Fantasy Basketball Betting Predictions and Roster Selections (3/19/10)
Mar 19, 2010 FSH Live Blog
There are 11 games on the NBA fantasy basketball board and the fantasy betting and wagering should be juicy Friday night. I’m doing a couple of live daily draft fantasy basketball games at DraftZone.com this afternoon. I really enjoy the daily live draft format. Drafting a new team every day gives you the ‘new season’ rush. You can get free cash added to your account when you sign up with our bonus code, DZONE304. Give them a try. Today’s daily draft fantasy basketball betting picks and handicapping information:
POINT GUARD:
- Toney Douglas is a great bargain bin, minimum salary PG roster filler if you want to use salary at another position. He matches up against another nice roster filler, Jrue Holiday. Both of them should be fine plays Friday.
- If you want to gamble, Acie Law could have another big night filling in for Derrick Rose. He’s minimum salary, but I feel more comfortable going with Douglas or Holiday.
- Rodney Stuckey could return Friday, although I wouldn’t use him. Just make sure you also avoid Will Bynum, since his minutes will probably get sliced with the return of Stuckey.
- Not sure of Stephen Curry’s status for Friday night, but if he can’t go, C.J. Watson could make a nice play.
- Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack are still getting unpredictable minutes and can’t really be depended on.
- Andre Miller has a good matchup against Foye/Livingston and the Wizards and should earn his mid-priced salary.
- Steve Nash should be a dependable play in a game against Utah that both teams really need to win. I doubt he gets much rest in this one.
- My favorite PG play today is Russell Westbrook. He should completely dominate Jose Calderon, who’s defense is just horrible. Actually, the whole Toronto defense is horrible, so a big night should be in store for most of the Thunder players.
- Tyreke Evans has also been hot lately and has a decent matchup against Milwaukee.
- I’m passing on Deron Williams, he’s just got too many nagging injuries which make his high salary a big risk.
- Avoid Rodney Stuckey (uncertain minutes), Deron Williams (shoulder), Stephen Curry (ankle), Jonny Flynn (bad matchup), Aaron Brooks (tough matchup).
SHOOTING GUARD:
- Bill Walker is minimum salary and could get the start with Wilson Chandler out with a groin injury.
- Be careful using Wes Matthews as a cheap roster filler, he’s dealing with a knee injury.
- Jamal Crawford should continue his hot run if Joe Johnson can’t go tonight for Atlanta. Check Johnson’s gametime status before starting Crawford.
- Manu Ginobili is my favorite mid-priced SG play with a prime matchup against the Warriors.
- Rip Hamilton has a favorable matchup against Indiana. He’s the same price as Ginobili and I’d recommend Ginobili, especially with Rodney Stuckey maybe taking some of the scoring from Rip. You could use them both and apply your salary cap money somewhere else.
- Kevin Martin and Trevor Ariza both have a tough matchup with the Celtics. Their salaries are just too high to gamble on them.
- Kobe Bryant and Monta Ellis sit atop the SG board. Bryant matches up with Milwaukee, while Ellis gets the tougher matchup with San Antonio. Kobe should be worth the money. If Stephen Curry does indeed miss the game due to his ankle problem, then the Warriors may lean on Ellis, which might make him worth his salary even against the good SA defense.
- Brandon Roy and Stephen Jackson are similarly priced, but I’d go with Roy over Jackson. Jax has a good matchup against the poor defense of Bibby/Crawford, but he missed practice Thursday with a right heel problem which may slow him. Roy has a good matchup with the Wizards.
- Avoid Joe Johnson (achilles), Carlos Delfino (injury).
SMALL FORWARD:
- SF will require some salary on Friday. There are a lot of injuries and there just aren’t many decent low priced options. Stephen Graham has been one of my favorite low priced roster fillers this week, but Gerald Wallace says he’s going to play, which really kills Graham’s value.
- Richard Jefferson gets a matchup with Golden State. He’s a possibility if you want a lower mid-priced option.
- Tayshaun Prince against Indiana, Hedo Turkoglu against Oklahoma City and John Salmons against Sacramento are all similarly priced, neutral options, although I like Salmons the best.
- Paul Pierce’s salary has dropped enough to meet his rising health condition, once again making him playable. He’s got a matchup with Houston and could put up a nice number.
- Andre Iguodala has been frustrating this year. His salary is expensive and he can drop duds on you at any time. He can also put up some really big nights and a matchup against the Knicks is one of his better opportunities.
- LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the class of the SF board. Durant is still about 20% cheaper than James. Durant matches up against Toronto, while James matches up against a depleted Chicago team. For the salary value, I’d go with Durant. The Cleveland/Chicago game could be a blowout without Rose and Deng in there. Toronto’s defense is horrible and it should be a very high scoring game, so Durant should light it up in that one.
- Avoid Danny Granger (injury), Gerald Wallace (ankle), Luol Deng (injury), Andrei Kirilenko (calf), Wilson Chandler (groin), Andray Blatche (injury), Thaddeus Young (thumb).
POWER FORWARD:
- James Johnson is minimum salary and should get a start in place of the injured Luol Deng.
- Jason Maxiell’s run may have come to an end with Ben Wallace expected to return against the Pacers.
- DeJuan Blair could be a sneaky good play tonight against the Warriors. If this game goes according to plan, Tim Duncan could get some rest while Blair piles up the garbage time stats.
- Carl Landry is a solid mid-price play who will get you enough stats to justify his salary.
- I’ve been riding the Luis Scola bandwagon for the last couple of weeks and he’s been producing, but what may not have been noticed is that almost every team he has faced in that span has been without their starting PF. Kevin Garnett is playing and the Celtics defense is tough. Temper your expectations for Scola.
- I’ve been avoiding LaMarcus Aldridge lately, but he’s got a good matchup with the Wizards, especially if Andray Blatche can’t go tonight.
- Antawn Jamison has a great matchup against a weak Chicago interior. I wish he didn’t have the injury concerns and the high salary. He’s a risky play at the elevated salary.
- At the top of the PF board, Carlos Boozer againt Phoenix, David Lee against Philadelphia and Chris Bosh against Nenad Krstic and the weak Oklahoma City interior are all good plays.
- Tim Duncan against the Warriors could be a trap play. He’s been getting inconsistent minutes and could get some rest if this game turns in to the expected blowout. DeJuan Blair could give him a breather tonight against the Warriors who will likely start the inexperienced Chris Hunter.
- Avoid Pau Gasol (tonsil/throat problems), Al Jefferson (tough matchup), Kevin Love (inconsistent minutes/tough matchup), Jeff Green (finger), Taj Gibson (plantar fasciitis/tough matchup).
CENTER:
- JaVale McGee is minimum salary, but has a tough matchup with Portland.
- Brad Miller has a matchup with the Shaq-less Cavaliers. He’s low priced if you want to go cheap at Center. Somebody has to score with Rose and Deng out.
- Kendrick Perkins could have one of his better nights against a smallish Houston team.
- Andrew Bynum could get big minutes if Pau Gasol can’t go due to his tonsil problems.
- Al Horford is an excellent play against a very weak Charlotte interior. With Joe Johnson out, Atlanta could pound it inside with Horford.
- Andrew Bogut should completely destroy Spencer Hawes and the Kings. Bogut the most expensive Center going tonight, but he should be worth it.
- Avoid Ben Wallace (knee), Spencer Hawes (inconsistent/tough matchup).
Tags: Basketball Handicapping, fantasy basketball, Fantasy Basketball Betting Picks, NBA Basketball Picks
