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
Let’s take a look back at how our free squares did last night. Our first free square of the night was Kyle Lowry who ended up with right around 32.75 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 4.4x value. Our second free square of the night was Montrezl Harrell who ended up with right around 32.75 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 7.9x value. Our final free square of the night was Donovan Mitchell who ended up with 38.25 DKFP which was good enough for right around 5.5x value.
Tonight
We have a decent sized slate ahead of us for Wednesday night. The teams with the highest implied totals are as follows: Portland Trailblazers (110), Los Angeles Lakers (110), and Philadelphia 76ers (108). The highest priced players on the slate are LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Dwight Howard.
- Nikola Mirotic PF/C CHI ($5,500) **QUESTIONABLE**
- Nikola Mirotic and the Chicago Bulls will take on the Portland Trailblazers on the road tonight. The Bulls have an implied total sitting at right around 103-points and they are currently 7.0-point underdogs. The Bulls have been playing at a pace of right around 102.2 and the Trailblazers have been playing at a pace of right around 99.9. This is going to be a slight pace down game for the Bulls tonight but I still like this spot for Mirotic tonight. He is likely going to be guarded by Al-Farouq Aminu tonight who is an above average defender. He has the following stats on the season so far this year: 24.5 MPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, .5 BLKPG, .6 STLPG, 16.8 PPG, 30.3 FPPG. and a 1.24 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 31.207 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.68x value. He is projected to play right around 31 minutes tonight. Mirotic is questionable but if we get word he’s going to play I think he is in a great spot. No Markkaned tonight which opens up a lot of value and minutes for Mirotic tonight. He has a high FPPM and makes a great play at either forward or center tonight on Draftings.
- Spencer Dinwiddie PG/SG BKN ($6,200)
- Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets will take on the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at home. The Nets have an implied total sitting at right around 102-points and they are currently 7.5-point underdogs. The Nets have been playing at a pace of right around 103.0 and the 76ers have been playing at a pace of right around 103.9. S slight pace up game tonight in what should be a matchup of two of the fastest teams in the league tonight. Dinwiddie is likely going to be guarded by J.J. Redick tonight who is not that great of a defender. Dinwiddie has the following stats on the season so far this year: 28.2 MPG, 3.3 RPG, 6.5 APG, .4 BLKPG, .7 STLPG, 13.1 PPG, 29.3 FPPG, and a 1.04 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 31.731 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 5.12x value. He is projected to play right around 32 minutes tonight. I like this matchup for Dinwiddie tonight in what should be a fast uptempo game. Load him up as a mid-tier guard with upside on Draftkings tonight.
- Terry Rozier PG/SG BOS ($5,300)
- Terry Rozier and the Boston Celtics will take on the New York Knicks tonight at home. The Celtics have an implied total sitting at right around 108-points and they are currently 8.0-point favorites. The Celtics have been playing at a pace of right around 99.3 and the Knicks have been playing at a pace of right around 100.4. This is going to be a nice pace up game for the Celtics and Rozier tonight. Rozier is likely going to be guarded by Jarret Jack or he will come off the bench, either way, he has a good spot due to the Kyrie Irving injury news. Rozier has the following stats on the season so far this year: 23.1 MPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, .2 BLKPG, 1.0 STLPG, 9.1 PPG, 20.5 FPPG, and a .89 FPPM. Taking a look at our Domination Station we can see that we have a projection of right around 23.383 DKFP which would be good enough for right around 6.2x value. He is projected to play right around 34 minutes tonight. No Kyrie tonight which means a lot of minutes and opportunities for the other Celtics guards tonight. I think Rozier is one of those guys who benefit tonight. Load him up as a mid-tier guard tonight on Draftkings tonight.
Free Square of the Night
We have a decent sized 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 Nikola Mirotic tonight! Good luck Army!
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