What better way to close out your night than with the NBA DFS Showdown Slate coming from Los Angeles as the Lakers take on the New Orleans Pelicans. It appears that Russell Westbrook will be coming off the bench again for a Los Angeles team who is looking to pick up their second victory of the season. While the Pelicans are shorthanded with Brandon Ingram left home due to a concussion, it still will be a challenging matchup for the home team. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson set to take the court, we are not lacking for star power. Now, let us jump into some picks to challenge for tonight’s NBA DFS Showdown Slate. 

NBA DFS Showdown Playbook

Injuries

New Orleans Pelicans

Brandon Ingram – Out

Herbert Jones – Probable (Knee)

Dyson Daniels – Probable (Ankle)

Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James – Probable (Foot)

Anthony Davis – Questionable (Back)

Juan Toscano-Anderson – Probable (Ankle)

MVP/Captain

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

While he is the most expensive player on the slate, James is also the best so that puts him at the top of our list. Facing New Orleans is a favorable matchup for James from a DFS and overall productivity perspective, and so far, so good with James’ health as well. The offense continues to run through James and at 25.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, we are getting production to match. James has scored at least 20 points in all games but one (19 in the lone holdout) with minimums of five assists and six rebounds, so he has generally been consistent as well. I know this pick lacks for creativity, but sometimes you simply have to follow the production. 

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Davis returned to action after a brief one game absence, and based on his performance, you would not have known there were any issues with his back. In five games this year, Davis has scored between 22 and 27 points while grabbing double-digit rebounds in each of this last three games. It is a good matchup for Davis against the Lakers tonight who is large part of Los Angeles’ offense taking at least 16 shots per game. 

Jonas Valanciunas, New Orleans Pelicans

Facing the Lakers as a center is a favorable matchup, and Valanciunas is the beneficiary of that tonight. In New Orleans’ last game against the Clippers, Valanciunas only attempted six shots in 24 minutes, but he has been more involved in their offense on most other nights. Valanciunas is still managing a double-double for the season, 16.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and we get a good value here if it is your choice to fade those options that are more costly.                                                                                                                   

Utility

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

Based on what we have seen to this point, the Pelicans appear to be keen to limit Williamson to around 30 minutes per night, and ultimately that will limit his overall upside when you are talking about someone in the captain spot. After previously missing two games, Williamson does not appear to be missing a beat as he scored 21 points against the Clippers to go along with 12 rebounds and seven assists. He should be locked into a similar role tonight and while the Lakers have been tough on opposing big men, but Williamson should still be good for 40 to 50 DFS points. 

Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers

Coming off the bench seems to be beneficial for Westbrook, well at least from a DFS perspective that is. Westbrook is still going to get about 30 minutes of playing time per night and after previous struggles, he has finished with 18 points and eight rebounds in back-to-back games while also adding eight assists in one of those games. We all know what Westbrook was previously capable of, and given the level at which he previously performed, this is more affordable than we have previously seen him. 

CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans

It is hard to ignore McCollum on a nightly basis as the ball is often in his hands. McCollum is a high-volume shooter, and while there have been in games in which he has struggled with his shot, he is still going to keep hoisting up around 20 shots per game while averaging 20.5 points. From an assist perspective, McCollum has 32 assists in three games and then just 11 in his other three. If only we could nail down consistency there and with his shot, then we would be truly looking at top player. 

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

Murphy has been picking up the slack from a minute perspective for the shorthanded Pelicans to start the season, but perhaps more importantly, he has earned his playing time of 31 minutes per night. At 15 points and six rebounds per game, Murphy has been a solid contributor good for around 25 to 30 DFS points per night. 

Dart Throw

Troy Brown Jr, Los Angeles Lakers

It seems that over the past few seasons we have continuously seen a player such as Brown emerge for the Lakers while also finding themselves in this section of the Showdown PB. Brown has not played less than the 22 minutes he did in his first game of the season while maxing out at 32 in four games this season. The forward has taken between seven and 10 shots per game, so the issue really is more on the side of efficiency, but it is hard to argue with 7.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. 

Naji Marshall, New Orleans Pelicans

Marshall’s playing time over the last three games has been directly tied to New Orleans injuries and while Williamson returned, Ingram remains out so the extended role should continue. Over that stretch, Marshall has played about 35 minutes per game and the production has followed with 17.6 points, five rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. At this price, I can make that production work in my lineup. 

 

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