NBA Starting 5: Monday, January 23rd

by CJ Kaltenbach (theseige) Last Updated 2017-01-24 04:00:29

The Starting 5 Series will provide Grinders a quick look at the day’s top positional plays, analyzed through the lens of our Daily Research Tools.

Editor’s Note: Kawhi Leonard has been ruled OUT for tonight. Anthony Davis is now considered unlikely to play.

Welcome to another edition of the Starting Five. We have a really awesome nine-game slate with a ton of great directions to go, but you obviously can’t play everyone you like.

Using projected ownership can help you make the tough decisions between two players you grade similarly. I’m going to talk about a play at each position using the Ownership Projections (available for Premium subscribers) from ownership guru, @ChrisGimino, to help.

FADE: Point Guard: Patty Mills – San Antonio Spurs – $3,600

— 20% Projected Ownership on FanDuel —

I’m going to quickly start with the easiest fade on the board for me. There is no chance I’m touching Patty Mills here at $3,600. Yes he’s going to play 22-24 minutes against the Nets, which puts him firmly in play, but last time we saw the Spurs in a projected blowout, Dejounte Murray got the extra minutes, playing 34 to Patty Mills’ 16. If that ratio holds today, I’d rather fade Mills and play Murray, who’s also SG eligible. Go play Raymond Felton at similar ownership, or go up to someone like George Hill at 5%

Shooting Guard: J.J. Redick – Los Angeles Clippers – $4,700

— 15% Projected Ownership —

Sean Kilpatrick will be super popular today, but we’ve seen that guy bust so many times in the starting lineup. I’d rather take Redick, whose shot attempts have been on the rise since the Chris Paul injury (he took 15 shots in three quarters last game against the Nuggets). The Hawks really don’t have anyone to chase Redick off the ball screens, and he’s an intriguing option at a price that is probably $800 to $1,000 too cheap given his usage.

Small Forward: Joe Ingles – Utah Jazz – $3,900

— 17.50% Projected Ownership —

This is a situation in which the price and production just don’t match. I honestly think he’ll come in way higher than this (MKG at 20% is pretty hilarious), but if he does I still like the spot. Ingles has been playing 32+ minutes in each of the last three games without Rodney Hood. Could Ingles go put up a 15-point dud on FanDuel? Sure he could, but he’s put up three consecutive games over 23 FD points, and for under $4,000 that’s hard to pass up, especially given all the stars on the slate I’d like to pay up for.

Power Forward: David Lee – San Antonio Spurs – $5,100

— 35% Projected Ownership —

There are times to eat the chalk, and this is definitely one of them. Power forward isn’t that strong on the slate, and we are getting 28-30 minutes of David Lee in a very good matchup at what realistically is about $1,000 too cheap of a price. I’d consider a fade if I thought he was going to get to 50-60%, but I honestly don’t see that happening. The matchup, price and minutes are too good for a fade.

Center: DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings – $10,900