NBA Starting 5: Wednesday, December 21st
Tonight, we get an eight-game slate to put some holiday shopping money back in our pockets. There are seven teams (New Orleans, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Memphis, Houston, Utah, and Sacramento) on the second half of a back-to-back, so as usual, I will try my best to avoid players on those teams.
Today, I’m going to discuss how I can quickly glance at the DvP Cheat Sheet Tool to identify good matchups to attack for my starting five. Basically, I’m looking for high USG% players in good matchups to build my core starting five.
Point Guard: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, $12,600
I’m choosing Westbrook over Harden tonight (if I can’t make both work), as he’s rested and gets a great matchup against a tired Pelicans squad. New Orleans ranks 27th in both total fantasy points allowed and DVP vs. the point guard position, and all signs point to another monster Westbrook performance. His 45.1% True Usage jumps off the page (seven points higher than Harden) and Vegas is expecting a competitive game, as the Thunder are only two-point road favorites. There’s just not much to say about him that you don’t already know, so coming off monster games in his last two and heading into another great matchup, I will be building my lineups around Westbrook.
Shooting Guard: Zach LaVine, Minnesota Timberwolves, $6,800
Though I never like taking guys at the peak of their pricing, I can make an exception tonight with LaVine and his league-leading 37.9 minutes per game. I love exploiting the Hawks at both guard positions, where they rank 24th and 29th in DVP vs. the shooting guard and point guard, respectively. LaVine come into tonight with a very respectable 23.2% True Usage and is in good recent form, putting up at least 35 DK-points in each of his last 4 games.
Small Forward: Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks, $6,200
Tonight is a nice spot to target Dallas players as they are in a pace up game against a tired Portland squad coming off a tough loss against Sacramento last night. I can’t remember the last time the Mavs were in a game with a 209.5-point total! Barnes draws the best matchup of the night, as Portland ranks 27th and 30th in DVP vs. the small forward and power forward (where he plays when games go small) positions, respectively. He has 25.2% True Usage and could really pay off if we can project an increase in scoring and rebound opportunities against the fast paced Blazers, currently ranked 25th in overall rebounding.
Power Forward: Montrezl Harrell, Houston Rockets, $4,000
With Clint Capela sidelined for a while, Harrell and Nene are left to absorb the minutes. Since the Rockets played last night, I expect the 22-year old Harrell to get the bulk of center minutes available in tonight’s fast paced matchup against Phoenix in a game with a monster 226.5-point total. Harrell played well enough yesterday against the Spurs, but now gets a much better matchup with Phoenix, currently ranked 23rd in DVP vs. both the center and power forward positions. I expect him work well in the pick-and-roll with Harden tonight and will have him locked in for a nice value play. As headChopper recently tweeted, “Hark the Harrell angels sing.” Merry Christmas!
Center: Marcin Gortat, Washington Wizards, $6,100
The center position is tough tonight with the studs having less than ideal matchups, so I will look to my main man Gortat. He gets a nice matchup against the Bulls, currently ranked 17th in DVP vs. the center position, and is averaging 35.8 minutes per game (10th in the league). He’s coming off a season-high 21 points in his last game while going for 38.8 DK points. This is strictly a play I’m comfortable with based on minutes, consistency, and matchup. I also like the fact that Gortat went for 18 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals/blocks in his last meeting against Robin Lopez on 11/12 when the Wizards were without Wall and Beal. His usage should increase with them available tonight, as he relies on Wall’s playmaking ability for opportunities.