With the Bucks and Clippers both kicking off their seasons last night, every NBA team now has at least one game under their belt. Tonight, we’re back to a full slate of games and the schedule is now more balanced heading into the second week of the year. There are short rotations to take advantage of and a few game environments that stand out above the rest. It’s a Fajita Friday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
I’ll continue to preach the fact that news breaks in the NBA is unlike any other sport. This not only makes every slate different, but it emphasizes how crucial it is to use our proprietary NBA projections and cheat sheet to build your lineups. Be sure to join the Win Daily Discord to get the insight you need to win NBA DFS tournaments.
While it was Keldon Johnson who paced the team in minutes and scoring, there are affordable options to get exposure to a rebuilding Spurs squad on this NBA slate. Firstly, Devin Vassell remains underpriced in the backcourt. He not only had a higher usage rate than Johnson, but he also has the opportunity to grow from his decent outing from a few nights ago. Vassell shot 0-for-8 from behind the arc and only 3-for-15 from the field, despite still putting up 20.5 DK points. Alongside Vassell is starting point guard, Tre Jones, who will continue running this offense, in addition to rookie Jeremy Sochan, who gets a friendly matchup versus a frontcourt that will be without their best defender in Myles Turner.
In Wednesday’s article, I told you to get used to seeing Tyrese Haliburton’s name listed here. Tonight, in his second game of the NBA season, I’m talking about him once again. While Haliburton finished fourth on the team in usage rate at 24.8%, he led them in field goal attempts, scoring, and assists. He is the heartbeat to this Pacers offense and remains firmly in play until his price catches up to him. Other, with Myles Turner still out, projection model darling Jalen Smith was a mere 6% rostered, despite being our top value play. Not only did he come through with 30 DK points at $4,400, but he also led the team in usage rate at 29.1%. Smith had a great outing on Wednesday, and that was with early foul trouble, which he won’t have to be concerned with versus an imposing Spurs frontcourt tonight.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. (foot) out for the next two months, there is value to be had in this Memphis frontcourt. Moreover, Dillon Brooks (thigh) is doubtful for tonight, increasing minutes across a thin rotation. Ja Morant finished last game with a 34/4/9 scoring line on 45.8% shooting, leading the Grizzlies in both usage rate at 37.2% and field goal attempts with 24. In the frontcourt, the trio of Steven Adams, Santi Aldama, and Brandon Clarke will all get further looks on offense in the absence of Jackson Jr. Of the three, Aldama was the most impressive, not only leading the trio, but actually pacing his whole team in minutes played. Clarke can come in and be efficient at any point, but all signs point to coach Taylor Jenkins using Clarke off the bench, leaving Aldama time to build on his 18/11 effort in the Grizzlies’ season opener.
The Houston Rockets are going to be a ton of fun this NBA season. The trio of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr. are all impactful players. The three combined for 54 points on 56 shots, shooting a mere 39.29% from the field, but have an easier matchup tonight than Dejounte Murray and DeAndre Hunter. Meanwhile, Bruno Fernando got a surprising start and produced well in 25 minutes, posting a 7/9/7 scoring line on 100% shooting. However, I’ll let the field chase his previous game. The usage was an abysmal 6.2%, while his seven assists were a career high. Rather, Alperen Sengun makes for an intriguing tournament play coming off the bench. He logged nearly as many minutes as Fernando with 22 of his own, while also leading the team with a 30.5% usage rate and has a size advantage over the Grizzlies bench.
Honorable Mentions:
You can find me on Twitter @BetsByGhost and in the Win Daily Discord
After numerous NBA teams kicked off their season yesterday, we have a mere four squads in action tonight. However, the stars are plentiful and two marquee matchups await us. Two perennial MVP candidates face off in a battle of two Eastern Conference powerhouses, while the battle of LA closes out the slate. It’s a Thirsty Thursday edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
As previously mentioned in articles and in Discord, the rate at which news breaks in the NBA is unlike any other sport. This not only makes every slate different, but it emphasizes how crucial it is to use our proprietary NBA projections and cheat sheet to build your lineups. Be sure to join the Win Daily Discord to get the insight you need to win NBA DFS tournaments.
With Khris Middleton (wrist) ruled out for the first few weeks of the NBA season, Giannis Antetokounmpo will have to carry this Bucks offense. In addition, not only is Donte DiVincenzo now in Golden State, but Pat Connaughton (calf) is also missing for the opening month of action. The Bucks are suddenly thin on offense, and it will be up to Giannis and Jrue Holiday to carry the load. The former ended last season with a 29.9/11.6/5.8 scoring line on 55.3% shooting while leading his team with a 34.6% usage rate. Tonight, at the top of the pricing grid, he is far and away the premier option.
Despite James Harden stealing the show in a season opening loss for the 76ers, it was Joel Embiid who saw the most action on offense, as he did for the majority of last year’s NBA season. Pacing his squad with a 33% usage rate, Embiid failed to take advantage of early foul trouble for Al Horford and Noah Vonleh, but still led the team in field goal attempts and rebounds, while also getting to the charity stripe nine times.
Debating between the two Philadelphia stars tonight is an issue given their individual matchups. Embiid has to deal with Giannis and Lopez in the paint, while Harden sees a far more elite defender in Holiday than he did on opening night in Marcus Smart. Thus, I’ll be going back to the well with Tyrese Maxey. Despite a slow start, Maxey scored 21 points on 50% shooting, where 15 of his 21 points came in the second and fourth quarters. Not only did he play every second of those frames, but he was the go-to option on offense. Lining up against the likes of Wes Matthews and Grayson Allen, Maxey is one of the best Point/$ options on tonight’s NBA slate, let alone this Philadelphia offense.
The return of Kawhi Leonard is one of the best storylines this NBA season has to offer. After missing all of last year, Leonard looks to form a formidable duo with Paul George in the quest for a championship. Despite 2016-2017 being the last time he played over 70 games, Kawhi remains a top 10 talent in this league. In over 100 games played, Leonard sports a 30.8% usage rate during his Clippers tenure, averaging a 26/6/5.8 scoring line. Unless he is on a hard minutes limit, both he and George make for excellent tournament plays.
We can talk about Russell Westbrook and the Lakers’ shooting woes all we want, but truthfully, that isn’t where the issue lies. Yes, the Lakers shot an abysmal 10-for-40 from behind the arc on opening night, but it was Anthony Davis’ lack of aggressiveness in the paint the caught my eye. Despite playing against much weaker and smaller big men in the paint, Davis grabbed a mere six rebounds, while LeBron took down fifteen. Finishing second on the Lakers with 22 field goal attempts, in addition to nine free throws, Davis has the ceiling to be an elite target on any NBA slate, but remains to regain true form.
Firstly, the trio of Laker guards is a question mark tonight, as is what to do with LeBron James. You simply cannot fit James while playing one of George or Leonard alongside Giannis, so a decision has to be made. The public can say what they want about Westbrook, but he was efficient on opening night, dropping 19/11/3 on only twelve shots. He was pushing the pace and attacking the glass for rebounds. Kendrick Nunn remains an x-factor on offense in a supporting role off the bench, but his shot needs to drop for him to produce in NBA DFS. Lastly, Patrick Beverley will always be a wild card given his tenacity, but a game environment like this screams decent production. The usage will be modest throughout the season, but if he can stay out of foul trouble, the assists and rebounds will be there.
You can find me on Twitter @BetsByGhost and in the Win Daily Discord
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