DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate – Dec. 15th, 2021

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/15:

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 Mike 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!

---

Houston Rockets @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

We’ll get this slate started with the Rockets, and a team we will need to monitor for injury news as Christian Wood comes into this one as questionable. Not only that, but Eric Gordon has joined Jalen Green and Kevin Porter on the “out” list. I’m going to operate under the assumption that Wood is playing, but keep an eye on our Breaking News Feed for updates. I don’t love the matchup for Wood but he’ll see enough of a boost with all these guys out that I wouldn’t have a problem going to him in GPPs. Jae’Sean Tate will need to continue to play big minutes for this team and has been in solid form this season. Armoni Brooks finally saw his minutes come down last time out, but was mostly due to leaving with an injury. With Gordon out again tonight I would expect he’s back in the starting lineup, but he sure is priced up. I do think guys like Garrison Mathews, Alperen Sengun, and KJ Martin make for interesting GPP options… Martin and Sengun particularly if Wood needs to miss. From the Cavs, I love attacking the Rockets with big men due to their interior defense, so Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are guys I’ll have interest in here at their relative price tags. Darius Garland has been in great form as of late and playing a ton of minutes, he’s a great option against a bad defense. Lauri Markkanen hasn’t been in the best form over his last handful of games, but we know the minutes should be there if you want to go there as a secondary GPP option. Then Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love round out this team as tournament options, but on a big slate, I’m not sure how much of them I’ll get to here.

5-star play: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland

4-star play: Christian Wood, Armoni Brooks, Garrison Mathews, Lauri Markkanen, Ricky Rubio

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Alperen Sengun, KJ Martin, Kevin Love

I need to give VIP Member “TTG2436” a massive shoutout for his $100k takedown earlier in the season, congrats man! Our NBA Domination Station lineup optimizer is Powered by DFS Army proprietary projections. The Domination Station will help you create 150 of the highest projected lineups in a matter of minutes. With features that allow you to Like  Love  or Dislike  a player, you can create a fully unique pool of players to generate your lineups from every day. Combine the power of the Domination Station with our VIP Only Articles and the NBA Research Station to really take your game to the next level.

Atlanta Hawks @ Orlando Magic

Vegas Total: 224.5

Vegas Spread: Atl -7.5

Starting with the Hawks, Trae Young has been incredible as of late with at least 55 DraftKings points in four straight games and now gets an elite matchup with the Magic. Clint Capela dropped 55 DraftKings on the Magic earlier this season and I love attacking this frontcourt with big men, so Capela and John Collins are firmly in play here. Collins is more of a tournament play due to his volatility, but in play nonetheless. Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari are both fine options, but with how much Covid value I think we’ll have today, we probably won’t need it. Lastly, Cam Reddish got his minutes up to 28 last time out. His price has come up a little bit, but under $4k, he’s a guy that I’ll get some exposure to on DraftKings. From the Magic,  Cole Anthony is going to be my favorite option here again on the Magic, he’s been extremely consistent and we know the upside is there. The price has come up but he provides a nice ceiling at the price tag still. I think a Trae Young/Cole Anthony stack would be really fun for tournaments in hopes that these two just have a shootout. Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba are priced similarly and are certainly in play. I think you can play Carter Jr. in all formats, but Bamba is probably more of a tournament option due to the volatility he brings, people may shy away from Bamba’s last performance but he left that game early with an injury, so don’t look too much into it. Franz Wagner continues to produce, he has at least 30 DraftKings points in seven straight games and is a guy I’ll go back to in this one.  Then you can round this team out with GPP guys in Terrence Ross and Gary Harris on the wing.

5-star play: Trae Young, Cole Anthony

4-star play: John Collins, Clint Capela, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz Wagner

Deeper Value: Cam Reddish

GPP Sleeper: Kevin Huerter, Danilo Gallinari, Terrence Ross, Gary Harris, Mo Bamba

---

Miami Heat @ Philadelphia 76ers

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Heat, they could be pretty shorthanded here as they’re already without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but Tyler Herro comes in as questionable as well. I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on this team, there will be a lot of guard minutes open if he needs to miss. Speaking of Herro, he has a 31.1% usage rate and 1.02 fantasy points per minute with Bam and Butler off the court this season and someone I like at this price tag. Kyle Lowry has been in better form, but that’s baked into his price tag, you can go right back to him here as well as he has benefited quite a bit from these two being out. Don’t look now, but PJ Tucker got a price bump to over $5k on both sites, he’s been in good form as of late, but I’m going to have a really hard time paying that price on a slate this size. Lastly, Dewayne Dedmon hasn’t been in the best form as of late, that being said, they’ll need his minutes to deal with the size of Embiid down low. From the Sixers, we got one of our first after-lock scratches with Joel Embiid last time out. He comes into this one as questionable, so monitor that injury news closely, as we know to expect the unexpected with Embiid’s availability. Tobias Harris had a rough go of it last time out, but I’ll chalk that one up to blowout, you can go right back to him in this spot. Tyrese Maxey had a nice bounceback game last time out, he’s probably more of a tournament guy for me, but in play nonetheless. Lastly, if Embiid does miss, I’ll go right back to the Andre Drummond well at this price tag. He’s an elite point-per-minute guy and someone I would have a ton of and would likely make my core in our Cheat Sheets/Coaches Notes.

5-star play: Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, Joel Embiid

4-star play: Dewayne Dedmon, Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: PJ Tucker, Duncan Robinson, Seth Curry

---

Los Angeles Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Lakers, Anthony Davis comes into this one as questionable while Talen Horton-Tucker, Malik Monk, and Dwight Howard have entered Covid-protocol and will be out for this one. I’m probably not going to look too much into those guys being out, however. We’ll just see more minutes from guys like DeAndre Jordan, Avery Bradley, and Carmelo Anthony. The real news we need is from Anthony Davis, if he’s out we can go right back to LeBron James and Russell Westbrook but will have that all broken down on the Breaking News Feed once we get it. James has been in great form going for at least 61 FanDuel points in three straight games. I’d like to say the same about Westbrook, but he’s been held under 30 DraftKings points in two of his last three. From the Mavericks, they’ll continue to be without Luka Doncic here meaning we can go right back to Jalen Brunson and Kristaps Porzingis. With Luka off the court this season, Brunson has a 25.4% usage rate and 1.06 fantasy points per minute while Porzingis has a 29.5% usage rate and 1.37 fantasy points per minute. The price is up on both of them, but for good reason. Tim Hardaway Jr. will see a boost as well but is more of a tournament play due to his volatility as of late. The rest of this team is pretty meh for me unless you want to make a case for Dorian Finney-Smith as a secondary option.

5-star play: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jalen Brunson, Kristaps Porzingis

4-star play: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Deeper Value: LAL Starter (I expect some min price value from the Lakers but need a starting lineup)

GPP Sleeper: Carmelo Anthony, Dorian Finney-Smith

I wanted to give a quick shoutout to VIP member “GhostfaceKillaa” on his $30k win earlier in the season. A pivot to Curry off the chalky Doncic was the key for him, congrats man!

Indiana Pacers @ Milwaukee Bucks

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Pacers, Domantas Sabonis has at least 50 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and sees a boost here with Giannis out on the Bucks. I like him in all formats here at this price tag in what should be a faster-paced game. Malcolm Brogdon is averaging 30.6 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Bucks this season, I still think he’s a solid option with how shorthanded the Bucks defense will be but Holiday has done a nice job on him this season. Caris LeVert has been in good form as of late with at least 30 DraftKings points in five straight games and a guy I like in this spot as well as they try and showcase him a bit. We know the deal with Myles Turner at this point and has struggled quite a bit in this matchup this season averaging just 13 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Bucks. From Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Donte DiVincenzo have entered the team’s health and safety protocols and will not be available tonight. Khris Middleton also comes in as questionable with a knee injury, it’s just a hyperextended knee for Middleton but the wording from the team on his availability tonight seemed like he may not play tonight. I’m going to operate under the assumption that he plays, but something to monitor for sure. Below is how the Bucks operate with Giannis off the court this season:

• Khris Middleton – 34.5% usage rate; 1.29 fpm
• Jrue Holiday – 29.8% usage rate; 1.2 fpm
• Bobby Portis – 25.2% usage rate; 1.17 fpm

These would be my three favorite options on the Bucks but guys like Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen are firmly in play as well if they’re knocking down their shots.

5-star play: Domantas Sabonis, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday

4-star play: Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Myles Turner, Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen

---

New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Vegas Total: 210.5

Vegas Spread: Nop -2.0

Starting with the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram had a nice bounce-back game last time out but I just don’t love the price tag on him. I don’t see much of a ceiling at this price tag, but I do like the matchup and we should have the value to make him work, so I won’t talk you off of him by any means against the Thunder here. The minutes continue to be the issue for Jonas Valanciunas, when he gets 30+ he crushes, but because of this, he’ll be strictly a GPP guy for me. That being said, if you want a little risk in single entry, I have no issue with it in a nice matchup. Josh Hart finally got his price boost, he’s dropped at least 31 DraftKings points in four straight games and a guy I’ll go right back to. Then you can round this team out with Devonte’ Graham and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in tournaments. I do like the price on Graham, but he just hasn’t been in the best form… that being said, this Thunder defense has been pretty atrocious. From the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a fine option here, but it kind of feels priced right where he should be. I’m not sure how much I’ll get to him on this slate. The same can be said for Josh Giddey, he’s been a good fantasy producer this season but his price tag has caught up to him. The rest of this team is pretty ugly, you can make a case for Darius Bazley in tournaments, but I think that’ll just about do it from the Thunder.

5-star play: None

4-star play: Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Josh Hart, Devonte’ Graham, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey

Deeper Value: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

GPP Sleeper: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Devonte’ Graham, Darius Bazley

---

Charlotte Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 228.0

Vegas Spread: Sas -3.5

Starting with the Hornets, they’re starting to get healthier and getting some guys back which in the short term is going to hurt their fantasy value due to their price tags being inflated to reflect a shorthanded team. Terry Rozier returned last time out and played 33 minutes, so it’s pretty clear he won’t be limited at all and a nice play here against a soft Spurs defense. Kelly Oubre Jr. went back to the bench last time out but still played 36 minutes. I don’t have an issue with him in tournaments, but the price tag will make it hard to play him. I haven’t been able to get Miles Bridges right in what seems like a month and a half, but he’s going to continue to play heavy minutes and a guy I like again here. Gordon Hayward is a solid tournament option, while Cody Martin probably isn’t a guy I’ll get to at this price tag, he needs all the minutes he can get to produce at this price tag. PJ Washington may take a hit as well as it sounds like Mason Plumlee comes into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for an update on that situation.  From the Spurs, Dejounte Murray had a nice bounce-back game last time out and dropped a 50 burger on the Pelicans. I have no issue going right back to him here on a slate where we should have a ton of value and he gets a nice matchup with the Hornets. Jakob Poeltl had a big night in that game as well, the price tag has really come up on him, but it’s hard to ignore the production he’s had. The same can be said for Derrick White, he dropped 57 DraftKings points in the Pelicans, no issue going right back to him as a secondary option due to the price tag. Lastly, Keldon Johnson got his minutes up to 29 last time out, I would think he’s back up to being a full go and is a nice mid-range GPP guy.

5-star play: Terry Rozier, Dejounte Murray

4-star play: Kelly Oubre Jr., Miles Bridges, Gordon Hayward, Jakob Poeltl, Derrick White

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: PJ Washington, Cody Martin, Keldon Johnson

---

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets

Vegas Total: 219.0

Vegas Spread: Den -4.5

Starting with the Timberwolves, D’Angelo Russell comes into this one as questionable, so keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates surrounding his status. Karl-Anthony Towns had a tough game in this spot earlier in the season going for just 29 DraftKings points. That being said, they’ll need his size to help deal with Jokic down low. Anthony Edwards hasn’t been in the best form as of late, but again, in a game where Edwards is going to be running and gunning, I like him a good amount here, the Nuggets can struggle with opposing wings at times as well. Jarred Vanderbilt has burst onto the scene over the past month or so and is going to continue to get nice minutes, he’s a nice option for tournaments. Patrick Beverley’s minutes will continue to climb as he returns from a groin injury, but he’s been a nice fantasy producer and has at least 21 DraftKings points in each game since returning from injury. Malik Beasley is really only in play for me if Russell is out, but we get a revenge game narrative with him here. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic is an absolute heater and should do whatever he wants again in this matchup. He has at least 72 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and dropped 65 on the Wolves earlier this season. He’s the best spend-up option on the slate in my opinion. It sounds like both Will Barton and Aaron Gordon will be good to go here in a nice matchup with the Wolves as well, I have no issue with either of them in tournaments at the very least. Then you can round the Nuggets out with Monte Morris who has at least 35 DraftKings points in back-to-back games.

5-star play: Nikola Jokic

4-star play: D’Angelo Russell, Patrick Beverley,  Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, Will Barton, Monte Morris

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Jarred Vanderbilt, Aaron Gordon

Use the 2021-22 NBA DFS Sim Model and build stronger lineups for cash games and/or large-field tournaments! Run the slate 1000 times and see who comes out on top most often, who creates value, and who is most likely to post that gpp-winning outlier…

Washington Wizards @ Sacramento Kings

Vegas Total: 225.5

Vegas Spread: Sac -1.5

Starting with the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma comes in as questionable but otherwise, it seems like the Wizards will be good to go here. You’ve heard me say it before but we just haven’t seen those big ceiling games from Bradley Beal this season, but I think we have a chance at it tonight in a great matchup with the Kings. He won’t be a priority play by any means, but if he were to pop off, this is the spot. Spencer Dinwiddie was a guy I had a bunch of last time out and boy was he bad, that said, nobody fixes a bad game like the Kings. They’re like the Jaguars of the NBA, I don’t have an issue with him in GPPs. Then you can round this team out with Daniel Gafford and Montrezl Harrell as GPP options, they’ll both see a slight boost if Kuzma is out. From the Kings, it sounds like Richaun Holmes will continue to be out here, so we can expect Alex Len to continue to start for them and has seen at least 22 minutes in back-to-back games and makes for a nice GPP value option. De’Aaron Fox is pretty similar to Beal this season, he hasn’t been what we were expecting but I still think you can make a case for GPPs, the ceiling is in there somewhere. Tyrese Haliburton has been held under 20 FanDuel points in back-to-back games but was mostly due to losing minutes due to a blowout, but this game should stay close for him to play big minutes. I’m going to be done with Harrison Barnes until he proves it to me. I’ve had a bunch of him as of late with his price tag being so low and he’s killed me each night. Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley both make sense as tournament options. It seems like Bagley is locked into around 20 minutes right now whether he’s starting out not, so don’t worry too much if he’s not starting as we saw last game. Lastly, Terence Davis and Chimezie Metu can’t seem to find a steady role… whichever one starts is in play for GPPs, but I would want them to start in order for me to have an interest on a big slate.

5-star play: Bradley Beal

4-star play: Spencer Dinwiddie, De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton

Deeper Value: Alex Len

GPP Sleeper: Daniel Gafford, Montrezl Harrell, Marvin Bagley, Buddy Hield, Terence Davis, Chimezie Metu, Kyle Kuzma

---

Los Angeles Clippers @ Utah Jazz

Vegas Total: NA

Vegas Spread: NA

Starting with the Clippers, we’ll need some news updates from this team before we can really break them down as Paul George and Nicolas Batum come in as questionable. You know the drill by now, keep an eye on that Breaking News Feed, but I’m going to operate under the assumption that they’re a full go here. Assuming George is good to go, I don’t think I can justify the price tag on Reggie Jackson, there are better options in that price range. Marcus Morris had a big game last time out and is a guy I’ll go back to here depending on the injury news, but if Batum and George are both active, I’ll probably fade him. Terance Mann is playing big minutes right now but is another guy that has seen a boost with George out, he’d be more of a GPP guy for me. I do like Ivica Zubac in tournaments here, they’ll need his size to deal with Gobert down low, but will need to stay out of foul trouble. Serge Ibaka has been ruled out as well, so the minutes will be there if he can keep his hands to himself. From the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell feels like he’s priced right where he should be here, but no issue with him in tournaments. The price tag is up on Rudy Gobert as well and is generally a guy that I like in cash games, I’m not sure we can’t find better options in that range, however. The Jazz are just so hard to get to when they’re fully healthy, they’re always priced correctly. Guys like Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Jordan Clarkson are fine options, but I just don’t know that we’ll need them on this slate unless someone from this team gets ruled out.

5-star play: Paul George

4-star play: Ivica Zubac, Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann, Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson

---

Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trailblazers

Vegas Total: 219.5

Vegas Spread: Mem -1.5

Starting with the Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. has at least 35 DraftKings points in three straight games and has a 30.4% usage rate and about 1.3 fantasy points per minute with Ja Morant off the court this season. Dillon Brooks finally produced well last time out and this is a matchup I love for him, I’ll go right back to the well. Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones are both solid mid-range options if you happen to fall on them, but not priorities by any means. Kyle Anderson has looked good over his past two games, but I’m just going to have trouble getting to him with his minutes volatility, I think we’ll be able to find better options for a cheaper price tag tonight. From the Blazers, Damian Lillard played a ton of minutes last night and dropped 57 DraftKings points. With CJ McCollum off the court this season he has a 33.2% usage rate and 1.21 fantasy points per minute. I’ll have no issue going right back to the well on him considering the number of minutes he’s going to play. Dennis Smith Jr. immediately went right back to the bench and played four minutes, you can take him right out of your player pool. Jusuf Nurkic makes sense as a secondary option in this matchup, he had a big night last night due to high minutes… which are generally the issue for him. Norman Powell has at least 34 DraftKings points in three of his last four games and is a guy I like again here for tournaments at the very least. Anfernee Simons came down to Earth a bit last night but the minutes will still be there for him. We saw Larry Nance Jr. get the start again last night and is generally a nice per minute guy. He would be my favorite wing of the trio between him, Nassir Little, and Robert Covington.

5-star play: Jaren Jackson Jr., Damian Lillard

4-star play: Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic, Larry Nance Jr., Gary Trent Jr.

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Steven Adams, Kyle Anderson, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Trent Jr., Larry Nance Jr., Nassir Little

NBA Lock of the Day: Cheat Sheets/Coaches Notes

I’m going to keep the lock of the day for our VIP Members on this fine Wednesday, so go get signed up using promo code MADNESS and get yourself 10% off!

As always, watch Twitter for updates throughout the day, and stay updated in our VIP Coaching forums as news breaks throughout the day!

The only thing you are missing at this point is the key to unlock the next level of your game.  Come inside and check us out!!  We have experts sharing their secrets and experience on a daily basis.  Combining that with the actual ability to ask them questions and get quick answers in return gives you a recipe for success that puts our army hats on leaderboards all over the face of DFS.

When you sign up, don’t forget to use promo code MADNESS to save 10% on your membership each and every month!

Editor’s Note – However, if you are more interested in simply betting the games, NBA is full of crazy action.  And, our dynamic modeling over at SharpBets adjusts in real time to help identify Vegas inaccuracies you can exploit.  Follow Ryan, Anthony, and Statsational for models and coaching advice that help you build any bankroll for any sport…