Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Last-Minute NBA DraftKings Picks for March 28
Saturday's NBA schedule is a tough code to crack for daily players. Many slow-paced, defensive-minded nightmares will take the court, so don't expect significant fantasy scoring.
Among the night's five games, the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets present the most scoring upside. Entering Friday night's stuffed slate, the Nuggets and New York Knicks are the only two squads ranked in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating.
Well, it's important to challenge yourself rather than cower away from obstacles. These players will help DraftKings daredevils conquer a tame NBA night.
PG Ty Lawson ($7,000) at Portland
Rather than paying top dollar for Russell Westbrook or Stephen Curry, turn to the Denver vs. Portland matchup for a lower-tiered star point guard. While Damian Lillard is assuming a heavier role on a wounded Portland roster, his lackluster defense makes Ty Lawson the better play.
Since the All-Star break, Lillard possesses a 106.7 defensive rating. Over the past three weeks, according to RotoGrinders, opponents have mustered 10.6 assists per game against Portland, the league's highest mark.
Lawson is a tough guy to trust, especially after failing to score a point against the Orlando Magic on Sunday. This season, however, he has torched Lillard and Co. for 24.7 points, 9.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game through three meetings.
| 12/2 | 105-103 L | 43 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| 11/12 | 130-113 L | 42 | 32 | 10 | 3 | 2 |
| 11/9 | 116-110 L | 38 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
He's scoring 14.3 points per game in March, but use his cold streak to buy low on an extremely talented floor general. The 27-year-old showed a pulse Friday night, earning 18 points and nine assists against the Utah Jazz.
Other PG Plays: Damian Lillard vs. Denver ($7,800); Dennis Schroeder at Charlotte ($4,600); Shane Larkin at Chicago ($4,000)
SG Jimmy Butler ($8,000) vs. New York
Jimmy Butler wasted no time easing back into action, playing 79 minutes in two games following a three-week hiatus. Although he's a fine play against the Knicks, he also doesn't come at any discount.
That was the line planned to discourage readers from rostering Butler. Then a long look at every other shooting guard unearthed no attractive mates, and the Chicago swingman looked prettier after another glance.
Klay Thompson isn't coached by a mad man who will play him with no limits immediately upon returning. Kyle Korver could catch fire, but he's entirely dependent on his teammates feeding him behind the three-point line. Gerald Henderson is OK, but he'll probably slightly eclipse value at best.
Even if Butler doesn't deliver your full money's worth at $8,000, he's a stable bet to at least surpass 30 DraftKings points as the NBA's leader in minutes per game. As he told Holly Mackenzie of CSNChicago.com, the time off from an elbow injury forced him to receive some needed rest.
“I’m a lot fresher,” Butler said. “I just came back after, what, three weeks off. My legs are feeling nice. I just gotta continue to take care of my body. I know accidents and injuries happen, but as long as you take care of your body, you can try to prevent ‘em to the best of your ability.”
The last time he faced the Knicks, Butler scored 35 points with four three-pointers, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals. Because of that upside packaged with a stable floor, Butler gets a stamp of approval.
Other SG Plays: Gerald Henderson vs. Atlanta ($5,200); Randy Foye at Portland ($4,800); Kyle Korver at Charlotte ($4,200)
SF Giannis Antetokounmpo (7,300) vs. Golden State
This recommendation feels counterintuitive. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a volatile star who frequently swings from 50 DraftKings points one night to 25 the next. Considering that the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks boast the NBA's two best defensive ratings, this isn't a typical matchup to target, either.
The Warriors, however, also play at the game's fastest pace, which will force the Bucks to speed up their average tempo. That style of play bodes well for the 20-year-old athletic monster, who has logged 38.2 minutes per game in March.
He should especially thrive on the boards, as Golden State yields 44.8 rebounds per contest. Due to its accelerated offense, head coach Steve Kerr's squad also coughs up 16.5 turnovers, tied for the fourth-highest mark in the league with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Greek Freak has also scored at least 15 points in each of the past seven games, making him a complete fantasy package and Saturday's best available small forward.
Other SF Plays: Wilson Chandler at Portland ($5,700); Harrison Barnes at Milwaukee ($4,600); Mike Dunleavy vs. New York ($4,200)
PF LaMarcus Aldridge ($8,700) vs. Denver
Although currently battling a sprained finger, LaMarcus Aldridge is the most affordable stud with the best matchup. The Denver Nuggets are popular prey for opposing power forwards, who burn them for 21.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and an NBA-high 47.8 DraftKings points per game, according to RotoGrinders.
During his last meeting with Denver, Aldridge dropped 39 points and 11 boards. Portland has averaged 117 points in three games against the Nuggets, which have also hit 100 every time.
He endured some underwhelming games this week, but tough matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz could have deflated Aldridge's totals just as much as the finger ailment. Just make sure Aldridge is given the green light on the second end of back-to-back games before clicking his name.
Other PF Plays: Paul Millsap at Charlotte ($7,300); Marvin Williams vs. Atlanta ($4,200); Lance Thomas at Chicago ($3,500)
C Joakim Noah ($6,100) vs. New York
Among nine centers priced at $4,500 or higher, Joakim Noah is the only one not facing a top-10 defense in terms of DraftKings points allowed.
The Knicks place a decent No. 17 in the category, but RotoGrinders pegs them as surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points over the past three weeks. Giving Andrea Bargnani a leading role certainly doesn't help a unit's interior defense.
Even as a severely limited scorer, Noah remains a prominent asset by sharing the rock better than any other big man. Over the last 10 games, the New York native has dished out 8.1 assists while grabbing 8.9 rebounds per game.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau's idea of a minutes restriction is giving his center only 30 minutes, so the only worry is a blowout wiping out some late playing time. Noah should quietly chip away at 30 to 35 DraftKings points for the rested Bulls.
Other C Plays: Zaza Pachulia vs. Golden State ($5,800); Andrew Bogut at Milwaukee ($4,600); Robin Lopez vs. Denver ($4,400)
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Advanced stats, updated as of Friday night, courtesy of NBA.com unless otherwise noted.
