NBA RUNDOWN: FAT TUESDAY 02/25
By Ethan Tabor
What to expect
We will provide a basic rundown of the slate each day rather it’s in article, podcast or video form. The rundown will include games and spreads that day with correlated matchups, We will have a write up for specific players that we see advantages or disadvantages to having in your lineup, and we will then finish the rundown by giving you the top options at each position. The goal here is to not just give the best plays to win money but to teach you how to construct winning lineups on your own to make DFS a profitable game rather than a gamble. This article will be posted each day, at least an hour and a half before lineup lock. If the days slate starts at 7pm EST then you can expect the rundown posted no later than 5:30pm. Follow us on twitter to keep updated on the inevitable injury updates and how that will effect your lineups after this article is posted. https://twitter.com/Money_LineDFS
Recap
Last nights slate was a weird one. Westbrook gets scratched last minute, Luka and Kawhi both score 40+ fantasy points in less than 3 quarters and sit for the rest of the game, Giannas fouls out in 24 minutes of a game that sees overtime. The only positive on my end of last night was Dennis Smith jr going off for 7 steals. With all that said, it’s a new day so let’s dive in.
Today’s Slate
We are highly invested today as DK has a multi entry tournament that is $100 entry and pays out a whopping $100,000 to first place. This slate is perfect today as it contains 7 games and plenty of value across the board. Might I also add that I’ve officially gotten my mojo back... I took a trip to the Jack Casino last night, as I do weekly and for the first time in 2019 I walked away a winner. Yes, three fucking months into the year and I finally won something.. anyways, I also bought a lottery ticket this morning and won $100. We are feeling good so let’s make some more tonight!
Top Plays
Giannas Antetokounmpo- As mentioned in the recap, the Greek Freak fouled out last night in 24 minutes of play. This bucks team had a surprising melt down which led to overtime without their best player for most of the game. On a back to back I expect Milwaukee to use their well rested and most talented player to the max. What Giannas has done from a fantasy perspective this year is insane as he is averaging over 2.0 FPPM. The only problem is that the Bucks have capped him to a 30 minute limit for majority of this season. They face off on the road against the Raptors today and they sit as a -1 point favorite. They played all of their guys 40 minutes last night while only one was well rested on accident. The Raptors are by no means a great matchup but we all know if one man is matchup proof in this league then it is the Freak. Last time out against Toronto Giannas dropped 77 fanduel points in 36 minutes. I’m sure this matchup and the back to back will keep some ownership off of him and that is what we look for. If we can get a player of his level who’s capable of 70+ points any given night and get him at low ownership then we attack. I see plenty of people on DK saving $1,000 to play Lebron tonight.
Marcus Smart- Kemba Walker was ruled out again for the Celtics. This means that Smart will see a bunch if minutes in the point guard position against the Blazers. The Blazers rank as bottom 5 in overall defensive rating and efficiency so I love the Celtics in this matchup. Marcus Smart is averaging 37 fantasy points in games that Kemba Walker is ruled out and he comes in at $6,100 on DK. Being the second cheapest of the starting 5 for the Celtics I have a ton of interest in Smart. I also love that he is one of the elite defensive players in the NBA. This means that we can expect Smart to matchup with McCollum for much of the night who has been handling the ball with the absence of Damian Lilliard. I expect Smart to rack up a few steals in this position on top of the great offensive matchup.
Daniel Theis- I told you I love the Celtics. Theis isn’t a high usage guy but I think we have a great look at a double double tonight. I mentioned the Trail Blazers are bottom 5 in defensive efficiency but they also rank bottoms 5 in rebounds per game. I think Theis at $4,900 is a steal considering he gets 30 minutes a game and is averaging over 30 fantasy points a game in his last 5 games. Also factor in his matchup and hitting value at this price is a lock. He may be my favorite value play of the day.
Position Plays
PG
D’Aaron Fox
Kyle Lowry
Malcolm Brogdon
SG
Marcus Smart
Fred VanVleet
Victor Oladipo (if he plays)
SF-
Giannas Antetokounmpo
Brandon Ingram
Harrison Barnes
PF
Anthony Davis
Daniel Theis(#1 center on DK for me)
Harry Giles (also center on DK)
C
Either of the two options above on DK Theis 1 and Giles 2
Nikola Jokic (blow out risk but scored 80 against this team last week)
Myles Turner
