Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 12/5:
Nov 21, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) look on against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-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 (X), 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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New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks
Vegas Total: 225.5
Vegas Spread: Mil -4.5
We’ll kick this slate off with the Knicks, Julius Randle has been extremely consistent as of late and has at least 47 DraftKings points in three straight games. This is a huge pace-up spot for the Knicks against a Bucks team that will speed them up and cause more possessions, so I think we can go right back to the well with Randle. Jalen Brunson is right there in that price range with him and is a great option as well, the Bucks have given up some big games to opposing guards this season, including one already to Brunson where he dropped 58 DraftKings points. RJ Barrett’s minutes have been volatile and so has his production, I do like the spot for him to bounce back on a short slate, but it’s not going to feel comfortable, to say the least. Josh Hart has been the better producer on the wing and you get him at a cheaper price tag, so I have no issue pivoting down to him either. Mitchell Robinson has seen much more consistent playing time as of late with at least 30 minutes in four straight games, I have no issue getting to him in a tougher matchups against these Milwaukee bigs. Then guys like Immanuel Quickley and Donte DiVincenzo make sense as tournament options on this slate. From the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo had a down game in this matchup earlier in this season relative to his price tag but is going to look like a top raw option on the slate if we can find the value to get to him. He has at least 61 DraftKings points in four straight games. Damian Lillard has been playing massive minutes and has been much more consistent as of late. I don’t love the matchup in a pace-down spot, but he’ll make sense in all formats as well. Brook Lopez has cooled off slightly as of late, but when he puts together his big block games with good shooting he has a really nice ceiling. Khris Middleton is probably overpriced here given his minutes restriction of around 25 minutes. He’s been pretty good but it’s just hard for him to get there at this price tag. Malik Beasley has been incredible as of late and is getting plenty of open looks from three-point range. He’s another guy who is playing massive minutes for the Bucks, he has at least 28 DraftKings points in four straight games. Bobby Portis is a volatile producer off of the bench but is generally a good per-minute guy when he’s out there. We could see MarJon Beauchamp forced into bigger minutes here with Pat Connaughton and Jae Crowder remaining out but Andre Jackson coming in as questionable. If Jackson misses Beauchamp could be the piece that helps you spend up for guys like Giannis and the stars in the later game.
5-star play: Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo
4-star play: Julius Randle, Josh Hart, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, Damian Lillard, Brook Lopez, MarJon Beauchamp (if Jackson is OUT), Malik Beasley
Deeper Value: Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein
GPP Sleeper: Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein, Immanuel Quickley, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis
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Phoenix Suns @ Los Angeles Lakers
Vegas Total: 227.5
Vegas Spread: Lal -1.5
Starting with the Suns, Bradley Beal will remain out while Eric Gordon comes in as questionable, I’ll operate under the assumption that he’s good to go, but keep an eye on our Breaking News Feed for updates on him. Assuming he plays he’ll look like a solid mid-to-low range option with at least 30 DraftKings points in two of his last three games. Devin Booker has been incredible as of late with at least 50 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and will look like a good spend-up option. Kevin Durant has been Mr. Consistent all season long and is always a guy I like targeting when he’s under $10k, especially on a slate this small. Jusuf Nurkic has been great as of late and they’ll need his size against a big Lakers’ frontcourt. Grayson Allen is playing a ton of minutes and if his shot gets hot he can put up a nice fantasy night. Lastly, you can make a case for Josh Okogie as a roster filler. From the Lakers, Anthony Davis has been great over his last few games and has at least 57 DraftKings points in four of his last five games. LeBron James has been fine as of late, but underwhelming relative to his salary. That said, he’s averaging 55 DraftKings points per game in two games against the Suns this season. D’Angelo Russell seems to have found his consistency again and makes sense as a secondary option in this one. While the opposite could be said for Austin Reaves off of the bench, but did look better last time out. Then guys like Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, and Max Christie should see solid minutes, they’re not the best per-minute guys but they’ll see the court.
5-star play: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis
4-star play: Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Josh Okogie, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, Max Christie
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