NBA DFS Showdown Playbook March 16: Bulls vs Suns
Published: Mar 18, 2022
Chicago Bulls & Phoenix Suns
Spread: Suns -5.5
Total: 231.5
Injuries:
Chicago Bulls:
Zach LaVine – Probable (Knee)
Lonzo Ball - Out
Phoenix Suns:
Chris Paul – Out
Jae Crowder – Questionable (Groin)
Cameron Johnson – Out
Frank Kaminsky - Out
*Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
MVP/CPT
Devin Booker, PG/SG (PHX) – Phoenix is down two key scorers in Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson, and Booker hasn’t been shy about picking up the offensive slack. He enters tonight’s game looking to break the 50 DK point mark for the fifth time in six games after scoring 36 points against Houston on Wednesday. The fact that Booker is shooting 54.5% from the field in his last five games certainly helps here and he also continues to handle playmaking duties to the tune of 7.6 assists per game in that stretch while generally taking about 20 shots per game.
DeMar DeRozan, PF (CHI) – Just because DeRozan is no longer breaking the 30-point mark on a nightly basis without any issue, it doesn’t mean we should toss him out with yesterday’s newspaper. Over his last five games, DeRozan is averaging 26 points, seven rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game as not only is he playing at a high level, but he is doing so with consistency. Sharing the offense with LaVine works both ways here as not as much offense is required of DeRozan, but it’s not like he is fading into the background either.
Zach LaVine, SG/SF (CHI) – We should all have knee soreness like LaVine does he is coming off a 33-point effort against the Jazz on Wednesday. That’s not to make light of the very real injury LaVine is playing through, but you would never know it. LaVine hasn’t scored less than 24 points in his last five games as he continues to handle the volume without issue.
Util
Nikola Vucevic, C (CHI) – Vucevic only needed 29 minutes of playing time on Wednesday against Utah to record his third straight double-double. It’s nothing new for the dependable center, who while he continues to be a solid option (18 points and 11.5 rebounds per game on the season), doesn’t provide much upside beyond that and he isn’t cheap either.
Cameron Payne, PG (PHX) – Despite struggling on the offensive end Wednesday (three of 10 from the field), Payne still broke the 30-point mark on DK for the eighth straight game. Payne made up for scoring just six points by handing out 11 assists (his third double-digit game out of his last five) and grabbing seven rebounds. The volume continues to be there for Payne and he does come with some offensive upside.
Deandre Ayton, C (PHX) – It’s a favorable matchup from a fantasy perspective for Ayton, and with Phoenix shorthanded, he has taken on a larger role offensively. Over his last five games, Ayton is averaging 20 points and 11.3 rebounds per game and that should continue tonight.
Mikal Bridges, SF (PHX) – Bridges should see an increased role offensively tonight with Paul and Johnson out and Jae Crowder dealing with a groin injury. That was the case for Bridges on Wednesday as he played 44 minutes on Houston and took advantage of the situation scoring 26 points on 10 of 17 shooting.
Ayo Dosunmu, PG (CHI) – Dosunmu has been locked into about 30 minutes a night in Chicago’s backcourt but his shooting efficiency doesn’t generally share the same consistency. It is clear that Dosunmu is not the main option from a playmaking perspective for the Bulls, but he does benefit from playing with DeRozan and LaVine.
Torrey Craig, PF/C (PHX) – Talk about taking advantage of an opportunity. Craig will either be the first man off the bench tonight for the Suns or he will move into the starting lineup if Crowder is limited, and both will benefit him. We can’t expect another 21-point, 14 rebound performance like we got from Craig on Wednesday, but it’s good to see him playing at that level and with that volume.
Dart Throws
Aaron Holiday, PG/SG (PHX) – We don’t have to worry about playing time for Holiday (around 20 minutes a night these days), but he doesn’t consistently take enough shots to be offensively relevant.
Tristan Thompson, PF/C (CHI) – Thompson has found himself in a consistent role off the bench for Chicago playing around 15 minutes per game, and at this price, that works. The big man will chip a few points per night along with a handful of rebounds off the bench for Bulls.
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Player News
Kristaps Porzingis (illness) said after Wednesday’s Game 2 loss to the Knicks that his current stamina issues may be related to the problem that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season.
After an illness limited him to 13 first-half minutes in Boston’s series-opening defeat on Monday, Porzingis came off the bench in Game 2. Unfortunately, he could only give the Celtics 14 minutes. Following the game, Porzingis said his current problem may be related to the upper respiratory ailment that sidelined him for eight games late in the regular season. “Probably, probably,” Porzingis said. “I’ve had like ups and downs throughout until this point. Just now, had a big crash. Now, my energy, my everything, hasn’t been good, but who cares? Have to move forward and it will get better from this point.” While Boston’s shot selection was the focus following its two home defeats, Porzingis’ limited availability has also been a factor. He’ll hope to return to full health in time for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon.
Nikola Jokic finished with 17 points (6-of-16 FGs), eight rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block, two three-pointers and six turnovers in Game 2 against the Thunder on Wednesday.
This was Jokic’s worst performance of the postseason, and it came to an end in the third quarter. He fouled out with 1:17 left in the third, which brought his night to a close after he played 32 minutes. OKC was up 41 points when Jokic fouled out, so his night may have been close to over anyway. Jokic dominated Game 1, and the Thunder adjusted. Denver will need other players to step up if they want to have a chance of winning this series, but Jokic will also need to be better than he was in this game.
Michael Porter Jr. struggled on Wednesday and finished with just eight points (2-of-10 FGs), five rebounds, one steal and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Thunder.
MPJ was slightly better in the second half, as all eight of his points came in the third quarter. However, the game was already out of hand at that point after a terrible first half for both Porter Jr. and the Nuggets. MPJ shot 1-of-8 in Game 1, and they’ll need him to be much better moving forward. The series will now shift back to Denver, and MPJ will look to get back on track during the two home games before the series heads back to Oklahoma City.
Russell Westbrook provided a boost off the bench with 19 points (5-of-11 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), one rebound, five assists and one three-pointer in a 149-106 loss to the Thunder in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Despite an ugly first half for Denver, Westbrook was productive and entered the break with 15 points. He didn’t add much in the second half, though he sat the entire fourth quarter, still it was enough to lead the Nuggets in scoring. Russ has been awesome over Denver’s last five games, and his continued success will be key to the Nuggets winning this series. Though this game was ugly, they still have homecourt advantage in this series. They’ll look to keep it in Game 3 on Friday.
Chet Holmgren recorded a double-double on Wednesday with 15 points (3-of-8 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, two blocks and two three-pointers in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
After struggling in Game 1, Holmgren bounced back and recorded the fourth postseason triple-double of his career, with three of those coming this season. Aside from Game 3 against Memphis, Holmgren has swatted at least two shots in every game during these playoffs, which was a trend that continued in this game despite him only playing 26 minutes. Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein (14/8/5/1/1) will look to continue to limit Nikola Jokic (17 points) in Game 3 on Friday.
Jalen Williams bounced back on Wednesday with 17 points (6-of-11 FGs), four rebounds, seven assists and two blocks in Game 2 against the Nuggets.
Williams was criticized for his poor performance in the Thunder’s Game 1 loss, but he responded well in OKC’s blowout victory. He was on pace for a bigger night, but he only played 26 minutes and sat the entire fourth quarter due to the lopsided score. He shot the ball much better after shooting 5-of-20 in Game 1, and he’ll need that success to carry over into Game 3 in Denver on Friday.