NBA Expert Picks Preview: Wednesday, October 29th
Glean insight from one of the game’s best as they list picks they’ll actually be targeting in cash games below, along with detailed analysis and reasoning.
Wednesday, October 29th
POINT GUARD
Russell Westbrook – $10,000 – There will be enough value plays out there tonight to justify spending heavily at some positions. Westbrook is my overall #1 play on the board tonight, and it’s the absence of Kevin Durant that puts Westbrook over the top. The Thunder point guard has never been shy about shooting, especially on the rare occasion where Durant has been out. The Thunder also do not have a proven scorer at off guard or center, which leaves the onus of the offense on the shoulders of Westbrook and Serge Ibaka. Both players are solid buys in what should be an up-tempo, high scoring game against Portland.
Damian Lillard – $8,300 – On the other side of that game, don’t overlook budding superstar Damian Lillard. He showed in last year’s playoffs that he is up for any challenge, and he’s proving himself to be a clutch player. His game-winning shot to win the first round series against Houston was one for the basketball history books. Russell Westbrook is not known as a plus defensive player despite all his other strengths, and this should allow Lillard to work comfortably in the opener. At a $1,700 discount from Westbrook, Lillard becomes a decent 1-B point guard option for those wishing to save a little bit of cap space.
Donald Sloan – $3,500 – For a myriad of reasons, the Pacers are fantastic targets on Wednesday. First, they have limited depth due to several injuries on the roster. Second, the loss of Lance Stephenson to the Hornets will force other players to step up this season. Lastly, they get to play the defensively-challenged Philadelphia 76ers at home. Throw in the fact that most of their healthy players are on the cheap side and you have the perfect storm for daily fantasy NBA. Donald Sloan is not an extremely talented player, but both George Hill and CJ Watson are out for this game, which leaves Sloan as the last man standing at the point. He will likely play 35-40 minutes in this game with Rodney Stuckey filling in as the reserve at the position (and also the starting off guard). For this super cheap $3,500 price tag, Sloan is perhaps the best bargain of the day.
SHOOTING GUARD
Eric Bledsoe – $7,400 – The Lakers proved one thing on Tuesday night in their opener: they still can’t play defense. Kobe looks old and a step slow, and the rest of the team is a cast of misfits. Eric Bledsoe should have his way in an up-tempo game, and you can likely take your pick from Goran Dragic, Bledsoe, or newly acquired sixth man Isaiah Thomas here. The Suns backcourt should thrive against the slower Lakers squad. Their price tags aren’t as appetizing as some of the other players on the board, but getting some exposure to Phoenix is a wise idea.
Arron Afflalo – $6,200 – After being one of the few bright spots for the Magic last season, Afflalo is back in Denver where he should thrive in the up-tempo offense. The Pistons/Nuggets tilt has an over/under of 208 and could very well be the highest scoring game of the night. Afflalo doesn’t carry a large price tag, and he’s capable of putting up 30+ FanDuel points in this high scoring game. It’s a great way to get some exposure to this contest without spending a huge chunk of your salary cap. Afflalo is a solid, if unspectacular, option for your cash games this evening.
Dwyane Wade – $8,000 – Yes, the price seems high for a guy who has been fading over the past two seasons. However, he should be motivated to take over more of the Heat offense with LeBron James out of town, and he’s a nice option on opening night. The only concern here is the risk of a blowout, but I’m inclined to take the chance given Wade’s ability to contribute in multiple categories along with this being the most healthy he will be all season.
SMALL FORWARD
Josh Smith – $7,800 – New Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy appears ready to nix the starting combination of Smith, Monroe, and Drummond this year, as that combination was ineffective at times last season. It appears as though Monroe will be the player coming off the bench, which is good news for Smith. In addition, Monroe is suspended for the first two games of the season. This means that Smith and Drummond will get as much run as they can handle at the 4 and 5 spots, and they are facing a Denver team that was abysmal against opposing bigs last year. Look for Smith to play much better than he did last season, as he has always thrived more when playing at the power forward spot.
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