FanDuel NBA Picks and DraftKings NBA Picks - Tuesday 4/9/19

 
The last few NBA weeks have been difficult to figure out but this slate has some clarity to it. With Monday being an off day for all 30 teams, there have been numerous injuries already released. That has opened up the door for tons of value and it makes for a fascinating slate. There’s one game we’re going to be focused on, as Boston will be without half of their roster. Finding the right combination of Boston players and matching it with a couple of studs will undoubtedly be the optimal lineup and hopefully, these recommendations will help weed it out.  

 

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Point Guard

Damian Lillard FD - $9100 DK - $9300
Opponent - LAL
Proj Pts FD - 55.26 DK - 57.34
With Portland battling for playoff positioning, Lillard has absolutely taken over this team. In fact, Lillard is averaging 20 shots and 36 minutes per game across his last 13 fixtures while posting a usage rate close to 30 percent. It shows in his fantasy numbers, with Lillard averaging 47 DK points per game across his last 16 outings. That role and production is hard to fade when you consider the fact that he plays a Lakers team who ranks 21st in total defense while playing at the fourth-fastest pace in the NBA. In three games against Los Angeles this season, Lillard is averaging 52 fantasy points per game.   

Brad Wanamaker FD - $3500 DK - $3200
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 28.36 DK - 29.47
Terry Rozier FD - $6000 DK - $5200
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 29.29 DK - 29.92
With Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Gordon Hayward missing this game, that should leave all the ball-handling duties to these two. Rozier has been fantastic when starting for Irving, as he’s averaging 31 DK points per game in those starts dating back to last year. Wanamaker is no joke either, as he’s averaging about 0.9 DK points per-minute this season. With all of these guys out, that means Wanamaker could be looking at 25 minutes of action, which would equate to 23 DK points at that rate. Getting 23 DK points at $3,300 is a heck of a value and it’s going to be difficult not to get at least two or three of these Celtics into every build. The matchup is hard to overlook too, with Washington owning a 23rd OPRK against point guards while ranking bottom-four in defensive efficiency and points allowed.  

Also Consider: 

With the Hornets fighting for their playoff lives, Kemba Walker is hard to fade. Not only should he take close to 25 shots and play 40 minutes, but he also faces a Cleveland team who ranks dead-last in defensive efficiency. 

Shooting Guard

James Harden FD - $11800 DK - $11500
Opponent - OKC
Proj Pts FD - 60.15 DK - 62.07
Harden is always worth using, especially considering this team is battling for playoff seeding. Houston finds themselves just half-a-game back of the Denver Nuggets in second and that alone makes Harden worth looking at. The season-long numbers speak for themselves, with Harden averaging more than 62 DraftKings points per game. Harden always shows out against his former team too, averaging 27.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.9 steals in his career against the Thunder. With so many cheap plays available, getting those guaranteed 60 points into your lineup may be the optimal way to go.  

Dwayne Bacon FD - $3700 DK - $4600
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 22.46 DK - 23.19
Bacon has stepped into starting duties the last few weeks and it’s done wonders for his fantasy value. In fact, Bacon has at least 17 DK points in 10 of his last 11 games, starting the last 10 games in total. If you take out a 3.8-point dud against the Utah Jazz, Bacon is actually averaging 23 DK points per game in that span, That’s all you can ask for from someone in this price range but the matchup may be the best part of this play. Not only does Cleveland rank dead-last in defensive efficiency, they also allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.  

Also Consider:  Dwyane Wade is going to be chalky but he’s tough to fade in the final home game of his career.  

Small Forward

Paul George FD - $10000 DK - $9900
Opponent - HOU
Proj Pts FD - 50.27 DK - 51.52
Oklahoma City is battling with three other teams for playoff positioning and that should keep him in line to play big minutes. Despite struggling right after the all-star break, George has recaptured his early-season form. In fact, George has at least 47 DK points in 10 of his last 14 games while averaging that same total in that span. Facing Houston is something that PG13 treasures too, averaging 61 fantasy points per game in three outings against them this season.  

Mario Hezonja FD - $7700 DK - $5700
Opponent - CHI
Proj Pts FD - 33.97 DK - 34.27
This is probably my favorite play on the board, as Hezonja is playing like an $9,000 player right now. Over his last three games, Hezonja is averaging 49 DK points per outing. It’s easy to see why when looking at his usage, with Hezonja averaging 37.3 minutes and 18 shots per game in that span while leading the Knicks in usage rate. The matchup is simply the icing on the cake, with Chicago ranking 26th in defensive efficiency.  

Also Consider: 

Semi Ojeleye is one of the first Celtics wings we're going to recommend, as there’ a lot of shots and usage available with so many Boston players sitting. 

Power Forward

Daniel Theis FD - $3500 DK - $3200
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 35.31 DK - 36.38
Guerschon Yabusele FD - $3500 DK - $3000
Opponent - WAS
Proj Pts FD - 24.49 DK - 24.2
The laundry list of players missing this game for the Celtics is laughable, as Theis and Yabusele could be looking at huge minutes here. So, let’s go over who’s sitting for this game in the frontcourt. Boston will be without Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Aron Baynes, Marcus Morris and Gordon Hayward. That’s pretty much the whole roster and we’re going to need to get as many of these cheap Celtics into our lineup as possible. The per-minute numbers are solid enough to trust, with both of these guys averaging about a fantasy point-per minute. This huge increase in usage looks even better when you consider the matchup, with Washington ranking 29th in points allowed and 27th in defensive efficiency.  

Ray Spalding FD - $3500 DK - $4000
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 27.4 DK - 25.52
The Suns are going to play this game without Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, Tyler Johnson, T.J. Warren and Kelly Oubre, as that should open up the door for Spalding to continue to succeed. Not only has he started in back-to-back games, Spalding is averaging 27 minutes per game in that span. His fantasy production is hard to overlook too, with Spalding averaging 34 DK points per game in that two-game spurt. That’s absurd production from a player in the $4,000-range and he should have success against a Dallas team who is equally as diminished.  

Center

Andre Drummond FD - $10200 DK - $9600
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 54 DK - 54.05
There aren’t many players with a lot of motivation right now but Drummond is one of the few playing for anything. In fact, Detroit currently sits eighth in the east, as a loss could potentially drop them out of the playoffs. That alone makes Drummond tough to fade, as he’s likely looking at 40 minutes of action here. That’s particularly beneficial from a player who has at least 53 DK points in five of his last six games, as he’s averaging 51.1 DK points per game across his last 13 fixtures in total. Facing Memphis is a treat too, as they’ll be without Jonas Valanciunas, Joakim Noah and Jaren Jackson Jr. Facing the worst offense in the NBA only adds to Drummond's value, as 20 rebounds is not a far-fetched thought by any means.

Mike Muscala FD - $4400 DK - $3300
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 27.41 DK - 27.88
The Lakers made a shocking move when they traded Ivica Zubac for Muscala but it appears they’ll see what he has over the final few weeks. All of the injuries have really opened things up for Muscala, with Brandon Ingram, LeBron James, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart all out of the picture. Not only is Muscala averaging 24.4 DK points per game across his last six games, he actually got a start in the most recent outing and played a season-high 38 minutes. That would make one believe he’s close to $6,000, but Muscala is quite the bargain in the $3,500-range.  Also Consider: 

Robert Williams should see an expanded role with every significant Boston player missing this game and that’s particularly beneficial for a guy who averages more than a fantasy point-per minute. He's probably got the highest ceiling of any Celtics player and could potentially hit 10X value if he plays 30 minutes.  

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