This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Cleveland Cavaliers, vs CHA: The Cavaliers have a strong overall defense and a strong enough team that there's a chance of a blowout. The Cavs rank in the top-10 in limiting production to four of the five positions, according to DraftKings, with only point guard defense as a weakness. The biggest risk to the Cavs is that, on the second half of a back-to-back, their coach could decide to rest LeBron James. Barring that, they make a formidable opponent on Saturday to a Hornets squad that is also on the second half of a B2B.
Offenses to Use: Portland Trail Blazers, at IND: The Pacers have struggled on defense this season, ranking 25th in production allowed to opposing point guard, 20th against shooting guards, 16th against small forwards, 27th against power forwards and 20th against centers. The Blazers have an explosive scoring backcourt and a very good value center that could all exploit this matchup.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Warriors, Pelicans
Second game: Hornets, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Rockets, Pacers, Heat, Bucks, Magic, Kings
Chris Paul, LAC vs NO ($8,800): Paul gets the call here with the news that Blake Griffin is questionable for Saturday night with a sore knee. The last time that Griffin sat, two weeks ago against the Nets, Paul exploded for a 26-point/13-assist/10-rebound triple-double as he has to do more to carry the team. If Griffin is actually able to play on Saturday, John Wall is another premium point guard who I like to have a big game Saturday.
Klay Thompson, GS at MEM ($6,400): Thompson doesn't have to produce big numbers on a daily basis for the Warriors to thrive, which tends to make him inconsistent. But when he gets hot het gets HOT. We saw that earlier this week in his 60-point explosion against the Pacers. The Grizzlies rank 29th in the NBA against opposing shooting guards, which should give him he opportunity to thrive.
Evan Fournier, ORL s DEN ($5,300): Fournier has been inconsistent this season and is in the midst of a down week. But he has an absolutely wonderful matchup against a Nuggets team that ranks last in the NBA against opposing shooting guards.
Paul George, IND vs POR ($8,000): George gets the call in a game that shapes up as a potential shootout. George has scored more than 20 points in three straight games and is also averaging 10 boards with 2.0 steals during that stretch.
Zach Randolph, MEM vs GS ($5,400): Randolph's shot has been off since he returned from his personal absence (7-for-26 FG), but he has grabbed 23 rebounds in that stretch to remain fantasy viable. With a couple of games under his belt his shot should straighten out, and the Warriors are weak on the glass so Randolph should be able to get what he wants inside.
Michael Beasley, MIL at WAS ($3,400): Beasley has been up-and-down in his production for the Bucks, but at such a low price he could be worth the risk. In his last two games he has averaged 13 points with seven boards, two combined steals and blocks and a 3-pointer in 22.5 minutes of action.
Marc Gasol, MEM vs GS ($7,900): Gasol has a tough matchup on Saturday but is in this space purely because of how dominant he has been of late. In his last six games, Gasol has averaged 25.3 points, 7.5 boards, 4.8 assists, 2.0 treys, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals with a triple-double thrown in for good measure.
Rudy Gobert, UTA vs SAC ($7,000): Gobert has turned in three straight huge games, each of them double-doubles, in which he has averaged 18.7 points, 15 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game. On Saturday, he faces a Kings defense that is 28th in the NBA at limiting production to opposing centers.
Mason Plumlee, POR at IND ($5,300): Plumlee is consistently productive at an affordable price. In his last five games he has averaged 10.2 points, 7.8 boards, 3.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 steals per game and he has nightly upside for bigger assists numbers than that.
