Daily Fantasy NBA Basketball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings 11/18/14

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Point Guard

The top four guys are really close for me tonight. You can almost slot them in based on what you need with salary elsewhere and I wouldn't have an issue with it.
Jeff Teague - FD 7100 DK 7000
Short slate and there's no reason to fade the Hawks against the Lakers. They are just in too juicy a spot with Teague hopefully leading the charge. Teague turns in clunkers for sure. And his inability to find a ton of consistency on a night-to-night basis is what's kept his salaries in check. Tonight is one of those nights he hits value or more. And he might even be able to do it in a blowout. The Lakers are allowing 30% (!) more points that league average to opposing point guards. Probably the only thing you need to know here.

Reggie Jackson - FD 8000 DK 8500
Hard to really not play him if you need safe points on a given night. He's averaging an insane 41.4 minutes per game (includes a double OT) and really is doing everything for the Thunder while Westbrook and Durant are shelved. That he can get his points in every conceivable way beside blocks makes the case even stronger as you can weather a bad shooting night from the guy. The Jazz aren't an ideal opponent but I'd probably consider him against anyone on the short slate. He is just too much of the Thunder offense right now.

Strongly consider Darren Collison as he probably deserved his own write up.

Shooting Guard

Thabo Sefolosha - FD 3800 DK 3200
This one is only if Demarre Carroll sits again. But if he does, Thabo makes an easy call in the SG position. He's paying this price if he's in the starting lineup and getting decent minutes for punt prices is really the name of the game in NBA DFS. If he can get you double digit points with a few boards thrown in then you are kind of home free on the guy. Again, this is only if Carroll is out again, but as of post he was doubtful.

Kyle Korver - FD 5400 DK 5700
Again, you are going to want exposure to the Hawks against the Lakers like everyone else will. It makes sense. He was benched last game, but I can't imagine that has any bearing going forward. He'd been shooting the lights out before last game and the Lakers are the kind of team everyone pads their stats with. They get killed by shooting guards (and every other position) and Korver might run off screens all night against Kobe.

Consider Kobe Bryant mostly because he's going to keep chucking all season and that gives him a high floor every night. Or Anthony Morrow if you enjoy schaudenfredue

Small Forward

Gordon Hayward - FD 7200 DK 7700
You are going to have to live with some of the bad games if you play the guy because he will turn in some rough shooting nights. He very much seems like he has it or he doesn't, without much in between. Hayward does at least chip in with rebounds and assists as he's averaging a 19/5/5 and there are nights when the steals really help him. OKC is fine against small forwards but if there's a dearth of solid punts I think you are going to need to middle those salaries tonight. Hayward is the perfect opportunity because on the right shooting night, in a high scoring game, he can crush his tag.

DeMarre Carroll - FD 5300 DK 5100
I know I just recommended Thabo above, but really you can play whoever starts. Carroll gets his and is averaging a 12/6 on the season before getting hurt. I'm always hesitant to start a guy coming back from injury but I'm willing to make an exception here. I really can't overstate how bad the Lakers are and if Carroll is playing he makes a great mid-tier play with upside.

Consider Wesley Johnson for some salary relief from a guy who at least gets minutes. Though he doesn't do a whole hell of a lot with them.

Note: Rudy Gay is questionable leading into this game. Monitor this situation as Boogie and Collison would most likely see bumps in production.

Power Forward

Paul Millsap - FD 8400 DK 8700
I'm running out of ways to say the Lakers are terrible. The power forward position is no different where Carlos Boozer is a total joke out there for about 25 minutes a game. Even if the Lakers dialed back Boozer's run and played Ed Davis more, I'd still go with Millsap though it wouldn't be in the enormous landslide it is now. Unfortunately you can't start all five Hawk starters in your lineup tonight so the decisions will be tough.

After Millsap it's sort of a logjam. I'm not a fan of what's going on here. Our system likes Favors but I'm dubious considering how good OKC is against opposing power forwards. And I think Ibaka is a bit too pricey. There's a case for Ed Davis if you think he continues to see an uptick in minutes, though he's far from safe. For cash games I think I'd lean Ibaka, but there isn't a huge chance he blows it out of the box.

Finally, it goes without saying that Anthony Davis must always be considered. The big question on him is price. I don't want to sacrifice in other areas to fit him exclusively. That being said, he's an uncomfortable fade.
 

Center

Jordan Hill - FD 6500 DK 6800
I'm not inclined to play many Lakers even on the short slate, but Hill is a guy I can consider. After starting out lights out he's slowed down some, but because of it the price hasn't moved. The minutes have dipped some, but I'm not completely concerned with that in the short term. The matchup with the Hawks is just fine as they are well below average against opposing centers. Hill can go double/ double any night. What's hurt him recently is the lack of blocks. When they trickle back in this guy is a bargain.

Al Horford - FD 6900 DK 7200
Lakers stink but of all the positions they are by far the best against opposing centers. If I were to leave one Hawk out of my lineups it might be Horford. The Lakers are allowing 15% less than league average scoring to opposing centers. Could be early season noise, but they are so historically bad against every other position that I could make a case to avoid Horford tonight.

Consider Steven Adams as a cheap option who's been modestly productive considering he can't score.

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