Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns
Spread: PHX -9
O/U: 213
Injuries
Lakers
LeBron James - OUT
Anthony Davis - OUT
Marc Gasol - QUEST
Jared Dudley - OUT
Suns
Torrey Craig - QUEST
MVP/CPT
The Lakers don’t have anyone to really slow Booker down here, so he should get where he wants on the floor offensively. Booker’s been up and down lately, but we’re talking about the team's leading member in USG and point per game, which sits at 25.1. Booker poured in 17 points and 34.8 DKP in just 23 minutes against the Lakers earlier in the year.
There are big shoes to fill with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis being out and Harrell is seemingly the team's go-to offensive weapon with them both out. Harrell leads in USG (28.1%) and FP/min (1.34). Harrell has scored 17+ actual and 34 DKP in five-of-six games. Harrell should be extended 30+ minutes per night while James/Davis are out.
Here’s my sneaky captain of the group. The Lakers have been struggling to defend big men without Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol around and now that they cut Damion Jones, Montrezl Harrell , Markieff Morris and Kyle Kuzma . Ayton has topped 30 DKP in six of his last 10 games and this one feels like a ceiling game.
Mid-Tier
It’s very hard not to love Kuzma for the duration of Davis and James’ absence and he’s expensive, but there’s enough value to make it work here. Kuzma has a 23% USG rate and averages .95 FP/min without them this year. Kuzma has scored in double-figures in six of his last seven games.
Sure Cam Johnson is back, but Bridges is playing some fantastic basketball right now, contributing across the board statistically too. He’s put up 36+ DKP in two straight and has given us a nice floor of 24+ in seven-of-10 games. Bridges is a great defender and is contributing a lot of steals lately, notching one of more in six straight and in nine-of-10.
Value Tier
How much, if any, will THT’s role change, is the question. He’s a very talented scorer, which we’ve gotten to see in three-of-four games scoring 12+ actual points. He has a robust 27.6% USG and averages 1.16 FP/min without James and Davis on the floor. He could start, but is in play either way.
Let’s face it, Morris should be thrusted into a big time role with James out of the lineup. After playing 20 or fewer minutes in three straight games, Morris played 27 in the game LeBron James left. He’s been a very productive player when given the opportunity and has put up 20+ DKP in three straight, even in two games of limited playing time.
It’s been up and down of late and I hate that Langston Galloway has reentered the equation, but Payne has GPP winning upside that we’ve seen on display multiple times recently. He can fill it up and FAST. In four of Payne's last six games, he’s put up 20+ DKP and twice has topped 30. He plays anywhere from 17-to-24 minutes and that’s all he needs to be productive.