in that one with a piece of each offense.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

With only four games on the NBA schedule tonight, it will be imperative to find ways to get different, especially with one team garnering a ton of interest with their star listed as doubtful. 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

Memphis Grizzlies @ Indiana Pacers (+7)

Simply put, all eyes will be on the Grizzlies lineup tonight. With Ja Morant listed as doubtful, most will start their NBA lineup with two Grizzlies, if not three. In 14 games as a starter this season, Tyus Jones has impressed, posting a 12.1/3.5/6.2 scoring line on a mere 17% usage rate. While he will likely be the highest rostered player on this slate, you need to play him – it’s that simple. Otherwise, both Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks are far too cheap for their ceilings in this one. Bane sees a mere 1.3% increase in usage rate, but his shot attempts increase drastically as well as a 0.06 rise in FPPM to 1.09, while Brooks is in his second game after returning from injury, looking to ramp things up for the playoffs.

On the flipside of this game, Tyrese Haliburton gets a glorious matchup versus Tyus Jones, but I’d prefer to have Malcolm Brogdon (concussion) miss this game before paying the hefty tag on Haliburton. Otherwise, a handful of Indiana players are questionable once again in what can only be described as a lost season, so this rotation can be awfully bare as we lead up to lock.

Brooklyn Nets

If you’re looking to pay up on this NBA slate, there are a few options, including the duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving for the Nets. The advantage to playing KD? He not only offers a stud as a poor forward slot, but he also has the most upside of anyone on this slate. However, this can be a game where Brooklyn gets things going on offense where we see him looking to feed Kyrie whilst KD himself is fresh off a 53/6/9 outing versus the Knicks, where he took a ridiculous 37 FGA in the absence of his teammate. If you can manage to get Kyrie with someone like Jimmy Butler at the forward position, that would be my lean at the time of writing, but all things hinge on the status of CJ McCollum (see below) as to whether I play a Brooklyn stud at all.

Honorable Mention:

• If CJ McCollum is activated for the Pelicans’ game versus the Suns tonight, I will have a back and forth in that one with a piece of each offense.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Playoff scenarios are ramping up in the NBA and teams are jockeying for seeding with ~15 games left in the season. 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

Minnesota Timberwolves @ San Antonio Spurs (+6)

Despite the number of studs playing on this NBA slate, it’s a matchup between the Timberwolves and Spurs that grades out best for me. Respectively, Minnesota and San Antonio rank 2nd and 4th in the league in pace this season, and with this being Minnesota’s third game in four days, in addition to the Spurs having rested the majority of their starters in their last outing, there is a lot to like about this particular game environment.

Minnesota Timberwolves (-6)

With Patrick Beverley (ear) missing Saturday’s game with an injury, his status for tonight remains up in the air. Should he miss tonight’s game, Malik Beasley would be in line for another start, but my attention is turned to the frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns. The Spurs struggle mightily versus skilled big men, ranking 24th in the NBA overall, in addition to being 23rd in scoring and 28th in rebounding. If you are going elsewhere with your studs, have a look at Jaden McDaniels, who will likely be getting the start for Jarred Vanderbilt (quad), who is out tonight.

San Antonio Spurs (+6)

After resting in their last game versus the Pacers, it’s all systems go for Dejounte Murray & co. tonight. The Timberwolves struggle versus primary ball handlers, ranking 20th in the NBA in both scoring and assists allowed, and with continuous rebounding struggles, Murray is in a position to thrive, especially if Beverley remains out. Murray has now scored 20 or more points in six straight games, where he has sported a 31.9% usage rate and has posted a 25.5/8.7/8.2 scoring line on 48% shooting.

Chicago Bulls @ Sacramento Kings (+5)

We can say what we want about the Chicago Bulls and their struggles versus top tier teams in each conference, but tonight’s matchup versus Sacramento is one of the best on the NBA schedule for our lineups. While I want to highlight the trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine (knee), and Nikola Vucevic, who are all in good spots in their respective individual matchups, do not overlook Alex Caruso, who made his return to the lineup after a length absence and played 29 minutes, posting a 11/1/4 scoring line with four steals and 28.3 DK points.

On the Kings side, Domantas Sabonis has now posted a double-double in eight straight games, sporting a 23.9% usage rate during that span and having posted an 18/13.4/6.4 scoring line on 57.9% shooting. In a matchup versus Vucevic, Sabonis gets a friendly matchup versus a Bulls defense that ranks 28th in the NBA in scoring allowed versus skilled big men.

Honorable Mentions:

• Charlotte Hornets @ OKC Thunder (+9)
• Milwaukee Bucks @ Utah Jazz (+1.5)
• Joker vs. Embiid

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

Playoff scenarios are ramping up in the NBA and teams are jockeying for seeding with ~15 games left in the season. 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

Minnesota Timberwolves @ San Antonio Spurs (+6)

Despite the number of studs playing on this NBA slate, it’s a matchup between the Timberwolves and Spurs that grades out best for me. Respectively, Minnesota and San Antonio rank 2nd and 4th in the league in pace this season, and with this being Minnesota’s third game in four days, in addition to the Spurs having rested the majority of their starters in their last outing, there is a lot to like about this particular game environment.

Minnesota Timberwolves (-6)

With Patrick Beverley (ear) missing Saturday’s game with an injury, his status for tonight remains up in the air. Should he miss tonight’s game, Malik Beasley would be in line for another start, but my attention is turned to the frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns. The Spurs struggle mightily versus skilled big men, ranking 24th in the NBA overall, in addition to being 23rd in scoring and 28th in rebounding. If you are going elsewhere with your studs, have a look at Jaden McDaniels, who will likely be getting the start for Jarred Vanderbilt (quad), who is out tonight.

San Antonio Spurs (+6)

After resting in their last game versus the Pacers, it’s all systems go for Dejounte Murray & co. tonight. The Timberwolves struggle versus primary ball handlers, ranking 20th in the NBA in both scoring and assists allowed, and with continuous rebounding struggles, Murray is in a position to thrive, especially if Beverley remains out. Murray has now scored 20 or more points in six straight games, where he has sported a 31.9% usage rate and has posted a 25.5/8.7/8.2 scoring line on 48% shooting.

Chicago Bulls @ Sacramento Kings (+5)

We can say what we want about the Chicago Bulls and their struggles versus top tier teams in each conference, but tonight’s matchup versus Sacramento is one of the best on the NBA schedule for our lineups. While I want to highlight the trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine (knee), and Nikola Vucevic, who are all in good spots in their respective individual matchups, do not overlook Alex Caruso, who made his return to the lineup after a length absence and played 29 minutes, posting a 11/1/4 scoring line with four steals and 28.3 DK points.

On the Kings side, Domantas Sabonis has now posted a double-double in eight straight games, sporting a 23.9% usage rate during that span and having posted an 18/13.4/6.4 scoring line on 57.9% shooting. In a matchup versus Vucevic, Sabonis gets a friendly matchup versus a Bulls defense that ranks 28th in the NBA in scoring allowed versus skilled big men.

Honorable Mentions:

• Charlotte Hornets @ OKC Thunder (+9)
• Milwaukee Bucks @ Utah Jazz (+1.5)
• Joker vs. Embiid

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

With only four teams taking the court yesterday, including the first matchup between Brooklyn and Philadelphia since the James Harden-Ben Simmons deal, tonight’s action is the first of three busy days in the NBA. 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

Charlotte Hornets @ New Orleans Pelicans (+2)

I’ll keep this one short since it will be a game that the majority of the field flocks to, and rightfully so. With both CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram out for the Pelicans, Jonas Valanciunas will likely be one of, if not the highest rostered player on this NBA slate. In the absence of his two teammates, Valanciunas sees a 2.4% increase in usage rate, but only a 0.02 FPPM increase. The matchup versus a Hornets defense that ranks 26th in both scoring and rebounding to opposing centers is one that is awfully enticing, but I’d advise against building your tournament lineups with the trio of Devonte’ Graham, Jose Alvarado, and Jonas Valanciunas together since the majority of the field will likely do so.

With Vegas projected this one as a close game, you’ll want exposure to the Hornets offense in some fashion. The trio of LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Miles Bridges are all underpriced in their respective individual matchups, especially when you consider the talented backcourt now facing the likes of Graham and Alvarado, who have defensive ratings of 115.3 and 108.3, respectively. The upside is there with Ball, as we all know, but look for Rozier to score in bunches, as he has led the team with 54 FGA over their last three games.

New York Knicks @ Memphis Grizzlies (-9.5)

While this game will go completely overlooked thanks to the one analyzed above, it’s one that I certainly have on my radar for tournaments on this NBA slate. With Kemba Walker and Cam Reddish out for the season, in addition to Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose still nursing serious injuries, the Knicks are down to an awfully thin rotation. Both RJ Barrett and Julius Randle are priced up, but the backcourt duo of Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley are both underpriced for the number of minutes they’ll play tonight. More specifically, Quickley has now seen 20 or more minutes in his last six games, where he’s sporting a 21.1% usage rate and has posted a 17/6/3.5 scoring line on 49.2% shooting.

If you’re playing chalk (highly rostered) Jose Alvarado and/or Devonte’ Graham just to load up on more chalk “studs” in the 8k range, you’re doing it wrong. You need to capture upside of one, if not multiple players that can lead an NBA slate in scoring, such as Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Dejounte Murray, Trae Young, and, the player featured in this game, Ja Morant. Having the best campaign of his young NBA career, Morant has turned it up even more since the All-Star break, sporting a 37% usage rate in seven games while posting a 32.4/5.6/5.3 scoring line on 50% shooting, scoring 20+ points in all seven outings.

Honorable Mentions:

• Toronto Raptors @ Phoenix Suns (-6.5)
• Washington Wizards @ LA Lakers (-4.5)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

With only four teams taking the court yesterday, including the first matchup between Brooklyn and Philadelphia since the James Harden-Ben Simmons deal, tonight’s action is the first of three busy days in the NBA. 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

Charlotte Hornets @ New Orleans Pelicans (+2)

I’ll keep this one short since it will be a game that the majority of the field flocks to, and rightfully so. With both CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram out for the Pelicans, Jonas Valanciunas will likely be one of, if not the highest rostered player on this NBA slate. In the absence of his two teammates, Valanciunas sees a 2.4% increase in usage rate, but only a 0.02 FPPM increase. The matchup versus a Hornets defense that ranks 26th in both scoring and rebounding to opposing centers is one that is awfully enticing, but I’d advise against building your tournament lineups with the trio of Devonte’ Graham, Jose Alvarado, and Jonas Valanciunas together since the majority of the field will likely do so.

With Vegas projected this one as a close game, you’ll want exposure to the Hornets offense in some fashion. The trio of LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, and Miles Bridges are all underpriced in their respective individual matchups, especially when you consider the talented backcourt now facing the likes of Graham and Alvarado, who have defensive ratings of 115.3 and 108.3, respectively. The upside is there with Ball, as we all know, but look for Rozier to score in bunches, as he has led the team with 54 FGA over their last three games.

New York Knicks @ Memphis Grizzlies (-9.5)

While this game will go completely overlooked thanks to the one analyzed above, it’s one that I certainly have on my radar for tournaments on this NBA slate. With Kemba Walker and Cam Reddish out for the season, in addition to Nerlens Noel and Derrick Rose still nursing serious injuries, the Knicks are down to an awfully thin rotation. Both RJ Barrett and Julius Randle are priced up, but the backcourt duo of Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley are both underpriced for the number of minutes they’ll play tonight. More specifically, Quickley has now seen 20 or more minutes in his last six games, where he’s sporting a 21.1% usage rate and has posted a 17/6/3.5 scoring line on 49.2% shooting.

If you’re playing chalk (highly rostered) Jose Alvarado and/or Devonte’ Graham just to load up on more chalk “studs” in the 8k range, you’re doing it wrong. You need to capture upside of one, if not multiple players that can lead an NBA slate in scoring, such as Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Dejounte Murray, Trae Young, and, the player featured in this game, Ja Morant. Having the best campaign of his young NBA career, Morant has turned it up even more since the All-Star break, sporting a 37% usage rate in seven games while posting a 32.4/5.6/5.3 scoring line on 50% shooting, scoring 20+ points in all seven outings.

Honorable Mentions:

• Toronto Raptors @ Phoenix Suns (-6.5)
• Washington Wizards @ LA Lakers (-4.5)

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life

A few mismatches on this NBA slate but there are two games that stand above the rest. Additionally, the Warriors will likely be getting the bulk of their rotation back, while the league’s top three teams, all in the Western Conference, take the court. 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

Brooklyn Nets @ Charlotte Hornets (+4)

I’ll be as clear as I can for this game: if you do not get exposure to it, you will not win money on tonight’s NBA slate. It’s that simple. Putting aside the fact that this game has the highest total on the board by ten points, it grades out ridiculously well in terms of advanced statistics. Ranking 3rd and 11th in pace, respectively, the Hornets and Nets both struggle on the defensive end in addition to their quick style of play, sitting 20th and 23rd in net defensive rating, respectively.

Brooklyn Nets (-4)

I’ll be starting my NBA lineups with Kevin Durant tonight. In two games since returning from injury, KD has sported a 35.8% usage rate and has posted back-to-back 30-point outings, en route to a 34/5/6 scoring line on 52.4% shooting. This last stretch for the Nets reeks of “Save us, KD!” and tonight, versus a Hornets team that simply cannot put things together in their own half of the court, one of the all-time greats will takeover.

Charlotte Hornets (+4)

I’m certainly not forcing a run back in this one, but there are a few intriguing targets, beginning with none other than LaMelo Ball, who is wildly underpriced. The Hornets need to have a good end to their season in order to secure home court in the first round of the play-in games, and if they know what’s good for them, they’ll run LaMelo into the ground to get there. Ranking 23rd in 3PM allowed to opposing primary ball handlers, including 25th in both points allowed and rebounds allowed to primary ball handlers, the Nets will have their hands full with one of the league’s best young talents.

For tournaments on this NBA slate, I have interest in the Hornets bench, as well. The duo of PJ Washington and Montrezl Harrell both carry upside as small-ball centers versus a Nets squad that sits 18th in the league in points in the paint allowed per game. I can’t foresee Mason Plumlee getting a ton of run versus the likes of Andre Drummond or Nic Claxton, leading to both sides playing their skilled forwards at the ‘5’. Harrell, who has now played nine games with the Hornets since being acquired from the Wizards, has averaged 14.2 PPG off the bench in only 26 MPG, and carries immense upside at his price tag.

New Orleans Pelicans @ Memphis Grizzlies (-5.5)

The rest of the NBA needs to be careful, because the Pelicans are picking up steam since their acquisition of CJ McCollum. Whether Zion Williamson makes his return to the lineup this season, if ever at all in New Orleans, certainly remains to be seen, but either way, they look tremendous on the offensive side of the ball.

New Orleans Pelicans (+5.5)

While CJ McCollum comes at a pretty penny on tonight’s NBA slate, it is more than justified. The newest addition to the Pelicans has now suited up for ten games with his new team, where they are not only much more competitive, but also getting career-high production from their new point guard. McCollum has posted a whopping 26.1/5.7/6.1 scoring line on 51.8% shooting, logging nearly 36 minutes per night. He is not the only intriguing target, however, especially if you are targeting two ~8k players to pair with Durant. Brandon Ingram as been on a year as of late, scoring 30 or more points in two of his last three, with the other being a 29-point outing. With Memphis still missing their best defender in Dillon Brooks, Ingram could wreck havoc against the likes of Ziaire Williams and Kyle Anderson.

Memphis Grizzlies (-5.5)

While I praise New Orleans for the improvements they have made on the offensive side of the ball, their defense has not improved whatsoever since acquiring McCollum. To be precise, they have a 111.4 net defensive rating in McCollum’s ten games this season, which would rank them 20th in the NBA on a season-long basis. Thus, there is plenty to love about Ja Morant tonight, who has been enjoying a breakout campaign. While I dodged the two letdown games at high rostership in his last two, tonight is a different story with most avoiding this game altogether in favor of other studs. With the Pelicans ranking 26th in the league in scoring allowed to opposing primary ball handlers, expect a statement game from Morant as the Grizzlies try to hold down the #2 seed in the West.

You can find us on Twitter @BetsByGhost and @Bucn4life