Daily Fantasy NBA Basketball Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings and Draftster 12/28/14

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Point Guard

Russell Westbrook - FD 11800 DK 11900 DFSTR 8800
This pick is totally contingent on Durant not playing. I wouldn't even consider Russell at these prices if KD is rolling and even then it's damn close. But the fact remains that if he gets full run with no Durant then he's about as good as it gets from a fantasy (and real life) perspective. Westbrook plays at another level and keeps his floor so damn high because he basically does, well, everything. Scores, rebounds, assists and gets to the line over and over and over again. Check KD's status and play accordingly.

Goran Dragic - FD 7200 DK 7700 DFSTR 6100
Isaiah Thomas - FD 5600 DK 5900 DFSTR 6000
Honestly, I'd seriously consider starting them both on this short slate especially if I wasn't rolling Westbrook. They get the worst defensive team in the league and you can basically guarantee a certain amount of minutes out of the two of them. Thomas is especially a bargain considering how much they've been using him lately and these guys both stand to hit value (or at least should combine for it). The Lakers are dreadful on D against point guards and both of these guys can fill it up.

Consider Patrick Beverley

Shooting Guard

Eric Bledsoe - FD 7900 DK 9300 DFSTR 7300
This one's easy isn't it? He's been a solid cash game play for a while now and tonight gets to face the worst defensive team in the league. I really can't overstate how bad the Lakers are on defense. Against opposing shooting guards they allow 10% more than league average scoring and are worse in every other metric as well. Bledsoe doesn't break the bank for you and should stand to see plenty of scoring opportunities. I don't love the multi-guard system the Suns are running (from a fantasy perspective) but Bledsoe is a safe option today.

Wesley Matthews - FD 5500 DK 5900 DFSTR 4900
The Knicks have an impossible time with shooting guards almost independent of who's in the lineup but are in particularly bad shape when it's just Tim Hardaway running around out there. I like Matthews much more when other members of the Blazer crew are out of the lineup because it seems like he sees just that many more looks, but I'll take his value even if Portland is running at full strength. He's one of the few shooting guards in this price range that isn't reliant completely on scoring.

Consider Lou Williams because on the right night he's deadly at these prices. And deadly goes both ways.

 

Small Forward

Wilson Chandler - FD 5600 DK 6000 DFSTR 5000
Is consistently a value play because the price is nearly always in check. He's tied a fair amount to his three point shooting and guys like that will always remain in the middle/ lower tier because they will put up some duds (and he's had some epic ones). But Chandler's six rebounds a game plus the steals and blocks give him just enough of a chance to keep the floor higher. On a shorter slate he's everywhere for me.

James Johnson - FD 4500 DK 4500 DFSTR 4200
If you could trust the minutes even a little bit then this would be the very clear value play of the day. Johnson is a per minute beast in that his value is strictly tied to how much he is out there on the court. Of course this is the case with all NBA players, but Johnson's price is such that if he was out there for 25+ you'd play him without hesitation against a weak Denver frontcourt. But such is the case with NBA DFS, you can't trust his rotations. I think I'm taking a chance on him regardless because the upside is there. But it's risky.

Consider Nicolas Batum as a solid cash game option because of the minutes and the matchup.
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Power Forward

Markieff Morris - FD 6200 DK 6600 DFSTR 6000
If he isn't a 100% start in cash games on FanDuel then know you are getting your money in good against whatever percentage didn't play the dude. He's far and away the best value there. And while it's a little closer on the other sites know that here you are getting him in the most optimal matchup possible. He shouldn't have to worry about foul trouble and could very well crush his price against the crappy Lakers. He's had some dud-ish games of late, but don't let that dissuade you. It's not close here.

Tim Duncan - FD 9100 DK 8700 DFSTR 8200
The way the Spurs have been using him it seems very much all or nothing. Which is good. If he is playing and this game should be close, then you can play Duncan. He will get his minutes. In what should be a closer game, Duncan has a solid matchup no matter who the Rockets throw out at power forward to defend. Smoove or Donatas, it's all good.

Dirk Nowitzki - FD 7000 DK 6700 DFSTR 7500
I think you can consider him pretty safe in this matchup for a couple of reasons. Dirk's price is depressed in the short term thanks to a couple of low minutes runs. That should change tonight in a division matchup that will almost definitely be a high-scoring affair. And though OKC defends opposing power forwards well, Dirk's price dictates the value here. He's in the mid range among guys who can actually fill it up. Rondo's presence muddies the waters some until we see how everyone meshes but on the shorter slate I'll take a moderate risk.

Consider Kenneth Faried because he's been tearing it up. But the minutes are always a concern.

 

Center

Center is a real problem tonight. You are almost without a doubt going to have to go cheap and hope for the minutes.
Jonas Valanciunas - FD 6200 DK 6300 DFSTR 5300
If he can creep to thirty minutes then he's the play of the day and it isn't close. Even without the guarantee I'm willing to play him in the mid tier against a Nugget squad that allows 11% more scoring than league average against opposing centers. Valanciunas can most assuredly pile on the points when the matchup is choice. And this is one of those times. I just wish I knew he was going to get full run.

Jordan Hill - FD 5900 DK 5700 DFSTR 6000
He falls much in the same category as Jonas above. The Suns are terrible against opposing centers, but you can just never be sure about Hill's minutes. When he plays, he pays this easily considering the matchup. But ugh, the minutes just fluctuate too damn much.

Consider Timofey Mozgov

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