This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to Avoid:
San Antonio Spurs vs. Boston Celtics
The Spurs are the top defense in the league by a lot right now, as their 93.9 defensive rating is a full five points per 100 possessions stingier than the second place defense (Celtics). The Spurs also play a slow pace of 94.2 possessions per game (sixth-slowest in the league), which limits opportunities. They prevent their opponents from being able to score efficiently (opponent EFG% of 45.2 percent, third in the league), and they do so without fouling or sending them to the line (Ratio of FTA allowed per FGA of .161, first in league). Nasty stuff. The one player on the Celtics that might still be worth a look is Isaiah Thomas, as the Spurs are only 20th in defending opposing point guards.
Offenses to Use:
Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings
This is a case where either offense in this game could have been picked, as the Kings (108.4 points allowed per 100 possessions, fourth worst in league) and the Rockets (108.3 points allowed per 100 possessions, fifth worst) are almost equally bad on defense. However, while the Rockets are actually reasonable at defending opposing bigs (10th in NBA at limiting fantasy points to opposing power forwards), and thus DeMarcus Cousins should at least have to work, the Kings are dead last in the NBA at defending opposing shooting guards, which could mean a James Harden field day.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Warriors, Kings
Second game: Cavaliers, Rockets, Bucks, Knicks
Point Guard
Tony Parker, SA vs. BOS ($5,500): I'm never comfortable recommending any Spurs player outside of Kawhi Leonard because I live in constant fear of getting Popoviched with a last-minute benching of the starters. So if you do take Parker, keep an eye up to game time to make sure that he plays. That said, he's been consistently solid over the last few weeks. In his last 10 games, Parker scored under 23 fantasy points only once (17.25) while scoring over 35 three times. He is coming off a 17-point, seven-rebound, five-assist outing on Thursday against the Grizzlies and, even though the Celtics are strong defensively, he makes a good buy at such a low price point.
Other suggestions:Rajon Rondo, SAC at HOU ($8,800); Michael Carter-Williams, MIL vs. NY ($5,100); Matthew Dellavedova, CLE at MIA ($4,500)
Shooting Guard
Austin Rivers, LAC vs. ORL ($3,900): With Chris Paul expected to miss the next few games with an abdominal injury, Rivers is the starting point guard for the Clippers. He's still not a guarantee, but he should have the opportunity to produce, facing a Magic defense that is 24th in the NBA against opposing point guards (DraftKings has Rivers listed at SG, but he'll be playing PG).
Other suggestions:James Harden, HOU vs. SAC ($10,500), Jamal Crawford, LAC vs. ORL ($4900)
Small Forward
Carmelo Anthony, NY at MIL ($8,000): Anthony is generally among the elite box-score producers at small forward, but on Saturday he is the fourth highest priced, a full $2,000 behind LeBron James. Meanwhile, he is playing against a Bucks defense that is dead last in the NBA at defending small forwards.
Other suggestions:Omri Casspi, SAC at HOU ($4,700), Nicolas Batum, CHA at CHI ($7,200)
Power Forward
Ed Davis, POR at MIN ($4,900): Davis has quietly been on a roll, scoring over 30 fantasy points in four of his last seven games, including two games over 38. He has also gone as low as 13.5 in this stretch, but was only under 20 twice in that span. He has grabbed double-digit rebounds three games in a row, including a six-point, 13-rebound, three-assist, two-steal, one-block performance on Thursday against the Pacers.
Other suggestions:Blake Griffin, LAC vs. ORL ($9,000), Derrick Favors, UTA vs. IND ($7,500)
Center
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at LAC ($6,800): Vucevic entered the season with the expectation that he'd be elite, but for much of the season he's played below expectations. However, Vucevic has scored at least 34 fantasy points in each of his last three games, with a peak of 44.5 on Tuesday against the Timberwolves. On Saturday, he plays a Clippers defense that is 28th in the league at defending opposing centers.
Other suggestions:Pau Gasol, CHI vs. CHA ($7,200), Joakim Noah, CHI vs. CHA ($4,300)
Injury Report
Out
Marcus Smart, BOS (knee)
Mike Dunleavy, CHI (back)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, CHA (shoulder)
Al Jefferson, CHA (calf)
Kyrie Irving, CLE (knee)
Iman Shumpert, CLE (wrist)
Gary Harris, DEN (head)
Jusuf Nurkic, DEN (knee)
Harrison Barnes, GS (ankle)
Donatas Motiejunas, HOU (back)
Myles Turner, IND (finger)
Chris Paul, LAC (ribs)
Jerryd Bayless, MIL (ankle)
Greivis Vasquez, MIL (ankle)
Tyler Ennis, MIL (shoulder)
Nikola Pekovic, MIN (Achilles)
C.J. Watson, ORL (calf)
Jahlil Okafor, PHI (suspension)
Kendall Marshall, PHI (knee)
Tony Wroten, PHI (knee)
Jonas Valanciunas, TOR (hand)
Rudy Gobert, UTA (knee)
Game-Time Decision
Nikola Mirotic, CHI (head)
Kirk Hinrich, CHI (hip)
Kenneth Faried, DEN (ankle)
Monta Ellis, IND (back)
J.J. Redick, LAC (ankle)
Luol Deng, MIA (hamstring)
Amar'e Stoudemire, MIA (knee/rest)
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC (finger)
