This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Team Analysis
Defenses to avoid: Utah Jazz, at LAL: The Jazz have settled in as clearly the best defense in the NBA right now, ranking first in the league in production allowed to opposing guards and centers and fourth against opposing forwards over the last 10 games. That said, this does NOT mean that it is impossible for any individual Laker to still be a solid play against the Jazz. This has come up several times recently, and it should be emphasized. The "Defense to avoid"/"Offense to use" section is general, based on team match-up. It doesn't necessarily mean that nobody on the Lakers can have value, any more than it means that every Jazz player is a great play simply because the Lakers' defense is terrible. Individual player level and price tag absolutely have to be taken into account on an individual level.
Offense to use: Utah Jazz, at LAL: The Lakers are 25th in the NBA at defending opposing guards, 26th against opposing centers, and tied for last in the league against opposing forwards. Essentially, opponents are able to get just about whatever they want at whatever their positions of strength might be when they face the Lakers.
Teams on Back-to-Backs:
First game: none
Second game: Mavericks, Rockets, Grizzlies
Russell Westbrook, OKC at MIA ($12,500): Westbrook and James Harden are far and away the two most likely to hang a huge number on the board on a light NBA night (only four games), with only Hassan Whiteside even in the picture as someone likely to score on their level. However, the flip side is their price tags. Westbrook has the biggest tag, but he is also averaging 74 fantasy points per game over his last five outings with no games under 65.75 fantasy points in the stretch. It's possible for a max-priced player to still be value, and even against a tough perimeter defense like the Heat, Westbrook still projects to be a value play on Tuesday.
Eric Gordon, HOU at DAL ($5,500): Gordon has been consistently productive in his current role, averaging 32.7 fantasy points over his last six outings with no games under 23 fantasy points in his last 10. In addition, backcourt mate Patrick Beverley had to leave Monday's game early with a thigh bruise and is questionable for Tuesday, which could lead to a larger-than-usual role for Gordon.
Nick Young, LAL vs UTA ($4,100): Young just continues to score since his return from injury. He has now scored 19 or more points in four of his last five games, which has translated to an average of 28.3 fantasy points over his last six outings. His match-p against the Jazz is tough, as the Jazz are second in the NBA in limiting production to opposing shooting guards in the DraftKings scoring format, but his recent level of play and price tag still make him solid value for Tuesday.
Gordon Hayward, UTA at LAL ($8,000): Hayward earns this spot almost by default, as there aren't any truly elite options going at forward on Tuesday. Hayward's scoring average of 37.9 FPts/game is more than 10 FPts higher than the third-highest player on the board, and he's also got a great matchup against a Lakers defense that is last in the NBA at defending opposing small forwards in the DraftKings scoring format.
Harrison Barnes, DAL vs HOU ($6,300): Barnes is the only other forward on the slate not named Gordan Hayward who has a season-long average of more than 30 fantasy points, and he has a solid matchup against a Rockets team that ranks 20th in production allowed to opposing forwards over the last five games.
James Johnson, MIA vs OKC ($4,600): Johnson is a streaky player but has been in a good groove for awhile now. He is averaging 12.2 points, 7.0 boards, 3.6 assists and 1.4 treys over his last five games and has upped that to 14 points, 8.7 boards, 4.7 assists and 2.0 treys over his last three. Plus, he could be set for an increased role with Josh McRoberts out indefinitely.
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs OKC ($8,700): Whiteside is the only player under $11k on Tuesday with an expected value up near 50 fantasy points. Over his last five games he is averaging 19.8 points, 16 boards and 2.4 blocks and he has gone over 50 fantasy points in three of his last six outings.
Al Horford, BOS vs MEM ($6,900): Horford has consistently been the lowest-priced of the elite centers on DarftKings, and that continues on Tuesday. His price tag is under $7k, but he has scored more than 40 fantasy points in five of his last six games and is averaging 16.3 points, 8.8 boards, 4.3 assists, 1.8 blocks, 1.5 steals and 0.8 treys over that stretch.
Montrezl Harrell, HOU at DAL ($4,800): Harrell has been solid as the replacement starter for the injured Clint Capella, averaging 15.7 points with 4.7 boards and 1.7 blocks in those three outings.
