NBA DFS Playbook Position Coach: December 18, 2015

Christmas is exactly seven days away. Today I dragged myself out of bed late at 5 a.m. and headed to work at my bar. I had to do my bank deposit, payroll, bills, and basic morning bar duties. After this I ran a few errands including the bank and headed home to write. I estimate it is around 4 p.m. right now or so when this article has finally gone live. While you are reading this I will be out shopping for a Christmas party at my place tonight and then setting it up and cooking. All said and done, it will be 2 a.m. before my tired body finds some relaxation.

Tomorrow morning I will be back at it researching this article, writing it, doing my bar again (365 days a year), putting on a birthday party for an 11-year-old, and then working the door at my place until 2 a.m. again.

I am tired just writing about it.

Let’s cash some lineups together tonight.

Point Guard

The little man gently polishes his ring rejoicing in the comfort of knowing "Golem" was forced into a temporary state of non-existence. He took this day to put it on his finger, wear it about town, and enjoy the civil liberties of knowing that Golem was not to be found. That day is over…for Golem hath returned.

Rajon Rondo returns to action tonight and it just so happens he could not have asked for a better matchup. The legendary tales of Golem's achievements on the court this year are all the talk of the land. He has had four triple-doubles with several games that just missed the mark. He is averaging over 36 fantasy ppg and tonight gets the Timberwolves who allowing a whopping 24.3 ppg and the 20^th most fantasy ppg to point guards. They are also towards the bottom of the league defensively in the assists category. This game is slated to be a close one with Sacramento being 2.5-point favorites with a high 212.5 expected point total. I am all in on Golem tonight in cash games.

I am not spending a ton of money tonight at the PG position. I find the mid-priced theme on a giant slate the way to proceed tonight. I will be keeping a close eye on the Celtics game tonight and Isaiah Thomas along with it. Thomas is averaging over 21 ppg and is coming off a strong performance versus the Pistons on Wednesday night where he scored 38. In the last 10 games he has scored 30 fantasy points or more in nine of them hitting the 40 in four of them. He should feast tonight facing an Atlanta team allowing 21.5 ppg to point guards in a game with a decent 204.5 expected point total.

Talk about great matchups. Deron Williams is facing a Grizzlies team allowing the 26^th most fantasy ppg and 24.8 ppg to point guards, which is the highest in the NBA. He is coming off a bad performance versus the Pacers where he only played 27 minutes while scoring eight points. With this game being slated to be a close one (DAL -2.5) Williams should see plenty of minutes tonight and has a good chance of getting you 30 fantasy points, which he has done four times in the last 10 games, even hitting the 50 mark once.

The other guy as of right now I am planning on using with Rondo in cash games is Tyreke Evans. With the Pelicans-Suns game having the highest expected point total of the evening at 214 and a close line with Phoenix being 3.5-point favorites this game is a prime target. Evans is scoring in the double-digits nightly and has scored over 30 fantasy ppg in all six games he has played over 30 minutes including three performances where he scored over 40. The Suns are allowing 24.1 ppg and the 26^th most fantasy ppg to point guards. With all these factors I cannot resist.

Ricky Rubio has been on fire lately and I see no reason why that will not continue tonight. The Kings allow so many fantasy points the guy who sells the beer in the stands during games was even reported to hit a three. The Kings are allowing 22.2 ppg to point guards and Rubio is easily scoring into the double-digits nightly with a lot of assists thrown in. He may not be Golem, but tonight he could be precious.

Shooting Guard

Eric Bledsoe is listed at SG as usual on FanDuel making him on some nights a huge value. Like tonight. The Pelicans are allowing 24.1 ppg and the second most fantasy ppg to point guards. He is averaging over 37 fantasy ppg and tonight is playing in what is supposed to be a close game with a high expected point total. In the last 10 games he has scored more than 30 fantasy ppg nine times hitting 40 three times and 50 once. He is locked in my cash games tonight.

Even though he is coming off the bench Zach LaVine is putting up great numbers. In the last four games he has scored more than 20 fantasy ppg in all four hitting 30 twice. The Kings are allowing the most points to shooting guards in the NBA at 24.8 ppg and the 26^th most fantasy ppg as well. I am totally fine with LaVine.

Monta Ellis finds himself in an incredible matchup tonight. The Nets-Pacers game has a decent 204.5 expected point total but a high -10.5 IND line. This means we could have some blowout risk here. The Nets are allowing 24.2 ppg and the 25^th most fantasy ppg to shooting guards. Ellis has the 40 fantasy point upside and I have a huge feeling he will be under owned tonight. He was a little banged up after last game so keep an eye on that.

Alec Burks is starting at the point guard position tonight facing a Nuggets team allowing 23.4 ppg and the 28^th most fantasy ppg to point guards. Burks has failed to score 20 fantasy ppg in the last two and I cannot see a better matchup than this to get him back on track.

Klay Thompson does not have a favorable matchup tonight. He actually scored very low in my model. This is the common sense factor. We have some hard feelings at play in this game. Thompson has been on fire scoring over 50 fantasy points twice in his last three games. Even if the Bucks are allowing the ninth fewest fantasy points to shooting guards, Thompson seems unstoppable right now.

Small Forward

Paul George has been a bit of a letdown lately. All that aside he has the highest ceiling at the SF position on tonight's slate. His game log has not been very pretty for the price so his ownership should be low. George is scoring easily in the double-digits and the Nets are allowing the 22^nd most fantasy ppg to small forwards. I will have some exposure to George tonight and would not be surprised one bit if he put up 50 fantasy points.

I love any night when I can squeeze a Celtic or two into the old position coach article. Jae Crowder is consistent. He has scored over 20 fantasy ppg in 10 straight (I only went back 10 games) and tonight faces a Hawks team allowing the 20^th most fantasy ppg to small forwards. For the price Crowder is a viable option on a huge slate.

Carmelo Anthony remains the greatest player I never use. I have actually played him one time this season even though I have written about him several times. It’s the price. I feel like if I am going to spend up for Anthony I would be better served throwing a few bucks more in and upgrading to Paul George. Anthony tonight faces a Sixers team allowing the third most fantasy ppg to small forwards and I see no reason why he will not dominate.

Omri Casspi has been another solid performer fantasy wise. He scored in the double-digits nightly and even has a double-double in the last five games. In eight of his last nine games he has scored more than 20 fantasy ppg and has even hit the 30 mark three times. His price is still low and his production is high.

Andre Iguodala has been putting up great numbers off the bench for $4,900 on FanDuel. The Warriors are sick of being told they did come to play last game and have their bottles clanging on the doors of the Bucks' glass house they were throwing stones from. Milwaukee is allowing the 27^th most fantasy ppg to small forwards and Iguodala has that 30 fantasy ppg upside in the right matchup. If this is a blowout I do not see Golden State taking their foot off the gas.

Power Forward

I love the options tonight at the PF position. I wish I could use more of them. The one guy without a doubt I am spending up on tonight is Draymond Green. Green has scored 67, 42, and 54 fantasy points on FanDuel in the last three games. Tonight facing a Bucks team who is allowing 23.9 ppg and the 25^th most fantasy ppg to power forwards Green is going to light them up like a Christmas tree and I plan on holding the plug.

The cheapest I would go tonight is Jon Leuer. He had a double-double versus the Mavericks on Monday night and tonight faces a Pelicans team allowing the 26^th most fantasy ppg overall. With a high expected point total and a few big guns on the slate worth paying for he could be the answer to free up a few bucks. If it helps he has also scored more than 20 fantasy ppg in seven of the last nine games hitting the 40 mark a few times.

He may sweat a lot, he may take a break or two, sometimes I wonder if he is even paying attention, but he is still my favorite player. Jared Sullinger is an absolute rebound machine on a nightly basis and has three double-doubles in his last five games. He is averaging over 25 fantasy ppg and is facing a Hawks team allowing the 20^th most fantasy ppg to centers (where he is playing).

I had to go to the grocery store. The kids asked me to make Marshmallow treats. You know where this is going don’t you? As much as I hate to say it, and I feel like I should just kick myself now, I will have some exposure tonight to old Kristaps Porzingis. The Sixers are allowing 24 ppg which is the highest in the NBA to power forwards and the 29^th most fantasy ppg as well. He is the guy you play every other game as of late. If you need proof here are the numbers on FanDuel over the last six games: 16.9, 35.9, 6.6, 31.4, 5.6, and 33.7. By these numbers he is a complete fade. I swear if he bombs tonight, I will never let the little elves into my cupboards again.

If you still want to spend, and with the power at this position tonight I feel you should, Paul Millsap is a great play tonight. He scores over 20 ppg often and is averaging over 37 fantasy ppg. The Celtics, as much as it pains me to say it, are allowing 21.5 ppg and the 22^nd most fantasy ppg to power forwards. Millsap has failed to reach the 30 fantasy mark in two straight games. A trend I do not see living on past tonight. Amir Johnson can be tough but Millsap is just too good.

Center

The center position is loaded tonight at all price levels and you should easily find a decent matchup for whatever budget you have left when you get there.

OK, I am not going to go nuts. If you can afford him tonight then Andre Drummond is the top option on the slate in my opinion. The last time he faced the Bulls he put up 20 points with 20 rebounds. Certainly a number worthy of notice. The Bulls are allowing the 24^th most fantasy ppg to centers and Drummond is an absolute monster capable of easily putting up 50 fantasy points.

The guy I am able to afford right now at the center position in my cash game line up is Karl-Anthony Towns. He put up 28 points with 10 rebounds versus the Knicks on Wednesday for his second double-double in five games. The Kings are allowing the 25^th most fantasy ppg to centers and I see no reason why I will not get 35 out of Towns tonight for considerably less than Drummond.

Alex Len may be back on the bench but for the price tonight in GPP along with Jeff Withey for Utah you could free up a ton of money. If he gets the minutes, Len has the better track record and tonight he is facing a Pelicans team allowing the most fantasy ppg to centers while Withey is a wild-card but faces a Denver team allowing a high 21.2 ppg and the 28^th most fantasy ppg to centers for the minimum salary across the industry. I will have exposure to Withy for sure in GPP.

I will be back on later to see if you guys have any questions and as always you can hit me up on Twitter: @geraldcolvin73

I will be posting another FantasyAlarm DFS Playbook PRO league tonight sometime around 4:30 pm EST.