Read on for the top four picks at each position and a sample lineup for tonight’s FanDuel NBA games:
Friday night’s NBA action is unusually light, with just a half-dozen contests highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader that should be a ratings coup, starting with the NYC area teams facing off and culminating in an inter-conference tilt between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Cleveland Cavaliers, a/k/a “Brow vs. Bron-Bron.”
When the network booked the Brooklyn Nets – New York Knicks match-up for game one, it was probably just a ploy to target the top media market since this was undoubtedly anticipated as a battle for local supremacy between two bottom feeders.
It turns out they were only half right. Even at 9-10, the Knicks have exceeded the pundits’ expectations, largely due to the unexpected emergence of rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis. While the Nets have been serviceable at the Barclays Center, their putrid 1-10 road record isn’t helping them erase the memory of a recent salary binge gone bad.
From a Fantasy NBA standpoint, Porzingis should continue to have high ownership despite his cost’s ascension from budget buy to well above the mean of $6,666; however the Nets have been fourth toughest on FanDuel against opposing power forwards, so tonight should actually be a test as to how close he is to must-start status.
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The Lopez vs. Lopez battle makes for a cheesy Star Wars-themed preview but Brook is probably not the best option tonight since the Knicks are middle of the pack vs. opposing centers, and while the Nets are weaker in that regard, his brother Robin isn’t much of a producer for DFS purposes.
From the Knicks’ side, the offense is more likely to come from Carmelo Anthony than Porzingis given the Nets’ vulnerability against opposing 3s (seventh worst on FanDuel), so he should be worthy of his relatively high cost as a secondary building block.
The value play could be the Nets’ Jarrett Jack, who was a tremendous college player but he’s been more of a journeyman as a pro. Still, the former Yellow Jacket has been given the keys to his team’s offense and he has broken the 30 fantasy point plateau in two of his last three games.
The Knicks are in the bottom third against opposing point guards on FanDuel NBA. so Jack could be one of the better plays tonight, even though he will be under the radar while the camera is focused on the Melo and Zinger show.
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