NBA DFS Showdown Playbook March 12: Wizards vs. Trail Blazers
Published: Mar 12, 2022
Washington Wizards @ Portland Trail Blazers
Total: 220.5
Spread: WAS -6
Washington Wizards Injuries
Kristaps Porzingis - OUT
Portland Trail Blazers Trailblazers
Damian Lillard - OUT
Jusuf Nurkic - OUT
Anfernee Simons - OUT
Justise Winslow - OUT
Nassir Little - OUT
Eric Bledsoe - OUT
MVP/CAPTAIN
With Kristaps Porzingis ruled out, it’s back to being the Kyle Kuzma show in Washington. If you remove all the players that are hurt or have been traded from the floor, Kuma leads the team in USG rate at 29.5% and in FP/min at 1.22. There has been nobody worse in the league than Portland lately either, as they’re 0-6 with the worst DRtg since the All-Star break.
Regardless of how bad Portland has played, Trendon Watford is on the floor. Over the last four games, he’s averaged 30.2 minutes and 31.7 DKP/game. Washington, like Portland, has been dreadful defensively since the All-Star break, ranking 28th in DRtg on the year. Watford has double-double upside here.
We saw the upside Brandon Williams has in his bag just two games ago as he scored 27 points and 49 DKP. With Anfernee Simons ruled out, Portland is going to throw Williams out there for 30+ minutes as long as this game stays competitive. Williams is coming off a poor shooting performance but had 21 & 27 actual points in the two games prior.
UTILITY
Rui Hachimura has been playing more and more lately as he played 26 minutes on Friday and has now played 24+ minutes in three of four games. He’s put up 15+ points and 25+ minutes in each of three games he’s played 24 or more minutes. Now there’s no Kristaps Porzingis and the way is being paved for Hachimura to play even more. He has a 23% USG with the guys that are out and/or have been traded away.
If Josh Hart could make a shot, maybe he’d actually be a little valuable. He has not been good in a Trailblazers uniform and has shot 22% or worse in three straight games. He hasn’t topped 27 DKP in any game since the All-Star break. That said, Portland has been getting blown out every game and they haven’t needed to extend Hart very often. This game could actually be competitive and it’s against the 28th ranked defense since the break.
It’s nights like Friday that will depress a player's ownership of the following slate, so let’s jump back on the bandwagon while most people are exiting. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 30+ DKP in three straight games and now there’s no Kristaps Porzingis involved. KCP could become the team's second offensive option behind Kyle Kuzma tonight.
Keon Johnson has had a steady role with the Trailblazers in the past week as he’s topped 26 minutes in three straight games. He’s made the most of his opportunity putting up 14+ points and 25+ DKP in each of them. Johnson’s going to continue to play plenty off of the bench with Anfernee Simons ruled out.
Corey Kispert is nothing more than a GPP dart. If his shot is falling he’s going to approach and likely top 30 minutes, but if it’s not, he doesn’t provide us with much.
With Kristaps Porzingis out, the expectation is one of these two will start, most likely Daniel Gafford is the one in the starting five. Both will have a role, however, both hover around 20 minutes. Gafford has the higher ceiling but Thomas Bryant will likely be the guy checking in with lower ownership. Bryant hasn’t played since the 4th, but with Zinger out he should play. Gafford, however, is the guy I prefer.
Familiarity, maybe, but Tomas Satoranky just plays well in a Wizards uniform. Since signing in Washington he’s played well and had the best game of his season against the Lakers on Friday scoring 14 points and 27.75 DKP. His playing time has fluctuated between 14-20 minutes since arriving in Washington but the last two games have been 19 and 20. That number may only go up if he keeps performing well. Worth a dart.
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Player News
Buddy Hield had 15 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal and four three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Hield moved into the Warriors’ starting lineup in the first round and the team became somewhat reliant on his scoring. With Stephen Curry (hamstring) out in Game 2, Hield started and played 29 minutes. The 32-year-old shooting guard led the Warriors in field goal attempts, though no one in a Golden State uniform was able to reach 20 points. The Warriors weren’t able to overcome a double-digit first half deficit. Despite the four made three-pointers, they’re going to need more from Hield as the series shifts to Golden State, especially if Curry remains out.
Jimmy Butler had 17 points (6-of-13 FGs), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers against the Timberwolves in Game 2 on Thursday.
Butler couldn’t get it done without Stephen Curry (hamstring) on the road in Game 2. The Warriors fell behind by double-digits early and never recovered. Butler had 17 points on 13 shots, which wasn’t far off from the 20 points he had in Game 1. Still, the Warriors have to regroup as they head home for Games 3 and 4 as they try to figure out a way to keep this series close until Curry can return to the court.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 20 points (7-of-13 FGs), two rebounds, three assists, one block and four three-pointers in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Alexander-Walker was a key scorer off the bench in Game 2. He, Naz Reid and Donte DiVencenzo combined for 10 made three-pointers off the bench. In a game where the Warriors were desperate for scoring without Stephen Curry (hamstring), those bench points were too much to overcome as the Timberwolves won by 24 points.
Julius Randle had 24 points (10-of-17 FGs), seven rebounds, 11 assists and one three-pointer in Game 2 against the Warriors on Thursday.
Randle led the Timberwolves in scoring in the Game 2 victory. The 30-year-old power forward was just three rebounds away from a triple-double. He was a steadying presence in his 33 minutes as Anthony Edwards dealt with an ankle injury towards the end of the first half. Edwards recovered from his injury to play 34 minutes, but Randle is still the next most important player in this series for the Timberwolves.
Anthony Edwards had 20 points (6-of-13 FGs), nine rebounds, five assists, three steals, one block and two three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-93 victory over the Warriors in Game 2 on Thursday.
Edwards appeared to suffer a sprained left ankle towards the end of the second quarter as the Warriors’ Trayce Jackson-Davis landed on his foot. Edwards turned the same ankle in the first round against the Lakers and appeared to re-aggravate the injury. The 23-year-old shooting guard would go on to start the second half and play a team-high 34 minutes in the Game 2 victory. Edwards will only have one full day off before the series resumes in Golden State for Game 3 on Saturday.
Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green and Quinten Post in Game 2 against the Timberwolves on Thursday.
No surprise here as Curry was always a long shot to make it back for Game 2 after leaving Game 1 with hamstring injury. While there has been a report that the 37-year-old point guard is expected to miss a week, there is no firm timetable for his return. The Warriors will go big with their starting lineup for Game 2 with center Quinten Post entering the lineup in Curry’s absence.