Basketball Picks Daily Fantasy Expert Advice
Daily Fantasy NBA News and Injury Updates for FanDuel and DraftKings - 4/8/17
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
Rajon Rondo is out for the Bulls today.
Rondo will miss a second straight game with a sprained right wrist. Jerian Grant should draw the start once again, further hurting the Bulls already weak point guard defense, putting Jeremy Lin in a nice spot on the early slate.
Steph Curry is out for the Warriors.
Steph got banged up against the Suns on Wednesday and was held out of practice friday with a left knee contusion. The good news for Golden State is Kevin Durant is set to return so that will fill Curry's void, meanwhile look for Shaun Livingston to start in Currys place.
DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and E'Twaun Moore are out for the Pelicans.
This really just kills any interest I had in tonight's main slate. Without Boogie, center, as I mentioned in the picks, is a mess. Without Davis, power forward really doesn't look much better. New Orleans wants to get a look at Cheick Diallo and Quinn Cook, so expect them to see extended run, while Alexis Ajinca could be the play at center.
Malcolm Brogdon is out.
Brogdon will miss the final game of the Bucks road trip in Philly tonight as expected. Matthew Dellavedova should continue to draw the start in his place though he hasn't been overly impressive in Brogdons place.
What We're Waiting to Know
Dwyane Wade is a gametime decision, hopeful to play tonight.
With Jerian Grant drawing a start for Rondo, his fantasy value could be impacted by the return of Wade after an 11 game absence. If he does in fact go today, look for him to only run the boards for about 20 or so minutes, but during that time, expect him to control the offense.
Markieff Morris and Otto Porter are both questionable for the Wizards.
Morris has been nursing a sore right ankle for several days, after averaging 23 minutes against the Warriors and Hornets, Morris sat out against the Knicks on Thursday. The Wizards most likely want to keep Morris fresh for the playoffs, so don't be surprised if he remains out at least until he feels 100%. Jason Smith will continue to be a an intriguing play in Markieff's place. Porter tweaked his back during morning shootaround and if he misses tonight, Kelly Oubre and Bojan Bogdanovich both become much more interesting.
George Hill's status remains uncertain, Raul Neto remains day-to-day.
Hill has missed five straight dealing with a groin injury and his status for today is looking unlikely. With Neto also day-to-day, look for Dante Exum to draw another start in Hills place is he isn't cleared for tonight.
Luke Babbitt is doubtful tonight.
Babbitt has missed three straight, which has been fantastic news for James Johnson who has been starting in his place and performing exceptionally Babbitt did not participate in shoot around yesterday, so it's likely he misses yet another making Johnson an excellent play on the main slate.
Marco Belinelli is questionable tonight.
Belinelli stands to miss todays game after playing only 8 minutes against the Heat on Wednesday. Nicolas Batum and to a lesser extent Jeremy Lamb stand to benefit from his absence.
The "Every Lineup" Guys
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Since we can't get our Boogie on this evening, we direct our focus to the Alphabet. With the Pelicans shutting down their big money guys tonight, Giannis becomes the best way to spend up on the main slate. I will not be surprised to see him at 90% ownership, if not higher in cash games. The system certainly loves him as he appears in each of the top 25 line ups it is putting out as of 1:30pm EST when I write this and I don't see that changing. The game only has a 6.5 point spread, so if the freak gets his full compliment of minutes it could be a big night. I'll have him everywhere and I'm sure I won't be alone.
Richaun Holmes
The system loves this game as it targets players at each position throughout the top line ups today. We have a Milwaukee team trying to hold on tight to their spot in the playoffs as the season winds down, and a Philly team with most of their top players already shut down for the season, sending out their up-and-comers to try and salvage a few more wins out of a disappointing season. Richaun Holmes has been filling in nicely in place of Jahlil Okafor, as the Sixers starting center down the stretch, only really running in to trouble last Sunday against the Raptors. Most recently he posted a double double in a blowout loss to the Bulls on Thursday, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds to go along with 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. Over the last five games, the Bucks are allowing nearly 10 more fantasy points to opposing centers than their season average. I will have Holmes as a lock in my cash games, and will take a long look at him in tournaments as well.
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image sources
- Joey Dorsey, DeMarcus Cousins: (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)