NBA Pulse: Monday, March 2

The NBA Pulse is constructed to give daily fantasy enthusiasts insight to the most popular picks in a game slate, assessing their viability along the way. In other words, this column is designed to gauge the daily fantasy world's opinion as a whole. We will then take it a step further, telling you when to “join the herd" and when to pivot elsewhere.

Buzz is calculated on a 1-10 scale by considering numerous daily fantasy media outlets picks and general conversation on forums/twitter.

POINT GUARD

The discrepancy in enthusiasm for Chris Paul over Stephen Curry is understandable (given the respective matchups), but it's nonetheless extremely wide. If you want to set yourself apart in tournaments, Curry is a great pivot, or maybe you could load up with value and take a chance on both.

It's clear that Paul and Greivis Vasquez are the popular plays of the day, and they probably represent the safest cash game picks at the position. Ricky Rubio and Tyreke Evans are upper mid-range plays more geared for tournaments.

Keep an eye on Mario Chalmers as well if Goran Dragic ends up missing tonight's game.

SHOOTING GUARD

Jamal Crawford is generating the most buzz, as he's a quality mid-range SG play in all formats.

From here, things get a little more interesting. Dwyane Wade, Lou Williams, and Klay Thompson are all generate a moderate amount of buzz. Wade becomes a better play if Dragic sits out, but he's not essential to lineup configuration by any means. Thompson is a great play on FanDuel (low salary), but I don't think I'd take a chance on him elsewhere. Lou Williams is a risk/reward play, but the great matchup, low price point, plus Lowry's absence vaults him into consideration in all formats.

Perhaps one of the better mid-range picks, DeMar DeRozan, is getting overshadowed. He'll enjoy the same benefits outlined for Mo Williams, and the price tag is depressed.

SMALL FORWARD

It appears that James Johnson is the flavor of choice at SF. Given his low salary ($4,000 on FD particularly), I'm not sure you can fade him in this great matchup.

From here, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green are stirring a moderate amount of conversation. However, we need to check Draymond's status later in the day, as he may be rested tonight. If that's the case, Wiggins would become the best play of the position, and the other two Warriors on the list (Andre Iguodala & Harrison Barnes) would gain consideration as well. I'm not sure they would supersede Johnson though.

POWER FORWARD

Dirk Nowitzki appears to be everyone's safety blanket when it comes to a rough PF pool. With Chandler and Parsons out, that only helps his cause. I'm not seeing much of a reason to go against the grain here, especially in cash games.

I understand Dante Cunningham is getting a ton of minutes, but I'm still not buying it. There's plenty of value at other positions, I don't think you have to bank on a low FP/min producer like Cunningham.

Nerlens Noel is the next best pick, and a nice complement to Nowitzki in cash games. However, he was battling through an injury, and is now playing in a back-to-back situation, so buyer beware.

Obviously, if Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut sit, Mo Speights would supplant Dante Cunningham as a value play.

CENTER

Hassan Whiteside profiles as the best “per dollar" pick, and you can comfortably fit him into a lineup tonight. I don't see much reason to fade him in cash games.

DeAndre Jordan has the highest ceiling of this group, but his price point is at an all-time high as well. That really limits his profit potential, and I would rather pivot the other way for tournaments.

Gorgui Dieng is receiving a lot of buzz in speculation that Nikola Pekovic sits. If that happens, consider Dieng in all formats – especially with a friendly price on DraftKings.

Omer Asik, Spencer Hawes, and Jonas Valanciunas are all receiving a small, but noteworthy amount of buzz. Of those three, Asik compels me the most. I'm not just chasing points in saying that, as Tyson Chandler's absence from an already horrendous rebounding team really plays to Asik's strength.