This article is part of our Daily Games Cheat Sheet series.
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TEAM ANALYSIS
Defenses to Avoid
Utah Jazz at Boston Celtics
The Jazz have been an underrated fantasy opponent all season, but they've really taken off since the All-Star Break. They have skyrocketed up from 27th to first in opponent points per possession (pre- and post-All-Star break, respectively). But while their team defense is only now becoming scary, they've made for tough positional matchups all season - DraftKings ranks them no lower than 11th at any position, and among the five most challenging at small forward and center. Some of their overall defensive improvement comes from jettisoning Enes Kanter, an offense-first center, and giving many of his 27 minutes per game to defensive specialist Rudy Gobert. That change is particularly important for opponents who rely on scoring in the paint.
Honorable mention to the Rockets-Grizzlies slugfest. It seems that every time I've tried doubting either of these teams, I immediately regret the decision (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd9ltJGykYc).
Offenses to Use
Philadelphia 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder
The 76ers were a better-than-average defensive team this season - before the trade deadline, that is. Since trading away two plus defenders, Michael Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels , their overall defense has fallen apart. Before all the trades, the 76ers defense ranked barely outside the top 10 for opponent points per possession. Since the deadline, they rank sixth worst. They've been particularly bad at stopping opponent field goals and assists. The absence of two strong backcourt defenders, plus the porous passing lanes, should be extra helpful for the Thunder's guards and wings.
Honorable mention goes to the Timberwolves, hosting the Nuggets on Wednesday. Always take advantage if given the opportunity to target a team in turmoil.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game of a back-to-back: Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers
Second game of a back-to-back: Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
If you've never played on DraftKings.com before, we recommend reading our Daily Fantasy Basketball 101: How to Win on DraftKings strategy article.
Point Guard
Jeremy Lin, LAL (at MIA), PG, ($4,100): Lin has put together a string of strong performances since the break. His only down game was a matchup against the Jazz – as described above, that's perfectly understandable. In his four other games, he's shot efficiently, scored in double digits, and averaged more than five assists per game.
Other suggestions: Mo Williams, CHA (at BKN), PG, ($7,000)
Shooting Guard
James Harden, HOU (vs MEM), SG, ($10,500): I've talked repeatedly about how much I don't like using max value players on busy nights – dollar for dollar, it's usually a bad investment. Even worse, I'm recommending Harden against one of the best defensive teams in the league. But Harden will be eager in his first game back following a suspension (which he completely deserved). Last time out, he went toe-to-toe – and toe-to-other-parts – with LeBron James and won. Then the Rockets threw some salt in James' wound (while promoting Harden). The spotlight is on Harden, this is a game against a Western contender, and I just have a hard time imagining that he wouldn't rise to the occasion.
Other suggestions: Rodney Stuckey, IND (vs NY), SG, ($5,400); Khris Middleton, MIL (at GS), SG, ($6,200)
Small Forward
Andrew Wiggins, MIN (vs DEN), SF, ($6,700): I love picking on teams in disorder. The Nuggets were never good this season, but lottery-bound teams rarely improve when firing their coach in March. At this point in the season, with no real hope of improvement, and no obvious replacement coach waiting in the wings, the firing only makes sense if keeping him did active harm. Refocusing for the fantasy angle, the Nuggets were a bad defense, and there is no way that they get better on night one under a new coach. In steps Wiggins, sporting a slightly-cheaper-than-fair-market-value salary and averaging more than 30 fantasy points per game since the break.
Other suggestions: Danilo Galinari, DEN (at MIN), SF, ($5,300)
Power Forward
Greg Monroe, DET (at NO), PF, ($7,800): Assuming Anthony Davis (shoulder) remains inactive – he's currently questionable, but has not played in nearly two weeks – Monroe would face a favorable matchup against a severely undermanned Pelican frontcourt. On the season, the Pelicans are a tough matchup for opposing power forwards, largely due to Davis' influence. As a result, DraftKings has priced Monroe for a challenging matchup, though without Davis, the matchup shifts to strongly favorable.
Other suggestions: Draymond Green, GS (vs MIL), PF, ($6,800); Thomas Robinson, PHI (at OKC), PF, ($3,700)
Center
Spencer Hawes, LAC (vs POR), C, ($3,900): Hawes is still a long way away from justifying the real-life salary that the Clippers signed him to this off-season. On the other hand, since Blake Griffin's (elbow) injury, Hawes' DraftKings salary has been a bargain. He's averaging nearly 25 fantasy points per game over his last four outings, and he's scored 19 or more in every game since the All-Star break. Anything north of roughly 18 fantasy points for this cost can be considered profitable.
Other suggestions: Alex Len, PHO (at ORL), C, ($5,600)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Jared Sullinger (foot)
Mirza Teletovic (chest)
Kemba Walker (knee)
Shawn Marion (hip)
Anderson Varejao (Achilles)
Jusuf Nurkic (ankle)
Brandon Jennings (Achilles)
Dwight Howard (knee)
Paul George (leg)
Blake Griffin (elbow)
Nick Young (knee)
Kobe Bryant (shoulder)
Steve Nash (back)
Ronnie Price (elbow)
Julius Randle (leg)
Chris Bosh (chest)
Josh McRoberts (knee)
Jabari Parker (knee)
Damien Inglis (foot)
Anthony Bennett (ankle)
Robbie Hummel (hand)
Ryan Anderson (knee)
Jrue Holiday (leg)
Shabazz Muhammad (finger)
Carmelo Anthony (knee)
Jose Calderon (Achilles)
Kevin Durant (foot)
Steve Novak (Appendix)
Joel Embiid (foot)
Tony Wroten (knee)
Darren Collison (hip)
Eric Moreland (shoulder)
Alex Burks (shoulder)
Game-Time Decision
Kelly Olynyk (ankle) is day-to-day after missing Tuesday's game.
Darrell Arthur (calf) is day-to-day.
Leandro Barbosa (illness) is questionable.
Kostas Papanikolaou (ankle) is day-to-day.
C.J. Miles (foot) is a game-time decision, but he seems likely to play Wednesday.
Jamal Crawford (calf) is a game-time decision.
Matt Barnes (hamstring) is a game-time decision, but he said that he hopes to play Wednesday.
Tyler Johnson (ankle) is a game-time decision.
Goran Dragic (back) is a game-time decision.
Vince Carter (foot) is questionable.
Beno Udrih (illnesss) is a game-time decision after missing Tuesday's game.
Zach Randolph (illness) is a game-time decision after missing Tuesday's game.
O.J. Mayo (hamstring) is a game-time decision.
Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is questionable.
Anthony Davis (shoulder) is questionable.
Steven Adams (hand) is day-to-day, but seems unlikely to play Wednesday.
Russell Westbrook (face) is expected to play Wednesday.
Evan Fournier (hip) is day-to-day.
Aaron Gordon (ankle) is day-to-day
Robert Covington (elbow) is questionable.
Jason Richardson (knee) is expected to play Wednesday.
Kyle Lowry (rest) is a game-time decision.
