NBA Daily Punts: November 8, 2013
When I construct my NBA lineups, I usually start by taking a look at players with cheap salaries that will allow me to pay for a guy like LeBron James or Kevin Love. Most DFS players will use 2-3 value plays each night, depending on the site, and this article will act as a guide on which players to keep an eye on as the day moves along. As we all know with NBA, injury news will continue to pour in as we inch closer to tip-off, so check out the RotoGrinders Twitter Feed as roster lock approaches.
In order to be considered a “punt,” a player must meet Bargain Bin Baller status on either Fanduel (5500), Draftstreet (7000) or Draftkings (4500). I will typically make a note of which site a particular player is best suited for.
Guards
Isaiah Thomas – He’s been coming off the bench for the Kings, but has still been one of the team’s most consistent producers. Even with Vasquez drawing the starts, Thomas is still seeing 30 minutes a night and has been turning those minutes into fantasy points. He’s averaging over 20 points per game, and with 4-5 assists, a few boards and a steal, he should be well worth his 5400 salary over at Fanduel tonight. His match-up with the Portland back court is a good one.
Steve Blake – Blake hit the game-winning 3-pointer with just seconds left last night, and could be an even bigger factor tonight with Steve Nash likely sitting out the second night of a back-to-back. Even with Nash in the lineup last night, Blake played over 30 minutes but found himself off the ball while Nash was doing most of the facilitating. Blake should have the ball in his hands a bit more tonight (as will Jordan Farmar), and he’s a nice option for 3.7 on DK if you need to save cap at a guard spot.
Jordan Crawford – If you played fantasy basketball last season, you know what this guy can do when he’s given substantial minutes. On a Boston team that lacks scoring punch, it’s only a matter of time before Crawford has one of his big games and forces Brad Stevens to show him the court more often. Crawford started in the Celtics last game, but finished with just 7 points and 4 assists in 27 minutes. His price is sitting at just 3.8 on DK, and could be very useful in a GPP tonight.
Also receiving consideration: Avery Bradley, Randy Foye, Iman Shumpert
Forwards
Trevor Ariza – His price has jumped on a few sites, but he’s still at just 5500 on FD. For a guy who can contribute in literally every category, the asking price still seems too low for me. He’s averaging almost a double-double over 35 minutes a game, and also contributes nicely in steals (averaging 2.0 a game so far) and assists. Ariza doesn’t have the greatest match-up with the Nets, but his contributions across the board make him playable in any match-up for his price.
Brandon Bass – Now that the Boston front court is as thin as it’s been in recent years, Bass is seeing all the minutes he can handle. He doesn’t put up the rebound totals you would like to see out of a PF/C, but he contributes enough across the board (he’s even averaging 1.5 blocks per-game so far) to make his price on FD and DK seem like a bargain. With Faverani struggling, there’s no reason that Bass should see less than 30 minutes against the porous Orlando big-men.
Miles Plumlee – Plumlee came out of the gate with two very big games, but has cooled off quite a bit since. The Suns traded for him in the off-season and have been giving him solid minutes, as they are still not ready to hand the reins over to Alex Len. He’s facing the weak interior defense of the Nuggets tonight and a double-double from Plumlee wouldn’t surprise me at all. Plumlee is priced at just 4700 on FD (as well as 7.9 on DD and 52.7 on FF – both low prices) and should pay off that number tonight.
Also receiving consideration: Josh McRoberts, Nene Hilario
Centers
Andrea Bargnani – It hurts me to put him here because of how much I despise Bargnani as an NBA player, but I must admit he has some value tonight. With Tyson Chandler out awhile, Bargnani will start at center for the foreseeable future, and actually has a nice matchup with the Bobcats who will be without Al Jefferson. Don’t expect a high rebound total, but Bargnani has always been a decent scorer and on a site which doesn’t negate points for missed shots, his value is even higher. He probably won’t be in any of my lineups but I can see him paying off his DK price tag.
Robin Lopez – His minutes have really fluctuated this season, so it’s hard to say what his playing time will look like tonight. Demarcus Cousins and the Kings are coming to town, which is good news for the Portland bigs. Lopez is definitely someone I’d stay away from in cash games, but if you really need to go cheap at the center position, you could do worse.