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POINT GUARDS:
Chris Paul (HOU @ MEM)
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni does not subscribe to the “take it easy” approach during the preseason, and we love that for DFS. The Rockets still have to familiarize themselves with some news pieces and they’ll get plenty of minutes to do so.
Kyrie Irving (BOS @ CHA)
The Celtics are playing nearly half of the game (20-30 minutes) tonight, so of course their #1 option is in play. Keep in mind, this will only be the third time Kyrie will be on the court with his new teammates this preseason, so there are still a few kinks to work out before the curtain comes up for the regular season. Kyrie might still be one of the safest plays on the board because of his minutes/usage.
Kemba Walker (CHA vs BOS)
It looks as if the Hornets will treat this game as a dress rehearsal of sorts and Kemba should have ridiculous usage tonight with all the injuries on this roster.
Jeremy Lin (BKN vs PHI)
This will be a “dress rehearsal-like” situation for the Nets tonight. I have zero hesitation on attacking the mess that is the Philadelphia 76ers, so roll on with it. In the 76ers last preseason game, Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier went bananas against them and I foresee a similar storm coming from the Nets backcourt tonight.
Tyler Johnson (MIA vs WSH)
I mentioned this when the Heat took the court last time, but Goran Dragic’s absence does not affect TJ at all; TJ always runs with the second unit and that’s how he does damage. He has scored at least 14 points in each preseason game but I wanna see some more peripherals. Let’s go brah!
SHOOTING GUARDS:
James Harden (HOU @ MEM)
See Chris Paul’s explanation and apply it here too…
Devin Booker (PHX vs POR)
Suns starters are scheduled to play healthy minutes tonight and Booker is our Fonz here… eyyyy! He has played 29 and 31 minutes in each of the last two games and getting into a few different stat categories as well.
D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert (BKN vs PHI)
See Lin’s explanation and apply it here too…
Josh Richardson, Dion Waiters (MIA vs WSH)
Both guys get a huge boost with Dragic out of the lineup. Richardson will run the point with the first unit while Waiters should see a slight usage bump.
Malik Monk (CHA vs BOS)
The Hornets are decimated by injuries so he’ll see a ton of time on the floor. Monk actually saw 35 minutes in the last game against the Heat, and that’s his main appeal. Monk is taking a ton of shots, but it is taking a while for him to be truly effective. He’s a rookie, give him some time.
SMALL FORWARDS:
Gordon Hayward (BOS @ CHA)
He actually has the worst matchup of the Celtics big three tonight, but minutes are golden in these preseason affairs. Small forward is the one position where I hate getting cute so this could be an easy plug-and-play.
Robert Covington (PHI @ BKN)
I don’t love the play from a minutes-perspective, but RoCo can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry. The Sixers will get a huge pace-up matchup against the Nets and that’s why I have him rated so high tonight.
Trevor Ariza (HOU @ MEM)
Purely a minutes-based play, but he will probably see less usage than last game with CP3 back in the lineup.
Josh Jackson (PHX vs POR)
With TJ Warren out, we should see plenty of minutes from Jackson once again. The rookie out of Kansas has played 29 and 30 minutes in each of the last two games, so that part is set in stone. Unfortunately, you’ll have to deal some turnovers if you’re going this route- 17 of them in 74 preseason minutes.
Allen Crabbe (BKN vs PHI)
He will be a huge part of what the Nets do this season and we should start to see this notion for the first time tonight. GPP dart throw only of course, as I’m sure mostly all of his points will be scored on buckets- not expecting many peripherals from Crabbe.
POWER FORWARDS:
Ben Simmons, Dario Saric (PHI @ BKN)
We should see the Sixers start to get more diligent with their starters’ minutes. It sucks for the usage on these guys that Embiid is back, but this is the Nets we’re talking about… it’s a pace-up matchup and everyone should get more opportunities.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Trevor Booker, Quincy Acy (BKN vs PHI)
RHJ and Booker are simple- they fill up the stat sheet in a number of different areas in short spurts. Big things are also expected from Acy, and it has been well-reported that his role will be expanded this season. I feel like RHJ and Booker are the safer plays, but I am very tempted to roll Acy in those GPPs that are incredibly hard to win.
Kelly Olynyk, James Johnson (MIA vs WSH)
I am placing Neck Tat in this space as a mere courtesy, but Olynyk is running away by a mile with this starting job. Olynyk has had some monster games this preseason so I’m loving him in all formats tonight.
Marvin Williams, Frank Kaminsky (CHA vs BOS)
With the Hornets roster decimated by injuries, we’ll see both guys get acquainted within a new rotation. Kaminsky will stay in his usual role at the four, but we’ll definitely see Williams play at the three. I’m more interested in Williams here because I think he sees more minutes trying to get more comfortable in his new spot for the short-term.
Caleb Swanigan (POR @ PHX)
With the Blazers starters supposedly taking a back seat, Swanigan could be in line for another big night. The rookie out of Purdue has certainly raised eyebrows each time out this preseason and he should be in line for a night of solid minutes.
Marcus Morris (BOS @ CHA)
This will be his Celtics debut so it’s a bit of a crapshoot to roll him out. I could see the Celtics trying to get him involved, and power forward is definitely one of the spots to attack the Hornets. I like him a lot more as a piece in your multi-entries, but I am very intrigued to see how he fits in on this talented Celtics roster.
Marquese Chriss (PHX vs POR)
He’s always a dart throw, but Chriss has some massive potential when he’s not fucking around. Personally, I would love to see the game he had on Friday (10 pts, 7 reb, 4 blk, 2 ast) but we know that he’s just as capable of dropping a dud. TJ Warren being out makes me a little more optimistic, but proceed with caution.
CENTERS:
Al Horford (BOS @ CHA)
In the first preseason game, Horford went bananas on Dwight Howard by pulling him out to the perimeter and taking a bunch of uncontested shots. Horford, Hassan Whiteside and Andre Drummond have all had huge games this preseason against Howard. Why not go back to the well?
Dwight Howard (CHA vs BOS)
Coming right back at ya from the Hornets/Celtics game, this is just a pure physical mismatch down low. The Hornets roster is falling apart piece-by-piece so Howard could see a lot more usage than usual.
Hassan Whiteside (MIA vs WSH)
Not a fan of the minutes he’ll likely see, but we know he is one of the best centers in the NBA.
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