I'm going to be honest, writing today's NBA picks was about as hard as it's been all season. With the number of different playoff considerations, teams benching guys, reduced minutes, etc. it's difficult to parse out the value. I'm going to outline some solid plays for tonight and then you should keep your ear out for news coming in. Will the Pacers do a full benching again? Who will play? It's so up in the air.
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Jordan Farmar - FanDuel $5,300 DraftKings $3,000 DraftStreet $9,325
Man the Lakers have been the craziest DFS story of the year (possibly outside of GTD Dwyane Wade). Their revolving cast of characters carried a revolving value train that would provide insane upside in one game, only to be relegated to the bench/injured the next. Just nuts. Anyway, with Farmar back and Nash out, I think you can count on Jordan tonight.
D.J. Augustin - FanDuel $6,100 DraftKings $6,000 DraftStreet $11,087
The Bulls always play hard and Augustin has been scoring consistently lately. Detroit is a mess defensively and I see the Bulls taking advantage. Augustin, even in a sixth man role has been more than productive and like I said, the Bulls don't have a gear other than fifth.
Trey Burke - DraftStreet $4,213
Why?
Tyreke Evans - FanDuel $7,300 DraftKings $7,200 DraftStreet $14,254
No Anthony Davis? No Eric Gordon? This should be Tyreke time. The operative word here is "should". Tyreke has had these flashes of greatness and then long spells of mediocrity. Kind of like me with women. I want to believe he'll go nuts against an OKC team that has it's playoff destiny all but set. But it's Reke. Who knows.
Anthony Morrow - FanDuel $4,800 DraftKings $4,400 DraftStreet $8,897
He's been getting about thirty minutes a night and that should stick with the Pelican injuries. Morrow can pile up the points on the right night and I don't think OKC will be bringing it's A game tonight.
Jordan Crawford - FanDuel $3,700 DraftKings $4,200 DraftStreet $8,046
Will be a guy to keep an eye on tonight if there's word on the starters' minutes being reduced. If so, he'll be handling the ball quite a bit.
James Johnson - FanDuel $3,800 DraftKings $3,000 DraftStreet $6,157
Should draw the start again with Prince out. James Johnson has long since been a DFSR favorite, back when we were punting him with impunity early in the season. No he gets Philly while in the starter role (presumably). We'll take it.
Khris Middleton - FanDuel $5,000 DraftKings $4,300 DraftStreet $8,665
Funny to think about the Bucks as a team to count on tonight in terms of minutes. But they should be because they've been terrible all year long and have nothing to play for. Good. I hate Larry Drew. Middleton will get his 30+ minutes and should produce at these salaries.
Mike Dunleavy - FanDuel $5,100 DraftKings $4,900 DraftStreet $9,952
Again, at this time of year, we want guys/ teams we know are going to play hard and play minutes. Enter Mike D. The Bulls are so predictable when it comes to DFS it's almost unfair. They are also crazy boring and have no real upside. So proceed with vanilla caution.
Robbie Hummel - FanDuel $3,700 DraftKings $3,000 DraftStreet $6,488
Could still provide value at these prices assuming he snags the start again.
Zach Randolph - FanDuel $7,000 DraftKings $7,600 DraftStreet $15,350
Memphis is still in the playoff hunt and they are snagging Philly at just the right time. I like Z-Bo tonight as one of the few big money options out there who could stand to see fulll run if the game stays close. Philly, as we all know, hasn't been watching their tutorials on defense. And while some things have been better in the short term, it's all still pretty bad.
Jordan Hill - FanDuel $6,100 DraftKings $5,800 DraftStreet $12,334
Gasol is doubtful and Kaman is out meaning Hill still stands as one of the few big men on the Laker squad. His minutes still aren't completely guaranteed (which seems insane) but he should play some tonight against the Warrior second team.
Al Jefferson - FanDuel $9,700 DraftKings $9,400 DraftStreet $18,688
I get the sense that the Bobcats would much rather play the Raptors than the Heat in the first round of the playoffs, meaning they'll be trying in this one. The Celtics don't have anyone to handle Al Jeff down low and I'm looking for him to post a monster tonight.
Jonas Valanciunas - FanDuel $5,800 DraftKings $6,200 DraftStreet $13,795
Just been annihilating people down low (and getting annihilated and then driving, too soon?). But we don't care about off the field indiscretions do we? Nope. We can that he has the confidence from the coach to play large chunks of minutes and not get immediately benched if something goes wrong.
Enes Kanter - FanDuel $6,100 DraftKings $5,700 DraftStreet $10,928
Kanter should see the bulk of the run with Marvin Williams out again. Another guy who'se tough to count on, but can pile it on.
Who'd I miss today? I know there is someone(s). Let me know and if it is a clear whiff I'll add him to the picks with some reader credit.
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