Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: Best DFS NBA DraftKings Daily Values for Dec. 19
The Chicago Bulls lost 147-144 in quadruple overtime on Friday night at home against the Detroit Pistons. That would traditionally mean DraftKings players should steer clear of the roster for their Saturday-night tilt in the Big Apple against the New York Knicks.
That's a good idea, as it pertains to the likes of Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol. The trio combined to play 158 minutes in the thrilling defeat. It would be foolish to depend on any of them to come back with an efficient performance after logging so many minutes the night before.
That said, their backups should get an opportunity to shine while the stars rest. Rose, Butler and Gasol will likely start, but per his post-game media conference on Comcast SportsNet, Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said: "some guys who didn't play a lot of minutes tonight will have to step up for us tomorrow."
That would be the inroad for DraftKings players to find some value for low-cost players.
There's three Bulls who should be looked to for some low-risk, high-reward performances:
Aaron Brooks ($3,400)
When asked to fill in for Rose for an extended period during the 2014-15 season, Aaron Brooks put together a solid season. This year, his minutes have been a little more spotty, but his production has been excellent when he has been on the floor.
Per 36 minutes, Brooks is averaging 19.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists. Brooks only played 12 minutes against the Pistons. Thus he should see a temporary minutes increase to spell Rose, who played a season-high 54 minutes. It was the second most he's played in his career.
He played 55 minutes in a loss to the Miami Heat during the 2008-09 season, his rookie campaign. Rose had perhaps his best game of the season with 34 points, four rebounds and eight assists, but it's very possible Hoiberg pulls the reins on him a bit on Saturday in an effort to keep him fresh and healthy.
The Bulls are still going to need scoring, and Brooks is the best option for offense at the point guard spot behind Rose.
Doug McDermott ($3,700)
Throughout this season, Doug McDermott has been an inconsistent fantasy performer. He's had just one stretch this year that produced back-to-back 20-plus-fantasy-point performances.
When he gets the time on the floor, he's proved he will drain threes at a high rate and score decently.
He's shooting just under 45 percent from three-point range this season and averaging 9.6 points per contest. He struggled defensively in pick-and-roll sequences against the Pistons' Reggie Jackson and in one-on-one spots against Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
That limited him to just 22 minutes in Friday night's marathon. Hoiberg will have to play him extended time on Saturday. Tony Snell played an elongated 33 minutes in the loss, and he made only one of his seven shots from the floor. That should produce more minutes for McDermott on Saturday.
Count on him getting at least 25 minutes and a good number of looks from deep against the Knicks.
Nikola Mirotic ($4,800)
Another potentially productive Bull who should get his opportunity to step up on Saturday is Nikola Mirotic.
After scoring five points and grabbing as many rebounds in 24 minutes on Friday, Mirotic should see solid minutes at power forward behind Taj Gibson. The latter played 44 minutes against the Pistons.
Mirotic is still trying to regain the flow he had established for a stretch during the 2014-15 season. Like McDermott, he has been inconsistent. That said, he should have some adequate looks from the perimeter against the Knicks.
Mirotic should draw Kristaps Porzingis on occasion on defensive. If Mirotic can get his jump shot off over the long arm of the young Latvian, he might just have a shooting touch that makes him a deadly offensive player.
Enes Kanter ($4,400)
The Oklahoma City Thunder's Enes Kanter can be a beast on the glass. He's averaging 7.9 rebounds per game in just 20.1 minutes of action per contest. Saturday night's matchup should be right up Kanter's alley. The Thunder host the lowly Los Angeles Lakers.
L.A. is among the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. Per ESPN.com, it also allows the most offensive rebounds per game at 12.3. Aside from the favorable matchup, Kanter has also been markedly better at home.
Per DraftKings.com, Kanter is averaging 25.2 fantasy points per game to 18.5 on the road. It would be a shock if Thunder head coach Billy Donovan doesn't look to get Kanter in the game.
Larry Nance Jr. ($3,600)
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott has inserted rookie Larry Nance Jr. into his starting lineup in place of second-year player Julius Randle. Over the last three games, Nance is averaging a respectable 17.5 fantasy points per game. It seems clear when you watch him, he is just starting to gain confidence that he can compete on this level.
He's been finishing around the rim with authority, and that aggressiveness is going to lead to more time on the floor.
On the road against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Nance put up a career-high 20.8 fantasy points in the 107-87 loss. The performance marked the best three-game stretch of the year for the rookie. If he can maintain that pace on Saturday against the Thunder, he'll be worth far more than $3,600 in DK cash.
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All DraftKings salaries per official website.
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