Eric Bledsoe has another favorable matchup Tuesday
Before this NBA season, I have always loved football more than basketball. Now I am loving basketball more! How many of you have gained more knowledge, respect, or love for another sport since playing daily fantasy?
The excitement of not only winning but learning the players and their tendencies pushed me to constantly want to know more.
Tuesday’s slates are smaller. While most people prefer less games to narrow down the options, I am the exact opposite because I like having options for better matchups.
Currently, there are two things happening in the NBA. One is Stephen Curry cooking up an unstoppable force. This is a bad man! The second he touches the ball, we all pause in excitement wondering what awesome three-point shot he will make!
Secondly, Kobe! Kobe is my all-time favorite player and only he can touch so many of us with the words he left us, letting us know that this is his last year. Many people argue that LeBron or other players are better than Kobe, but who yells out “LeBron!” after shooting garbage into the trash or a sock into the laundry? It has always been “Kobe!” He will be missed on the court but to all of us that “ball up” the garbage can, we will still have him with us. Thanks Kobe!
Alright, onto winning!
Point Guard
Jordan Clarkson (LAL@PHI) $6,100
In the past 10 games, Clarkson has scored 20+ fantasy points in all but three. Clarkson is more of a shooting guard playing the point as his assists average is nothing more than three assist a game. His last game, though, he showed his all-around ability putting up 22 real points, 10 rebounds, and six assists helping him achieve 45 fantasy points against the Pacers. The 76ers do not provide the best matchup for Clarkson since they rank sixth-best against opposing PGs but never fear, it is the winless 76ers. I expect Clarkson to score at least 20 real points and the 76ers turnovers provide him a bit more upside.
Jarrett Jack (PHO@BKN) $6,400
Where has Jarret Jack gone? He has been very streaky this season and there seems to be a trend. It seems he does not play full minutes in one game and has a sub-par day and the next game he will play full minutes while producing well. He is averaging over seven assists per game this season. Against a duel-threat backcourt, Jack will be tested. Great competition always brings out more will to do well. The Suns are the worst team against PGs. In the last five games, they’ve given up nearly 23 real points, nearly six rebounds, and three assists per game. Jack should be well rested and able to score 20+ real points and dish out more than three assists.
Shooting Guard
Eric Bledsoe (PHO@BKN) $8,700
I don’t see an argument here, other than his price. He has scored 40+ fantasy points in five out of his last nine games. Even if he doesn’t contribute through scoring, he will provide rebounds, assists, and steals. Brooklyn’s defense is based around the big men, so his matchup plays favorably against the second-worst team versus SGs.
J.R. Smith (WAS@CLE) $5,700
Smith is not my favorite, but he has a favorable matchup in front of him. The Wizards are the fourth-worst against SGs in the past five games. Smith is a streaky scorer, but his high amount of playing time provides opportunities to hit value. Out of the top SGs to choose from I felt that only one or two players are consistent enough to hit value for their price, so I dropped down to the next tier and found J.R. Bradley Beal is not the best defender so Smith should get good shots and I (might be nieve) think he has his best game against the Wizards.
Small Forward
Robert Covington (LAL@PHI) $6,400
This is probably my favorite pick for tonight. As everyone will most likely pick LeBron James, I am going with “The Cov.” The Lakers provide him a good matchup due to them being in the top 10-worst against both SGs and SFs in the last five games. His defense has stepped up big time this year. In the past three games, he has totaled 21 steals, averaged at least seven rebounds, all the while scoring in double digits. The sloppy Lakers provide him opportunity for more steals. As I hope for a 40+ fantasy point game, realistically, I see him achieving just below 40 fantasy points, hitting value.
Jeff Green (MEM@NO) $4,700
The early struggles from Memphis lessened Green’s production, but it seems he is making his way back to his normal production line. In the past nine games, he has played between 28-35 minutes, earning 20+ fantasy points in six out of the nine (30+ fantasy points in three games). NO allows opposing SFs to score 18 real points on 44% shooting from the field and seven rebounds. He has scored 18+ real points four times in the past nine games, as well as seven rebounds in four of his last nine. The struggling Pelicans should allow for a solid game from Green.
Power Forward
Thaddeus Young (PHO@BKN) $6,700
Quietly, Young has been one of those most consistent PFs that is affordable. In the past 10 games, he has scored 30+ fantasy points in eight of the 10, mostly due to limited minutes in those two other games. I like this matchup because the Suns allow about 17 real points per game on a high 47% shooting from the field. He has scored 17+ real points four times in the past 10 games with two of those four being 25+ real point games. The struggles of Phoenix big men will get the best of them as they are getting slim through injuries. Thaddeus should have a great day bringing down the boards. Young has pulled down double-digit rebounds in six of his last 10 games. Let’s go ahead and say he will again hit the mark, as the Suns allow 11 rebounds per game to the position.
Dirk Nowitzki (DAL@POR) $6,500
The German! I have always loved Dirk, but I tend to rarely ever pick him. Well, today is the day. He has a great matchup against a young Portland squad. Just like playing against Kristaps Porzingis, Dirk will show up Portland’s younger bigs. Portland is giving up 17 real points and 10 rebounds per game to the position, which sounds exactly like the stats you would expect from Dirk. He played less minutes than expected last game, so he should be in line for about 35 minutes tonight.
Center
Brook Lopez (PHO@BKN) $8,400
Another no-brainer besides him being the highest-priced center. He is all upside. Again, same thing with Thaddeus, the Sun are wearing down with their bigs. As a result, there’s so much opportunity to come from the bigs from BKN. The Suns allow a huge 54% shooting from the field to opposing centers. Brook has scored 20+ real points in five of the last 10 contests and he will do it again tonight. Lopez has been Mr. Reliable for the Nets and his fantasy score has shown it. His blocks will be a bonus. The Suns let up two and a half blocks per game, and Brook gets about two and a half per game. Last game, against Detroit, he had six blocks, and I can easily see huge numbers again against duel-threat guards that like to drive into the paint.
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Good luck!
Steven Fullmer is a correspondent at FantasyPros. You can also find his work at DraftShot.com and follow him @StevenMFullmer.
