CHEAP PLAYS
Austin Rivers- If you are looking for a very cheap option than Rivers is your guy. He is averaging 10.5 points, 2.5 assist, 1.8 steals in 22 minutes in the last 4 games. He won’t do anything special, but should exceed his value.
Gerald Wallace- It has taken a while for me to come to terms that Wallace actually has some fantasy value. He has played 40+ minutes in two of the last three games while averaging 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assist, and 2.6 steals during those three games. He is only $3,800 on DraftKings, but is also cheap on other sites. He could have another solid game vs the Knicks tonight so make sure to get him in your lineups.
VALUE PLAYS
Marc Gasol- Hasn’t had too many big games since he came back from injury which is why his price tag is so low (only $12,587 on DS). However, Marc should have a great game tonight as the Grizzlies battle the Blazers so he will play heavy minutes and be heavily involved in the offense. This is going to be a breakout game for Gasol so don’t be scared to start him.
Tyson Chandler- This depends on what site you play on as he is cheap on DKs and Fanduel, but expensive on DS. Chandler should dominate a weak Boston frontcourt tonight. He has a double-double in three of the last five games ( both games he didn’t record a double-double were blowouts) and averaged 11. 6 points, 14 rebounds, & 1.3 blocks in those three games.
Arron Afflalo – This is one of my man crushes for multiple reasons: He won’t kill your budget, has scored 23+ points in two straight games, Detroit can’t guard anyone, his name is fun to say, and will always play big minutes. He will be in most of lineups tonight.
Andrew Bogut- He faltered last time I talked about him, so hopefully that doesn’t happen again. Bogut had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assist, 4 blocks, & 2 steals in only 25 minutes last time he faced Washington which was good enough for 44 FPTs.
EXPENSIVE PLAYS
John Wall- He played poorly last game, but that has more to do with the fact it was their fourth game in six nights. Wall should feast tonight vs Golden State as Stephen Curry doesn’t play much defense. Of course, I would rather start Curry than Wall, but Wall is cheaper and easier to fit in lineups than Curry is. He should easily reach 45 FPTs with the potential for much more.
Anthony Davis- Mind boggling look at this dude’s stats: He has 4 blocks or more in four straight games, has had 2 or more steals in four straight games, and has averaged 19.8 points & 10.8 rebounds in the last four games. Also, Cleveland has the worst Defensive Efficiency vs PF’s in the league. Everything about A.D. tonight screams must play.
A WORD OF CAUTION
Detroit big men- They face Orlando tonight who are dreadful vs big men, but I am scared about Drummond though. He got benched last game and didn’t even seem like he was breaking a sweat when he was on the court. Greg Monroe, Josh Smith, and Andre Drummond could all have monster games, but be warned as they could also take a huge dump on your lineup.
Anderson Varejao- I try to star any center playing vs the Pelicans because they literally have D-leaguers for centers. Varejao is questionable tonight with a knee contusion, but I would use him he starts. If he doesn’t, then Tyler Zeller makes for a great start tonight. He did produce 8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 2 steals two games ago when he got 22 minutes of playing time vs Milwaukee.
Player News
Brandin Podziemski had 11 points (3-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist and four steals in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Podziemski was 3-of-14 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. His 22.5 field goal percentage in this series is the worst for any player (min. 35 attempts) since Pero Antic shot 16.7 percent in the Hawks vs. Pacers series in 2014, according to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. Down 3-1 in the series now, the Warriors need Stephen Curry to return from his hamstring injury for Game 5, a miracle or both to get back in this series.
Jimmy Butler had 14 points (5-of-9 FGs), six rebounds, three assists and one block in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Despite the Warriors win in Game 1, Butler warned in postgame interviews that Stephen Curry is the team’s best player and it was going to be difficult to win games without him. After what’s transpired over the last three games, which the Warriors have all lost, he might’ve been underselling it. Butler wasn’t able to fill Curry’s shoes in Game 4. In fact, he was a team-worst -30 in 34 minutes in the seven-point loss. The Warriors will have their backs against the wall facing elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Julius Randle had 31 points (11-of-21 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers in Game 4 against the Warriors on Monday.
Anthony Edwards had 30 points (11-of-21 FGs), four rebounds, five assists, two steals and six three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-110 victory over the Warriors in Game 4 on Monday.
Derrick White had 23 points (6-of-12 FGs), three rebounds, two assists and six three-pointers against the Knicks in Game 4 on Monday.
White was the Celtics second leading scorer in Game 4, but he was the only consistent scorer for Boston outside of Jayson Tatum. The 30-year-old point guard got all of his points on six three-pointers and five free throws. Unfortunately for the Celtics it wasn’t enough as Boston was trailing when Tatum went down with a lower leg injury in the final minutes, essentially taking a comeback off the table. The Celtics will look to stave off elimination with their backs against the wall at home in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Jayson Tatum had 42 points (16-of-28 FGs), eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, two blocks and seven three-pointers against the Knicks in Game 4 on Monday.