It is the time of year in the NBA where there are so many teams resting players either to save their stars for the playoffs or to tank and get more ping pong balls in the draft lottery. So, I typically limit the amount of my bankroll that I play the last couple weeks of the NBA regular season, while also shifting more focus toward GPPs instead of Cash games. I also shift my focus to rostering players on teams that have something to play for, whether it is a playoff spot or playoff positioning. The only exception is if there is a big-time value option that opens up due to all the resting starters.
Fortunately, Tuesday’s eight-game slate is mostly comprised of teams that have something to play for with only teams like the Rockets, Warriors, Mavericks, Kings and Bulls either locked into their playoff spot or in full tank mode. So, look for value options from these clubs while getting your studs from the playoff contenders.
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One Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF/PF – MIL): $10,300 @ LAC
The Bucks should make the playoffs but they have plenty to gain by winning down the stretch to improve their playoff seeding. Giannis Antetokounmpo represents some nice value compared to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while also getting the benefit of a great up-tempo game environment against the Clippers. The Clippers have allowed the fifth most DraftKings points to opposing SFs this season and Antetokounmpo played a healthy 38 minutes after missing a game. In a matchup against the Clippers last week the two teams combined for 247 points, look for another shootout on Tuesday allowing the Greek Freak to rack up the fantasy points.
It is the time of year in the NBA where there are so many teams resting players either to save their stars for the playoffs or to tank and get more ping pong balls in the draft lottery. So, I typically limit the amount of my bankroll that I play the last couple weeks of the NBA regular season, while also shifting more focus toward GPPs instead of Cash games. I also shift my focus to rostering players on teams that have something to play for, whether it is a playoff spot or playoff positioning. The only exception is if there is a big-time value option that opens up due to all the resting starters.
Fortunately, Tuesday’s eight-game slate is mostly comprised of teams that have something to play for with only teams like the Rockets, Warriors, Mavericks, Kings and Bulls either locked into their playoff spot or in full tank mode. So, look for value options from these clubs while getting your studs from the playoff contenders.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
One Stud
Giannis Antetokounmpo (SF/PF – MIL): $10,300 @ LAC
The Bucks should make the playoffs but they have plenty to gain by winning down the stretch to improve their playoff seeding. Giannis Antetokounmpo represents some nice value compared to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while also getting the benefit of a great up-tempo game environment against the Clippers. The Clippers have allowed the fifth most DraftKings points to opposing SFs this season and Antetokounmpo played a healthy 38 minutes after missing a game. In a matchup against the Clippers last week the two teams combined for 247 points, look for another shootout on Tuesday allowing the Greek Freak to rack up the fantasy points.
Core Plays
Victor Oladipo (PG/SG – IND): $8,300 @ GS
I almost placed Chris Paul here as he is expected to return to the court after missing three games with a hamstring injury and with the Rockets resting James Harden. However, I fear his minutes will still be cut short due to the recent injury and as a big favorite over the tanking Bulls. So, I’ll pivot to Victor Oladipo at a similar price point. Oladipo offers a solid floor but has lacked upside recently, however, facing a depleted Warriors team which has allowed the 10th most DK points to opposing SGs over the last week could allow him to make a “splash” against the Warriors.
DeAndre Jordan (C – LAC): $8,000 vs MIL
You know the recipe by now, play bigs against the Bucks. DeAndre Jordan is a lock for double-digit boards every night and has scoring upside against a Bucks’ defense that has allowed the second most raw points to opposing centers this season. Jordan just ate the Bucks for lunch last week with 25 points and 22 rebounds (56.5 DK points). I wouldn’t be shocked by a repeat performance.
Kevin Love (PF/C – CLE): $7,800 @ MIA
Kevin Love has played well since returning from injury averaging 20.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game (42.4 DK points). His matchup against the Heat doesn’t look good on paper but Love managed to scorch the Heat for 38 points and nine boards in just 26 minutes during an earlier meeting this season. With no Hassan Whiteside for the Heat, Love should dominate inside and outside on both ends of the court.
Quinn Cook (PG – GS): $5,900 vs IND
Quinn Cook has been the biggest winner with the plethora of injuries in the Warriors’ backcourt. Over his last five games, Cook has put up 20.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game on his way to 38.4 DK points per game. While his salary has risen it is still not matching his current level of play. Continue to roll with Cook until his price approaches $7,000.
Value Plays
Dejounte Murray (PG – SA): $5,300 @ WAS
The Spurs need to keep winning to make the playoffs an improve their playoff seeding. This is a benefit for Dejounte Murray who should continue to get around 30 minutes a night. With limited value options on the slate, I’ll gladly roster a fairly inexpensive PG who is locked in for 30 minutes and can fill up a box score in a variety of ways. Murray has at least five rebounds in each of his last seven games and is good for a couple of steals a game which gives him a solid floor with some upside if he can get a few more shots to translate into more points.
Gerald Green (SG/SF – HOU): $4,700 vs CHI
With James Harden out, it should open up some more playing time for Gerald Green who hasn’t found a shot he didn’t like. In his last two games, while playing 32 minutes each, Green has fired up 14.5 shots per game while averaging 19.5 points and 32.5 DK points per game. Those games were with Harden but not Chris Paul. The opposite scenario plays out on Tuesday and with Paul as more of a distributor look for Green to enjoy even more shot opportunities against a tanking Bulls squad that has allowed the eight most three-pointers over the last 30 days.
Frank Mason (PG – SAC): $4,200 vs DAL
Frank Mason has been getting some extra run with the Kings evaluating the rookie as the season winds down. He has averaged 25 minutes over his last two games while posting solid numbers with 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Mason will face a Mavericks’ defense that has given up the sixth most DK points to opposing PGs this season and should be a cheap source of fantasy production to fill out your lineup.
Ryan Anderson (PF/C – HOU): $3,800 vs CHI
Another value Rocket that should be able to blast off on Tuesday is Ryan Anderson with Clint Capela getting the night off. Anderson sat out the previous games due to rest but should be a full go and see increased playing time and fantasy production without Capela off the floor. Anderson put up 16 points in his previous outing and has averaged over 30 minutes per game when Capela is out. Minutes equal money in DFS, especially cheap minutes in a favorable matchup.
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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.