NBA Sports Betting Quick Links
With guys like Russell Westbrook and James Harden dropping 60+ fantasy point games, they will be staples in the lineups for many of us. But... To grab those players, value is crucial in NBA, just like any other DFS sport. Value opens up through injuries, site pricing, and rotational changes. We are staying on top of the ever changing rotation, and injury news on a daily basis. Value plays will be given based on game type, and also mid-range options in comparison to the top-priced guys. Sometimes value doesn't mean a near punt price, but a few thousand dollar difference from a Stephen Curry.
Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade is out for the season, and Paul Zipser will draw the starts, but he is a guy I have zero interest in. Denzel Valentine is the preferred out of the two, if you need to steep down to a punt value on tonight's slate, which you likely don't have to, but it's an option. Cameron Payne is out as well, so minutes are up for grabs. Valentine has averaged 11-6-2 over the last two games, seeing around nine field goal attempts in each, most coming from three. Rajon Rondo is back to fantasy relevance, and is at a really nice price on FanDuel ($5,800), while he is a bit more expensive on DraftKings ($6,500). He has played 34 and 35 minutes in the last two games, registering two near triple doubles. Scoring 37 points between the two games is odd for Rondo, but Chicago will need that production with the lack of offense. Nikola Mirotic has come out of the doghouse the last two games, playing 27 and 28 minutes. He has surpassed value in both games, but it is tough to see if he can get a consistent run of games and minutes. I like Mirotic as a tournament option tonight.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix decided to pull the plug on Eric Bledsoe for the season, which means Tyler Ulis will see plenty of run with the starters. Ulis is likely to be tonight's most highly used player, as he should be. Orlando is in the bottom half against opposing point guards, and Phoenix has a top five team total on tonight's slate. Ulis still carries a ton of value, and use him before the price starts to creep out of value range. Ronnie Price will likely serve as a backup, as the Brandon Knight status is up in the air. He refused to play when asked against the Kings. Devin Booker and T.J. Warren will remain great mid-range options in all formats. I have a hard time getting away from Alan Williams, who is only $5,800 on FanDuel. $6,300 on DraftKings isn't bad either, but is more of a mid-range option. Orlando is in the bottom ten against centers, and in rebounding. Williams has eight double doubles in the last ten games, and four games with two or more blocks. Marquese Chriss remains a tournament only option, and one to consider.
Boston Celtics
Isaiah Thomas is out tonight, and against the Nets, that opens up value for all in the best matchup of the night. The entire starting five receives a bump in usage with him off of the floor. Marcus Smart sees the biggest bump, with a near 5% increase in usage, and minutes will be sure around 30. Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley both see about a 3% increase in usage, while Al Horford is around 2.5%. With all these names under $7,000 and Boston having the second highest team total on the night, they are elite plays. Smart carries more points per dollar return on DraftKings, where he is only $4,900.
The Rest
Those teams offer up a ton of value, but there are a few other names who are in decent spots as well. Ivica Zubac has entered the starting lineup, and will for the remainder of the season. Zubac has shown the floor and ceiling over his few starts, resulting in a foul trouble game against Houston, and a sky high ceiling game against Denver. Milwaukee is a good spot for him to bounce back. They are bottom ten in rebounding and against centers. Brandon Ingram is only $4,400 on FanDuel, where I would look at him only. Milwaukee is in the bottom half against small forwards. Ingram doesn't have a high FPPM, but has scored over 20 FanDuel points in five of the last six games. Tobias Harris and Aaron Gordon are two power forwards I have some interest in for a value aspect. Gordon draws an easier matchup against Phoenix, who rank bottom ten against power forwards. Harris is expected to start for the rest of the season, and is up against Toronto, who have improved against power forwards a bit with the Serge Ibaka trade. Harris' minutes are back to around 30, and his production has been solid.
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