MIlwaukee Bucks @ Los Angeles Clippers
Spread: LAC -2.5
O/U: 231.5
Injuries
Bucks
Bobby Portis - OUT
P.J. Tucker - OUT
Rodions Kurucs - OUT
Clippers
Serge Ibaka - OUT
Patrick Beverley - OUT
Rajon Rondo - OUT
Jay Scrubb - OUT
MVP/CPT
Look, the guys has had a couple of bad games in a row, but are we not going to still recognize him as one of the best fantasy assets in the game today? The back-to-back league MVP? You’re kidding with yourself if you’re not interested here. He’s a walking triple-double and despite the fact that Clippers do have some stout defenders, when Antetokounmpo gets going, it doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the floor.
The Bucks have been exploitable this year against small-forwards and that’s where Leonard is spending most of his time as MIL is 24th against the position, which is actually the best advantage anyone in this game has. We know Leonard is one of the league’s best players and has averaged 44.1 DKP/game over his last four. He’s also already put up 45.8 DKP against Milwaukee once this year and is a prime candidate to go for 50-plus tonight.
With Patrick Beverley hurt for most of this season, opposing teams have hurt the Clippers from the point-guard spot as they rank 22nd against the position this year in terms of DvP. On the year, Holiday is averaging 1.03 FP/min when Bobby Portis has been off the floor and he’s a sneaky captain option if you’re trying to cram the likes of Antetokounmpo and Leonard in your builds.
Mid-Tier
Someone we’ve been fond of using with Serge Ibaka off the floor this year has been Zubac. Over the last five games, Zubac has averaged 26.3 minutes and 29.1 DKP/game. He was well on his way to his fourth straight 30+ DKP outing but was in some foul trouble and only played 22 minutes last time out. I’m trusting him here against Brook Lopez and company and locking him in for a double-double.
With No Bobby Portis tonight, Lopez finds himself as the team's only center and poised to play 30 minutes here. Each of the last two times Lopez has topped 30 minutes he’s put up 30 or more DKP. With Portis off the floor Lopez averages .86 FP/min, which isn’t anything to write home about, but that’s very solid.
Value Tier
Even with Kawhi Leonard returning to the Clippers lineup last time out, Mann played 28 minutes and it was a competitive game. Mann has averaged 27.2 minutes and 27.6 DKP/game over his last five. Mann’s a GREAT rebounding guard, contributing 10+ boards in two-of-four games.
The Clippers, with Ivica Zubac in foul trouble, went small a lot in this game and Batum wound up playing north of 30 minutes. He’s now topped 30 minutes in two straight despite being moved to the bench. He’s not a high usage player, or even a moderately high usage player, but he stuffs the box score and does a little bit of everything.
Could we possibly see extended run out of Antetokounmpo here considering both Portis and Tucker are both out? I think that’s a reasonable thought and we saw he’s more than capable of producing when given run just the last time out.