Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best DFS NBA DraftKings Daily Values for Nov. 21
Saturday has the makings of a slow NBA night. Of the 14 teams lacing up, nine rank in the bottom half of pace.
That doesn't include the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic, who respectively rate No. 14 and No. 15 in possessions per 48 minutes as of Friday night. While the Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets like to run, they'll get bogged down a bit by slower opponents.
Nevertheless, several superstars will spice up Saturday night's slate. In order to afford the likes of LeBron James, James Harden, Andre Drummond and/or Paul George, let's highlight a DraftKings value play at each position.
Matthew Dellavedova, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,100)
Already playing without Kyrie Irving, the Cleveland Cavaliers must now dig deeper down their depth chart on Saturday night. According to Cleveland.com's Chris Haynes, Mo Williams will miss his second consecutive game:
When the veteran sat out Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Matthew Dellavedova tallied seven points and a career-high 13 assists through 39 minutes. Without another true point guard on the roster, Cleveland again must give the pesky reserve ample playing time against the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite the 25-year-old Australian's limited scoring skills, playing alongside LeBron and Kevin Love should lead him to another bountiful outing. Per RotoWire.com, the Atlanta Hawks have surrendered 9.6 assists per game to opposing point guards, which is the NBA's second-highest mark behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dellavedova isn't priced like someone who will potentially play 35 or more minutes. If Jeff Teague doesn't return from a three-game absence, the matchup gets even easier. Nobody is asking for an encore of last year's unlikely 20-point outburst during the NBA Finals, but a bunch of assists and a couple of open buckets will justify his $4,100 cost.
Arron Afflalo, SG, New York Knicks ($4,300)
Possessing the league's fifth-worst defensive rating, the Houston Rockets' atrocious defense cost Kevin McHale his job as head coach. At the heart of the problem, Harden has regressed.
After upping his effort and efficacy last season, the star shooting guard again looks like the lethargic defender of old. While on the court, the Rockets' defensive rating slips even further down to 107.0. Perhaps this changes under new guidance, but a forceful unit is now one to exploit.
Arron Afflalo will hope to catch the bearded guard napping for a few easy cuts to the basket. In five games this season, the New York Knicks' offseason signing has averaged 12.0 points and 19.0 DraftKings points per contest, tallying 14 points on Friday night.
Head coach Derek Fisher wasted little time bringing the 30-year-old up to speed, affording him 30.0 minutes per night. Having already attempted 59 shots, he's not there to watch Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
He's a low-ceiling option, but Afflalo has a steady starter role, favorable matchup and a cheap price ($4,300) working in his favor.
Justise Winslow, SF, Miami Heat ($4,000)
Rookie Justise Winslow has slowly dipped his feet into the NBA waters, averaging 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Against the winless Philadelphia 76ers, the 19-year-old neophyte could receive a massive opportunity to shine.
According to the Miami Heat's official Twitter page, starting small forward Luol Deng missed Friday's practice:
The previous night, he shot 1-of-7 against the Sacramento Kings, so there's no reason to rush an ill 30-year-old against the league's worst team. Instead, it behooves the Heat to trot out Winslow versus a decrepit 76ers squad led by former Duke teammate Jahlil Okafor.
Philadelphia has allowed the NBA's second-most DraftKings points to small forwards. Making the matchup even sweeter, the undersized, turnover-happy team profiles perfectly as someone the physical Winslow can expose.
Even if Deng starts, Winslow should log extended time off the bench. For $4,000, he's a low-risk, high-reward flier.
Tristan Thompson, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,800)
Cleveland has issues beyond its injured point guards. Banged up down low as well, the team officially announced that center Timofey Mozgov will miss at least 10 days due to a sprained right deltoid.
Tristan Thompson can't match Mozgov's towering stature, but the prolific rebounder should now grab double-digit boards in a featured role. His 20.1 rebound percentage ranks No. 9 among players logging at least 20 minutes a night. According to Basketball-Reference.com, he has snatched up 10.6 rebounds per 36 minutes over his career.
With Mozgov leaving Thursday's game early, Thompson registered 12 points and 11 boards through 26 minutes. When given a spotlight, he'll make more double-double bids. Through 15 starts last season, he fell just shy with 12.6 points and 9.7 boards per bout.
Atlanta has allowed 11.9 offensive rebounds per game, pitting its weakness against Thompson's greatest strength. Take him out for a spin before his price fully reflects his new circumstances.
Hassan Whiteside, C, Miami Heat ($8,300)
OK, Hassan Whiteside isn't a bargain-bin option, especially when compared to the significantly cheaper choices above. Among all centers, only Drummond ($9,900) costs more than the volatile Miami Heat big man, who requires an $8,300 investment.
Given his sky-high upside against the 76ers, he's still a value pick.
Over the last 10 games, Whiteside has twice hovered above 55 DraftKings points while once dipping below 30. At his worst, he's an overvalued source of rebounds with sporadic scoring and shot-blocking. At his best, he's a triple-double candidate, as witnessed by his 22-point, 14-rebound, 10-block Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Putrid in all facets of basketball, Philadelphia has coughed up the fourth-most rebounds and second-most blocks. According to RotoWire.com, centers have swatted 3.9 shots per game. Whiteside, who comfortably leads the league with 4.6 blocks per tilt, should host a massive block party in South Beach on Saturday evening.
Advanced stats courtesy of NBA.com, updated as of Friday night, unless otherwise noted.
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