Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DFS Must-Starts for Each Position for Dec. 16
Today, the NBA is featuring a hefty 11-game slate. But one game, the one that features Basketball Reference's second- and third-fastest-paced teams in the league, should be especially entertaining.
On November 27 in Phoenix, the Warriors and Suns raced to a combined 251 points and 32 made threes.
However, despite putting up 135 and resting every starter in the fourth quarter, head coach Luke Walton and power forward Draymond Green expressed concern for the then-17-0 Warriors' offense after the game because they turned the ball over 24 times.
Imagine how many points the Warriors could have scored without all those turnovers.
Tonight they'll get an opportunity to be the first team to top 150 in regulation since, according to Statmuse, Phoenix did it in 2010.
Wouldn't that be fun!
Though most guys in this game are expensive on DraftKings, they're still value plays. The increased pace of play will lead to more points, threes, rebounds, steals and, consequently, more fantasy points. As a kicker, Ron Kroichick of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Warriors are much more likely to use their small-ball lineup and push the pace over their upcoming homestand. The reason? Only five games in the next 13 days.
Point Guard: Steph Curry ($10,700) vs. Suns
Here's Steph's first quarter line from the last time the Warriors played the Suns: 19 points, six assists, one turnover, five made threes, 31 fantasy points. That's a great game for most players in the league.
Coming off the first loss of the season, against what remains the worst defense against point guards in the league, according to DraftKings, Curry should cruise to a 55-point fantasy night.
Others: John Wall ($9,500) at Spurs, Trey Burke ($4,300) vs. Pelicans, Brandon Knight ($7,500) at Warriors
Shooting Guard: Gary Neal ($4,200) at Spurs
Gary Neal's first trip back to San Antonio as a Wizard should be pretty fun. Neal's minutes have increased during the recent rash of injuries that Washington has suffered. Though Garrett Temple has been starting in place of Bradley Beal, Neal has consistently played more minutes, taken more shots and scored more fantasy points.
Per DraftKings, Gary Neal has exceeded his value in four of his last six games. He's taken nine or more shots in all six, and he's made multiple three-pointers in five of his last seven contests.
According to Basketball Reference, San Antonio defends better than anyone in the league, and this season they're back to playing the slow pace they relied on heavily in the early 2000s. But Neal is cheap, and he's a knockdown shooter. Washington will need him to shoot and make threes to keep this close. I'm betting on the former Spur.
Others: Raymond Felton ($5,200) at Pacers, Klay Thompson ($6,600) vs. Suns, Alec Burks ($5,000) vs. Pelicans, Eric Bledsoe ($8,400) at Warriors
Small Forward: Kent Bazemore ($5,400) vs. 76ers,
According to Statmuse, Kent Bazemore is playing nearly 28 minutes per game this season. Tonight he'll take the floor at home against the 1-25 Sixers.
Bazemore is a Swiss-army player who shoots the long ball (multiple made threes in four of his last five games), rebounds his position and makes his free throws.
It's always difficult to play studs against Philadelphia, because you're unsure if the game will be close at the start of the fourth quarter. The reason I love Bazemore is that he should play deep into the fourth regardless of the final score.
Also, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Nerlens Noel will not play tonight against the Hawks. Noel is Philly's best interior defender, and his absence should open up the driving lanes for guys like Bazemore.
Others: Kawhi Leonard ($8,600) vs. Wizards, Nicolas Batum ($7,600) at Magic, Matt Barnes ($5,100) at Bulls
Power Forward: Jon Leuer ($5,900) at Warriors
For the first time in his young career, Jon Leuer is getting some extended playing time. Guess what? He's notched 25 or more fantasy points in six straight games.
Though Leuer doesn't take many threes, he has some range and defenders have to play him honest. That allows for Suns guards to penetrate into the lane without fear of Leuer's defender helping off of him.
There's a good chance the Suns match the Warriors' small-ball unit with one of their own, and I'd venture a guess that the 6'10" power forward will get a ton of minutes at center.
Others: Blake Griffin ($9,000) vs. Clippers, Draymond Green ($8,500), Paul Millsap ($8,000) vs. 76ers, Hollis Thompson ($3,600) at Hawks
Center: Miles Plumlee ($3,000) at Clippers
According to Charles Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Greg Monroe missed last night's game with soreness in his knee and will be re-evaluated today. If he doesn't play, Plumlee is a great value against a Clippers team that allows the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing centers, according to DraftKings.
Plumlee played 24 minutes and scored 21.5 fantasy points against the Lakers last night.
Others: Hassan Whiteside ($6,600) at Nets, Marc Gasol ($7,400) at Bulls, Pau Gasol ($7,800) vs. Grizzlies
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