NBA Expert Picks Preview: Friday, March 6th
Glean insight from the best minds in the industry as they list picks they’ll actually be targeting in their tournament games, along with detailed analysis and reasoning.
Author Disclaimer: Please remember, these picks are not necessarily safe for your 50/50-H2H games. They are intended to separate yourself from the herd in an attempt to be contrarian and different. The most logical outcomes don’t always play out on a given NBA slate, so we are looking for the guys that may surprise, that few will roster.
Friday, March 6
Point Guard
Elfrid Payton – Payton is the type of player that generally ends up being low owned in GPPs. Nobody really thinks much about him, but he has well over 30+ fantasy point upside due to his ability to contribute in multiple categories. He is not a good scorer, but he makes up for it with above average rebounding totals. He draws a very favorable matchup with a Kings team that has been terrible against opposing point guards all season. I expect this game to stay close, and it should be fairly high scoring as well. Barring some unforeseen event, Payton should be locked into about 35 minutes of playing time tonight, which is more than enough for him to post a solid fantasy total.
Reggie Jackson – This pick is contingent on the status of Patrick Beverley, who is currently questionable. If he’s out, Jackson makes for a great GPP play. The Rockets would take a significant hit defensively without Beverley, and Jackson’s matchup would go from bad to great. Jackson has had flashes of upside with the Pistons, but he’s shooting horribly, and was even benched down the stretch against Washington in favor of Spencer Dinwiddie. When things like this can happen, a guy becomes a fairly risky cash game play. However, it’s hard to ignore his upside in GPPs. He’s capable of posting elite fantasy lines, and at $6400, his 40+ point upside puts him firmly on my GPP radar.
Isaiah Thomas – I don’t think Thomas will be highly owned given his price, but with Avery Bradley out of the lineup, I expect him to see extra run tonight. He’s been fantastic on a per-minute basis with Boston. The Pelicans are not a strong defensive team, and if Thomas can see around 35 minutes tonight, he can easily eclipse 40 fantasy points.
Shooting Guard
Evan Turner – Turner’s production has been all over the place, but I like him tonight in a favorable matchup against the Pelicans. The Celtics will be without Avery Bradley, which is going to free up well over 30 minutes on the wings. This should solidify Turner’s playing time, and likely give him a few extra minutes as well. He should see a few extra shots as well, as Bradley has been putting up somewhere around 15 shots per game. With the Boston frontcourt likely to have no success against the Pelicans, it will be up the guards to make things happen.
Rodney Stuckey – Stuckey has been very good off the bench, and given that the Bulls are depleted on the wings and are on the second leg of a back-to-back, I think the Pacers are in a decent spot tonight. This game likely will not be high scoring as neither team plays particularly fast. However, given Stuckey’s recent production off the bench, he has to be considered every night as long as his price remains this low. He’s gone off for over 40 fantasy points multiple times, and while I’m certainly not predicting that, with a floor of around 20 and significant upside, he’s a terrific option at this price. Also keep in mind that top shooting guard options tend to be overpriced ( Klay Thompson, Eric Bledsoe, etc ), so trying to hit a cheap guy that offers the ability to outscore those top options is generally my preferred option at the position in GPPs.
Small Forward
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