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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! Tuesday provided a two-game appetizer for the season, but it all kicked off last night with 11 games. It was a joy to see so much basketball on our screens after three months off (minus the Olympics), and I can't wait to get into the nitty-gritty grind of another NBA season. However, four teams have yet to take the court for the 2021-22 NBA season, and they all play tonight: Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Mavericks visit the Hawks as the Luka Doncic-Trae Young story adds another chapter to their Intertwined careers. Meanwhile, the Bucks will look to build on a solid opening performance as they go against a Heat team they swept in the first round on their march to the NBA title last year. Then, the nightcap brings us the Clippers heading up the coast to battle the Warriors. All three contests have an over/under between 224 and 226 points, and all six teams have an implied total between 111 and 115 points. So there's not a lot to determine from the Vegas side of things tonight.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/21/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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DraftKings Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jordan Poole - PG/SG, GSW vs. LAC ($5,500)
I'm getting in on the Jordan Poole hype before the train goes completely off the rails. The noise was getting louder and louder throughout the postseason, and he delivered immediately. On opening night, the third-year guard put up 20 points, two rebounds, three assists, a steal, and four three-pointers against a geriatric Lakers defense.
Now, he meets the other L.A. team on his home court for a date with the Clippers. Last season, the Clips allowed 51.18 fantasy points per game to point guards, the fifth-highest mark in the league. Poole grabbed a 34.19 percent usage rate to open the year. While I'm not expecting that moving forward, the former Michigan man will have plenty of opportunities to shine in the Warriors system until Klay Thompson returns.
Terance Mann - SG/SF, LAC at GSW ($4,500)
Watching the Clippers postseason rotation was infuriating because Head Coach Ty Lue seemed reluctant to unleash Terance Mann in the early going. However, when Mann got a good run on the court, he passed all his tests with flying colors. The third-year wing had an infamous close-out performance against the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals. In 37 minutes, Mann erupted for 39 points while making seven of his 10 three-point attempts. That's his ceiling, and now, I'm ready to see what the 2019 second-round pick can do with the excess amount of playing time he will receive on a Kawhi-less Clippers unit.
Others to consider: Luka Doncic at ATL ($10,600)
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DraftKings Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Kristaps Porzingis - PF, DAL at ATL ($7,100)
Alright, Dallas Mavericks fans and media touters, I'll ride with Kristaps Porzingis for the season's first game and hope to catch lightning in a bottle. In the preseason, reports were flying out of Texas discussing how great Porzingis looks and how he's finally ready to be the running mate Luka Doncic needs to take the next step as a franchise. Well, usually, I'm a believe it when I see it guy, but the upside is too tremendous at $7,100 to ignore on a three-game slate. The Zinger averaged 20 points for the third-straight season in the 2020-21 campaign and set career highs with a 58.2 true-shooting percentage despite a three-year low 26.5 percent usage rate.
Porzingis will see the Hawks defense to open his 2021-22 year, and it's a good matchup for the Latvian. Atlanta conceded 48.14 FPPG to power forwards last year, which was the sixth-highest mark around the Association. The question with Porzingis is usually his health, but it shouldn't be a concern due to it being the first game of the year. So slide him into your DFS lineups and watch the profits roll in as new Head Coach Jason Kidd seems to be playing Porzingis as his better-suited stretch-four role.
Jordan Nwora - SF/PF, MIL at MIA ($3,700)
On Tuesday, I hit on my Grayson Allen pick, but totally whiffed on Jordan Nwora. So I'm looking to correct that mistake and roster him at his still-low-costing $3,700 salary. During the Buck's season-opening win over the Nets, Nwora collected 15 points on 6-for-15 shooting to go along with six rebounds, an assist, a steal, a block, and three three-pointers. That'll play nicely for anyone priced below $4,000 on DraftKings. Additionally, his salary creates flexibility to grab another mid-tier priced player for your lineup while also adding his own contributes to your squad.
Others to consider: De'Andre Hunter vs. DAL ($4,700)
DraftKings Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
John Collins - PF/C, ATL vs. DAL ($6,800)
John Collins got his extension from the Atlanta Hawks over the summer, and I expect him to have a big year for a franchise that just reached the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the Atlanta rotation became more crowded last season, and it saw Collin's numbers dip a bit from his breakout (but shortened) 2019-20 season. Over 63 games, the frontcourt man averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds while setting a new career-high in free-throw percent (83.3 percent) and making more than 39.5 percent of his three-pointers for the second season in a row.
With all the Hawks healthy and playing, the season-long prospects for Collins are a bit murky, but I think Atlanta will look to show off their newly re-signed toys against the Mavs. There are tough matchups all over the board for center-eligible players tonight, but I believe Collins can return excellent value on his $6,800 salary.
Nemanja Bjelica - PF/C, GSW vs. LAC ($4,600)
Credit to our Rotoballer staff as they were all on Nemanja Bjelica for Tuesday's slate. Without him, I would've had a losing opening night and not feel all that great to begin the year. Fortunately, the staff's call rang true, and Bjelica delivered against the Lakers. In 26 minutes, the Serbian forward contributed all over the box score with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, with 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one three-pointer.
If he's going to get this role while James Wiseman is sidelined, I'm going all-in with Bjelica until his pricing becomes ridiculous. The Warriors have the highest implied team total on the board right now, and there's plenty of room for Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, and Bjelica to thrive. The fact he came away with a 15.73 percent usage rate on a team with that many mouths to feed tells me the 33-year old is going to be a mainstay in this Warriors rotation and, as a result, my DFS lineups moving forward.
Others to consider: Ivica Zubac at LAC ($5,000)
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