Thursday’s NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions: Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler (5/8)

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 (5/8)

Jarrett Allen (C – CLE): 9.5 points (alt line)

Jarrett Allen having a 9.5 point alt line with Evan Mobley out is a probability based gift. Add in the fact that Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter are sidelined, and Allen should be a focal point of what the Cavs are trying to do on offense. Jarrett has scored 12 or more points in five of his six playoff games, but as alluded to above, tonight’s play is about Cleveland’s starting point guard, starting power forward, and most talented reserve all being sidelined and the extra offensive slack Allen will be asked to pick up. Jump on the More on Jarrett for Friday night’s NBA action.

Pick: More

Donovan Mitchell (G – CLE): 3.5 assists (alt line)

Donovan will need to be the Cavaliers’ offensive engine once again tonight as the team will be without its second, third, and fourth most talented players for tonight’s game. Mitchell was just that in Game 2, exploding for 48 points, five rebounds, nine assists, four steals, and one block on .500 shooting. Donovan has now handed out four or more assists in five of his six playoff games and will need to ensure his teammates build confidence early by letting them get some easy early buckets. Even with Mitchell’s heroics in Game 2, Cleveland still fell short, so he will need even larger contributions from Allen and the ‘others’ for the Cavs to rescue their season. With no starting point guard and Mitchell’s already high usage rate, the four assist alt line is a no-brainer high probability play. Dap the More on Donovan for Friday night at Sleeper Picks.

Pick: More

Jimmy Butler (G/F – GSW): 19.5 points (alt line)

Playoff Jimmy is going to need to dig deep into his bag tonight to help the short handed Golden State Warriors stave off the hungry Houston Rockets. With Steph Curry sidelined, the offensive burden is going to fall on Jimmy. Yes, some of the ‘others’ need to, and will, step up, but the Warriors will likely find it extremely difficult to go up 2-0 if Jimmy Buckets does not have a really good to great game. Jimmy went 7/20 in Game 1, finishing the night with 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. If he takes 20 field goal attempts again tonight, the 19.5 alt line should be well within reach. We would like to see a more efficient Jimmy, but without Curry out there to demand attention, the Rockets will wisely hone in on trying to contain and deny the Warriors’ other superstar. Jimmy dropped 20 or more points in all six of the playoff games in which he saw the floor for at least 26 minutes. Butler will be around the 40 minute mark tonight. Jab the More on Jimmy for Thursday night basketball.

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.