NBA Starting 5 (GPP): Friday, December 16th
The Starting 5 Series will provide Grinders with a quick look at the day’s top positional plays, analyzed through the lens of our Daily Research Tools.
I have to start this article on a sad note. Sager Strong is something that is dear to any NBA fan. Like Sager said, time is not something that can be bought but simply how you live your life. With that being said, I know as an NBA fan I will always remember what he brought to the game. In his honor, let’s see what has been going on in the NBA world this last week.
This has been a very interesting NBA season up to this point. We have no clue when teams will start or sit a player. That means paying attention to the most up-to-date NBA news is crucial. Now, let’s dive into this solid slate and see what we can find for our tournament lineups.
Point Guard: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks – $9,300 on DraftKings
I need to start off by saying this: yes, I did check the spelling on that name almost three times. Now to the point (I will address him as the Greek Freak going forward). The Greek Freak has been on a recent tear, so I am sorry if this pick seems obvious. His price is a complete joke and is something I will not pass up. He is one of the best players in the NBA and does not get enough credit for what he is doing right now.
Last night I was in Milwaukee to watch these two teams face off, and let’s just say that the Bucks took it to the Bulls. It was hard to watch at times, but I can almost guarantee there is no way that will happen in Chicago. This is a matchup that could easily be decided in the final minutes, and I will have fair exposure to as many players in this game as possible. The Freak should dominate this defense in what should be a close game.
Shooting Guard: Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic – $5,900
Evan Fournier has always been a player that I enjoy to watch, and recently I’ve been waiting to write about him. The Magic have been mixing their lineup up a lot and giving the starting offense responsibilities to Fournier. With the Magic putting Vucevic and Payton on the bench, that only opens up usage and scoring. He has stepped up and been playing very well recently in that role.
Fournier should be productive in a highish total game against the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have been poor on the defensive end and have allowed a decent amount of high scoring games to their opponents. This game should stay close, so I will continue to ride Fournier at a low ownership in tournaments. Jump on the bandwagon while you can, as his price will only continue to climb.
Small Forward: Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls – $9,000
This may be my safest pick, but when it comes to Jimmy Butler in a matchup such as this, I cannot help myself. As I stated in the article earlier, these two teams will have a close game and Butler should have his way against this defense. The Bulls have not been playing well recently and I see this as a statement game. If there is any type of player I would like in a statement game, it would be Butler.
This game against the Bucks will be close and each team will go at one another. If there is a game I am targeting, this is the one. I believe it will be high scoring and will come down to the wire. The Bucks have allowed some big games to opposing offenses and especially to this position, making Butler one of my favorite plays in any format.
Power Forward: Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers – $6,000
Julius Randle has finally come down to a price that I am willing to pay. He has had a decent season up to this point and could be in store for a good night. This matchup will be high paced and has a high total. Luke Walton has been very inconsistent with his starters’ minutes, but if Randle gets over 30 minutes, he can easily pay off his salary. His inconsistency and matchup makes this a great tournament play.
Randle draws a matchup against a poor defense in the 76ers. They are one of the worst in the league at guarding the power forward position. This game will be high paced and that is what we want to see for a player like Randle. Luke Walton has no problem with Randle grabbing a rebound and pushing the ball up court. His price has come down to a playable level, and he should have a good game in this plus matchup.
Center: Al Horford, Boston Celtics – $6,300
Al Horford has been consistent at the center position and it will not stop anytime soon. The nice thing with Horford is he also provides the upside we are looking for in tournaments. Most people will not see that, but he has been a great target in my tournament lineups this season. Now, his price at $6,300 is absurd and I will take advantage of that, regardless of the matchup.
Horford draws a mediocre matchup against the Hornets, but that does not scare me. The Hornets have surprisingly allowed some decent games to opposing centers. Horford is a center that can stretch the floor, and he has flashed triple double upside in the past. The Celtics like to run the offense through him in certain situations, and I will continue to target him in my tournament lineups, especially at this price.
Thank you for reading!