RADIO
The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on March 8, 2019. Daniel Benjamin provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
The 2018-19 NBA season is quickly winding down with just a touch over a month left. There is still a lot left to be decided however, which should make for an exciting ending. The Milwaukee Bucks (49-16) are the lone team in the Association to have already clinched a playoff berth, but the Raptors, Pacers, 76ers, and Celtics are virtual locks in the East. Meanwhile, the Western Conference's top eight seeds are all but decided with the ninth-place Kings (32-32) the only team that has a legitimate chance to crash the party, although they are four games back of the Clippers and Spurs. The Knicks and Suns have been eliminated from playoff contention.
There are nine games on Friday's docket, and all of the contests have some sort of playoff implication. Two of the nine matchups on the slate are very intriguing as one game pits the top two teams in the Western Conference, Nuggets at Warriors, against each other and the other matchup has the Thunder traveling to la la land to take on the Clippers. Golden State (44-20) leads Denver by just one game in the battle for the conference's top spot even though neither team has been playing well recently. The teams split their first two meetings this year. Golden State bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of Andrew Bogut on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Thunder (40-25) will likely be battling for playoff position the rest of the regular season. OKC, which is currently third in the conference, won for just the second time in seven games on Thursday. The Clippers (37-29) are eighth in the West though they trail fourth-place Rockets by only three games. The Sixers-Rockets game is an enticing interconference matchup. For the rest of the article, I have provided my daily fantasy basketball lineup for DraftKings on 3/8/19. There are several key players with injury designations for tonight's game, so as always make sure to check the status of players before the opening tip.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Jalen Brunson - PG/SG @ ORL ($3,700)
The 22-year-old has been inconsistent throughout the season, but he has been a fixture in coach Rick Carlisle's lineup since February 1st, starting 12 of the past 14 games overall. But at this price point, DFS players can't go wrong with the only real concern being how Carlisle uses Trey Burke. Brunson has shown the ability to be a good playmaker as well as a decent scorer when he is knocking down shots.
He has scored in double figures in five of his last seven games, which includes two 20-point games, but has only knocked down 34 of his 73 shot (46.5 percent). Brunson has taken 10 or more shots on five occasions during this stretch. The rookie has also doled out at least five assists in three of those contests. Overall, the Villanova product is averaging 11.4 points, 3.8 assists, three rebounds and 1.5 treys over his last 10 outings.
James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Kemba Walker are the top plays at point guard. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons, Stephen Curry, Zach LaVine, Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, Justise Winslow, Tomas Satoransky, and Dwyane Wade are solid options as well. If you are looking for a few other punt options, you would be wise to go with D.J. Augustin. Ish Smith and Austin Rivers are a little less reliable punt options, but they can have a lot of value as a result of a higher ceiling.
Injury note: Frank Jackson is expected to have an increased role (starter) tonight with Jrue Holiday having already been ruled out for the Pelicans home tilt with the Raptors. So, he may be worth a play due to his $3,700 salary. In that vein Elfrid Payton will also be counted on more, the problem with him is can he score enough to provide value.
Luke Kennard - SG/SF @ DET ($4,600)
The 22-year-old has been scoring and shooting the ball exceptionally well recently. The problem is that he doesn't do much else. But let's get back to the positives. Kennard has attempted 10 or more shots in eight of his last 10 games, reaching double-figures on eight occasions and knocking down 31 triples. He is averaging 15.5 points on 50.9 percent shooting from the floor during this stretch.
He has increased those numbers to 18.6 points and nearly four triples a game in the past five outings. The second-year pro has tallied at least 19 points in four of the five contests while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 51.4 percent from long distance.
Bradley Beal is the top play at shooting guard while Will Barton, Joe Ingles, Evan Fournier, Jeremy Lamb, and Nicolas Batum are extremely enticing mid-level options. Dennis Schroder, Eric Gordon, along with Tim Hardaway Jr. ,have been playing well and are mid-priced options worth a look. Landry Shamet, Gary Harris, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, and Kyle Korver are lower end options who have the potential to have a ton of value due to their matchup as well as their role with their team.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Jabari Parker - SF/PF @ CHA ($4,900)
Parker has been up and down since coming to the Wizards. However, the 23-year-old has scored in double figures in four of his last five contests, which includes topping the 20-point mark the past two games. He also has produced one double-double during this stretch while also hauling in at least four rebounds in each outing and doling out three or more assists on three occasions.
The fifth-year forward has produced 52 points and grabbed 20 rebounds over the last three games as he has drained 24 of his 34 shots (70.5 percent) from the field. Parker has been a vital member of the Wizards reserve squad, having seen his production increase across the board -- with the lone exception being a slight dip in scoring -- in comparison to his time with the Bulls.
Paul George is the top play here. However, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard are also solid plays.Danilo Gallinari, Otto Porter, and Josh Richardson are other mid-priced options. Cedi Osman, Jae Crowder, and Marvin Williams are lower end options who get major minutes. Meanwhile, Mike Scott, P.J. Tucker, JaMychal Green, Bruno Caboclo, Dorian Finney-Smith and Gerald Green are pretty much punt plays with some upside depending on minutes.
Kevin Love - PF/C @MIA ($7,800)
The 11h-year big man has been very good since coming back from injury. Love is coming off one of his best games since returning to action a month ago, compiling 24 points along with 16 rebounds, four assists and one steal against the Nets while making five of 11 shots from the field and four of eight from deep. It was his fifth double-double in his last six outings. More importantly, the Cavs have played better with him in the lineup. Love is averaging 22 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 3.7 triples while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 48.9 percent from beyond the arc since the All-Star break.
Blake Griffin, Julius Randle, Lauri Markkanen, Pascal Siakam, Anthony Davis, Derrick Favors, Bobby Portis, Trevor Ariza, and Kelly Olynyk are other high-priced to mid-priced options.Thomas Bryant, Jeff Green, Jonah Bolden, Mason Plumlee, and Frank Kaminsky are primarily punt plays here.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Jonas Valanciunas - C vs. UTA ($6,500)
Valanciunas, Dwight Powell and Steven Adams are the top mid-tier options, but I went with Valanciunas as he has been superb since joining the Grizzlies. The 7-footer has compiled five double-doubles and scored in double-figures in each of his eight games with the team -- which includes four 20-point outings. Overall, the 26-year-old is averaging 18.3 points along with 9.1 boards, 2.1 assists and 1.3 blocks with Memphis.
Andre Drummond, DeMarcus Cousins, Nikola Vucevic, Clint Capela, Cody Zeller, and Robin Lopez are other solid options. Joakim Noah along with Ivica Zubac and Dirk Nowitzki, if he gets enough minutes, are punt options.
