Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 5/13:

Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Michael aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!

I want to give a quick shoutout to VIP Member “Texan9204” on their $100,000 win on Sunday!! Heading into the playoffs strong!

Los Angeles Clippers @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 224.0

Vegas Spread: Lac -8.0

We’ll kick the slate off with the Clippers, I don’t have an issue with going to either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George here, but I really just haven’t played these Clippers guys all that much this season when they’re both healthy. I think we can find better options on this slate. They’re fine if you fall on them as a filler piece, but I’m not prioritizing either of them. I do like the price tag on George on Fanduel and Kawhi on DraftKings however, but again, neither are priorities for me. Honestly, with them both in there I don’t have a whole lot of interest in anything from the Clippers, you can make a case for a guy like Ivica Zubac, but I think you’re reaching at that point on a 9-game slate even with him coming off a big game last time out against the Raptors. From the Hornets, Terry Rozier came down to Earth last time out but still got his minutes into the 40’s, I have no issue going back to him at this price tag. LaMelo Ball has been pretty underwhelming the past two games relative to his price tag, a price tag I like a lot more on FanDuel where he’s $1k cheaper. Miles Bridges should continue to sit here which will open up minutes for wings like Jalen McDaniels and Caleb Martin (questionable as well coming in). PJ Washington has been pretty good lately and similar to the rest of these guys, getting huge minutes. I have no issue going to him here but he may draw Kawhi or George on defense depending on how the Clippers play things. Lastly, Devonte’ Graham returned last game to drop 46 fantasy points on the Nuggets, he’s priced way up on FanDuel, but a very reasonable play on DraftKings where he’s under $6k.

5-star play: LaMelo Ball (FanDuel)

4-star play: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, LaMelo Ball (DraftKings), Devonte’ Graham (DraftKings), PJ Washington, Terry Rozier

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Ivica Zubac, Jalen McDaniels, Devonte’ Graham (FanDuel)

Milwaukee Bucks @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Bucks, they do still have a chance at the two seed if they win out and the Nets lose a game, they have the tiebreaker, so they do have incentive to win here. Giannis  Antetokounmpo scored 62 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season, but his minutes have come down from the high-30’s he was at earlier on in the year. They’re essentially keeping him fresh for the playoffs at this point, so I don’t think they really need to push him all that hard, but he’s an elite per-minute producer so a solid GPP option at the very least. I haven’t had a whole lot of interest in Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton as of late, they’re both really priced up. The matchup is a good one so I don’t hate them for tournaments, but I would prefer to get my exposure to them over on FanDuel where they’re both under $8k. Donte DiVincenzo has continued to look good though, he’s a guy I would think they want to get on the right track heading into the playoffs and so far so good on him, I’m good with him in tournaments considering the matchup. Then you can round this team out with GPP guys in Bobby Portis and Brook Lopez. Lopez will see more minutes but Portis has been more productive on a per-minute basis. From the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis is on a tear right now, he has at least 55 DraftKings points in four straight games and playing around 40 minutes per game. He’s averaging 52.4 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Bucks this season as well. Part of that production increase has been due to Malcolm Brogdon being out as of late, he should miss this one as well. Caris LeVert is another guy that has benefitted from Brogdon being out, he has been great lately as well but man it’s hard to stomach that price tag on him, more of a GPP guy, but I won’t talk you off of him in cash due to the matchup. TJ McConnell hasn’t done enough with Brogdon out lately for me to really have all that much interest but I suppose you can make a case for him GPPs if you really want to get some exposure to this game at a discount.

5-star play: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Domantas Sabonis

4-star play: Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Caris LeVert

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Donte DiVincenzo, Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis, TJ McConnell

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Orlando Magic @ Atlanta Hawks

Vegas Total: 227.5

Vegas Spread: Atl -12.5

Starting with Magic, Cole Anthony has not been all that impressive as of late after looking really good since returning from injury. That said, he did score 38.75 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season so I have no issue going back to him in this spot, I just don’t love the price tag… except on FanDuel at $5k, that’s where I want my exposure.  Wendell Carter Jr. should be good to go in this one as Mo Bamba comes in questionable with an illness. If Bamba ends up sitting it helps secure those minutes on Bamba and makes him a solid option at this price tag. Dwayne Bacon has been fine as of late, but the price has caught up to him a bit, more of a secondary filler option if you land on him. I would prefer just to find the money for RJ Hampton if you’re looking to get exposure here, he’s shown the higher ceiling as of late. Mo Wagner is coming off a big game last time out and now has at least 30 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. I like getting to him as a tournament option in hopes he can get hot from the field. Then you can round this team out with Ignas Brazdeikis who I think makes for an interesting tournament value option. He signed with the Magic for the rest of the season yesterday so he’s a guy they’ll look to get some run to round out the year. From the Hawks, Trae Young is coming off a nice game last night against the Wizards and now has at least 52 DraftKings points in three straight games. This Magic defense doesn’t scare me, so you can go right back to him here. I was all over Clint Capela in that two-game set against the Wizards but I think you can go back to him here, the Magic frontcourt won’t have any sort of answer for him in this one. Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins are more GPP guys than anything for me due to the price tags and the volatility, Bogdan has been a bit more consistent, however, so you can make a case for him in cash games. Lastly, Danilo Gallinari came down to Earth over his last two games, his minutes came down as well, but the matchup is nice, I like him for GPPs… I just don’t like the price tag all that much.

5-star play: Cole Anthony (FanDuel), Trae Young

4-star play: Cole Anthony (DraftKings), Wendell Carter Jr., Mo Bamba, Mo Wagner, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela

Deeper Value: Ignas Brazdeikis

GPP Sleeper: Dwayne Bacon, RJ Hampton, John Collins, Danilo Gallinari

Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Heat

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Sixers, Joel Embiid comes into this one as questionable and they’re not going to push him here, they all but have the number one seed in the East locked up, so there is no need for him to go out and play 35ish minutes. For that reason, he’s more of a GPP guy for me simply because I don’t see him playing the huge minutes you would like to see from him. Ben Simmons is a guy I would have interest in if Embiid ends up sitting, he had a nice outing last time out with Embiid out going for 42 DraftKings points in 37 minutes. Tobias Harris is in that same boat, he would see his rebound equity increase if he’s not fighting for boards with Embiid. Outside of those three, I have a tough time finding a piece that I like from the Sixers, this game should be one of the slower ones on the slate between two good defenses. From the Heat, Jimmy Butler comes into this one as questionable after having an eye injury last time out. If he plays he won’t be limited at all and gets a really nice price tag here at under $9k on DraftKings. He’s a guy that’s going to push it against his old squad if he’s out there. Bam Adebayo has been solid as of late but gets a really tough matchup if Embiid ends up playing. I don’t really think you need to get to him on this slate, but he can flash some upside every now and then. Tyler Herro had a huge game last time out and a guy I would go right back to should Butler end up sitting, more of a GPP guy if Butler plays, however. Then you can round this team out with guys like Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic in GPPs as filler guys.

5-star play: Jimmy Butler

4-star play: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Bam Adebayo

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Seth Curry, Danny Green, Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic

San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Spurs, DeMar DeRozan has been a fine option as of late, but we really haven’t seen much of a ceiling from him and this game should be a slower one as well, the Knicks like to slow it down on both ends up the court, so more of a GPP guy than anything. Jakob Poeltl has a nice price tag on DraftKings, but I think he’s a bit too high on FanDuel. He scored 28.5 DraftKings points in this spot earlier this season. We got the full Keldon Johnson experience this week, he goes for 30+ fantasy points against the Bucks then drops a 9 spot on the Nets last night. The minutes just aren’t there for him for whatever reason right now. Lastly, Lonnie Walker is a solid value option if you need one, his minutes should be pretty secure with Derrick White out for the remainder of the season. From the Knicks, Julius Randle is always a guy that I have an interest in due to the minutes he sees on a nightly basis. It’s hard not to like a guy that is going to play around 40 minutes in a really nice matchup. RJ Barrett is coming off a bad game last time out, but yet another guy that is going to play an insane amount of minutes and gives you an option at SF if you’re struggling to find someone. Derrick Rose is cookin’ right now, he has at least 45 DraftKings points in two straight but comes in to this one as questionable. If he plays here, it’s tough for me not to like him, the Spurs have struggled with opposing big men all season long. Talk about a guy that is playing absolutely massive minutes right now, Reggie Bullock has 46 minutes in each of his last two games… I think I could go out there and do what he did in 46 minutes last time out though. He’s not a great per-minute guy, so you’re banking on him getting hot from the field a bit, so more of a GPP guy than anything. Nerlens Noel has been held under 20 fantasy points in three straight games, I don’t see a need to go to him on a bigger slate like this one.

5-star play: Julius Randle

4-star play: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, Dejounte Murray, Derrick Rose, RJ Barrett

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Lonnie Walker, Keldon Johnson, Reggie Bullock

Sacramento Kings @ Memphis Grizzlies

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Kings, we’ve got some injury stuff to sort out here, De’Aaron Fox will continue to miss as well as Harrison Barnes and Marvin Bagley. This leaves Richaun Holmes and guys like Buddy Hield, Moe Harkless, and Chimezi Metu to man the frontcourt. Metu should get the start in this one and has looked really good lately, he has at least 27 minutes in his past two games and is cheap enough on both sites for me to have interest in him here. Delon Wright should continue to start and see big minutes as well, he’s been playing really well and gets a revenge game against his old squad in this one. Terence Davis is another guy that has looked really good as of late, he has at least 35 DraftKings points in three straight games. The price has come up on him but for good reason, he’s another guy you can get to pretty comfortably here. From the Grizzlies, Jonas Valanciunas comes into this one as questionable but since he missed last game I’m going to operate under the assumption that he’s out again here, below is how the rest of the team shakes out with him off the court this season:

• Brandon Clarke – 18.7% usage rate; 1.04 fpm
• Xavier Tillman – 14% usage rate; 0.91 fpm
• Ja Morant – 29.7% usage rate; 1.3 fpm
• Kyle Anderson – 20.7% usage rate; 1.00 fpm
• Dillon Brooks – 29.7% usage rate; 1.02 fpm

These would be the guys I would have the most interest in if Valanciunas were to sit again. Especially those cheap guys like Tillman and Clarke to help provide some value on this slate.

***The below assumes Jonas Valanciunas is OUT***

5-star play: Ja Morant

4-star play: Buddy Hield, Moe Harkless, Chimezi Metu, Delon Wright, Terence Davis, Kyle Anderson, Xavier Tillman, Brandon Clarke

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, Moe Harkless

I want to give a quick shoutout to VIP Member “TheSoprano12” on their $100,000 win earlier this season!! Better go buy a Boban jersey after that one!

Toronto Raptors @ Chicago Bulls

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Raptors, they’re going to be without their main guys again here including Siakam, Boucher, VanVleet, Lowry, and Anunoby. I would assume the starting lineup looks something like Malachi Flynn, Gary Trent, Stanley Johnson, Watanabe, and Khem Birch. I would have interest in pretty much all of these guys except potentially Stanley Johnson and Yuta Watanabe, they’re just not great point-per-minute guys. I do like Jalen Harris coming off the bench though, he has looked really good the past two games playing 25 minutes in both games. You can make a case for Freddie Gillespie as well, he’s been playing solid center minutes behind Birch. The Raptors are a team that isn’t playing for anything so they’re going to let these younger guys go out and show off what they can do and earn either a contract or some playing time next season. From the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic came down to Earth a bit last time out but doesn’t seem too bothered by having Zach LaVine back in there. It’s an elite matchup for both of these Bulls guys against a pretty bad Raptors defense, so you can make a case for both Vuc and LaVine in this one. Coby White continues to produce, but I can’t stomach this price tag on him with LaVine back in there, I think we can be picky tonight and White just isn’t in the card for me. I do like Thad Young and Daniel Theis, and I’ll like Young even more if Theis ends up missing, so keep an eye out for that news. Overall, this is a pretty nice matchup for the Bulls against this Raptors team that isn’t going to play a whole lot of defense.

5-star play: Malachi Flynn, Gary Trent

4-star play: Khem Birch, Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine

Deeper Value: Jalen Harris, Yuta Watanabe, Stanley Johnson

GPP Sleeper: Khem Birch, Jalen Harris, Coby White, Thad Young

Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Vegas Total: 235.5

Vegas Spread: Den -6.0

Starting with the Nuggets, things pretty much always start with Nikola Jokic. He is averaging 61.9 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Wolves this season. The Timberwolves have struggled with opposing big men all season long which makes Jokic an elite raw option as always here and one of the premier spend-up options on the slate. Michael Porter Jr. continues to put up good numbers as well, he has at least 42 DraftKings points in three straight games. Aaron Gordon just feels like he’s going to be a tough guy to predict for the rest of the season, he’s more of a deep GPP guy for me. PJ Dozier and Will Barton will continue to miss time and it sounds like Monte Morris is questionable, so Facundo Campazzo’s are secure as ever here, but we should see a good amount of Austin Rivers with these guys out. Both Rivers and Campazzo have looked really good as of late and are probably still too cheap here given the matchup. I would prefer the price tag on both of them on DraftKings, the FanDuel prices are less friendly especially on Rivers. From the Wolves, Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t a guy I’m afraid to get to here, I like playing guys that are going to play big minutes with little risk of being pulled early, and that’s pretty much all these Wolves players due to their record. They’ll need Towns’ size against Jokic and a guy I like at this price tag. Anthony Edwards is a guy I’m going to keep getting interested in due to the number of shots and peripherals he’s able to rack up especially in a good matchup, the Nuggets have struggled with forwards all season long. D’Angelo Russell is finally back in that starting five which helps secure his minutes, he’s coming off a nice game last time out and a guy I’ll have some exposure to in tournaments here. We can jump off Jarred Vanderbilt now that Jaden McDaniels is back, the minutes won’t be as secure as this frontcourt can run pretty deep with guys like Vanderbilt, McDaniels, Reid, and Hernangomez. Then you can round this team off with Ricky Rubio as a GPP guy but I don’t think you need to go there on a slate this big

5-star play: Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns

4-star play: Michael Porter Jr., Anthony Edwards, D’Angelo Russell

Deeper Value: Austin Rivers

GPP Sleeper: Aaron Gordon, Facundo Campazzo, Ricky Rubio

Portland Trailblazers @ Phoenix Suns

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

We’ll round this slate off starting with the Blazers, they got a big win last night against the Jazz and will look to keep it going here as they look to stay out of that play-in game. Damian Lillard is averaging 43.4 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Suns this season, I don’t love the price tag but we know he’s going to play as many minutes as he can handle here. CJ McCollum has just been solid lately, nothing too crazy relative to his price tag but a guy I think you can comfortably get to as the last piece in your lineup. Jusuf Nurkic seems to be getting his legs under him and ready for the playoffs, he dropped 55 DraftKings points last night and will look to keep it going in a sneaky good matchup against the Suns in this one. Ayton isn’t someone that scares me on defense. Then really the only other guy on this team I would have interest in is Norman Powell due to the minutes he’s playing, but still more of a GPP guy for me. From the Suns, Devin Booker has done really well in this matchup this season averaging 48.9 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Blazers. You can get to both him and Chris Paul here, both have been really consistent as of late and flashing some big ceilings. DeAndre Ayton is probably a guy I’ll stay away from due to the matchup with Nurkic and he’s not exactly coming in in great form, so I’ll likely stay away from him on this slate. Then you can round this team out with Jae Crowder and Mikal Bridges as deep GPP guys in this one.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Chris Paul, Devin Booker

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Norman Powell, Jae Crowder, Mikal Bridges

NBA Lock of the Day: Cheat Sheets/Core 4

We’re at that point in the NBA season where finding a lock of the day happens much closer to lock rather than earlier in the morning due to how fluid the injury reports are, so I’ll keep the lock of the day for our VIP members. Come get signed up and take a look at our Core plays on our Cheat Sheets/Coaches Notes for tonight, maybe take a gander at the DraftKings tiers notes while you’re in there as well! These notes include Core plays, player ranks, and tiers notes, so come check them out! Tweet me (@MadnessDFS) your lock predictions and if your player gets over 5x tonight I’ll give you a shoutout on Twitter, let’s have some fun with this!

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