This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Analysis
Defenses to avoid: Los Angeles Clippers, at BKN: This really should be the Clippers, as they are a strong defense overall that is dominant against three positions (second at limiting opposing shooting guards, fourth against small forwards, fourth against power forwards). Plus, on paper, this game should be a blowout. But the Clippers have struggled a bit in their last couple of games, and games that are blowouts on paper often turn out to be close battles, so the disclaimer is that nothing is guaranteed. But the Nets have the odds stacked against them.
Offense to use: New Orleans Pelicans, vs LAL: While the Lakers are an average team against opposing point guards, they are a poor defensive frontline with rankings of 21st, 22nd and 20th in the NBA at limiting production to opposing small forwards, power forwards and centers, respectively. When you consider the Pelicans have the NBA's leading scorer at one of those positions and reasonable supporting frontcourt options, they make a good play, overall, on Tuesday.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: Pistons, Lakers, Spurs
Second game: Jazz, Hornets
James Harden, HOU at UTA ($11,300): Harden is a bit risky because at his price he has to mega-produce to be worth it, and he's facing a tough Jazz defense on Tuesday. With that said, the Jazz are in the second-half of a back-to-back and Harden is metronome consistent, with double-doubles in nine of his last 10 games, including three triple-doubles. When he faced the Jazz 10 days ago, he hit them for 31 and 10, pretty close to his season averages.
Jordan Clarkson, LAL at NO ($6,200): There were a lot of candidates for this slot, including George Hill, Evan Fournier, Jrue Holiday and Louis Williams. Clarkson earns the nod for being in the middle of this group in both price and upside, as he's still getting extra minutes and production while D'Angelo Russell is out.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET at CHA ($4,900): Caldwell-Pope had a bad outing this weekend against the Thunder, but before that averaged 21.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2.3 boards, 3.0 treys and 1.3 steals over his previous three games. That's solid upside for a guard under $5K.
LeBron James, CLE at MIL ($9,700): James can match the upside potential of Anthony Davis or James Harden, but he comes at a much cheaper [roce. He has triple-doubles in two of his last three games (and a double-double in the other game) and faces a Bucks defense that is only average against opposing forwards.
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs ORL ($6,700): Aldridge began the year as a premium option, but the Spurs' equal opportunity approach got him out of the gate slowly enough to drop his price considerably. But quietly, Aldridge has gone over 20 points in four of his last five games with 6.5 boards, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks over that span. On Tuesday he faces a Magic defense that was torched for 20 points by John Henson in its last outing.
Terrence Jones, NO vs LAL ($4,900): Jones laid an egg in his last outing with zero points in 13 minutes. However, he was solid in the seven games before that, averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 boards per game. On Tuesday, he has a winnable match-up against a Lakers frontline that ranks 22nd in the NBA in production allowed to opposing power forwards.
Kevin Love, CL at MIL ($8,200):Anthony Davis is the obvious premium option at center, and when he's healthy he deserves the price tag. But Love has also been stellar of late, with double-doubles in nine of his last 10 games and averages of 26 points, 10.5 boards, 4.8 treys and 2.3 assists over his last four contests.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL at SA ($6,200): Vucevic has been in-and-out of the starting lineup of late but has still produced three straight double-doubles to the tune of 19.7 points, 15.3 boards, 2.3 assists, 3.0 combined steals/blocks and 0.7 treys over that stretch.
John Henson, Mil vs CLE ($3,900): Henson is volatile, but he has moved into the starting center slot for the Bucks and is coming off his best game of the season, in which he scored 20 points with seven boards, three blocks and a steal Sunday against Orlando. Over his last four, he's averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 boards, and 2.3 blocks per game.
