Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: DraftKings NBA Optimal Picks for November 20
Friday evening's NBA schedule includes 22 teams in action, giving DraftKings daily fantasy players an enormous array of potential options. Choosing the right combination of eight guys can be extremely difficult, and there are seemingly endless variables to consider.
Below is some help to get you started.
Whether it's a benchwarmer filling in with the first unit, a shooter on a hot streak, a proven contributor with a great matchup or just a consistent superstar, the following five names represent optimal lineup picks for November 20.
C Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons ($9,900) at Minnesota Timberwolves
Andre Drummond is leading the NBA with a ridiculous 18.9 rebounds per game, 5.5 more than anyone else. The Pistons center has grabbed at least 10 boards every time he's taken the floor this season, resulting in a streak of 11 straight double-doubles to begin the year.
But of equal importance for fantasy purposes, Drummond is also playing 37.3 minutes per game, the sixth-most in the league. Per Odds Shark, Detroit is favored by just one point over Minnesota, so the big man is on track for another heavy workload.
Even if Drummond isn't on his game, he won't hurt your chances of winning—his lowest fantasy total of the season is 38 points.
The above video highlights Drummond's most recent outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which he put up 55.5 DraftKings points over 39 minutes of court time.
C Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors ($5,700) at Los Angeles Lakers
Jonas Valanciunas isn't going to crack anybody's list of must-start centers Friday night, but that's a good thing. Finding production from little-used players is a major part of daily fantasy success.
Valanciunas ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference in plus/minus—the Raptors have outscored their opponents by 81 points this year when he's in the game. The 23-year-old came within a point or rebound of a double-double in each of his last two contests while logging more than 30 minutes on both occasions.
What makes Valanciunas a good bet Friday, though, is the Lakers' track record versus opposing big men. According to RotoWire, Los Angeles is allowing centers to score a league-high 54.5 DK points per game.
SF Trevor Ariza, Houston Rockets ($5,600) at Memphis Grizzlies
The Rockets lead the NBA with an average of 33 long-range attempts per game, and Trevor Ariza is one of the primary beneficiaries. Ariza launched a combined 22 three-pointers in Houston's last two contests, connecting on four each night. His numbers in that span are outstanding for someone at his price level:
| MIN | 3PM-3PA | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | FPTS |
| 34.4 | 4-11 | 8.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 18.5 | 35.9 |
Rockets players are likely still looking to prove themselves in the wake of head coach Kevin McHale's firing, so don't be surprised to see an inspired effort from Houston Friday.
If Ariza can top 30 fantasy points for the third straight game, he'll be a steal at $5,600.
SG Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics ($4,700) vs. Brooklyn Nets
After returning from a recent calf injury, Avery Bradley has been relegated to a bench role in Boston. However, it hasn't affected his production one bit. Bradley logged 31 minutes off the pine Wednesday and tallied a season-high 38.5 DK points.
Via Scott Souza of the MetroWest Daily News, Celtics coach Brad Stevens stated that he's still tinkering with his lineups:
Bradley is the hot hand at the moment, having drained seven of 14 three-pointers in the last two games. His solid play should continue against the Nets, who are yielding 48.4 fantasy points to opposing shooting guards, per RotoWire, the second-worst in the NBA.
PG Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls ($3,200) at Golden State Warriors
Kirk Hinrich started in place of Derrick Rose Wednesday and put up 14 points and six assists in 24 minutes. The NBA's official Twitter account noted Hinrich became Chicago's all-time leading three-point shooter in the process:
Hinrich's minutes have risen in each of the last three games since he came back from a toe injury. Nick Friedell of ESPN.com reported that Rose will be a game-time decision Friday with a sprained ankle. Friedell also stated that reserve guard Aaron Brooks has already been ruled out, even further depleting the Bulls backcourt.
If Rose sits, Hinrich is in line to start and see the bulk of the action at point guard. With a salary of only $3,200, it won't take much from the veteran to earn his money.
All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via NBA.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.
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