RADIO
The NBA is back in full swing, and it may be the most fun I've ever had playing daily fantasy sports. With only a couple of games overlapping at any time, it makes it feel like March Madness, but at an elite level. It's the best of the best, and when you have the teams battling for their playoff lives against a team locked into a playoff spot, there could be some wild box scores on any given evening. The Rockets are rising, the Grizzlies are grinding to a halt, and the Wizards are... well, they are just ready to head home.
Anyways, back to the actual basketball. We've got six games on the schedule for tonight's contests, and there are some great matchups to take into consideration for our lineups. Houston versus Portland has the potential to rack up a ton of fantasy points. Both defenses rank in the bottom half of the league against every position on the court. Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Damian Lillard should be in for big nights, but we will avoid talking about the obvious plays and try to find some hidden gems for today's contests.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 8/4/20. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @EuanOrYouOut. Let's get those lineups set!
FanDuel DFS Guards
Jimmy Butler, SG - MIA vs. BOS ($7,800)
Jimmy Butler looks to rebound on Tuesday night after only taking nine shots against the Toronto Raptors. It was just the second time this season that Butler played more than 30 minutes and took less than 10 shots, but he was still able to produce 40 fantasy points. The Boston Celtics rank inside the bottom-10 in defense versus shooting guards, and Butler will have an easier matchup.
The shooting guard comes in as the 13th most expensive player on the slate, but his 41.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG) put him inside the top-10 on the slate. This creates an opportunity for fantasy managers to gain some value. In two games against the Celtics this season, Butler is averaging 28.5 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three three-pointers. The 30-year-old is a less expensive star to complement your lineups. With the matchup and cost, he is an excellent play in 50/50 contests.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG - SAC vs. DAL ($5,100)
The Sacramento Kings may not have a lot to play for in their final six games at Disney World, but that won't stop Bogdan Bogdanovic from producing some daily fantasy points. I like Bogdanovic as a player, but I love his matchup more. Dallas is being demolished by opposing guards in their two bubble games. James Harden put up 88.8 fantasy points in game one, and then Devin Booker came in for an encore with 39.6 points of his own.
Their absent guard defense isn't a new development. Dallas ranks third-worst against shooting guards for the entire season. Bogdanovic has averaged 18 points, 3.5 assists, three rebounds, and four three-pointers in his two bubble games. Against a porous Dallas defense, he should easily break the 40-point fantasy barrier on Tuesday night.
Reggie Jackson, PG - LAC vs. PHX ($4,300)
Reggie Jackson wasn't exactly who I thought I would be writing about for today's article, but it's hard to ignore his past performance. On Sunday night, Jackson filled up the box score against the New Orleans Pelicans. The former-Detroit Piston had 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 5-for-9 from the field and making three of his four attempts from behind the arc.
Patrick Beverly is still working his way back into game shape after an absence during the scrimmage portion of the bubble, and it seems to be benefitting Jackson in a big way. Today's opponent, the Phoenix Suns, is allowing 48.1 FPPG to point guards, and while Jackson won't earn all of those, there is a world where he hits the 30-point barrier. That would be more than enough for his fantasy managers and a significant step towards a winning lineup.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Robert Covington, PF - HOU vs. POR ($6,800)
Robert Covington has been outstanding in the bubble for the Houston Rockets. In two games against the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks, RoCo has averaged 14 points, nine rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.5 blocks, and two made three-pointers. It's all added up to an eye-popping 41.5 fantasy points per game. The power forward only cost daily players $5,900 in his last appearance, but even with the price hike for today's slate, he will still return value.
That's because he faces the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night, and they are last in the entire league when it comes to defending power forwards. For the season, Portland has allowed 51 FPPG to the power forwards they face. Look for the Rockets and Covington to exploit this matchup and produce another big night for the 29-year-old.
Gordon Hayward, SF - BOS vs. MIA ($6,100)
The Boston Celtics have a massive pool of talent on their roster. That's why it hasn't hurt them this year when Hayward has gone through his ups and downs this season. Fortunately for them, and us daily players, he seems to be on the up, and his price hasn't adjusted for his performance. In two games since the restart, Hayward is averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and shooting 50 percent from the field and downtown. Some players seem to have used the layoff to reset, and Hayward is one of them.
The 2010 draft pick has averaged 35.4 fantasy points in those two games, and managers should expect more of the same tonight. The Miami Heat ranks 12th against small forwards for fantasy points, but the matchup should not scare you off Hayward. The price point and Hayward's current form make him a valuable asset to your daily lineup.
Tim Hardaway Jr., SF - DAL vs. SAC ($5,200)
Tim Hardaway Jr. came into the bubble firing against the Houston Rockets. He scored 24 points and hit five of his eight three-point attempts. Bizarrely, he followed it up with a two-point, 10-rebound outing against the Phoenix Suns. Even with the up and down performances, the forward is averaging 27.5 FPPG in the bubble. With his price sitting at $5,200, that would perfectly hit the five times return in value that fantasy managers should be looking for in their lineups.
Sacramento is in the middle of the pack against small forwards this season. They give up 40.1 FPPG to the position, but DeMar DeRozan just torched them for 44 fantasy points. Hardaway Jr. is capable of lighting it up on any night. This season, he has 13 games with at least five three-pointers. A low cost and a higher than usual ceiling make Hardaway a great option to fill out your lineup on Tuesday.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Brook Lopez, C - MIL vs. BKN ($5,900)
Brook Lopez had a quiet opening game in the bubble against the Boston Celtics on Friday, but he rebounded handsomely on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets. Lopez played 31 minutes in Sunday's primetime game and rewarded his fantasy managers with 23 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two steals while shooting 9-for-18 from the field. That performance came against Houston and their 20th ranked defense against the center spot. A tastier contest awaits the big man on Monday when the Brooklyn Nets and their 28th-placed defense versus the center take the court.
Brooklyn has allowed opposing centers to score 57.5 fantasy points per game this season. The Nets allowed Nikola Vucevic to have 22 points and 11 rebounds in their first game back, and then Thomas Bryant came into the bubble and burst for 30 points, 13 rebounds, and four three-pointers. Lopez is on a better team with a better coach that will look to exploit a matchup like this. Start him in your lineups with confidence today.
