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Daily Fantasy NBA News and Injury Updates for FanDuel and DraftKings - 12/20/16
Welcome to the daily updates and injury news article. We'll try and update it right up to line-up locks with as much information as comes across our desks. Let's get to it!
Last night's picks can be found here, so you can wrap your mind around what you need to be looking at before lineups lock tonight.
By the way - we keep our projection system updated with all of the changes as they occur throughout the day right up until lineup lock. Every day. If you want access to that system so you can cut out a lot of the research element, click the button below!
What We Know
Blake Griffin will be out 3-6 weeks
Paul Pierce is the projected starter for tonight, and I think he makes for a decent play across the board. With that being said, I think the real value will go to the other starters. They will all likely pick up minutes, and shots will go along with them. Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan should benefit the most.
Kevin Love has been ruled out against the Bucks
K-Love has been a huge art of the Cavs offense this year, so his absence will cause a ripple. Channing Frye will likely get around 28 minutes and he has been a lot better with LeBron on the court. Richard Jefferson will get the start, but I doubt he sees over 25 minutes. Irving and James may also pick up a few shots.
Clint Capela will miss 6 weeks
Capela has been a big help for Harden down low this year, so it should be interesting to see how he handles this. Minutes wise, Nene Hilario and Ryan Anderson will benefit the most. Capela got a bunch of rebounds, which I think we could see go to Anderson and Harden. The Rockets have been shooting a ton of 3's, and the Spurs are a tough match up.
What We're Waiting to Know
Rudy Gay is questionable to play against the Blazers
Gay has been out for a few games, and he could return tonight against the Blazers. Casspi is also questionable, so we could see a bunch of guys get a few minutes, or a few guys get a bunch of minutes. If both are out, you can look for Matt Barnes and Garrett Temple to benefit most.
Derrick Rose is questionable to play
D-Rose has been out for a week, and he will likely return tonight. Brandon Jennings will take a huge downgrade, and it out of consideration for both cash games and tournaments. Rose will likely be on a small minutes limit, so he is out of consideration for me as well.
The "Every Lineup" Guys
Chris Paul
Chris Paul is going to take a huge load of responsibility with Blake Griffin, and I expect myself to play him a ton in the coming weeks. The Denver Nuggets play fast paced, and lack the defensive efficiency that is needed to stop Chris Paul. Mudiay is a decent defender, but they will switch Jokic and Nurkic plenty, which will be a huge mismatch. Paul will shoot a ton tonight and should play a bunch of minutes if it stays close.
Kawhi Leonard
Leonard is a guy I am usually hesitant to play, but I like how this is setting up tonight. Harden is the one guy they need to shut down tonight, and Leonard will get that responsibility. He is going to be on the court, and against the Rockets, that will turn into fantasy points. Plenty of peripherals will up for grabs in the fast paced match up.
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image sources
- Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki: (AP Photo/LM Otero)