Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DFS DraftKings Best Player Picks December 20
We'll focus on two sets of teammates who should thrive in their respective matchups on Sunday. Let's jump right into it.
Kyle Lowry ($8,300), DeMar DeRozan ($7,200) vs. Kings
The Wizards embarrassed Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan in the first round of the playoffs last year. This season, the Lowry-DeRozan tandem is putting up big, efficient numbers for a formidable Raptors team. Both players have usage rates over 27 percent, per Basketball-Reference.com. They combine to assist on 51 percent of the team's made field goals while they're on the floor.
Both Lowry and DeRozan can score and create buckets in a multitude of ways, but they excel when driving to the hoop. Per NBA.com's player tracking data, the Raptors' starting backcourt averages a combined 20.9 drives per game—the most for any starting backcourt in the league. Both guys draw contact well and rank in the top eight in made free throws, according to Basketball-Reference.
Recently, DeRozan has been especially hot. He's posted 35 or more fantasy points in six straight contests, and with the Kings coming into town, he'll likely do it again. Sacramento plays at the third-fastest pace in the league and allows the second-most points per game, according to Basketball-Reference. They also allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards coming into Sunday's game, according to RotoGrinders.
Michael Carter-Williams ($6,000), Khris Middleton ($5,500), Greg Monroe ($7,200) at Suns
The Bucks play at the third-slowest pace in the league, but they have shown a tendency to run with teams that like an uptempo pace. Against the Warriors, they played at a blistering pace and scored 70 points in the first half on Friday.
The Suns love to run. They play at the second-fastest pace in the league and just allowed an astonishing 69 points in one 18-minute stretch to the Warriors on Wednesday.
Michael Carter-Williams, or MCW, can't shoot. He's a career 25 percent three-point shooter and 30 percent shooter from 16 feet up to the three-point line, per Basketball-Reference. However, there's nobody else in Milwaukee to take his minutes.
Greivis Vasquez and Jerryd Bayless are hurt, so MCW played 39 minutes in each of the last two games. With the increase in minutes, the Bucks guard has exceeded value in four straight games.
Khris Middleton will love playing in the desert. He's the team's only real three-point threat. The Suns don't defend the arc so well. Per TeamRankings, opponents score nearly 28 points per game on threes and shoot 37.4 percent from downtown against Phoenix, tied for the fourth-worst mark in the league. On Wednesday, the Suns gave up eight threes to Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson.
Because of a minor leg injury, Greg Monroe has only played in two games since December 12. Both were against the NBA's best team, and Monroe filled up the stat sheet in each contest. The Suns emulate the Warriors' frenetic style, and Monroe seems quite comfortable in games like that. He should cruise to a double-double and toss in a few assists for good measure.
Other Values
- Jameer Nelson ($5,200) vs. Pelicans
- Anthony Davis ($10,300) at Nuggets
- Al Horford ($6,600) at Magic
- Brook Lopez ($6,700) vs. Timberwolves
- Channing Frye ($3,800) vs. Hawks
- Ryan Anderson ($5,900) at Nuggets
- Ed Davis ($4,300) at Heat
Enter the DraftKings $35K Sharpshooter contest this weekend. Use the promo code BLEACHER REPORT when you sign up.
