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Although Picks are not numbered, they are listed in preferred order.
Point Guard:
Cash Game Plays:
Russell Westbrook ($10,400): I plan on spending on Russ tonight as there is a lack of expensive options today, and he possesses the biggest upside potential out of any player in the NBA. His price is steep, but I think there are a good amount of value plays that should make it easier to fit Russ in.
Reggie Jackson ($7,700): We’ve finally seen the dramatic price increase, but still going to pay for him because of the stat lines he is capable of without Greg Monroe. In the 7 games Monroe has sat out Jackson is averaging 21.2 Points-per-game, 6.8 RPG, 11.8 APG, 2.5 TO, 29.4 USG Rate (44.2 FanDay PPG). Let’s keep rolling him out there until he gives us reason not to.
Goran Dragic ($6,200): Dragic has come into Miami and put up nice numbers. In 17 games with the Heat, Dragic is averaging 16.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 21.6 USG Rate (27.68 FanDay PPG). It looks like Dwyane Wade will sit out which should boost Dragic’s usage rate.The Heat are in a string must-win games right now because they are 7th in the East with teams creeping up. We should expect the Heat to look to their stars to carry them to the finish line.
Isaiah Thomas ($4,900): He’s far too cheap today. I know he doesn’t have the best matchup (vs. LA Clippers), but coming off the bench Isaiah Thomas should be able to avoid Chris Paul for a good portion of the game. He’s still coming back from multiple injuries, but the 2 weeks he had taken off should have him fresh and ready to go for the last 10 or so games of the season. Isaiah is my preferred cheaper guard.
Shooting Guard:
Cash Game Play:
Eric Bledsoe ($7,100): Bledsoe has been great with the absence of Brandon Knight lately, and we’ve actually seen his price decrease. The Vegas factors are elite with the highest O/U (213) and the smallest spread (1-point spread). In 8 games without Brandon Knight, Bledsoe is averaging 36.2 Minutes-per-game, 18.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 26.7 USG Rate (36.13 FanDay PPG).
Danny Green ($5,000): It’s a tough day for shooting guards and Danny Green is up there for cash game options. He isn’t the safest play but a combination of price and matchup help persuade me. Tony Allen is questionable which would make his matchup even better if Allen sits. Over the last 10 games Green is averaging 29.6 MPG, 15 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG (28.38 FanDay PPG).
Henry Walker ($3,300): I believe having at least one cheaper shooting guard is the way to go. Walker is benefitting from a banged up Heat squad. In his last 2 games starting Walker is averaging 33.5 MPG, 12 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2 SPG. This pick is dependent on whether Wade, Whiteside, and Anderson sit out so be sure to check Twitter or Rotoworld before lineups lock.
Tournament Play:
Dion Waiters ($4,900): Waiters is a sketchy play because of how inconsistent he is. Today is pretty tough for shooting guards so I will consider him a playable option. He’s been starting for OKC for 9 games now and he is averaging 30.3 MPG, 13.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, .6 SPG (21.1 FanDay PPG). The O/U is the highest of the night (213) and the spread is awesome (1-point spread), so we are looking at a tight, high-scoring game from Vegas’s perspective.
Small Forward:
Cash Game Plays:
Matt Barnes ($4,300): I like to target Barnes most nights as my cheap small forward because he gets a lot of playing time for a great price. The Clippers have no depth especially with Jamal Crawford meaning Barnes is getting a lot of looks offensively right now (10 FGA per game without Crawford), 7 FGA per game with Crawford. Boston plays at an elevated pace which should add Barnes’s attractiveness.
Luol Deng ($4,900): He’s tough to trust because his floor is literally single digit FanDay points even though he plays well over 30+ minutes per game. This is another pick that will be contingent on Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside’s availability. But his price is pretty low and I’ll let that be the main decider. A 3 point spread gives us confidence that starters will see their full complement of minutes today.
Make sure to check Twitter and Rotoworld for updates.
Tournament Play:
Jeff Green ($4,400): The matchup is pretty bad, that’s why I only consider him in tournaments. He’s been good in his role with the Grizzlies and looks to be gaining more stability in the offense (30 MPG last 10 games).
Power Forwards:
Cash Game Plays:
Tim Duncan ($5,600): Duncan is far too cheap on FanDay today. First thing I look at when dealing with Spurs players is the spread (8-point spread), which doesn’t look good, but I believe it be a closer game that. In 3 games against the Memphis, Duncan has torn the Grizz up averaging 37.4 MPG, 15.3 PPG, 12 Rebounds-per-game, 5.7 Assists-per-game, 1.7 Blocks-per-game, 1 Steals-per-game (41.95 FanDay PPG). If the game stays close (which it should) Duncan will be in for a big night.
Zach Randolph ($5,600): Same thing goes for Z-bo as he is also far too cheap. Randolph has also been great in the matchup against Duncan averaging 39 MPG, 15.5 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG (35.38 FanDay PPG) in 2 games vs. the Spurs. He’s had 2 lackluster games in a row which means a big game should be on the horizon.
Marcus Morris ($5,200): He’s really stepped up with Brandon Knight being out and getting all of the minutes he can handle. In 8 starts with Knight out Morris is averaging 35.9 MPG, 14.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.4 APG (30.1 FanDay PPG) really shouldering the load for the Sun’s wings. Add in a juicy matchup with the Thunder (27th vs. Small Forwards).
Tournament Plays:
Blake Griffin ($7,300): He might be too expensive for cash games, but is a great tournament play. He will be playing in an up-tempo game with a nice O/U (207) and a surprisingly tight spread (5.5-point spread).
Centers:
Cash Game Plays:
Marc Gasol ($6,700): Gasol is my top cash game option today. He goes up against the Spurs (22nd vs. Centers) and has seen some great success in the past. In 3 games this year vs. the Spurs, Gasol is averaging 41 MPG, 23.7 PPG, 10 RPG, 3 APG, 2.7 BPG (44 FanDay PPG).
Enes Kanter ($7,500): I view Kanter as pretty much matchup-proof, we saw evidence of this last night as he went up against Rudy Gobert (best rim protector in the league,) and Kanter put up an 18 points and 11 rebounds. The fact is that Westbrook has huge assist numbers and a lot of them are going to Kanter (#1 post option on Thunder) which correlates with Kanter’s consistent 17.6 PPG in 17 games with the Thunder.
Tournament:
Andre Drummond ($8,100): Drummond is still a bit inconsistent, but he has improved greatly throughout the year. It’s hard to ignore his numbers without Monroe, 15.7 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 2.3 BPG (42.18 FanDay PPG). If Whiteside and Anderson are out for the Heat we can boost Drummond up to the cash game plays as he would have no resistance from the opposition.
The Heat Check Magazine 