Ghost

Day 5 of the NBA playoffs from the bubble in Orlando and we have not been disappointed, NBA fans. We have another two matchups from each respective conference on tap for today’s slate, with the reigning champions looking to take a stranglehold on their series versus Brooklyn who will be without sharpshooter Joe Harris, the 76ers searching for answers without Ben Simmons, another tightly contested battle between Utah and Denver, and the ever-so-controversial Dallas/LA series. Let’s dive into the Gems on this Friday:

The Lock: Nikola Jokic, C ($9,400 FD / $9,300 DK)

The flashy center is my lock for today. With Jamal Murray hoping to find his game that he produced in Game 1, Jokic will remain the focal point on both offense and defense for this Denver Nuggets team looking to take advantage of a questionable Western Conference right now. With the 7th-highest usage rate in the NBA playoffs thus far at 32.9%, a substantial increase from his 26.6% usage rate from the regular season, Jokic seems poised to be a big factor in this game today. He’s a walking triple-double and is the best passing big man in the NBA, has a 3-point shot, and can both attack and guard the rim. His price is attractive on both sites and makes for a premium pay up option without sacrificing the rest of your lineup.

The Core Gems

Fred VanVleet, SG ($7,900 FD / $7,600 DK)

As much as Kyle Lowry is the heart and soul of the Raptors, and Pascal Siakam has taken a big leap this year since the departure of Kawhi Leonard, it’s VanVleet that seems to be the key to their playoff run this year, just as he was a crucial part to their NBA championship win last year. I say it time and time again that Coach Nick Nurse is known for running his starters into the ground if a game is meaningful, and when it’s the playoffs, that ramps up even more: after missing 4 minutes in the first due to foul trouble and offensive struggles, VanVleet only took a single minute off the court for the remainder of the game – a single minute! He dropped an efficient 24/5/10 on 8/22 from the field in 43 minutes of action, and if the Nets can manage to keep this one close, he’ll play another 40 here today. With how loaded SG is on FD, I prefer him on DK, but he makes for an elite target on the former, nonetheless.

Caris LeVert ($8,400 FD / $8,100 DK)

With the Nets looking to stay in the series by stealing a Game 3 here this afternoon, I expect big things from Caris LeVert. He’s been proving to be both the efficient scoring option that he always has been this season, while also putting some impressive passing skills on display; he’s averaging 13 assists per game in the series and has seen north of 35 minutes in each one despite Game 1 being a blowout. The Nets are thin, and if they want to keep up with the reigning NBA champions, they’ll need LeVert in a big way today.

Also Consider: Donovan Mitchell ($8,200 FD only)

The Value Gems

Lou Williams, SG ($5,600 FD / $5,600 DK)

Oh, Sweet Lou, have we missed you. The definition of what a 6-man is supposed to be, Lou Williams was vintage in the Clippers last game by dropping 23/4/7 in 32 minutes and took over as primary ball handler off the bench with Patrick Beverly out. Beverly is yet again doubtful for this one, so while Reggie Jackson will likely get the start again, I don’t foresee LouWill getting any less than 30 minutes here and being heavily involved in the offense.

Brooklyn Nets Value

This one is a little tricky, but if we get it right, it can lead to tournament takedowns. The Nets will be without Joe Harris today, and someone needs to soak up his usage and 37+ minutes per game. I expect the majority of the offense to roll through LeVert, Allen, Temple, and TLC, respectively, but look for some value in guys like Martin, Musa, Kurucs, Johnson, Anderson, and possibly Hall. Keep up in Discord for updates from our team.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

Another great day of NBA playoff games yesterday that went back and forth and today should be no different. With the Bucks looking for revenge after their Game 1 loss, the Rockets looking to push past a feisty OKC squad without Russell Westbrook, and the Lakers looking to bounce back after being the second #1 seed to drop Game 1, this slate could go any way. Let’s get to the Gems:

The Lock: James Harden, SG ($11,800 FD / $11,700 DK)

I’m hoping the combination of both a price increase on both sites and the fact that he “only” put up nearly 60 FP in Game 1 keeps Harden’s ownership in check – not necessarily low, but at least in check with many different studs on the NBA slate. Let’s remember that despite his “quiet” 60 FP game, Harden remains without backcourt partner Russell Westbrook in this one and will need to carry a heavy load on offense in order to get his team a victory in Game 2. His 44% usage rate without Westbrook on the court is evidence of that, and with the Rockets complimentary pieces ALL hitting shots last game, they’re not necessarily due for repeat performances – at least not all of them, and that’s where Harden will take over.

The Core Gems

LeBron James, SF ($10,500 FD / $10,900 DK)

Say it with me – Zero Dark 23 Mode activated. LeBron is notoriously famous for entering another timezone when playoffs come around, and he showed just that in Game 1 with a vintage 23/17/16 triple-double en route to 66 FD points and 73 DK points. While this was partly due to Anthony Davis struggling on offense and the majority of his contribution coming from the free throw line, I’m not concerned with either one taking over the game with the other taking a back seat. Both will need to carry the Lakers heavily on every single night if they want to make a deep playoff run and it starts with the best player in the NBA, and one of, if not the best to ever do it.

Jimmy Butler, SG ($8,100 FD / $7,900 DK)

The Miami Heat have a fairly deep rotation heading into this season’s NBA playoffs but Jimmy Buckets remains the man of the hour. Whether he was motivated by his personal feud with TJ Warren or simply just wants to show that the Heat can surprise the world in the East with most favoring the Bucks or Raptors, Butler showed up in Game 1 with an efficient 28/3/4 on the offensive end, and turned in a vintage performance on his own end of the court with 4 steals and 2 blocks. With the majority of the field likely turning to jamming in three studs on this NBA slate given the amount of star power, Butler is the perfect pivot in the mid-range.

Also Consider: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,300 FD/DK)

The Value Gems

Orlando Magic Value

This one is a bit contingent on Aaron Gordon sitting out, but even if he does play, there is plenty of value to go around on this Orlando Magic team looking to shock the NBA world by knocking out the favorites to win the championship in the first round. DJ Augustin, Markelle Fultz, James Ennis and company will continue to see a ton of minutes should Gordon be out again, and if he’s in, I still have interest in the guard duo of Augustin/Fultz here.

Houston Rockets Value

If you’re not playing James Harden, you need to surround your NBA lineup with at least one Rockets rotation player. They are almost all priced too low on both sites and can contribute to a team that will continue pushing the pace despite not having Russell Westbrook. Eric Gordon took 17 shots and went 41% from the field and the volume was there for me to begin trusting him, especially at his price, along with Jeff Green supplying 22/6/4 off the bench with both PJ Tucker and Robert Covington assuming their respective defensive roles.

JaVale McGee

This play is primarily for our friends on DK, but it works on FD too if you’re trying to jam in multiple studs. Will McGee ever see 30+ minutes? Absolutely not. Is he a FPPM machine when he’s out there? You better believe it. McGee is again priced a bear $100 above the minimum 3K mark on DK and gave us 18.1 DK points in only 13 minutes last game. Should he creep into the 16-18 minute mark in this one, a 7x return on value is not out of the question.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

We are in full swing of the NBA playoffs and it feels great to have rotations back to normal and seeing some competitive games across the entire slate. These teams all kicked off the 2020 playoffs and we had some exciting action that included a great battle between two young guards in Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray, an extremely questionable ejection of Kristaps Porzingis that cost the Mavs game 1, and the defending NBA champions coming away with a game 1 victory. With more anticipated action on this slate as these teams battle for a stranglehold on their respective series or their opponents looking to tie it at a game apiece, let’s get to it:

The Lock: Luka Doncic ($11,000 DK / $10,500 FD)

Whether Kristaps Porzingis plays in this game or not, I’ll still have a ton of exposure to arguably the best young talent in the NBA. Luka Doncic will need to carry the Mavs in every game of the NBA playoffs if they want to make a run, and we saw exactly that in game 1 of the series where he dropped 42/7/9 on 61.9% shooting. Despite the Clippers boasting two of, if not the two best defensive players in the league in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Doncic seems unstoppable and his triple-double-esque numbers should flourish in our DFS lineups.

The Core Gems

Fred VanVleet ($7,600 DK / $7,700 FD)

Playoff Freddy is a thing. Take it from a Canadian, a Raptors fan, whatever you want to call me. I’ve discussed it on streams, podcasts, and more, VanVleet shows up for big moments and is one of the main reasons why the Raptors are not living in the past memories of the backcourt tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. While I won’t tell you to expect another 60 DK points from the Raptor again today, his price remains intact with what he brings to the table; he may not go 8/10 from deep again, but I have no doubt in his ability to provide excellent value in the mid-7k range across both sites today.

Jamal Murray ($7,200 DK / $7,500 FD)

You really thought I wouldn’t take the opportunity to feature another Canadian here? While the bias is certainly in a joking matter, Murray was lights out in the first game versus Utah and I expect more of the same here. Without Will Barton and Gary Harris available in the rotation, Mike Malone went right back to the well in driving both his star point guard and Nikola Jokic into the ground, with both seeing 40 or more minutes in a hard-fought overtime victory. Murray was clutch down the stretch, has the ability to dish the rock with finesse and knock down the 3-ball, and will continue to be the focal point of this offense with Jokic all playoffs long.

Also Consider: Kemba Walker ($6,800 DK / $6,900 FD), Donovan Mitchell ($8,200 FD), Caris LeVert ($8,200 DK), Joel Embiid ($9,900 DK / $9,300 FD)

The Value Gems

Utah Jazz Value

Both Royce O’Neale ($3,700 DK / $4,400 FD) and Jordan Clarkson ($4,700 DK / $5,100 FD) are priced respectively on both sites considering they will both be seeing 30+ minutes, with Clarkson playing 39, albeit it being in an overtime game, off the bench. O’Neale burned a lot of people on the last NBA slate, but it’s a mistake not to consider him at such a cheap price.

LA Clippers Value

Both Patrick Beverly ($3,500 DK / $4,300 FD) and Marcus Morris ($4,800 DK / $4,700 FD) are about as cheap as it gets on today’s NBA slate to grab starters who are involved on both ends of the court. Beverly hit over 20 FP in only 20 minutes last game, and if he’s in slightly better shape to be able to be out there to guard Doncic at times, he should see north of 25 minutes and have no problem hitting value.

Alec Burks ($4,600 DK / $4,100 FD)

For someone that is being relied upon to run both the second unit and gets time with starters to close quarters and the game, Alec Burks is simply too cheap across both sites today. He carries a steady floor with his rebounding and passing ability for a primary ball handler in addition to his scoring ability.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

We’re teeing off the last full day of the regular season in the NBA today, with a wildly anticipated play-in game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers set for tomorrow. Today’s slate has a ton of injuries and players missing in action, with a plethora of more to come – that’s NBA DFS at this time of the season. Remember to stay active with the news and to continuously look for ways to improve your lineup throughout the day up until last tip-off. On DK, remember to put your players in earliest games at the PG, SG, SF, PF, C positions to allow yourself more flexibility for late swapping in the G, F, and UTIL spots. It’s an ugly one, but let’s get to it:

The Lock: James Harden, SG ($11,500 FD / $11,500 DK)

I’m going to sound like a broken record for the third game in row where Harden is running point without Russell Westbrook, so by now you know the drill: Mike D’Antoni seems to be continuing to play him, his usage goes up to nearly 45%, and he’s a walking triple double… in the first half. Give me 20 minutes of The Beard tonight, 25, 35, I don’t care. Harden has the highest ceiling of anyone on the slate, and with the amount of value that’s available to us, he remains a lock no matter what due to his raw points upside.

The Core Gems

Malcolm Brogdon ($6,600 FD / $7,400 DK)

With Indiana already ruling everyone out prior to lock except Malcolm Brogdon, a second-half benching is something to consider, but there is also the possibility that he can do work in such limited time versus a Miami Heat bench rotation playing the entire game. Keep an eye in Discord for updates on his minutes.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG ($7,600 DK / $6,900 FD)

Another player that should have his minutes limited; I’m not entirely sold on SGA as of yet barring that we get clarification surrounding his minutes for tonight. Nonetheless, the Canadian rookie sees a notable uptick in usage (33.7%) and FPPM (1.25) with both Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder out of the lineup. If the Clippers run their entire squad, or at least one of Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, I’ll feel much better about deploying SGA in my NBA DFS lineups today.

The Value Gems

Miami Heat Value

There is no secret in this one. They will be chalk. You need to play them. Miami is sitting out Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Goran Dragic, so look for notable minutes from Kelly Olynyk in the frontcourt and for Tyler Herro to run point for 30+ minutes.

Indiana Pacers Value

I mentioned it above in the Malcolm Brogdon blurb, and these value pieces become all that more attractive if his minutes are limited or if he is ruled out before lock. Aaron Holiday let us down tremendously last time out after carrying significant ownership, but he’d be the first man up yet again. TJ McConnell, Justin Holiday, Doug McDermott, and Edmond Summer will all be popular as well, with Jakarr Sampson and Alize Johnson likely being the lowest owned of the bunch.

Toronto Raptors Value

Despite no one being ruled out at the time of writing, I can’t foresee Nick Nurse running his starters into the ground here as they gear up to defend their NBA title. Serge Ibaka is questionable, and I’d be surprised if he played at all, so this will open up minutes for the ever-so efficient Chris Boucher behind Marc Gasol. Look for guards/wings such as Norman Powell and Matt Thomas, in addition to Terrence Davis, to also see an increase number of minutes in place of starters such as Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, and Fred VanVleet.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

Welcome back, WinDaily family. As the NBA season is coming to a close, we continue to experience teams sitting out key players either before lock, or during the game, where the latter is rather frustrating to see as we did with the Miami Heat yesterday. If you noticed, your tournaments and cash games both likely had most of those players highly owned so it does not impact you as much since it hurts the majority of the field, but we still want to continue finding an edge to get to the top of the leaderboards when someone like Jimmy Butler is roughly 50% owned. Today, we have an NBA slate with arguably the three best bubble players since Adam Silver’s project began, and they’ll all be playing important minutes. Let’s get into it:

The Lock: Damian Lillard, PG ($10,100 FD / $11,200 DK)

What can be said about Dame Time? The guy’s been lights out in the bubble, carrying his team to a 0.5 game lead for the 8 seed and solidifies their position into a play-in for the NBA playoffs. In his last two games, Lillard is averaging 56 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists in just over 40 minutes per game and has shot a whopping 55% from the field and 44.8% from deep. With CJ McCollum questionable with a nagging back injury, look for Lillard to continue his run on showing the league that he’s one of the best.

The Core Gems

Ja Morant ($7,700 FD / $9,000 DK)

With everyone likely looking to pay up for Damian Lillard, Ja Morant may come in at lower ownership than he should be in one of the biggest games of the season for the Grizzlies. 9K is a tad expensive over on DK, but it’s a great leverage spot for someone running an offense, scoring in bunches, and that has collected 8 or more assists in every game since the NBA bubble began. Milwaukee with already be without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to suspension, and if other starters such as Khris Middleton sit out, Morant may explode tonight.

Devin Booker, SG ($8,800 FD / $9,800 DK)

Another player that has been lights out in the NBA bubble, Devin Booker has led his Phoenix Suns to an undefeated record in Orlando. With the Suns tied with both the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs, this is a must win for them versus Dallas, where Booker will once again be tasked with leading the offensive charge. He’s dropped 35 points in three straight games and has averaged just under 6 assists per game in that span, shooting with extreme volume without sacrificing efficiency.

Also Consider: Caris LeVert, SG ($8,300 FD / $8,000 DK)

The Value Gems

Milwaukee Bucks Value

Giannis Antetokounmpo serves his one-game suspension tonight and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Khris Middleton sit this one out as well, either before lock, or mid-game where he doesn’t see the floor much or possibly sits out the entire second half. Look for Frank Mason, Pat Connaughton, Kyle Korver, and Sterling Brown to all get significant run in a meaningless game for the Bucks.

New Orleans Pelicans Value

New Orleans are once again sitting their entire starting 5, aside from Lonzo Ball, so there is plenty of value to be had here. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is someone that is intriguing because of his point/$ upside, and he hit 6x last game despite shooting 3/10 from the field. Jahlil Okafor, Josh Hart, Frank Jackson, and E’Twuan Moore all see an uptick in minutes, along with Lonzo Ball of course, and Jaxson Hayes.

Orlando Magic Value

With the Magic sitting out their entire starting 5 other than Nikola Vucevic, look for some great value performances from players such as James Ennis and Khem Birch, while Markelle Fultz will garner heavy ownership whether he starts or comes off the bench.

Utah Jazz Value

Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley are already ruled out for this contest, so this opens up minutes for Tony Bradley in the frontcourt and Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt. With Donovan Mitchell still ruled in at the time of writing, there aren’t as many pieces in terms of raw numbers here, but the quality is there with the two names mentioned.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

Welcome back, WinDaily family. We have yet another NBA slate filled with all-day action to tackle. We’ll be looking at some elite options to target on both sites and pairing them with value plays who have enough upside to warrant consideration in a ‘Stars and Scrubs’ type of build. With the amount of injuries, or should I say, “injuries” in the last week of the NBA season, what is happening right now is no mystery to the experienced NBA DFS player. For those that are getting their feet wet this season, this is what it is like every season: guys get ruled out midday, some are eligible to play but never see the court, and there a bunch of lesser-known names to fill out our rosters in order to remain competitive against the field. Keeping up with the news is key, and your lineup building never stops until final tip-off. Let’s dive in!

The Lock: James Harden, SG ($10,800 FD / $11,100 DK)

This will come to no surprise, but I will say again: with Russell Westbrook out, you lock James Harden. Every. Single. Time. James Harden always ranks in the Top 5 in ISO percentage and usage percentage, and the latter is rather intriguing when Westbrook is off the court; Harden sports a 36.5% usage rate on the season, which, as it is, is already high enough, but that number jumps to 43.8% with Westbrook off the court. With his minutes can certainly be a caution, Harden averages 1.61 DK points/minute played – with the amount of value on the slate, you need him in your lineups today, not only from a ceiling perspective, but from raw points alone. While the field may be wary of Harden today because the Rockets got blown out by the Spurs yesterday, I don’t expect that to happen today with Indiana possibly missing their entire Starting 5.

The Core Gems

Kawhi Leonard ($8,700 FD / 9,500 DK) & Paul George ($7,500 FD / $8,400 DK)

Known to be one of the deepest rosters in the NBA, the Clippers surprisingly find themselves shorthanded tonight. Landry Shamet, Montrezl Harrell, and Patrick Beverly are all ruled out at the time of writing, so look for Doc Rivers to deploy Kawhi and PG13 for a decent amount of minutes here. Even if they have their minutes cut to the high 20s or possibly hit 30, they both carry a safe floor on a slate with few studs to pay up for.

The Value Gems

Indiana Pacers Value

With Domantas Sabonis and TJ Warren already ruled out, in addition to the Pacers possibly missing both Malcolm Brogdon and Myles Turner today with neck injuries, players such as Aaron Holiday, TJ McConnell, and Justin Holiday should see a ton of minutes at reasonable prices. Victor Oladipo is also listed as questionable so the three mentioned will get all they can handle in a game like this should one of many of the names listed miss today’s game.

Philadelphia 76ers Value

After seeing all of Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Josh Richardson, and Tobias Harris miss yesterday’s game, in addition to Ben Simmons who is ruled out for the remainder of the season, look for the 76ers to give the remaining members of their starting 5 some much needed rest here heading into playoffs given that they’re all nursing injuries. Players such as Alec Burks, Raul Neto, Mike Scott, and Kyle O’Quinn will all be popular and rightfully so, but if Josh Richardson is the only member of the starting group to play, he’ll be a target to consider as well as Shake Milton. Obviously, if the members of the 76ers starting unit return, all these value plays take a massive hit outside of Alec Burks.

Houston Rockets Value

With Russell Westbrook sidelined once again and the Rockets gearing up for their playoff push in Orlando, all of Austin Rivers, Ben McLemore, and the returning Eric Gordon will see a ton of minutes both in the starting 5 and off the bench. Eric Gordon is coming off an injury that kept him sidelined for a long duration, but his price is attractive for someone that will be responsible for solely running to the corner and knocking down 3’s. In the frontcourt, Robert Covington, Danuel House, and Jeff Green will be viable as well, but I prefer to target the backcourt here given the absence of Westbrook and Houston’s tendency to go small.

OKC Value

There isn’t much detail to give at the time of writing, so look for updates in Discord, but all of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steven Adams, Danillo Gallinari, and Dennis Schroder are listed as questionable. If this was the case, we can go back to guys such as Darius Bazley, Lugentz Dort, Hamidou Diallo, and Nerlens Noel (also listed questionable) or Mike Muscala.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

As yesterday’s plays continued the heater that the WinDaily team has been on, we’re looking to build on the great week we’ve been having. Not only has the return of the NBA gone extremely well for Adam Silver and company, it’s great to have sports back as we hope to experience a return to normalcy in the nearby future. Today’s slate is an exciting one, with some expected high scoring affairs with the exception of the Orlando/Boston game. Some key news to follow is whether we see Kawhi Leonard back in the lineup today for the Clippers, amongst other popups in the morning, while players such as Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and Joe Harris of the Brooklyn Nets are all doubtful to play, in addition to both Richaun Holmes and Russell Westbrook already being ruled out. Let’s dive into the key plays for our GPP lineups:  

The Lock: James Harden, SG ($10,800 FD / $11,300 DK)

It’s a lofty price to pay, but James Harden is the best play on today’s NBA slate and needs to be in the majority of your lineups. Once again, the Houston Rockets will be without Russell Westbrook and Harden will be in a prime position to show off his offensive talent. In the last game Westbrook missed just a few days ago, Harden dropped 68.6 FD points and 74 DK points – he has a whopping 36.5% usage rate on the season, but that increases drastically to a ridiculous 44% without Westbrook on the court. Sacramento ranks 20th in the NBA in pace on the season, but ever since they’ve transitioned to purely running their offense through De’Aaron Fox, they push the pace and turn over the ball a ton, something that suits Harden’s game perfectly. As I said in the Rockets’ last game, when Westbrook is out, you lock Harden. Every. Single. Time. Toss that in with the fact that he has a great matchup, he’s the most likely to break the slate and will be a focal point in both cash and GPP lineups.

The Core Gems

De’Aaron Fox, PG ($8,000 FD / $7,800 DK)

With our lock being James Harden in an anticipated high scoring tilt, someone needs to keep up for the Kings and we don’t need to look any further than their star point guard. Without Richaun Holmes in the lineup, Fox sees a slight bump to his usage rate, coming in at 31.1% on the season and should be tasked with carrying the load on offense once again for a Sacramento squad that needs this win to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. Whether it be James Harden’s “defense” or either of Austin Rivers or Ben McLemore, De’Aaron Fox should be able to put on a clinic in this one.

Derrick White, PG ($7,000 FD / $6,100 DK)

While he may not be the biggest household name of the NBA community, Derrick White has quietly led the Spurs on offense in the bubble. Topping 20 or more points in 4 of 5 games, White has seen exactly 33 minutes in all four of those games as well. Despite only carrying an 19.3% usage rate on the season, White has been much more active than fellow guards DeMar DeRozan and Dejounte Murray on the offensive end and has averaged 38.4 FD points and 39.96 DK points in the bubble; his price is much more attractive on DK, and I may prefer Kyle Lowry in this same price range over on FD, but if we’re talking about strictly GPP plays, Derrick needs to be in your player pool versus a Pelicans team that allows over 45 FPPG to opposing backcourts.

Also Consider (FD): Kawhi Leonard, SF ($8,400 FD), Al Horford, PF ($6,200 FD)

Also Consider (DK): Thomas Bryant ($7,400 DK), Fred VanVleet, SG ($7,500 DK

The Value Gems

Sacramento Kings Frontcourt

With Richaun Holmes ruled out for the Kings today, coach Luke Walton is expected to rotate Harry Giles, Nemanja Bjelica, and Alex Len in the frontcourt. Depending on who starts, one or two or these guys can be viable versus a small Houston frontcourt, especially given their respective salaries – keep an eye out for updates in Discord on who the team likes best depending on projected minutes and starting lineup news.

Brooklyn Nets Value

With Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and Joe Harris all expected to sit this one out, we’re back to finding some cheap Brooklyn Nets value plays in their game versus the Clippers. While they stand no chance on paper, they did just beat the Bucks with the same rotation they’ll likely roll out here today, with TLC leading the charge on offense.

Nerlens Noel ($3,900 DK – DK play only since OKC is not on FD slate)

Unfortunately, we do not have the chance to eat the Nerlens Noel chalk on FD tomorrow given that they decided to exclude the OKC/WAS game from their main slate, but he’s essentially a lock for bot cash games and GPPs tomorrow with Steven Adams already ruled out. Washington ranks 29th in the NBA in DVP versus centers this season, averaging 57.85 FPPG allowed to opposing centers. While he will carry a ridiculous ownership percentage, it’s a great idea to pair him with Harden to get some salary relief.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

Afternoon NBA on a Saturday! Win Daily family, we have a lovely slate here today with plenty of good pay up options and value pieces to pair them with; hello Stars and Scrubs lineup construction! Key news to keep an eye on is who comes back into the rotation for the Utah Jazz, whether TJ Warren plays for the Pacers, who sits between AD and LeBron, and a ton of other questionable players. The key to success on this slate will be late swapping on both sites, so make sure to be even more active than usual. Let’s go over some of the top cash game targets on the NBA slate:

The Lock: Paul George, SG/SF ($7,700 FD / $8,000 DK)

(Update: 9:34am EST). We had Kawhi written here before and he was in a smash spot, but with the reigning Finals MVP ruled out in the early morning news (that’s NBA DFS for you), PG13 moves in to the lock spot. With Kawhi off the court, PG sees his usage rate jump from 23.5% to a whopping 33.3% and will now be tasked with running the offense in addition to guarding Dame on the defensive side.

The Core Gems

Josuf Nurkic, C ($8,500 FD / $8,900 DK)

After missing the shortened NBA season pre-COVID, Josuf Nurkic is reminding the NBA world why he was a crucial piece to the Trail Blazers deep playoff run last season. The big man is averaging a double double in 4 NBA bubble games, posting a robust scoring line of 22/11/4.3/1.5/3.0 across 32.3 minutes of play. He’s virtually a lock for 30+ minutes in every game, but with the Trail Blazers possibly playing without Hassan Whiteside, who is listed as doubtful, Nurkic may be tasked with taking on an even larger role in a heavyweight tilt versus the LA Clippers, who allow over 54 FPPG to opposing centers.

Tyler Herro, SG ($4,500 FD / $5,100 DK)

Despite fitting more into the Value Gems category due to his price, Tyler Herro is in such a good spot that he makes the jump to the Core Gems. The Miami Heat will be without both Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn today, and Tyler Herro will be the primary beneficiary. Even with Nunn playing last game while Butler was out, Herro saw 33 minutes and was an efficient 6/12 from the field despite going 1/5 from deep. Whether it be Andre Iguodala or Herro that gets the start if Dragic is sidelined, Herro will still see 30+ minutes and get a ton of usage versus a Phoenix Suns team that remains undefeated in the bubble despite struggling on the defensive end of the court.

Also Consider: Michael Porter Jr., PF ($7,800 FD / $7,200 DK)

The Value Gems

Miami Heat Value

I touched on it in the Tyler Herro blurb above, but any of these Miami Heat are valuable in what should be a high scoring affair. With both Jimmy Butler and Kendrick Nunn confirmed out, the Heat guards such as Herro, Iguodala, and Robinson should see the most minutes, in addition to Goran Dragic, should he play (listed as questionable), but Derrick Jones Jr. should also see more minutes on the wing with Jamison Crowder, along with Kelly Olynyk in the frontcourt.

Cameron Johnson, SF ($4,500 FD / $5,200 DK)

His price is a tad high on DK, but Cam Johnson remains a viable value play, nonetheless. Despite only averaging 13 points in his last 3 games, the Suns 3-and-D replacement for Kelly Oubre has also averaged 10.3 rebounds in the bubble, to go along with 3 assists per game. Seeing an average of 38 minutes per game in Orlando and posting 34.43 DK points per game, Johnson should reach value based on his minutes alone in this one.

Also Consider: Cameron Payne, PG/SG ($3,800 FD / $3,600 DK)

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !

While yesterday’s NBA slate was filled with big names and multiple players in great matchups from both a pace and DVP perspective, we’re going to have to get more creative today for our tournaments so make sure to check out Brian’s Picks and Pivots here for his GPP breakdown. As usual, the Gems will be the core for your cash games but also need to be included in GPP lineups; most of these players may end up drawing heavier ownership than others – that’s why they’re cash plays – but all of them have ceilings high enough to take you to the top of the NBA DFS tournament leaderboards as well.

The Lock: De’Aaron Fox, PG ($8,000 FD / $7,600 DK)

The star point guard out of Kentucky has been on a tear in the past two games and finds himself in yet another great matchup versus Brooklyn. Essentially fielding a G-League team out there, the Nets are just waiting to go home and Fox will be able to exploit his matchup versus Chris Chiozza or Tyler Johnson all night long. Averaging 29 points to go along with 3 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 2.5 steals across 38.1 minutes in his past two games, the Kings have put their entire offense in Fox’s hands, which will be no different here today.

The Core Gems

Joel Embiid, C ($9,800 FD / $10,500 DK)

The Process is going to draw heavy ownership on today’s NBA slate and rightfully so. Without Ben Simmons, Embiid sees his 32.8% usage rate climb to 37.3% and averages 1.66 FPPM; he does draw a tough DVP matchup versus Vucevic, but that’s something that doesn’t concern me – just as Vuc will be tasked with attempting to guard Embiid, the latter will have ample opportunity on the defensive end to collect even more fantasy points for us tonight. It’s not quite the “if Westbrook is out, you lock Harden” situation, but it’s pretty close.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG ($7,500 FD / $6,800 DK)

What’s a Gem article without one of my fellow Canadians in it? All jokes aside, SGA is in a prime matchup and is the best SG available on DK where the position is surprisingly thin after being loaded yesterday. In two games versus Memphis this season, OKC’s prize rookie averages 20.5/6/1/2.5/1 across 37.9 minutes of play. His opponent plays at the 6th-fastest pace in the league, something that suits his game perfectly. Sitting under 8K today on both sites, it’s hard to love SGA in a pace up spot that should be a high scoring affair.

Also Consider: Thomas Bryant, C ($7,700 FD / $7,200 DK)

The Value Gems

James Ennis ($3,800 FD / $3,700 DK) and Terrence Ross ($5,400 FD / $5,000 DK)

With Jonathan Isaac out for the remainder of the season and Aaron Gordon already listed as doubtful, there will be plenty of minutes to be had on the wing for the Orlando Magic. Enter both Ennis and Ross, who are two different players. Ennis has good point/$ upside here given his price, but Ross’ ceiling is higher given his ability to score in bunches. I assume Ennis gets the start here and creeps into 30+ minutes, but Ross will certainly be the first man off the bench and is just as viable. Evan Fournier is also someone that should be a candidate for both increased usage and minutes – make sure to mix and match all 3 with updates to follow in Discord.

Possible Brooklyn Nets Value

You know the drill by now. No need to go into immense detail here, but if the Nets decide to sit any of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen, and/or Joe Harris, value pieces will certainly open up, with Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot leading the charge.

Brandon Clarke ($5,900 FD / $4,900 DK)

While he didn’t dazzle in his first start since Jaren Jackson Jr. went down with a season-ending injury, Clarke did hit value this past NBA slate. Despite most expecting to somehow get a 60-piece from the Memphis slasher, that’s not the kind of player he is – he should have no problem hitting value on DK again today and should draw lower ownership than last NBA slate considering he “only” put up 20 fantasy points, but his price on FD is a tad expensive, making him more of a GPP play than a cash one.

A Quick Note on NBA DFS

While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Follow me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost !