As I mentioned recently on NBA Odds Pod, Chris Giordani and I will be doing NBA Daily Fantasy Picks every weekday in December! Like all of our content on SportsGamblingPodcast.com, it will be completely free. No subscription needed!
I’m tackling the first week and then Chris and I will be alternating on some kind of schedule that we still need to figure out.
Feel free to hit me up @TheRyanMcKee to let me know what I’ve missed, what’s working, and what more you’d like read. Hit up Chris on Twitter @TopherSquints.
Today, I’ve made up some new rankings … ya know, to keep things fun. Ranking the players as shoes:
- Yeezys: High-priced players that are worth paying up for because they’ll make noise. (aka studs)
- Jordans: Staples that are solid, hard to go wrong with picking. (aka chalk)
- Chuck Taylors: Cheap, cool in some situation, but don’t expect too much, they’re made of canvas. (aka punts)
Yeezys
Luka Doncic – PG/SF, DAL @ NO ($11,300)
What can I say about the 20-year-old Matador that hasn’t already been said ad nauseam already this season? Swaggy L (I’m using all his nicknames from Basketball Reference) averaged a triple-double last month and has failed to reach 5x value just twice in Dallas’ 15 games. Cool Hand Luka is a lock any night he plays, especially against a Pelicans team that seems to be waiting to play any defense until Zion returns.
Start with The Don in your lineup and figure the rest out later. Wonder Boy will not disappoint.
Russell Westbrook – PG, HOU @ SAS ($8,800)
Alpha Russ has done the previously unthinkable and actually taken a backseat to a teammate this season. Sure, his numbers are down since becoming James Harden’s Robin, but he’s more than worth the $8,800 on DK.
He still has three triple-doubles this season and is averaging 22.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game and he’s shooting 53.1% in the last two games. The Spurs suck right now and game total is set at 234.
Brandon Ingram, SF/PF, NO @ DAL ($8,100)
Brando’s salary took meth on Sunday and spiked up to $9.1K, but it’s back to where it should be now. No doubt he’s in for a great game tonight. He’s seeing tons of usage. In the 15 games where Ingram’s been able to log at least 15 minutes of action, he’s exceeded 40.0 DKFP 13 different times. He’s also yet to score fewer than 20 points in any of those 15 contests.
Mr. Skinny scores buckets and with a high game total predicted for tonight, he’s a must-play. Also, he’s perfect game-stack to go with Doncic.
Jordans
Luke Kennard – SG/SF, DET @ CLE ($5,900)
You can go Derrick Rose here too … who actually has more usage when he’s on the floor, but I’m leaning Kennard. The American Cool Hand has at least 20 points and over 30 DKFP in three of his past four games coming into a great matchup with the Cavs.
Thomas Bryant – PF/C, ORL @ WAS ($5,600)
Win or lose (usually lose), the Wizards have been putting up tons of offense. Orlando has been a good defensive team, but I see the overmatched Washington team doing their best to run them off the floor. That’s where Thomas the Tank Engine comes in. With Nikola Vucevic still out with an angle injury, Bryant will have more room and the Magic are already weak against the position. Expect a double double and then some in this one.
Khem Birch – C, ORL @ WAS ($4,700)
Birch has started five straight games with Vooch out. While he started slow, The Tree has grown roots now and is branching out. He had 26.0 DKFP against the Raptors on Friday and followed that with 29.5 DKFP against the Warriors Sunday. He pulled down double-digit rebounds in each of those games. In a good matchup, Birch should be able to keep rolling and provide solid value if he gets the minutes (which he should).
Chuck Taylors
Moe Harkless – SF/PF, POR @ LAC ($3,300)
Flaming Moe should get some run against his former team tonight. REVENGE GAME? Sure, why not? JaMychal Green is banged up. Rodney McGruder and Landry Shamet are both out. Someone has to take up those minutes on the wing and guard Zombie Melo. I like Ninja Moe a lot in this spot and will be putting him in a bunch of lineups.
Jalen Brunson – PG/SG, DAL @ NO ($3,0o0)
This is a bit more of a dart throw for GPPs. Playing behind Luka, Bruson hasn’t gotten much shine and his price tag reflects that. HOWEVER, he’s still been a solid source of of cheap fantasy points. The Pelicans are dead last versus opposing point guards. I’ll definitely be throwing out some lineups tonight stacking Jalen and Luka. Who knows? Luka could put the game so out of hand that Jalen plays the whole fourth quarter.
