This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defense to avoid: Los Angeles Clippers, vs CHI: The Clippers have had the best defensive rating in the NBA for most of the season, plus they have an alarming tendency to blow teams out. Per position, the Clippers are first in the NBA at limiting shooting guard production, sixth against small forward, and third against power forwards, according to DraftKings' rankings. They are weaker against point guards (20th) and centers (26th), opening up Jerian Grant (if Rajon Rondo sits again) and Robin Lopez as reasonable value plays.
Offense to use: Phoenix Suns, at PHI: The 76ers are weak on defense at four of the five positions, ranking 28th against opposing point guards, 25th against small forwards, 27th against power forwards and 25th against centers, according to DraftKings. They rank fourth against shooting guards, but even so I'd be comfortable with taking Devin Booker against them.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Bulls, Jazz
Second game: Celtics, Hornets, Mavericks, Pistons, Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Suns
Stephen Curry, GS at MIL ($9,200): Curry entered Friday night's game on the back of three straight 30-plus-point scoring efforts, translating to three straight 51-plus-fantasy-point efforts. He had a quieter game on Friday, which may just prime him to bounce back against a Bucks defense that isn't really equipped to stop him from getting the kind of shots that he likes.
Eric Bledsoe, PHO at PHI ($6,700): Bledsoe has flirted with his old value recently, averaging 17.6 points with 6.0 assists, 5.8 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.0 treys over his last five games. On Saturday he faces a 76ers defense that, as pointed out above, is terrible at defending opposing point guards.
Dion Waiters, MIA at WAS ($4,800): Waiters has played very well since moving into the starting lineup three games ago, and he remained a starter on Thursday even with Goran Dragic's return and turned in 23 points, seven boards and four assists in 35 minutes. It is possible that Justise Winslow could return from his wrist injury and eat into Waiters' time, but for now he is producing well for a low price and has a winnable match-up against the Wizards on Saturday.
Blake Griffin, LAC vs CHI ($8,300): Griffin has scored 20-plus points in six straight games, a stretch in which he has also averaged 8.5 boards and 4.5 assists per game. On Saturday he faces a Bulls team that ranks 22nd in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards according to DraftKings' rankings.
Otto Porter, WAS vs MIA ($6,600): Porter has been on a tear of late, averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 boards, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks and 2.2 treys over his last six games. John Wall and Bradley Beal were both back in the lineup Thursday, but that didn't slow Porter at all as he turned in 21 points, eight boards, four treys, two steals and a block against the Knicks.
Dario Saric, PHI vs PHO ($4,700): Saric has been a consistent source of value production over his last six games, producing between 21.75 and 38.5 fantasy points in all six contests. His production seems robust whether he is starting or coming off the bench, and with rumblings that Saturday may be an off day for Joel Embiid it could lead to more frontcourt minutes for Saric.
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at WAS ($9,000): Whiteside has averaged 18.6 boards, 17.8 points, 3.0 blocks and 1.4 steals over his last five games and shows no signs of letting up against a Wizards defense that is only average against opposing centers.
Marc Gasol, MEM vs MIN ($6,700): Gasol had a light game on Friday, playing only 24 minutes in a blowout win over the Mavs. In his four games before that he averaged 21.3 points, 4.5 boards, 4.5 assists, 1.8 treys and 1.3 combined steals/blocks per game. On Saturday he faces Karl-Anthony Towns and a Timberwolves unit that is 24th in the NBA in production allowed to opposing centers.
Robin Lopez, CHI at LAC ($4,800): Lopez has been consistently strong over his last four games, averaging 12.3 points with 11.3 boards and 1.5 blocks over that span. On Saturday he faces a Clippers defense that is strong overall, but only 26th against opposing centers.
