Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! As we head into the new year, let’s take a look at some of our favorite value plays for tonight’s seven game main slate. We have seven games, which is right smack dab in our wheelhouse. Let’s get after it!
Jalen Green, PG/SG HOU
Green missed nearly a month of action and came back firing on all cylinders offensively. He’s scored 20 and 24 actual points in his first two games back while going 10-for-19 from three-point territory. Green’s also showing his ability to capitalize on the defensive end of the floor coming away with two steals in each game. Things aren’t exactly great for Miami right now considering who’s in and who’s out and they’re going to struggle guarding Green when he’s scoring this way. We’re likely going to see a lot of Tyler Herro defense against him too and that’s a huge advantage for Green.
Immanuel Quickley, PG/SG NYK & Obi Toppin, PF NYK
The Knicks are reeling with injuries and COVID-19 absences to some core pieces of their team, namely Julius Randle and Derrick Rose. Possibly Evan Fournier as well as he’s currently listed questionable, but those are two of the highest usage players on their team. Insert each of the Knicks 2020 first-round draft picks. With Randle, Rose and Nerlens Noel off the floor, Toppin has a 21.6% USG and averages 1.04 FP/min. Quickley’s usage rate is actually higher than Toppin’s at 23% and is barely below one FP/min at .93. Both are only in play for GPP’s because of their volatile minutes this year.
Caleb Martin, SG/SF MIA
Sure Miami is getting Kyle Lowry back, but they are still down a LOT of guys due to the health and safety protocols and to injury and could potentially be without Jimmy Butler here as well as he’s listed questionable. They are currently without 12…TWELVE…players tonight and if Butler doesn’t play he makes 13. Half of the Heat roster is made up of a guys on 10-day contracts, but Martin is not one of them and is going to play a LOT here.
Lou Williams, PG/SG ATL
Atlanta is another team decimated by the COVID-19 list and just guys being out in general. They are missing 14 guys. A real number. 14 players. Williams has tested out and is expected to make his return and because he’s one of the few healthy guys the Hawks have, he could be a serious factor here. We know the upside Williams has if he’s given the time and if he plays upwards of 25 minutes at minimum salary, he could win someone a tournament.
Lonnie Walker, SG/SF SA
Losing a guy like Dejounte Murray hurts, there is no doubt about it, but the Spurs have some very solid fill-ins that plug the ship before it sinks. One of the band aid’s is Lonnie Walker, who was questionable earlier in the day but has been deemed good to go here. He gets a big 2.3% USG bump with Murray off the floor and has a 25.5% rate, which leads the team amongst Spurs that have played more than 20 minutes this season. Walker is a GPP option exclusively, but a viable one considering he does a lot of good things while on the floor.