Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best NBA FanDuel, Draft Kings Lineup for Jan. 2
There are at least three really good NBA games on tap Friday, Jan. 2. Aside from generating some fantastic action among the league's best teams, these games may also produce the best individual performances for Draft Kings and FanDuel fantasy players.
Keep an eye on the Washington Wizards at Oklahoma City Thunder, the Toronto Raptors at Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets visiting the New Orleans Pelicans. These matchups might be the ones that decide if your team has what it takes to win the night's contests.
Here's a breakdown of lineups I endorse for both Draft Kings and FanDuel.
| PG | Kemba Walker | $8,500 |
| PG | D.J. Augustin | $4,000 |
| SG | James Harden | $11,500 |
| SG | Nick Young | $5,000 |
| SF | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | $5,100 |
| SF | Terrence Ross | $4,700 |
| PF | Tristan Thompson | $5,900 |
| PF | Marreese Speights | $5,400 |
| C | Andre Drummond | $9,300 |
| PG | Goran Dragic | $7,700 |
| SG | Victor Oladipo | $5,600 |
| SF | Kevin Durant | $11,100 |
| PF | Tristan Thompson | $6,100 |
| C | Henry Sims | $4,700 |
| G | Dion Waiters | $4,600 |
| F | Terrence Ross | $4,600 |
| UTIL | Marreese Speights | $5,200 |
Similarities
Tristan Thompson, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Back on Dec. 29, USA Today's Ryan Dodson tabbed Thompson as his fantasy pickup of the week. If you didn't listen then, you should now.
With Anderson Varejao out with a torn Achilles, Thompson has seen his role increase with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has posted three straight double-doubles. That includes a 10-point, 13-rebound outing on New Year's Eve against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Thompson makes a living on the glass, and there should be boards available as the Cavs take on the Charlotte Hornets.
Through 33 games, the Hornets are ranked 17th in rebounds allowed, giving up 42.9 rebounds per game to opponents. Thompson seems like a good bet to run his double-double streak to four in this one.
Terrence Ross, SF, Toronto Raptors
Ross can be streaky, so selecting him is always a gamble. Drawing Klay Thompson or Andre Iguodala as a defensive assignments isn't necessarily the best situation for Ross to score big, either.
However, when his three-point shot is falling, he's capable of exploding.
He's scored 20 or more points three times this season and nailed at least three shots from long range in each of those games. He's also played well against teams with winning records. Ross has failed to reach double figures in just four of the 13 games he's played against winning teams.
At such a reasonable price, Ross is worth the gamble.
Marreese Speights, PF, Golden State Warriors
The early favorite for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award is a bargain at $5,200 in Draft Kings and $5,400 in FanDuel. Though he's not starting, Speights hasn't had any issues putting up big numbers.
If you look at these stats presented by Sheridan Hoops' Maxwell Ogden, you see just how effective the Warriors reserve big man has been:
The Raptors second unit doesn't contain the type of low-post defensive presence capable of slowing Speights down. He should have success overpowering Patrick Patterson and shooting over the top of Chuck Hayes.
Expect Speights to continue his strong play and pay off big for one-day fantasy players.
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