Daily Fantasy Basketball Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings and DraftStreet 3/4/13

For today's picks I am going to try and keep it simple. There is one decision you need to make with your lineups and it involves players from the Thunder. The OKC guys are far and away the best plays on paper today, facing up against the Sixers. The problem, as I'm sure you are aware, is none of those guys could see the fourth quarter if the game is completely out of hand. Total possibility. This is going to be the discussion leading into lineup lock. For our purposes, I am going to list the OKC guys first, with a very simple reason why they are the best play. From there, I think you pick your poison.

One thing I'm conscious with in these picks is that many of the big name superstars appear. This isn't always the case, but many of the big guys just happen to have quality matchups, lest you think we are front-running and hedging across the upper echelon of the NBA. There are some tough choices tonight.

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Point Guards

Russell Westbrook - FanDuel $7,400 DraftKings $8,500 DraftStreet $16,149
I think he's getting played  on FanDuel regardless of the blowout possibility. He can hit this number even in a limited run. The other sites I am probably staying away unless it's a tournament and I'm looking for a total homerun. But on FD this actually seems safe.

Tony Parker - FanDuel $6,700 DraftKings $7,300 DraftStreet $13,495
He returned last game and looked no worse for wear going 22/3/7. There's no reason to think he won't put up some more numbers tonight against a Cleveland team that has serious issues when it comes to the opposing point guard. The scoring is fine. It's the rebounding and assists that these guys really pile on. I think Parker will be a big percentage start across the industry.

Kyrie Irving - FanDuel $8,400 DraftKings $8,900 DraftStreet $16,180
Irving seems much riskier to me than the two guys listed above, but is worth a look in some tournaments. I don't think I'm running him out there in cash games even with San Antonio struggling to contain the scoring from opposing point guards. They are about 10% worse than league average on the season. The problem with Kyrie, for me, is his inconsistency, and I don't like buying on him after a strong run of games. There's a bit of gambler's fallacy inherent in that statement, but I also think that, in our system, his expectation is buoyed by a run for him that isn't quite sustainable. That being said, I still like him right behind the first two guys (in case you couldn't tell from my writeup).

 

Shooting Guards

Shitshow at this position today.

Tyreke Evans - FanDuel $5,400 DraftKings $6,000 DraftStreet $12,601
Tyreke is now planted in the starting lineup and paying off big time. He was a huge percentage start yesterday on FanDuel and I doubt much changes today after his performance last night. Getting a little steep everywhere else though still firmly in play against the Lakers. If he isn't in your FD you're doing something wrong.

Kent Bazemore - FanDuel $4,400 DraftKings $4,400 DraftStreet $9,565
Update: For some reason I skipped right over this pick in our system. Baze makes a strong play, though his upside is somewhat limited as the price climbs steadily out of "punt" territory. But on a limited night, this is a guy to target as the minutes are right around 30 a night.

Eric Gordon - FanDuel $4,800 DraftKings $5,300 DraftStreet $8,903
I'm putting him on here because the system likes him. Me personally? Ugh. Shooting guard is a disaster today. But against LA. He and Tyreke together in my FD lineup. It might happen. Early foul trouble bit him last night.

Manu Ginobili - FanDuel $4,700
I don't even feel great about this one just because his minutes are barely there. Getting about 25 minutes a game means, at this price, he needs to walk in and kill it. But that's how bad SG is on FD tonight.

 

Small Forwards

Kevin Durant - FanDuel $11,900 DraftKings $10,900 DraftStreet $22,713
Playing the Sixers.

LeBron James - FanDuel $11,200 DraftKings $10,400 DraftStreet $21,839
Did he do something yesterday? I wasn't watching. In what should be a high-scoring affair, The King could benefit the most. Don't expect anything like last night, but if Wade were to sit again LBJ could start liking the idea of taking all of the shots.

Kawhi Leonard - FanDuel $6,000 DraftKings $5,600 DraftStreet $12,510
Leonard is one of my favorite plays today, especially in cash games with his matchup against the Cavs. Cleveland has been better against SFs recently, but that's only in comparison to how atrocious they were earlier in the season. They are still below league average against the position. Leonard's price, especially on FD and DK are solid midrange salaries with room for upside.

Paul George - FanDuel $8,900 DraftKings $9,000 DraftStreet $17,342
I like George today because he figures to just have more opportunities with the pace of Golden State pushing the tempo. Our system doesn't like many of the Pacers, but George rates tonight. A little more of a cash game play for me but, especially on FanDuel, there is a bit of a higher ceiling relative to price tag.

Caron Butler - FanDuel $4,700 DraftKings $3,900 DraftStreet $8,865
If he is starting in place of Sefolosha then I think this is a pretty safe play, especially on DraftKings and DraftStreet. The FanDuel price has carried over from his time on the Bucks, but is still in play. Again, it's fairly speculative because we won't know exactly how he fits. But I think you can take the risk against the horrible track record of Philadelphia.

Matt Barnes - FanDuel $4,900 DraftKings $4,700
Stands to continue seeing more opportunities with both Redick and Jamal out of the lineup. It's hard to know exactly how his role expands, but I think he's probably worth rostering on these sites because he could stand to see more volume.

Wesley Johnson - FanDuel $4,900 DraftKings $5,200
As long as the minutes are there, this guy has big time upside at these prices. Continue to buy low here.

 

Power Forwards

Serge Ibaka - FanDuel $8,100 DraftKings $7,200 DraftStreet $14,816
Playing the Sixers.

Anthony Davis - FanDuel $9,400 DraftKings $9,200 DraftStreet $17,676
Woof, this would have looked so much better before Brow's last two games. He's been truly awful. I'm willing to drum it up to a slump and will look for him to break out of it tonight against he Lakers.

Tristan Thompson - FanDuel $5,900 DraftStreet $11,842
I continue to like Thompson with Varejao out of the lineup. He gets more opportunity and minutes. That's exactly what we are looking for in the DFS community. His price is a little out of range on DraftKings, but in play everywhere else.

Markieff Morris - FanDuel $6,000 DraftKings $5,700
In a game that should feature a ton of points Markieff, if he stays out of foul trouble could be in line for a monster. This price is climbing but it is commiserate with his steady 30+ minute playing time. He's no longer a speculative punt.

Blake Griffin - FanDuel $9,800 DraftKings $9,300
These salaries are very much in play against a Phoenix team that's about 5% worse than league average against power forward scoring and rebounding. The pace should also play to his strengths.

 

Centers

Center, like shooting guard is not great. I hate almost everybody and would love to avoid it completely. These dumb DFS sites don't let you do that. So authoritarian with all of their "rules". Pisses me off. Leaving us guys like...

Spencer Hawes - FanDuel $6,300 DraftKings $6,900 DraftStreet $11,610
I guess he's the starting center now for the Cavs. I mean of course he was with Varejao sidelined, but word is he'll just keep the role when Anderson returns. For now, he makes a solid midrange value against the Spurs who don't necessarily lock down the opposing big man.

DeAndre Jordan - DraftKings $7,200
Crazy low price for 'Dre today. Forgot about him? Not me. (Rap reference I think). How do you not play him here today?

Hasheem Thabeet - FanDuel $3,500 DraftKings $3,000 DraftStreet $5,945
Off board play but I think with Perkins out, and the threat of a blowout looming, this pick seems kind of safe. Can't believe I'm actually saying that, but he's grabbing about seventeen minutes a game with room for more if the game gets out of hand.