RADIO
In many ways, it feels as if the Lakers just wrapped up their 2020 NBA Finals victory over the Heat days ago. For other teams -- namely teams playing meaningful games somewhere outside the bubble -- it’s felt like eons. Now, we’re back. The ‘20-21 NBA season kicks off Tuesday with a splendid two-game tilt, which from a DFS perspective, admittedly feels like a bit of a tease. The hammer falls Wednesday, but before we get there, let’s churn through the massive star power featured on NBA Opening Night.
What stands out immediately when working through lineup construction Tuesday is that getting as close to possible as maxing out the salary cap is less important than ever. There is more than enough offensive firepower to go around across the slate and it’s fair to remember that the prices can miss by a wide variance; it is after all day ay one.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 12/22/20. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Paul George, SG - @ LAL ($7,600)
The last game that George suited up in a game with significant stakes, he shot 4-for-16 overall, including 2-for-11 from three as the Clippers were bounced from the postseason. That recency bias figures to work itself into the narrative around George to begin the year, as his price tag is supremely flexible on night one for a six-time All-Star that remains a potential stat sheet stuffer.
In three meetings against the Lakers last season, George averaged 26 points per game and shot 41.7 percent from long range. He went for 16 points and five assists in his final preseason warmup Thursday, but with a full minutes allotment ahead of him, the highest-priced shooting guard on the board has oodles of upside as a primarily GPP option.
Dennis Schroder, SG vs. LAC ($5,000)
Our first new face in a new place of the season, Schroder enters the Lakers’ backcourt and should immediately reprise a considerable role as a distributor of the rock alongside LeBron James. While Schroder did sustain an ankle sprain during the preseason, his price tag and spot among the starting five give him undoubted appeal entering the first game of the year.
A major point of emphasis for Los Angeles during the early part ‘20-21 will be ascertaining where scoring from non-James and Anthony Davis members of the team comes from, and Schroder has shown the ability to be that piece, having shot a career-high 46.9 percent from the field last season. Who handles the rock more between James and Schroder remains to be seen, but it’s worth taking a look at the veteran’s upside in a one-game scope.
Luke Kennard, SG - @ LAL ($4,000)
On the other side of the court, one of last season’s early breakout stars also finds himself in a new home. Unfortunately for Kennard, his situation is not as easily amenable as Schroder’s, but with the scoring arsenal that the southpaw put on display for Detroit, there’s a clear path to him becoming a key contributor off the bench for the Clippers from the onset.
Before knee injuries forced an early end to his previous campaign, Kennard had made the jump to becoming nearly a 16-PPG scorer. The preseason wrapped up with the team calling for their new marksman to be more aggressive offensively, a sign that despite his near bargain-basement price tag, Kennard is going to be heavily involved in the L.A. clash.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Kevin Durant, PF - vs. GS ($8,500)
The palpable buzz that emanates from this two-game slate owes much of its fervor to the fact that not only is Durant returning to action, but he’s also doing so against his former team. After sitting out last year to rehab a torn Achilles, Durant is back, and by the looks of the pre-season, he appears to be rounding into form. The structure of the PF slot Tuesday means that most lineups will opt for either Durant or Davis, both of whom carry at least the illusion of injury concerns.
Durant gets the slight edge due to the simple fact that the Warriors have no one to deploy to check him. Also consider that the Nets are likely going to push the pace considerably under new head coach Steve Nash, which should open the door for Durant to receive a plentiful allotment of shot attempts.
Eric Paschall, PF - @ BKN ($4,900)
With Draymond Green (foot) having been tagged as doubtful to play as early as Saturday, Paschall immediately vaults up the board as one of the premier value plays. In 26 games as a starter during his rookie year, Paschall averaged 17 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest, a vast improvement from the 11.6 points and 3.7 boards that he accrued as a reserve. It’s fair to note that the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr. and the return of Stephen Curry may funnel some shots away from Paschall, but at his price tag, his unabated path to significant frontcourt minutes against a new-look Nets roster paves the way for him to see a sizable roster percentage out of the gate.
Joe Harris, SF - vs. GS ($4,300)
The consistent development of Harris has percolated throughout his six NBA seasons. Entering Year 7, he finds himself in a fascinating new role, surrounded by star teammates and burgeoning All-Stars. Whether or not that plateaus his own development or allows him to return to his sharpshooting roots remains to be seen, but for Tuesday, it at least means he should be in line for a handful of shots from behind the arc. Last season, Golden State allowed the opposition to shoot 38.9 percent from deep, the worst percentage in the league. Harris ramped up his usage to nearly six threes attempted per game, and factoring in the expected pace of both clubs, the Nets’ marksman could far exceed that number.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Montrezl Harrell, C - vs. LAC ($5,100)
We come to a center spot that is devoid of premier-priced talent, but that makes it even more integral to sparse through the thicket. Seeing Harrell size up his former team in his first game with the Lakers will be quite the occasion, and for a player who oozes intensity and passion while on the court, it’s not unreasonable to assume that he’ll be looking to remind his former franchise about his myriad skills. Much like during his time with the Clippers, expect Harrell to come off the bench; this role will allow him to likely be one of the top-scoring options on the floor, giving him arguably the highest ceiling of any center in the cluster.
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