Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 3/16:
Feb 15, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) reacts after a three point basket against the Miami Heat during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
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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Before I get started, I need to shoutout a few huge VIP Member wins – “Phamacist” took 1st place in the $300k Fadeway contest which netted him $100k while “da_banditz” grabbed 1st place on FanDuel as well winning $10k- congrats guys!
Denver Nuggets @ Detroit Pistons
Vegas Total: 228.5
Vegas Spread: Den -14.0
We’ll kick this slate off with the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic came down to Earth last time out but had at least 77 DraftKings points, he’s going to look like a top spend-up option on the slate in an elite matchup. Jamal Murray ended up playing after being questionable all day the last time out. He hasn’t been in the greatest form as of late, but this is an elite bounce-back spot against a tanking Pistons team. Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. feel like similar options due to their volatility, but the upside is certainly there for both of them. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is never a guy I get a ton of, but he’s playing all the minutes he can handle right now and you could do worse as a roster filler. From the Pistons, it sounds like Jaden Ivey is going to return here which will hurt the production a bit for Killian Hayes in the backcourt. With Ivey out Hayes was looking to score more often, I would expect that to come down a bit, but they both will look like nice options with how shorthanded this team still is. Eugene Omoruyi ended up starting again last time out and gave us a brief scare as he went to the locker room early on. I would expect he starts again here but did get a price bump that makes him more of a secondary option. James Wiseman will have his hands full with Jokic down low but has been seeing the lion’s share of the center minutes, so he’d be my preferred option, but Jalen Duren is interesting off of the bench if Wiseman either struggles or gets into foul trouble. Then I have no issues with guys like Rodney McGruder or Cory Joseph to round out this team, Joseph probably takes a hit with Ivey back however.
5-star play: Nikola Jokic
4-star play: Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes, James Wiseman
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Duren, Rodney McGruder, Eugene Omoruyi
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Toronto Raptors
Vegas Total: 230.5
Vegas Spread: Tor -6.0
Starting with the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a guy I’ve been getting a bunch of on DraftKings due to the price discount you get on him compared to FanDuel. He has at least 50 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and looks like a nice option yet again in this one. I don’t exactly want to pay this price tag for Josh Giddey but he’s a fine secondary option. Jalen Williams kept it rolling last time out and has been great over the last month or so, I have no issue going right back to him in this one. Meanwhile, Lu Dort would be a volatile GPP option but will see big minutes. Lastly, Jaylin Williams should continue to start at center and be a fine value option if you need one. From the Raptors, Pascal Siakam continues to be a disappointment despite his price tag continuing to fall. The matchup is great, but he’s just not a guy I feel the need to roster right now. Fred VanVleet had a massive bounce-back game last time out and gets a great matchup against the Thunder in this one, he’s going to look like a nice option in all formats. Scottie Barnes has been trending in the right direction and is shooting much more over his last few games, I like going right back to the well on him in this one and as we’ve come to know in this Nick Nurse offense, he’s going to play a ton. Jakob Poeltl hung in there nicely with Jokic last time out and looks like a nice option here as well, the Thunder frontcourt isn’t exactly great. Then guys like OG Anunoby and Gary Trent make sense as secondary options, although my preference would be Anunoby who has been in better form.
5-star play: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
4-star play: Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Jaylin Williams, Lu Dort, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent
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!
Sacramento Kings @ Brooklyn Nets
Vegas Total: 238.0
Vegas Spread: Bkn -2.0
We’ll start with the Kings, Domantas Sabonis has been in elite form as of late with at least 52 FanDuel points in three of his last four games. The Nets have a lot of wings to throw at him defensively, but the matchup doesn’t scare me one bit. De’Aaron Fox was solid last night even with being chased around by Pat Bev all game, he’s going to look like a good option in this one as well. Kevin Huerter is a nice secondary option that I don’t mind using as a roster filler if you land in that price range. Then guys like Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, and Malik Monk make sense as secondary GPP options in all formats as well. From the Nets, I’m going to continue to go back to Mikal Bridges in a great matchup. He’s been great since coming over from the Suns and has a 28.3% usage rate and 1.17 fantasy points per minute as he takes on more of a playmaking role for the Nets. Spencer Dinwiddie is on a heater and is playing all the minutes he can handle, he’s going to look great in a fast-paced matchup. The minutes for Nicolas Claxton have been more consistent over his last handful of games and gets an elite matchup against this Kings frontcourt and the minutes have been trending in the right direction. Cam Johnson bounced back nicely last time out but is probably more of a secondary option for me here. We can throw guys like Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith in that same boat as well as filler pieces to round out the Nets.
5-star play: Domantas Sabonis, Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie
4-star play: De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Nicolas Claxton, Cam Johnson
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Royce O’Neale, Dorian Finney-Smith
Indiana Pacers @ Milwaukee Bucks
Vegas Total: 238.0
Vegas Spread: Mil -13.5
Starting with the Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Buddy Hield all come into this one as questionable, so we’ll need to keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates regarding them. For the sake of this article, I’ll operate under the assumption that they’re good to go. Haliburton has been in great form with at least 52 DraftKings points in four straight games and gets a bit of a homecoming back to Wisconsin in this one. Myles Turner gets a tougher matchup with Lopez and Giannis in the paint but is averaging 46.1 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Bucks this season. Buddy Hield is probably more of a secondary option but has a skill set that the Bucks are willing to allow to opposing teams. Andrew Nembhard and Isaiah Jackson are priced up with these guys missing their last few games, so they’re only in play if they miss again. I do think Jordan Nwora is a fine flyer option in a revenge game, he’s been seeing good minutes over the last few weeks. From the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been awesome over his last few games and dropped 70 DraftKings points in this matchup earlier this season, he’s going to look like a top spend-up option on the slate. I don’t love the price tag on Jrue Holiday but he’s a fine tournament option if you want to get exposure, but it continues to climb. Khris Middleton should return here and had a big game last time out against the Kings, the matchup is nice and would make sense as a secondary option. Then, Brook Lopez comes in questionable while Grayson Allen is already ruled out. Lopez has been one of the better centers in the league as of late but would open up the opportunity for Bobby Portis if he ends up sitting.
5-star play: Tyrese Haliburton, Giannis Antetokounmpo
4-star play: Myles Turner, Buddy Hield, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Jordan Nwora, Jrue Holiday, Pat Connaughton
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Orlando Magic @ Phoenix Suns
Vegas Total: 227.5
Vegas Spread: Pho -7.5
Starting with the Magic, Paolo Banchero has been solid as of late but gets a tougher matchup in this one, he’s probably more of a tournament guy than anything for me here. Markelle Fultz has been as consistent as they come as of late and looks like a nice option in all formats as well. Franz Wagner is never a guy I feel the need to prioritize especially since this team is mostly healthy, he’d be more of a secondary option here. Wendell Carter Jr. has been in good form since returning from a brief absence, the matchup isn’t great but he’s a fine GPP option. Then guys like Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs have shown some nice upside and consistency as of late and are in play in all formats. From the Suns, they’ll be without Kevin Durant for the next few weeks but does sound like he’d play if it were the playoffs, so some hope for Suns fans. Devin Booker has come down to Earth a bit over his last couple of games but gets an elite bounce-back matchup here and will look like a nice option in all formats. Chris Paul looks solid as well, the price feels like it’s about right but does leave some meat on the bone for some upside. Deandre Ayton had a down game last time out but is another guy that I like getting to at his current price tag on DraftKings, but the FanDuel price tag feels a bit aggressive. Then guys like Josh Okogie and Terrence Ross make sense with Durant out and should pick up minutes and shot opportunities.
5-star play: Devin Booker
4-star play: Paolo Banchero, Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Deandre Ayton (FanDuel), Josh Okogie
NBA Lock of the Day: Mikal Bridges (DK – $8.3k; FD – $8.5k)
I kind of like the idea of taking the cheaper of Bridges/Dinwiddie on DraftKings and FanDuel where they are different price tags, but think they both look great. Bridges has been awesome since joining the Nets and gets a pace-up matchup against a Kings team that isn’t playing any sort of defense. He has a 28.3% usage rate and 1.17 fantasy points per minute with the Nets so far this season. 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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