RADIO
There are just three Friday's left in the 2018- 2019 NBA regular season. And its starting to get real.
There are seven games on the March 22 docket. Of the 14 teams in action, nine are currently in the playoffs. Six of those nine teams are matched up against each other in intriguing matchups. Perhaps the most important of the three games is between the Spurs and the Rockets in Houston. These two teams are among the hottest in the Association with the Spurs winning nine of their last 10 and the Rockets posting an 8-2 record during this stretch.
MVP candidate James Harden has been unearthly this year, scoring at will like no other besides Wilt Chamberlain. However, the Spurs have done the best job corralling Harden, limiting him to just over a point per shot and 34.6 percent from the floor as well as 25.6 percent from beyond the arc. Houston leads the season series 2-1 as the Rockets have won the last two meetings. Oklahoma City at Toronto and Miami at Milwaukee are the other two enticing games. The Raptors and Thunder are meeting for the second consecutive game as Toronto came away with a 123-114 overtime victory on Wednesday behind Pascal Siakam's 33 points and 13 rebounds. It was Siakam's 16th double-double of the season. The rest of this article will look at my five selections in an attempt to help fantasy owners compose an optimal DraftKings lineup. Three of the five selections are value picks.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Fred Vanvleet: PG vs. OKC ($5,300)
VanVleet is a value play as he will likely get his second straight start with Kyle Lowry having already been ruled out as a result of a sprained ankle. The 25-year-old has been terrific in each of his last three outings, reaching double-figures in all three contests while making 19 0f 35 (54.2 percent) shots attempts and nine of 17 attempts (52.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
The 6-foot point guard totaled 23 points, six assists and two steals as he was 8-for-16 from the field and 3-for-8 from beyond the arc in Wednesday's loss to the Thunder. This performance came on the heels of a 13-point, 12 assist showing against the Knicks on Monday.
VanVleet has been much better when in the starting lineup than as a reserve this year. He is averaging 13.6 points, 5.8 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 triples in 13 starts.
Damyean Dotson: SG/SF vs. DEN ($5,300)
The 24-year-old is currently enjoying his best stretch of the season. He is coming off a 21-point performance in Wednesday's loss to the Jazz where the second-year pro made seven of 13 shots from the floor and four of nine from downtown. It was his sixth straight game making three or more trifectas and fifth time during this stretch that he has made 47 percent of his shots or better. Dotson also has scored in double-figures in each of these six games, topping the 20-point mark four times.
While Dotson has been good with the basketball in his hands lately, he really hasn't done much else. He has collected just nine rebounds, doled out six assists, blocked one shot and registered five steals over the last four outings. Despite this lackluster stretch, the former second-round draft pick is averaging 17 points along with 4.5 caroms, 2.6 assists, and 2.8 triples while shooting 44.1 percent from the field as well as 40 percent on three-point attempts overall this month.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Danilo Gallinari: SF/PF @CLE ($7,000)
The 30-year-old, who is having a career season, has upped his offensive production since the all-star break. Gallinari is coming off a 24-point performance against the Pacers on Tuesday as he was 8-for-17 from the field, 4-for-9 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. It was his seventh straight game of 20 or more points and 12th consecutive contest of at least 18 points.
Gallinari has been stroking the ball well over his last eight games, particularly from long distance. He has made at least one three-pointer in each of those games, which includes draining multiple triples six times during this stretch. Overall, the 6-foot-10 small forward is shooting a season-best 54.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc in March.
Gallinari registered his fifth double-double of the campaign on Sunday. He has collected five or more caroms in eight of his last nine outings.
Jerami Grant: PF @ TOR ($5,300)
Grant is a relatively cheap play here. He has struggled with his shot lately but has rebounded the ball well and come up with some blocks as well as a few steals.
The 6-foot-9 power forward, who has collected double-digit rebounds in each of his last two games, missed 11 of 14 shots and finished with just nine points versus Toronto on Wednesday. It was the third time in four games that he has failed to score in double figures. Still, the 25-year-old is averaging 12.5 points along with 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 triples in March.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Clint Capela: C vs. SAS ($7,400)
The 6-foot-10 center has been on a tear lately, posting seven straight double-doubles while scoring in double-figures in eight consecutive games. He has been highly efficient during this stretch as the fifth-year pro has made at least 66.7 percent of his shots in each of those games. Since the beginning of the month, Capela ranks 15th among centers in scoring (15.8 ppg), seventh in rebounds (11.3), and third in double-doubles.
While the Spurs have done a good job limiting opponents’ big men this year, Capela has been quite successful against San Antonio. The 24-year-old is averaging 20 points, 17.3 rebounds (eight offensive), and 2.3 blocks while shooting 66.7 percent from the field in three games against them.
