*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/24/17
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POINT GUARDS
Dennis Schroder, ATL vs. NY
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $6,600
There are only five players in the NBA averaging at least 19 points and seven assists per game. They are James Harden, Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, John Wall and Schroder. That’s some pretty elite company that Schroder is running with. The Hawks have very little talent on their roster, leaving Schroder to produce the 14th best usage rate (29.4%) in the NBA. The Knicks really struggle to defend opposing point guards, so Schroder could be in line for a huge performance Friday.
Antonio Blakeney, CHI at GS
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,000
As I’ve noted many times, you have to take risks if you want to win in tournament play. The Bulls continue to struggle to score, so they have turned to Blakeney to provide some scoring punch off the bench of late. Over the last five games, he is averaging 10.2 points and 1.0 three-pointer in 20 minutes per contest. The Warriors play at the fifth-fastest pace (104.4) in the NBA and could make this one a laugher earlier, leading to a lot of garbage time. He will only cost you the minimum on both sites, so he could provide value.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Tim Hardaway Jr., NY at ATL
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,600
Hardaway has not disappointed in what was expected to be his breakout campaign as he is averaging career-highs pretty much across the board. The Knicks are off to a surprising 10-7 start and a lot of that is because Hardaway and his 18.4 points per game have provided a great compliment to superstar Kristaps Porzingis. The Hawks are not a good defensive team as they are tied for the sixth-most points allowed per game (108.2) this season. This has the potential to be another great scoring night for Hardaway.
Dion Waiters, MIA at MIN
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,600
The Heat don’t have a ton of offensive firepower as they have scored the sixth-fewest points per game (100.5) in the league. Waiters has been one of their few bright spots, averaging 15.9 points per game. His 26.3% usage rate ranks 36th in the NBA, ahead of players including Paul George, C.J. McCollum, and Kevin Love. The Timberwolves have not played well defensively and have several excellent options offensively that the Heat will need to keep pace with, so Waiters could provide value at this price.
SMALL FORWARDS
LeBron James, CLE vs. CHA
FanDuel = $11,900
DraftKings = $11,200
James continues to get plenty of opportunities to produce as he is tied for the second-most minutes (37.7) per game this season. This has the potential to be an up-tempo contest as both the Cavaliers and the Hornets are in the top-12 in the NBA in terms of pace of play. It’s going to cost a pretty penny to get him into your entry, but his workload and rare skillset should make him worth it.
Courtney Lee, NY at ATL
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600
Lee continues to see significant playing time as he is averaging 32 minutes per game in his second consecutive season with the Knicks. Not known as a potent offensive weapon, he is averaging 11.2 points per game, which is the fourth best on the team. He is also averaging career-highs in rebounds (4.1), assists (3.1), steals (1.5), and three-pointers (1.6) per game. With the Hawks defensive struggles already outlined earlier, Lee has the potential to outproduce his pricepoint Friday.
POWER FORWARDS
Anthony Davis, NO at PHO
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $10,700
Davis and DeMarcus Cousins have thrived together in New Orleans as they are the only teammates in the league to average at least 25 points and 11 rebounds per game this season. Despite playing a bigger lineup than most teams, the Pelicans actually play at the seventh-fastest pace (102.3) in the NBA. The only concern you should really ever have with playing Davis in DFS is his injury history as you can’t afford to lose a player early in a game at this price. With how horrible the Suns are on defense, get Davis in your lineup and just cross your fingers that he stays healthy.
Bobby Portis, CHI at GS
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,200
Portis came back from suspension and was hot to start the season, averaging 19.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.0 three-pointers over his first three games. He has cooled off considerably since, averaging 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.8 three-pointers in his last five games. Even with his recent slump, I like him Friday as the Warriors play a lot of small lineups. I wouldn’t be surprised if Portis plays close to, if not more, minutes than Robin Lopez. At the pace the Warriors play, Portis could be in for a big performance considering his reasonable price.
CENTERS
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at MIN
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,500
Let’s take a look at the last three performances by centers against the Timberwolves. Andre Drummond had 20 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks Sunday, Dwight Howard had 25 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks Monday, and Nikola Vucevic had 11 points, 14 rebounds, and one block Wednesday. While Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best offensive centers in the game, he clearly still has a lot of improving to do on the defensive end of the floor. Expect Whiteside to demolish the Timberwolves in this game.
Steven Adams, OKC vs. DET
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,200
The Thunder have one of the weakest benches in the league as their starting five is averaging 79.9 points per game while their second unit is only averaging 23.6 points per game. They are especially thin at center, which has forced Adams to average a career-high 31 minutes per contest. With Friday bringing a matchup against Andre Drummond, Adams is going to be needed to log heavy minutes again in this game. If you want to save money at center, look no further.
