This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Let's dust off the DFS cobwebs and get to work on this 11-game slate that will put the rest of the NBA back on the court.
Teams on tail end of back-to-backs: Wizards, Cavs, Hornets, Clippers
I think the back-to-back squads may have a slight advantage on Friday as the remaining 18 teams will be shaking off All-Star break rust. The Clippers almost bested a high-flying Golden State team on Thursday night, and they head in to Phoenix to face one of the worst defensive teams in the league. The pace of this matchup (O/U: 224.5) and the variety of inexpensive spots make this game a DFS goldmine. The Mavs/Lakers contest also sports a 224 Over/Under as these two evenly-matched teams will provide even cheaper bargains. I'll be building several lineups with these four teams in mind.
Let's first look at the players in the 10K-plus range for Friday. James Harden ($11,400) returns to action against the Timberwolves, who look like a tough defensive matchup on DraftKings, but in the last five games Minnesota has been dreadful defensively against opposing backcourts (29th), so the 5th overall defensive ranking is a bit misleading. That red number could have many fleeing from Harden so he may have a lower ownership on Friday, and while we can probably find similar value for less, his ceiling could be a slate-changer.
LeBron James ($11,200) put 54 DKFP on the Grizzlies in their only matchup this season, and James has a similar ceiling to Harden. Watching guys like Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid exploding for big points last night might be apt motivation for these two to go off. The slow pace doesn't scare me, and James could work fine as a sole, spend-up pick. Nikola Jokic's ($10,300) inclusion into the 10k-plus echelon against the Spurs is a bit of a head-scratcher. I think he should definitely be in the next tier just below this threshold. He did put up 63 DKFP against them before the break, but I think the salary uptick is a bit high.
Another big man that might be too high to click on Friday is Anthony Davis ($11,100), who put up a pedestrian 39 DKFP when he last met the Heat, and with the pace of this game looking to be slower than molasses, I'm probably not finding a spot for AD.
Finally, Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,500) is looking like an average play against the Raptors, who have played the Greek Freak tough in two meetings against the Bucks. As usual, I'll note that while you can't really fade these elites, smart roster management dictates that you can usually only pick one or two of them.
I'll now highlight three players at each position, and I'll include at least one cheap option in each slot. Each position will also feature an additional list of players that hold equal weight in my predictions.
GUARDS
Damian Lillard, POR vs. UTA ($8,700): Despite a tough defensive test against the Jazz, it's hard to fade Lillard's floor when his price dips below 9K. He's averaged 36 points a game in two contests against the Jazz, and he went into the All-Star break red-hot, posting a deadly 63 DKFP against the Warriors in Portland's last contest.
Elfrid Payton, PHO vs. LAC ($7,800): Payton's performance didn't dip at all with the return of Devin Booker ($8,000), and while I like Booker for $200 more, Payton gives you just a bit more value at the lower price. As previously stated, I'm all over his matchup and though I think the Clippers have a lot of potential for the remainder of the season, they can't play a lick of defense on the perimeter. I see no problem in stacking these two guys.
Cory Joseph, IND vs. ATL ($4,900): With Darren Collison (knee) still sidelined, you have to give Joseph a look against a faltering Hawks backcourt. While he's been a bit underwhelming in Collison's absence, his 42 DKFP game against the Nets shows what he can do against a team that struggles defensively. While all of his other games during this stretch have been poor, I think he'll turn it around on Friday.
Other guards to consider:Bradley Beal, WAS vs. CHA ($8,800); DeMar DeRozan, TOR vs. MIL ($8,100); Lou Williams, LAC at PHO ($7,500); J.J. Barea, DAL at LAL ($5,400)
FORWARDS
Blake Griffin, DET vs, BOS ($8,600): I don't see the Celtics having a viable answer for Griffin, as he is excelling alongside Andre Drummond ($9,300) since joining the Pistons. He is good for a solid floor of 40 DKFP here, and could see substantially more opposite Al Horford at home.
T.J. Warren, PHO vs. LAC ($6,000): For this price, you're definitely fine with Warren's potential in this matchup, and many will shy away from him after his poor showing before the All-Star break. That subpar outing was primarily due to getting into foul trouble, so Warren will be a sneaky value for those who can look past the numbers.
Dwight Powell, DAL at LAL ($5,800): His salary is starting to worry me, but I still think Powell is a great value on this slate. Despite Dallas' endless lineup tinkering, Powell will find his minutes spelling Dirk Nowitzki and will likely slide into the four with the second unit and give you what you need at this price point.
Other forwards to consider:Jimmy Butler, MIN at HOU ($9,000); Tobias Harris, LAC at PHO ($6,900); Nikola Mirotic, NO vs. MIA ($6,600); Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at IND ($5,700); Larry Nance Jr., CLE at MEM ($4,800)
CENTERS
Dwight Howard, CHA at WAS ($7,800): If recent history is any indication, Howard should be one of the top centers on the slate at a great price, as he's averaged almost 50 DKFP per game against the Wizards this season. Marcin Gortat won't prove to be a huge challenge, and people will wish they hadn't spent up when they see his stat line.
Myles Turner, IND vs, ATL ($7,200): As you can see, I'm definitely favoring spending down at this position, and Turner sets up as one of those cheaper options. The Pacers have finally begun to lean on Turner more, and it's almost always wise to pit your big men against the Hawks. While he isn't flashy, he gets the job done inside and could be primed for a big day on the boards.
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at NO ($7,100): Whiteside will face the AD/Mirotic frontcourt for the first time this season, and it will be interesting to see how things pan out for the Heat's big man, who's put up double-digit boards for five straight games. I think the Pelicans will miss Boogie in this one, as Whiteside has the goods to match up against Davis inside.
Other centers to consider:Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at HOU ($9,400); DeAndre Jordan, LAX at PHO ($8,600); Jonas Valanciunas, TOR vs, MIL ($6,200)
