DFS NBA Full Court Press: FanDuel & DraftKings Main Slate - Dec. 29th, 2022

Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/29:

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!

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Oklahoma City Thunder @ Charlotte Hornets

Vegas Total: 241.5

Vegas Spread: Okc -1.0

We’ll kick off this slate with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept it rolling last time out and now has at least 52 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and gets an elite matchup in this one. He’s going to be an elite spend-up option on this slate yet again. Josh Giddey has been extremely consistent as of late and is probably a couple of hundred dollars too cheap, he’s going to look like a nice option as well. Lu Dort is volatile and we kind of know what we’re getting out of him making him a tournament option. Aleksej Pokusevski broke his leg last time out, so we can take him out of the rotation which means we likely see extra minutes for guys like Jalen Williams and Kenrich Williams… maybe even Mike Muscala who started the second half for him last time game. I would probably only have interest in Muscala if he’s starting, but the two Williams’ look good here. From the Hornets, LaMelo Ball continues to have a better price tag on FanDuel but it did come down on DraftKings from where it was earlier in the week. He had a down game last time out but is averaging 50.7 DraftKings points per game over his last six games and gets an elite matchup in this one. Gordon Hayward has been in fine form but he’s seeing all the minutes he can handle, so I like getting some exposure to him at the F position. It sounds like Kelly Oubre is going to miss this game which will help these guys with more usage but I would expect we see a lot of his minutes go to Jalen McDaniels who will look like a solid value option. I still think Terry Rozier is slightly overpriced with Ball back, but I don’t mind him as a secondary option in a great matchup here. Then guys like Mason Plumlee and PJ Washington are fine GPP options to round out the team, both guys have been in great form as of late.

5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LaMelo Ball

4-star play: Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, Mason Plumlee, PJ Washington

Deeper Value: Mike Muscala

GPP Sleeper: Kenrich Williams, Mike Muscala, Jalen McDaniels, Terry Rozier

Quick shoutout to VIP member “Cenzamatic” on a massive $20k win last season! Sometimes paying up for double studs works, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant brought it home for him with the help of some Stanley Johnson and Pistons value. Good work and congrats man!

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers

Vegas Total: 223.5

Vegas Spread: Cle -5.0

Starting with the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell has been held under 32 FanDuel points in three of his last four which doesn’t give you that warm feeling in putting him in your lineups tonight. That said, this is an elite bounce-back spot for him against a bad Pacers team that he performed well against earlier this season. Darius Garland had a massive game last time out and is a guy I like going right back to in this spot. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are both at similar price tags but haven’t been in great form. This is a nice bounce-back spot for both of them, however, so I have no issue going right back here if you land on them as secondary options. Then guys like Caris LeVert and Kevin Love will be GPP guys, I would have a preference for Love if you’re in this price range due to his ability to produce in short minutes. From the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton comes in as questionable tonight, so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates, but for the sake of this article, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s a full go. I don’t love the matchup for him if he’s able to go and he’s kind of burned me over his last two games, but I won’t talk you off of him if you want to get there due to how good he’s been this season. It’s a tough matchup for Myles Turner as well against Mobley and Allen down low, but I don’t have a problem with him in GPPs, they’ll obviously need his size against them down low. Buddy Hield had a big game last time out and will make sense as a secondary option in this one. Then guys like Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard are solid GPP options as well in a lower price range. If you think Turner struggles or gets into any sort of foul trouble, Jalen Smith is interesting at this price tag as well… but again, another tournament-only guy.

5-star play: Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland

4-star play: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield

Deeper Value: Jalen Smith

GPP Sleeper: Caris LeVert, Kevin Love, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Smith

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Los Angeles Clippers @ Boston Celtics

Vegas Total: 227.5

Vegas Spread: Bos -6.0

Starting with the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard has been in good form as of late with a 28.8% usage rate and 1.24 fantasy points per minute over the last two weeks. I would have no issue going right back to him in this one, he’s playing good minutes when he’s available. Paul George has seen his price tag come way down as this team gets healthier, but I have no issue going right back to him here either, he’s playing all the minutes he can handle, although it’s a tough matchup against a good Boston team. John Wall and Marcus Morris are both fine options, but I highly doubt I land on them in anything more than GPPs on this slate. Ivica Zubac was a guy I was all over in their last game, his minutes are trending in the right direction with at least 31 minutes in three straight. The Celtics aren’t a great rebounding team, so the upside is certainly there for him at a nice price tag. Norman Powell isn’t seeing a bunch of minutes but still has at least 33 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. I can’t say I love Reggie Jackson with Wall back in this one, but he’s a fine dart throw. From the Celtics, Jayson Tatum has at least 57 FanDuel points in three of his last four and is going to look like a great option yet again in this one… the price tag is hard to stomach, but it’s hard to argue with his production. I do like his price tag much more on DraftKings where he’s $700 cheaper. Jaylen Brown hasn’t been a guy I’ve gotten to much in this price range, but I won’t talk you off of him in this one due to the form he’s shown this season. Marcus Smart hasn’t been all that great over his lat two, but we know the minutes will be there, and is a solid filler piece if you land in that price range. Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White are fine secondary options but take a bit of a hit with Smart back in there… they’re probably more of GPP options than anything here. Robert Williams was my 8x play of the day last time out and he fell just short… he still hasn’t gotten over the 22-minute mark but it’s coming, and when it does, I want to have exposure at a cheap price tag. Then Al Horford hasn’t been good over his last couple of games, he’s more of a tournament option than anything.

5-star play: Jayson Tatum

4-star play: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart

Deeper Value: Robert Williams

GPP Sleeper: John Wall, Marcus Morris, Norman Powell, Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, Al Horford, Robert Williams

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Memphis Grizzlies @ Toronto Raptors

Vegas Total: 229.0

Vegas Spread: Mem -3.0

Starting with the Grizzlies, Desmond Bane got his minutes up to 27 last time out, but still unplayable to me until he gets back into the mid-30s at this price tag. Ja Morant has at least 50 DraftKings points in two of his last four and makes sense in all formats yet again here… although this is a big pace-down spot for the Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson has been a bit more volatile as of late and would probably be more of a tournament option than anything for me. Dillon Brooks would be more of a secondary GPP option, especially with Bane back in the rotation. I can’t pay this price tag for Tyus Jones, I just don’t love paying that kind of salary for a backup point guard who generally sees 20-25 minutes. I do like Steven Adams here, he’s been extremely consistent as of late. Then Brandon Clarke will make sense as a tournament option, he’s been in good form as of late. From Toronto, we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed as Fred VanVleet comes into this one as questionable, but I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here. He was in great form before getting banged up last time out, so I have no issue going right back to him here in a pace-up matchup. Pascal Siakam has been unreal and is averaging 63.8 DraftKings points per game in his last four games, he’s going to look like an elite option yet again in this one. Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby are similarly priced but I’ll prefer the form that Barnes is in over Anunoby, that said, they’re both solid options and should play all the minutes they can handle. Lastly, Gary Trent Jr. is a solid GPP option to round out the team.

5-star play: Ja Morant, Pascal Siakam

4-star play: Jaren Jackson, Steven Adams, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, Gary Trent Jr.

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New York Knicks @ San Antonio Spurs

Vegas Total: 226.0

Vegas Spread: Nyk -5.0

Starting with the Knicks, they’re going to be without RJ Barrett while Jalen Brunson comes in as questionable. We saw Immanuel Quickley start in Brunson’s place last time out and would likely be the same deal here if he were to miss. We may even see Quickley in the starting lineup anyway for Barrett even if Brunson is good to go, so he’s going to look like a good option regardless. Below is how this team operates with Barrett off of the court this season:

• Julius Randle – 29.7% usage rate; 1.30 fpm
• Immanuel Quickley – 21.1% usage rate; 0.94 fpm
• Jalen Brunson – 30.3% usage rate; 1.20 fpm
• Mitchell Robinson – 10.7% usage rate; 1.03 fpm
• Quentin Grimes – 16.9% usage rate; 0.83 fpm

These would be the top options from the Knicks, but we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for that Brunson news as we may end up seeing someone like Miles McBride or Cam Reddish in the starting lineup if he’s unable to go. Julius Randle has been in elite form with at least 52 DraftKings points in four straight and has at least 40 minutes in three of those games, he’s going to be an elite option here. From the Spurs, I’m going to leave this one to our Breaking News Channel as we’re waiting on news for Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Doug McDermott who all come in as questionable – so come hop in our VIP Discord for current news!

5-star play: Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley, Jalen Brunson

4-star play: Mitchell Robinson, Quentin Grimes

Deeper Value: None

GPP Sleeper: Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride

Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks

Vegas Total: 225.5

Vegas Spread: Dal -10.0

Starting with the Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr. kept it rolling against the Celtics last time out but has seen a healthy price increase since that game. He would be more of a tournament guy for me in a pace-down spot at this price tag. Alperen Sengun came crashing down to Earth last time out but has been in much better form as of late with at least 35 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. You can beat this Mavs team in the frontcourt as well, I have no issue going right back to him in this one. Jabari Smith Jr. has been solid as of late but we know his volatility throughout the season, he’s a nice tournament option at this price tag at the very least. Jalen Green has played all the minutes he can handle as of late and is in a similar boat as Porter Jr. but at a much nicer price tag. Tari Eason just hasn’t been a guy I’ve loved getting to, he’s a good per-minute producer but for whatever reason, the Rockets won’t give him more than 23-25 minutes on the high-end. From the Mavs, Luka Doncic. Need I say more? The guy dropped the most fantasy points in the history of DFS last time out with his 60/20/10 triple-double, he’s going to be an elite option yet again in a great matchup here. Christian Wood is playing all the minutes he can handle as of late which has helped his production greatly. He gets a revenge game in this one and will look like a nice option yet again. Spencer Dinwiddie has been fine, I don’t see myself getting a whole lot of him on this slate with that said. Then the only other guy I’d really have interest in here is Tim Hardaway Jr., who is playing really nice minutes right now, he’s volatile, but has a nice ceiling. The minutes will be there tonight with Finney-Smith out and Reggie Bullock questionable.

5-star play: Luka Doncic

4-star play: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith, Christian Wood, Tim Hardaway Jr.

Deeper Value: Tari Eason

GPP Sleeper: Tari Eason, Eric Gordon, Spencer Dinwiddie

NBA Lock of the Day: Immanuel Quickley (DK – $5.0k; FD – $6.0k)

The Knicks will be without RJ Barrett tonight while Jalen Brunson comes in as questionable. I would expect Quickley to start regardless of Brunson’s status with Barrett already ruled out which solidifies his minutes. He has a 21.1% usage rate and 0.94 fantasy points per minute with Barrett off of the court this season and that will shoot up even more if Brunson is forced to miss. He’s too cheap for his role tonight. At this point in the day, I would think he makes my core, but check out our VIP Cheat Sheets as we get closer to lock for staff picks on Core plays, 8x locks of the day, and tiers notes as well!

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