Welcome to Sleeper Picks. Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for tonight’s NBA action. Sleeper is quickly becoming one of the most popular season-long fantasy platforms, and they are expanding into other areas based on demand. Each week in this space, we’ll talk about some strategy for the new platform while providing our favorite NBA more/less picks.
NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions (4/22)
LeBron James (G/F – LAL): 28.5 points
LeBron is going to have to do the heavy lifting in this series. Anthony Davis was elite in Game 1 but has had his share of struggles against Denver over the past calendar year. AD averaged 24.7 points and 12.6 rebounds per game during the regular season but managed just 22.0 points and 9.3 rebounds against Denver. Davis started last season’s playoff series with 40 points and 10 rebounds but then proceeded to shrink under the spotlight, scoring 18, 28, and 21 points on .267, .611, and .400 shooting. Consistency and dependability have been the two bugaboos that have prevented Davis and the Lakers from reaching the heights expected of a team with two of the best players in the world. LeBron has scored 27 or fewer points in both the play in and Game 1, but after falling back into the straight passive passer mode we have all come to hate in the fourth quarter of Game 1, LBJ should understand that, like it or not, it is all on him and that making the right basketball play (often by dishing to a teammate) is not what is going to help them beat Denver for a chance to once again reach the promised land. Light up the More on LeBron for Monday night’s playoff action.
Pick: More
Michael Porter Jr. (F – DEN): 3.5 1st quarter points
MPJ has been in struggle mode in his recent first quarters but is now set at just 3.5. He has scored just two first quarter points in three straight but was on a streak of four or more first quarter points in 22 of 23 games beforehand. MPJ needs to ramp up the aggression, as efficiency, not volume, has often been the driving force behind his first quarter scoring. Look for Denver to come out strong to start Game 2 after starting a little flat in Game 1 and for MPJ to be a part of a 30+ point Nuggets first quarter. Tap the More on MPJ for Monday night basketball.
Pick: More
Tyrese Maxey (G – PHI): 5.5 1st quarter points
Maxey continues to be a tone-setter for the 76ers, scoring six or more first quarter points in each of his last five games, including both the play-in game and Game 1 of this series. Maxey has recorded six or more points in eight straight first quarters and has recorded seven or more in three straight games against the New York Knicks. Mash the More on Maxey for Monday night.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper (and sometimes expiring), so there is a high probability that one or all of the numbers may no longer be the same when you open your app. There are excellent values when they are first posted, with the only catch being that they are not all released at the same time. Vigilance could provide a solid return on investment this season, literally.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.