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FanDuel NBA Picks and DraftKings NBA Picks - Monday, 12/16/19
Monday starts a new week leading off with a seven-game slate of contests in the Association. A couple of serious injuries over the weekend open up a lot of potential value plays this evening. Join us as we take a look at some of the top plays to consider at each position when building your FanDuel and Draftkings lineups.
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Point Guard
Kendrick Nunn FD - $6000 DK - $6000
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 31.8 DK - 32.24
Goran Dragic didn't travel with the Heat to L.A. and though he is technically listed as a GTD tonight, I'm feeling it is more likely he'll suit up for Wednesday's game in Philly if he doesn't just hold out until the team returns to Miami later this week. Even if he does attempt to give it a go tonight, he'll likely be limited which means we have a little longer to run out Kendrick Nunn with confidence. Down the stretch, Nunn's scoring has been shakey, to say the least, but the minutes have remained consistent and the fantasy totals have been worth the price of admission. Point guard has just been a funny position to pin down this season, and if the Dragon remains out I'm fine with rolling out Nunn in my lineups, and likely will even if Goran does make the trip to Memphis.
Jalen Brunson FD - $3700 DK - $5500
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 33.77 DK - 34.69
As if point guard wasn't already a tough position to field, we lose one of the sure things for the next several weeks as Luka Doncic exited Saturday night's game with a nasty ankle sprain. This does present us with a tremendous value play, however, as Jalen Brunson stepped up in a big way following Doncic's early exit. In 34 minute's Brunson posted 18 points, with seven boards and eight assists, good for a nearly 10X PPD (points per dollar) performance against one of the games tougher matchups for opposing PG's. Tonight Brunson will go against a Bucks team that is slightly below average defending the position in a game with a promising 227 projected total. I will likely have a ton of exposure to Brunson in all formats, and you may want to do the same.
George Hill FD - $3900 DK - $4300
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 26.71 DK - 27.17
On the other side of the Dallas/Milwaukee matchup, we find even more value with George Hill. Hill needed just 28 and 21 minutes respectively in this weekend's games to pay off 5X PPD at these prices while picking up some extra usage after the Bucks lost Eric Bledsoe to a leg injury that will keep him out for at least the next two weeks. While Donte DiVincenzo has been drawing the starts in Bledsoe's absence (and we'll touch more on him momentarily) Hill is dirt cheap and should prove serviceable in both cash and GPP formats for the foreseeable future.
Shooting Guard
Jimmy Butler FD - $9400 DK - $9100
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 48.6 DK - 47.73
It feels like there is going to be more than enough value on tonight's slate and if you want to spend up on one of the big money studs that shouldn't be a problem. If you need a player that can get you big time points without dropping over $10K in salary however, look to Jimmy Butler. Butler seems to be thoroughly enjoying his time in South Beach as evidenced by his seven straight games with 37+ minutes, and an average of just over 50 fantasy points per game with a double-double and a triple-double during that stretch. He dropped 27 in Dallas on Saturday and is poised for another big outing tonight in Memphis in a game that sees the visiting Heat as just 5.5 point favorites. If you've got the extra funds, Harden is a fine play but our NBA projection system likes Jimmy Buckets just as much without breaking the bank.
Donte Divincenzo FD - $4000 DK - $4600
Opponent - DAL
Proj Pts FD - 22.08 DK - 22.12
Back to Milwaukee we go as promised. The Bucks are missing Eric Bledsoe for the next couple of weeks, and while George Hill certainly stands to benefit at the point, it's Donte DiVincenzo that has been getting the starts in Bledsoe's absence, and who paid off a handsome 8.75X PPD against the Cavs on Saturday. While the Bucks are favored by 11 tonight, this game shouldn't be the blowout that Saturday was, so we should get a better idea of what DiVincenzo's minutes will be moving forward until Bledsoe returns. For the price we're paying the floor is certainly high enough to take the chance on him in cash with a tournament ceiling we can't even see yet.
Small Forward
Pascal Siakam FD - $8600 DK - $8600
Opponent - CLE
Proj Pts FD - 44.41 DK - 45.34
It's been a rough stretch for the champs, Toronto was 2-4 for the month heading into Saturday night's game against the Nets. Toronto got back on the winning track thanks in no small part to Pascal Siakam's 30/10/5 line in 34 minutes dominating both ends of the court. The Raptors, and Siakam especially, should pick up right where they left off tonight as they play host to the Cavaliers, a bottom ten defense against opposing small forwards, surrendering an average of 43 fantasy points to the position this season. Our friends in Vegas like the Raptors in this one by a 12.5 point margin so there could be some blowout risk here, but Siakam's minutes have been rather consistent all season, so I don't think there is too much concern.
Tim Hardaway Jr. FD - $5400 DK - $5800
Opponent - MIL
Proj Pts FD - 27.86 DK - 29.46
It's proving somewhat difficult to avoid the Mavericks tonight. When a stud like Luka Doncic goes down, there is plenty of opportunity to spread around. Case in point, according to NBAWowy with Doncic off the court, Tim Hardaway Jr. sees his usage jump nearly 5% from 20.1% to 24.6%. Saturday night THJ picked up 41 minutes of run, dropping 28 points. In a paceup contest tonight against the Bucks, Hardaway should see plenty of opportunity while being priced to a point where 5X PPD is all but a lock and 6-7X upside is not out of the question. Keep Hardaway top of mind in all formats this evening.
Mikal Bridges FD - $4500 DK - $4100
Opponent - POR
Proj Pts FD - 24.63 DK - 23.51
Devin Booker has already been ruled out for tonight meaning Mikal Bridges should likely see another start for the Suns. Bridges started in Booker's spot Saturday against the Spurs, and while he didn't set the world on fire, he certainly lit enough of a spark to pay over 6X PPD in 31 minutes. Portland is a slightly above average defense against the position, and Vegas has this one coming down to the buzzer, so Bridges should see more than enough opportunity to pay off in cash contests.
Power Forward
Rui Hachimura FD - $6800 DK - $6400
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 33.15 DK - 33.56
Thomas Bryant remains out, and now Moritz Wagner will miss a second straight game, leaving the Wizards rather thin upfront. Washington will have to rely heavily once again on Rui Hachimura. Rui is averaging 33 minutes per game over his last four, with double-digit scoring in each and a double-double against the Hornets. Tonight the Wiz head into Detroit to face a Pistons team that is not only a bottom ten defense against opposing fours but will also likely be without their own big man as Andre Drummond is questionable for the contest. In a game that should remain quite close throughout, Hachimura is a strong candidate for your cash game considerations.
Bam Adebayo FD - $9300 DK - $8200
Opponent - MEM
Proj Pts FD - 42.61 DK - 43.38
Bam has been in absolute beast mode lately, which is why I can't take my eyes off of that DraftKings price. I'm not sure what is going on in the algorithm over there to have Bam priced so low, but I do know I will likely have him in 100% of my DK lineups, more than that if I can find a way. Since the start of the month, Bam has averaged over 37 minutes per game, with three double-doubles and two triple-doubles, as many as 30 points, two blocks, and three steals. Over his last five contests, Bam has paid nearly 5.5X PPD on Fanduel and I will consider him as an option there, especially with all of the value out there tonight, but there is just no passing him up on DraftKings.
As I mentioned earlier, it's looking more than likely that Andre Drummond will miss a second straight game dealing with that eye issue, if that's the case then give a strong look to Christian Wood against the Wizards.
Center
Hassan Whiteside FD - $9500 DK - $8100
Opponent - PHO
Proj Pts FD - 44.8 DK - 44.79
There isn't a ton to love about the five tonight, but I think we can find just enough to work with for our needs. We'll start with Hassan Whiteside and the Blazers heading into Phoenix for a tilt with the Suns. Whiteside has been dominating both ends of the court this season, he is coming off a career-high 33 point night against the Nuggets, a game that saw him post his sixth straight double-double, while also sitting third overall in blocks per game with 2.4. The matchup is favorable against the sixth most generous defense against opposing bigs, and there is virtually no blowout concern to speak of. All things considered, Whiteside is one of the top ways to spend up tonight and is the best way to do so at center if you've taken full advantage of the value up for grabs at the other positions.
Ian Mahinmi FD - $4400 DK - $4100
Opponent - DET
Proj Pts FD - 31.45 DK - 29.62
Let's say you don't have the funds available to spend up for Whiteside tonight, then what should you do? Well, let's take a quick look at Ian Mahinmi. We've already established how thin the Wizards frontcourt is, so it bears mentioning that Mahinmi will likely draw the start once again. I know, Mahinmi put up a less than desirable performance against the Grizzlies on Saturday, but Memphis dominated the Wizards throughout which contributed to Mahinmi getting his minutes clipped. Tonight's game should prove much more competitive, providing Mahinmi with ample opportunity to live up to his average numbers when starting which are enough to pay off 5X PPD on these prices.
If you just can't pull the trigger on Mahinmi, and can't find the funds for Whiteside, then consider Brook Lopez against the Mavs.
