NBA DFS Showdown Playbook: Pacers @ Lakers

 

 

 

LeBron James - PROB

Kyle Kuzma - PROB

Damian Jones - PROB

Jared Dudley - PROB

Anthony Davis - OUT

Marc Gasol - OUT

 

 

Caris LeVert - OUT

T.J. Warren - OUT

 

 

 

We know James can exploit any match-up and tonight is no different. James has a 33.6% USG and 1.48 FP/min without Anthony Davis this season. James headed into the All-Star break scoring 59+ DKP in two-of-three games and has put up 50+ in seven-of-10 overall. Shouldn’t have to do much convincing here.

 

 

Why isn’t Sabonis shooting? That’s ultimately the question. He’s only taken more than 12 shots in one of his last six games and Indiana is very banged up and needs him to be more assertive offensively. That said, he had a triple-double in the game prior to the All-Star break and we’ve seen him drop 60 FP in a game on multiple occasions this season. The Lakers are thin up front with Markieff Morris , Kyle Kuzma , Montrezl Harrell and Damian Jones the four tasked with guarding him. Advantage Sabonis.

 

 

 

I love attacking Dennis Schroder 's defense and he’s tasked with guarding Brogdon this evening. Advantage Brogdon. With Oladipo (traded) and Warren (hurt) off the floor this year, Brogdon has a 27% USG rate and averages 1.08 FP/min. He’s definitely in an advantageous spot this evening and is the best mid-tier option we have on this showdown slate.

 

Dennis Schroder  

 

With Anthony Davis out, it’s LeBron James then it’s Dennis Schroder as the second option offensively on most nights. Schroder is second in usage at 25.2% and averages a very strong .96 FP/min. Schroder has put up at least 30 FP in four-of-five games and seven of his last 10 as well.

 

 

With both Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol out, Harrell figures to play a prominent role for the Lakers. We have seen glimpses of what he can do off the Lakers bench this year, especially in the game before the break as he went for 26 points, 12 rebounds and 25 DKP. If you’re playing cash games on this slate Harrell is very risky due to how often his minutes fluctuate. 

 

 

I think a lot of people will use Markieff Morris tonight and that’s fine, I will too, but tournament leverage shifts Kuzma’s way. We know Kuzma is a very elite offensive weapon when he gets going. He’s also a very good rebounder notching three straight games of 11 or more. Kuzma has a lot of tricks up his sleeve to produce in fantasy and tonight feels like one of those big outings.

 

 

 

If you want consistency with a litttttle bit of upside, Holiday is your man. He plays 30+ minutes a night and puts up 20+ FP. In fact he’s accomplished both 30+ minutes and 20+ FP in nine of his last 10 games. He’s even topped 30 DKP twice in that span. Holiday isn’t anyone we consider a high usage player, but he’s skilled in multiple facets of the game and on both sides of the ball.

 

 

The Lakers continue to roll out starting lineups featuring Morris and he keeps producing. He’s put up 23 or more fantasy points in three straight while playing at least 24 minutes in all three. The Pacers aren’t a great defensive unit up front as they rank 19th against the power-forward this season.