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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on May 9th, 2021. Eric Moody provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
The NBA schedule has six games on the main slate for Sunday night. You'll have a solid number of players to choose from and matchups to target. One matchup you should be particularly keen on is the Dallas Mavericks versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here are three tips on how to attack the overall slate when assembling lineups.
First of all, it’s important to look at the pace and Vegas lines. Second, it’s also useful to understand the number of fantasy points a team gives up to a specific position. The final tip is to identify value plays that are critical on a slate of any size. You don’t have to necessarily go for the cheapest value, but you want to identify players who have a high floor and a high ceiling.
This article will supply you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the DraftKings on 5/9/21. You can also check out today’s FanDuel lineup picks. It’s also important to monitor injury news as a result of COVID-19 as the slate can completely change before line-up lock. Without further ado, let’s dive into the picks!
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Luka Doncic - PG/SF, DAL vs CLE ($11,000)
Doncic only scored 24 points, eight rebounds, an assist, and a block in 23 minutes against the Cavaliers last Friday. He's averaged 54 DraftKings fantasy points per game over his last seven. Doncic continues to lead all players with a Usage Rate of 36.2%. This metric is an estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor. Doncic has the highest ceiling at the guard position on Sunday's main slate.
Collin Sexton - PG/SG, CLE vs DAL ($9,000)
Sexton scored 27 points, stockpiled four rebounds and four assists across 36 minutes. He has scored 22 or more points in 14 of his last 15 games since the beginning of March. Sexton has the 11th highest Usage Rate (29.5%) this season among point guards. He's taken on a larger role offensively for the Cavaliers since Darius Garland missed games due to an ankle injury. Sexton is an excellent option with a high ceiling at the guard position if you'd rather not absorb Doncic's salary.
D'Angelo Russell - PG/SG, MIN vs ORL ($7,600)
Russell scored 17 points, amassed three rebounds, and four assists in 26 minutes against the Heat last Friday. He has the ninth highest Usage Rate (29.5%) and 12th highest Player Efficiency Rating (22.4) among point guards this season. Player Efficiency Rating sums up all a player's positive accomplishments, subtracts the negative accomplishments, and returns a per-minute rating of a player's performance. Russell is well-positioned to exceed expectations against a Magic team that has allowed the fourth-most DraftKings fantasy points to point guards.
Bonus Guards: Lonzo Ball ($8,400), Terry Rozier ($8,100), Delon Wright ($7,700), Cole Anthony ($6,700)
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Anthony Davis - PF/C, LAL vs PHO ($10,300)
Davis is listed as probable for tonight's game against the Suns. He scored 36 points, hoarded 12 rebounds, five assists, and one block in 39 minutes against Phoenix last Friday. This was Davis' second-highest single-game DraftKings fantasy points total of the season. He has the fourth-highest Usage Rate (29.2%) and Player Efficiency Rating (26.3) among power forwards. Davis will continue to be leaned on by the Lakers until LeBron James returns to the fold.
Buddy Hield - SG/SF, SAC vs OKC ($8,200)
Hield scored 17 points, collected five rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 39 minutes against the Spurs last Friday. He's averaged 18 points, 6.2 rebounds, five assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game over his last 10. Hield faces a Thunder team that has allowed the fifth-most DraftKings fantasy points per game to shooting guards.
Marvin Bagley III - PF, SAC vs OKC ($8,200)
Bagley only scored four points, assembled two rebounds, and one assist in 19 minutes of play against the Spurs last Friday. This was a disappointing performance considering he finished with 47 DraftKings fantasy points last Wednesday against the Pacers. Bagley is in a great spot to bounce against the Thunder. Oklahoma City has allowed the second-most DraftKings fantasy points to power forwards this season.
Bonus Forwards: Jerami Grant ($6,800), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($6,100), Cedi Osman ($5,800), Naji Marshall ($4,700)
DraftKings DFS Centers
Karl-Anthony Towns - C, MIN vs ORL ($10,700)
Towns scored 27 points, garnered six rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes against the Heat last Friday. Foul trouble negatively impacted his statistical output in this game. Towns has the fourth-highest Usage Rate (29.2%) and third-highest Player Efficiency Rating (28.3) among centers this season. He faces a Magic team that has allowed the sixth-most DraftKings fantasy points per game this season.
Mo Bamba - C, ORL vs MIN ($7,000)
Bamba scored nine points, accumulated 18 rebounds, four blocks, one assist, and a steal in 34 minutes against the Hornets last Friday. He set a career-high in rebounds. Bamba has thrived with Wendell Carter out of the lineup with an eye injury. The 22-year-old center has averaged 13 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 0.9 steals over his last nine. Bamba faces a Timberwolves team that has allowed the seventh-most DraftKings fantasy points to centers this season.
Bonus Centers: Richaun Holmes ($6,800), Andre Drummond ($6,500), Mason Plumlee ($6,200)
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