Searching For the Free Square
In the game of Bingo, every card gets an empty spot in the middle called the “Free Square”. Since it’s the middle square, the free square is essentially the ideal spot from which to build lines around. In DFS we define the Free Square as the player to build your lineups around. Generally, this player represents the closest we can find to a sure thing for the slate. This column is all about trying to identify the free square for a particular slate. Very often, this will be a low-cost player thrust into a starting role and sure to make or exceed value. The type of player that allows us to load up the rest of our lineup with high salary studs. Occasionally it will be a high priced stud in a great spot, The goal of this column is to use quantitative data to identify the free square for the days Daily Fantasy Basketball slate. Each slate we will take a deep look at three or four players which represent outsized value on the day’s slate of games and choose the one which best represents the top value and floor play to earn the title of the slates Free Square
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Recap
For our free squares last night we had Joel Embiid who ended up with 90.75 DKFP which was good enough for right around 10.6x value. Our other free square was Kris Dunn who ended up with 16.50 DKFP which was good enough for right around 3.4x value. Our last free square of the night was OG Anunoby who ended up with right around 7 DKFP which was good enough for right around 2.3x value.
Tonight
We have a tiny slate on the docket for Thursday night. The teams with the highest implied totals are as follows Houston Rockets (121), Golden State Warriors (112), and the Phoenix Suns (108). The highest priced players of the night are James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.
Free Squares
- Stephen Curry PG/SG GSW ($8,700)
- Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors will take on the Boston Celtics tonight on the road. The Warriors have an implied total sitting at right around 112-points and they are currently 7.5-point favorites. The Warriors have been playing at a pace of right around 105.2 and the Celtics have been playing at a pace at around 99.7. This will be a pace-down game for the Warriors tonight but I don’t think it will affect the Warriors too much tonight. Steph is likely going to be matched up but Kyrie Irving tonight. Kyrie has been playing better defense but I still think this is a matchup that Curry can thrive in tonight. He has the following stats for the season: 32.2 MPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.7 APG, .2 BLKPG, 1.8 STLPG, 25.2 PPG, 45.6 FPPG, and a 1.42 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 46.094 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.3x value. He is projected to see right around 33 minutes tonight. This should be the closest game of the night and I expect big things out of Curry tonight. He has a solid matchup and has an affordable price. Load him up as a high-priced guard tonight on Draftkings.
- T.J. Warren SF/PF PHO ($6,500)
- TJ Warren and the Phoenix Suns will take on the Houston Rockets tonight at home. The Suns have an implied total sitting at right around 108-points and they are currently 12.5-point underdogs. The Suns have been playing at a pace of right around 106.9 and the Rockets have been playing at a pace of right around 102.0. Slight pace-down game for the Suns tonight but overall this will be a fast-paced game. Warren is likely going to be matched up against Trevor Ariza tonight who is a solid defender. Warren has the following stats so far this season: 29.1 MPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, .9 BLKPG, .6 STLPG, 18.7 PPG, 30.5 FPPG, and a 1.05 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 36.896 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.68x value. He is slated to see right around 34 minutes. The Domination Station really likes Warren tonight and I agree with that assessment. He has a high FPPM and he will see all the minutes he can handle tonight. Load him up as a mid-tier forward on Draftkings tonight.
- Eric Gordon SG HOU ($6,200)
- Eric Gordon and the Houston Rockets will take on the Phoenix Suns tonight on the road. The Rockets have an implied total sitting at right around 121-points and they are currently 12.5-point favorites. As stated in the Warren write-up the Suns have been playing at a pace of right around 106.9 and the Rockets have been playing at a pace of right around 102.0. This will be a bit faster for the Rockets which will make this an even more enticing matchup. Gordon is going to be coming off the bench in which he should be able to feast on the Sun’s bench defenders. He has the following stats on the season so far this year: 33.2 MPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, .3 BLKPG, .8 STLPG, 22.1 PPG, 32.1 FPPG, and a .97 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 31.661 which would be good enough for right around 5.1x value. He is slated for right around 33 minutes. This matchup could not be better for Gordon and the Rockets tonight. Load Gordon up as a high upside shooting guard tonight.
Free Square of the Night
We have a tiny slate tonight with some good tournaments across the industry. I hope I have narrowed down some guys that we can look to target. We have tons of tools and content available at the DFS Army this year for NBA so don’t miss out on all of those opportunities to make some money. Click the link “DFS Army VIP Membership” and sign up and join the Army today! With my ultimate free square pick, I am going to go with Steph Curry tonight! Good luck Army!
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