What’s up, everyone? Hope y’all are having a great day! We have a short but sweet 8 game slate, with lots of different directions we can go to get this bread! At first look this morning, it appears to be a Memphis Grizzlies heavy day due to the absence of Brooks and Melton. In this article, I’m going to highlight my favorite GPP plays at each position. Now it’s time to dive into the slate!
Point Guard
LaMelo Ball – Melo has been lights out this year and while he does come with the hefty price tag at 10.4k, you know what production you are getting. His minutes are trending up, surpassing 37 minutes played in three of his past four games. As long as LaMelo can keep his hands to himself and avoid foul trouble, he looks to be a great target again today with relatively lower ownership secondary to his elevated price tag on DK. LaMelo has had 44+ DKP in each of the last 4 games and gets a primetime matchup against the Hawks tonight!
Damian Lillard – Dame has had a shaky start to the year shooting, but it seems as if he has finally found his touch and should keep it rolling versus the 76ers, who shouldn’t be able to stop Dame tonight. As a career 43.7% shooter from the field and 37.3% from 3, Dame is currently shooting well below his averages and due for some regression to the mean. I think this is a great buy-low spot with Dame tonight at 9.1K before they start to crank his price up once again after a ceiling game!
Jalen Suggs – Although Suggs will likely come in very chalky on this slate priced at just 3.8k on DK, he is electric and has the ability to fill out the stat sheet, especially when his shot is falling like it was yesterday evening. With Suggs gathering 32 minutes yesterday and being priced at just 3.8k, it shouldn’t take much to easily pay off his value. Suggs is coming off a 38 DKP game but the Magic should need his scoring to stay in the game against the Bucks. Suggs is one of my favorite value plays on the day. Update: Cole Anthony is out, Suggs is now a core play for me.
Other options to consider- RJ Hampton (for leverage off chalk Suggs), Patrick Beverley, Tyus Jones (SNEAKY min price play, should see more minutes)
Shooting Guard
Desmond Bane – We just got word last night that Melton and Dillion Brooks are out. That leaves Morant and Desmond Bane absorbing as much usage as they can handle. Bane gets nearly a 7% bump in usage from 16.8% to 23.7% usage with Melton and Brooks off the floor. Bane is very cheap at 4.5k and gets an up-tempo matchup against the T-Wolves, he’s a great target for tonight.
Luguentz Dort – Dort has been shooting lights out as of late, shooting 54% from the field and nearly 40% from 3 over his last 5 games. At 5k flat on DK, he has seemingly taken the #2 scoring role on OKC, and appears to have really developed his offensive game over the offseason. Look for him to keep it rolling against Boston should the game remain competitive.
Anthony Edwards – Edwards is very scoring reliant but comes with a super safe floor as we have seen him play through blowout on several occasions this year. He is a solid target tonight at 8k flat against Memphis.
Others to consider: Kevin Huerter, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish
Small Forward
Jimmy Butler – Bam did not go through shootaround today, and I expect him to sit once again. That leaves Butler as the primary scorer and ball-handler for the Heat. In addition to being #1 on the team in usage at an absurd 30.8% rating with Bam off the floor, he also gets a date against the cupcake defense of the Wizards tonight. He will be a LOCK for me if Bam is ruled out.
Kyle Anderson – As much as it pains me to say, Slo-Mo joins the rest of the Grizzlies as elite plays on tonight’s slate. He garners a 2% bump in USG to 21.5% with Melton and Brooks off the floor. His minutes will be more secure and we know what he can do as a stat sheet stuffer with boards, assists, and stocks.
Josh Hart – With Devonte Graham just ruled out, Hart will once again be a core play for me, and likely in 100% of my lineups. He is playing north of 35 minutes in close games and has been absolutely destroying his price tag over the past week. I will be locking in Josh Hart at 5100 on DK!
Others to consider: Tyler Herro (if he plays), Franz Wagner (Cole Anthony is out)
Power Forward
Jayson Tatum – Tatum went absolutely nuclear last night and ended with 55 DKP. He is starting to heat up and now gets a matchup against the Thunder that essentially has nobody that can stop him. Tatum has had 50+ DKP in the last two games. Butler and Tatum are two of my favorite spend-ups in GPP’s as well. I will most likely LOCK Tatum tonight.
Chimezie Metu – Metu has been playing around 25-30 minutes the last three games since he has been starting. He isn’t someone that you are rushing to put in your lineup, but with all the good spend-ups on this slate, I think the value is there with Metu.
Bobby Portis – Portis is definitely a safer option tonight, but I feel like his somewhat big price tag will keep people off of him. He plays the Magic tonight. The matchup isn’t great but they will need his size to match up with the large frontcourt of Orlando with Bamba and Carter Jr.
Other options to consider: Tobias Harris, Jarred Vanderbilt, Brandon Clarke (very risky but high upside if he sees the minutes)
Center
Clint Capela – Clint gets an ELITE matchup against the Charlotte Hornets tonight, who have gotten torched by opposing centers. Capela is by far my favorite center play on this slate and is the perfect run back in GPP’s with Lamelo, in an amazing game environment.
Steven Adams – Minutes have been the issue with Steven Adams this season, but with a matchup against KAT, they will likely need his size to try and contain him. He can rack up rebounds in a hurry as long as he is on the court. Adams is not always a guy you are rushing to play, but is cheap and comes with high upside if he stays out of foul trouble.
Others to consider- Dewayne Dedmon (elite if Bam out), Al Horford (Robert Williams is doubtful), Rudy Gobert
As always, good luck Karma Nation, and let’s get this money!
