Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best Last-Minute NBA DraftKings Picks for May 9
This is a dangerous time for NBA point guards.
A day after juggling Chris Paul's status, another injured star clouds the daily NBA slate. After missing Game 2, news broke that John Wall has five fractures in his left wrist and hand. The Washington Wizards have yet to rule him out, but multiple fractures isn't something a painkiller will effectively heal.
Then again, Mike Conley somehow returned for Game 2 after fracturing his face during the first round. These developments give DFS gamers a lot to process before submitting Saturday's DraftKings lineup.
PG Ramon Sessions ($4,600) vs. Atlanta Hakws
Washington and Wall are in no rush to reveal his playoff prognosis. Wall gave an unresolved outlook to Turner's David Aldridge:
Assuming the starting role, Ramon Sessions clocked 21 points, four assists and three rebounds through 40 minutes, proving Tuesday's top value with 33.25 DraftKings points for $2,300. While his price tag doubled, he's still well worth the money if handed another start.
In three starts closing out the season, the 29-year-old averaged 11.7 points, 7.7 assists and 4.3 boards. Good enough to lead the Wizards to victory over the Atlanta Hawks? Don't bet on it. Good enough to exceed value on DraftKings? As long as Wall is out.
Wall's absence would also help Jeff Teague. According to 82games.com, the Wizards allow 109.8 points per 100 possessions with Wall off the court compared to 102.4 with him. It didn't show on Tuesday, but Teague will eventually break May's 7-of-31 shooting skid.
SG Bradley Beal ($7,600) vs. Atlanta Hawks
Washington's offense suffered without Wall, but the rise in opportunity makes its top contributors worth stacking if he's sidelined. With or without his running mate's company, Bradley Beal is rolling.
Beal took 22 shots in each game against Atlanta, scoring a combined 48 points along with 12 rebounds and eight assists. He played two of those April outings Wall missed, topping 20 points each time.
Without Wall, Beal is Washington's main source of offense. According to NBAwowy.com, he holds a 28.0 percent usage rate with Wall off the court. When the two operate together, the mark drops to 23.1 percent.
This lineup is going to go even heavier on the Wizards in a moment, but their wing options all must pick up the slack without their floor general.
SF Otto Porter ($5,400) vs. Atlanta Hawks
Otto Porter's breakout party continues. In his best performance yet, the 21-year-old delivered 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, leading him to 39.5 DraftKings points.
According to Basketball-Reference.com (h/t Sam Rinde and Bullets Forever's Jake Whitacre), Porter is the youngest player to record such a playoff line since Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. Tracy McGrady and Michael Jordan round out the top five.
| 6 | 32.2 | 10.5 | 53.2 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
Paul Pierce, whose limited ceiling makes him a less appealing play, has watched his teammate blossom into a vital contributor. He discussed Porter's game with NBA.com's Ian Thomsen.
"He is so fluid and calm out there on the court, the way he knocks down shots, the way he plays defense," Pierce said. "Most young guys move fast, turn the ball over, make a lot of mistakes. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes out of there. Sometimes he has his `Shaqtin A Fool' moments, though."
With Pierce often utilized as a small 4, Porter has topped 30 minutes in both games against Atlanta. Since DeMarre Carroll costs significantly more ($7,200) due to an unsustainable hot hand, Porter is the way to go.
PF Paul Millsap ($8,800) at Washington Wizards
A lineup's anchor usually exudes a sweeter aroma than Paul Millsap, an unassuming low-tier star embodying Atlanta's subdued success. Yet Stephen Curry is stuck in a poor matchup, and the Hawks power forward is making the most of Washington's smaller units.
Despite inefficient scoring, Millsap has helped DFS players with a pair of double-doubles, even tossing in assists and steals for fun:
| 1 | 39 | 15 | 6-17 | 1-4 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 50 |
| 2 | 38 | 18 | 6-16 | 1-3 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 48.25 |
The upcoming free agent is now averaging 15.9 points and 10.1 boards per game this postseason, but he's far from a Zach Randolph two-category contributor. He has drained 1.5 threes, snatched 2.4 steals and swatted 1.1 shots during his eight playoff bouts.
In a slate bereft of stars, Millsap still deserves heavy usage despite a higher price.
C Mark Gasol ($8,000) vs. Golden State Warriors
Oh yeah, there's another game out west. The Memphis Grizzlies' methodical slow place has stifled the Golden State Warriors' fiery offense, turning everyone into overvalued or boring options.
An empowering series against the Portland Trail Blazers rocketed Marc Gasol's stock, but two quiet evenings inside the Oracle Arena deflated his sticker price back down to $8,000. Given the limited center market, it's a fair price to pay for someone averaging 42.25 DraftKings points despite Tuesday's snoozer.
Although Al Horford has the hotter hand, his price soared upward while Gasol's veered in the opposite direction. A steadier contributor, Gasol is an especially wise cash-contest play.
