When selecting a team, it's definitely important to look at the stats of an individual player, but even more so to focus on picking a team that fits together well. A formula of eight guys that aren't necessarily dropping 40 or appearing on ESPN's Top 10, but that maximize production. Together. You're pretty much looking for the Kansas City Royals of DraftKings daily fantasy lineups. Players that will sprinkle stats in each category of a scoresheet. Here's a look at my Daily NBA picks for DraftKings, 11/8/15.
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DraftKings Point Guards
Damian Lillard (vs DET, 9,000)
Wave goodbye to LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and Wesley Matthews, and greet Damian Lillard with a loud, welcoming, congratulatory hello. It's your year, pal, get ready. The court is yours. Lillard has scored more than 20 points in each of Portland's first six games and has been lighting it up from behind the arc of late. He now shares the backcourt with the emerging C.J. McCollum, who essentially protects Lillard's value. Expect a close game against an improving Detroit Pistons team, giving Lillard a chance to see the court for close to 40 minutes. He can be used in any league.
Matthew Dellavedova (vs IND, 4,300)
It appears that everyone has been riding the Matthew Dellavedova train, and rightfully so. Look who he is playing with in Cleveland. The safer pick could be starting point guard, Mo Williams, but for $1,500 cheaper, it might be wise to punch your ticket with Dellavedova. In the absence of Kyrie Irving, Dellavedova and Williams have played close to the same amount of minutes per game, and with J.R. Smith's return still uncertain, the two can continue to see plenty of time. Dellavedova has averaged 22.0 fantasy points per game. That's efficient and valuable for what it costs to get him.
DraftKings Shooting Guards
DeMar DeRozan (at MIA, 7,400)
It's hard not to pick players on the Toronto Raptors this season. DeRozan averages 36.9 fantasy points per game and is not that expensive. Even if DeRozan has an off-night from the field, he will still find a way to score mainly in part to how often he visits the free-throw line. DeRozan played a game high 41 minutes, also his season high, Friday night against the Suns. The Raptors will be in another tight game when they visit South Beach to face the Heat. Expect the same type of production, in any league.
Langston Galloway (vs LAL, 4,500)
While Galloway is still this cheap, draft him. Still is the key word here. I don't expect his price to skyrocket to Curry-like value, but if stats and trends are indicative of anything, Galloway's stock will continue to rise. He has the ability to score off the bench, rebound, and drop at least a couple threes a night. With limited production from Jose Calderon and Sasha Vujacic, and the continuous absence of Aaron Afflalo, Galloway is slowly moving up the ranks in New York. Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks he played 32 minutes, second only to Carmelo who played 34. Alongside, Derrick Williams, he is a top scorer on the Knicks second unit, one that at times has often looked better than the first. He can be used in any league, certainly against the Lakers.
DraftKings Small Forwards
Kevin Durant (vs PHO, 9,200)
Durant's stats don't sprinkle onto a scoresheet, they launch onto one like paintballs from a paintball gun. Since his uncharacteristic performance the first game of the season, Durant has been shooting 51% from the field. Not much needs to be said about Durant, that isn't already known, but he is surely worth his price. Don't let his average of 46.4 fantasy points per game fool you, Durant can put up 50, 60, even 70 points on any given night. He scores, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, nails threes, and looks like he is back to MVP-form. Like I said, you already know this. But sometimes I need to hear it out loud, from my own mouth, to believe a guy is this good. He can and should be used in any league.
Al-Farouq Aminu (at OKC, 5,600)
Aminu has been a consistent sprinkler of stats, indeed. He has played over 30 minutes a game and has averaged 30.5 fantasy points per game. He flirts with a double-double every time he steps onto the court, passes well, and has shown that he can be an efficient scorer, shooting 47.6% from the field. Aminu is affordable and provides tremendous upside for his price. Enough said.
DraftKings Power Forwards
Kevin Love (vs IND, 7,600)
Number zero can be number one out of all power forwards on Sunday. Love has struggled putting the ball in the basket this season but has found other ways to produce for daily fantasy lineups. He has put up four double-doubles so far and has played close to, if not more than, 30 minutes each game, on a starting five with Lebron James. He's averaged 37.4 fantasy points per game and can be used in all leagues.
Kristaps Porzingis (vs LAL, 5,000)
The second New York Knick to make the list, neither of which is Carmelo Anthony. Who wouldn't want to draft a guy named Kristaps? After being booed relentlessly at the announcement of his name for the fourth overall pick, Knicks fans, and fantasy owners, have only cheered for the 7'3" power forward. As they should. Against the Bucks Friday night, Porzingis had nine offensive rebounds, aiding in his second double-double in three games. Don't expect the Knicks to blow any teams out, not even the one-win Lakers, which will result in a continuous elevation of minutes for Porzingis.
DraftKings Center
Andre Drummond (at POR, 8,900)
Duh. The dude is averaging more rebounds (19.0/game) than most starters are averaging points. Not to mention the 18.6 points per game to go with it. After cooling off a bit against the Phoenix Suns Friday night, Drummond is still averaging 50.4 fantasy points per game and is a smart and safe selection in any league. He has also picked up at least one steal and one block in all games this season. The numbers speak for themselves.
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