NBA DFS Showdown Playbook: Pelicans vs. Clippers
Published: Nov 29, 2021
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Clippers
O/U: 211.5
Spread: LAC -7.0
Injuries:
New Orleans
Zion Williamson - OUT
Los Angeles
Nicolas Batum – OUT
Kawhi Leonard – OUT
MVP/CPT
Paul George, SF/PF – To George or not to George tonight in the MVP spot, that is the question tonight. It’s going to be extremely tough to fade him there considering the other options and the matchup for the Clippers tonight. The Pelicans rank 26th in defensive rating this season. They allow the seventh-most fantasy points to small forwards including the third-most points and fifth-most three pointers. George has at least 39.75 DraftKings points in all but one game this season and is second only to Luka Doncic in usage rate this year. Fade here at your own risk.
Jonas Valanciunas, C – I do see a case for playing Valanciunas at the MVP spot tonight if you want to save the salary. Without Zion Williamson, J-Val has been vacuuming up the boards and scoring at will in the paint recently. He does have two duds in his last six games, but both were when he was in foul trouble and played a total of 48 minutes. Against Ivica Zubac tonight, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue, so I’m pegging Valanciunas at about 35 fantasy points in 28 minutes in this one.
Brandon Ingram, SG – You’re certainly not just playing the hot hand if you roster Ingram in the MVP slot on this Showdown Slate. He scored less than 30 DK points in four of his last seven games, but he has displayed a 45-point ceiling this season, including 40 DK points against this same Clippers team on November 19th. The Clippers are quite stingy against small forwards, ranking top-five in fewest points and assists allowed. But at a salary more than $4,000 less then Paul George, he is at least worth a look as a contrarian option.
UTIL
Iviva Zubac, C – Just 10 days ago, we could have Zubac on our rosters for just $6,200 (he is $7,400 tonight), but after at least 23 DK points in six of his last seven games, the price for admission has gone up. J-Val may be piling up stats, but he’s also allowing opposing centers to do the same. The Pelicans allow top-ten numbers in points, assists, steals, and blocks to centers, combining for 45.5 DK points allowed.
Josh Hart, SF/PF – Hart can be a maddening DFS player to roster, but he might just be the perfect player for large-field Showdown tournaments. He is a player who can run off a stretch of five games with more than 28 DK points like he did in mid-December. Or he can have a five-game stretch where he scores less than 20 in three of them, like right now. But that has lowered the salary to $7,200 and he already has one game with 43 DK points against the Clippers this year. Don’t be afraid to pull the trigger here on one of the streakiest DFS players around.
Reggie Jackson, PG – Let’s see, what’s something positive we can say about Reggie Jackson after scoring just 4.75 DK points last night against Golden State? I guess after just over 20 minutes on the floor he should be well-rested? Jackson laid an egg after four fouls in 20 minutes and 0-for-5 shooting last night, but this should be a bounce-back spot for him. Before that game, he averaged 39.8 DK points in his last three and had been a much more reliable producer over the course of the season. Ironically, the last time Jackson played the Pelicans, he had four fouls in 29 minutes and only scored 7.5 DK points. I’m putting my money on that not happening again.
Value Tier
Isaiah Hartenstein, C – The DK pricing is getting smarter. About two weeks ago, Hartenstein’s salary was south of $2,000. Now it’s up to $4,000, but that is still too cheap for a guy who actually leads the Clippers in fantasy points per minute (1.30) and consistently sees between 12-20 minutes on the floor. In fact, it has been two weeks since the last time Hartenstein did not have more fantasy points than minutes played. He lit up the Pelicans for 31 points in 19 minutes last time they played, and the Clippers will need his size against Valanciunas.
Herbert Jones, PF/C – Dropping down even further at $3,200, we have Jones who is now starting for New Orleans when other teams are playing big and he has at least 26 minutes on the floor in four straight games. Jones is also producing at an extreme level in those four, putting up 20.4 DK points per game, which is an easy 6x of his salary tonight if he can reach that number. If minutes really do equal money in DFS, there may be no better return on investment than Jones tonight.
Player News
Jimmy Butler (thigh) is not on the injury report ahead of Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament matchup with the Grizzlies.
Butler injured his thigh during Sunday’s overtime loss to the Clippers. He played through it and said after that he would play against Memphis, and the initial injury report lines up with his statement. Butler should see a heavy workload in a matchup to make the playoffs and take on the Rockets in the first round.
Trae Young (Achilles) is probable to play against the Magic in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday.
Even in the postseason, Atlanta is still listing Young as probable ahead of every game. There isn’t a chance that he sits out, so expect him to occupy his typical spot in the starting unit in the 7/8 matchup, with a chance to play the Celtics in the first round on the line.
Jimmy Butler (thigh) logged 48 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers, tallying 30 points (12-of-20 FGs, 6-of-9 FTs), one rebound, nine assists, one steal and one blocked shot.
Butler’s final stat line on Sunday was outstanding but came with some pain. He took a Kawhi Leonard knee to the left thigh during overtime but stayed in the game. That injury, combined with Stephen Curry’s right thumb, is why the Warriors could have used the time off that would have come with a victory over the Clippers. Instead, Butler and the Warriors will host the Grizzlies on Tuesday. Following the game, Butler said he was fine and will be in the lineup, but don’t be surprised if Jimmy is on the initial injury report.
Brandin Podziemski accumulated 19 points (7-of-11 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in 43 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers.
Stephen Curry amassed 36 points (10-of-20 FGs, 9-of-9 FTs), three rebounds, six assists, two steals and seven three-pointers in 38 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers.
James Harden shot 13-of-23 from the field and 8-of-9 from the foul line in Sunday’s win over the Warriors, scoring 39 points with seven rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, two blocks and five three-pointers in 48 minutes.