RADIO
We have a four-game slate for Friday's NBA schedule and it is quite underwhelming given the circumstances. With playoffs looming and teams uninterested in "home"-court advantage, it is not going to be teams' bright and best out there for most of the games, if at all. The only playoff scenario possibly affected comes via games for Oklahoma City and Houston where one team could be the four seed and the other team could be the five seed.
It's best to go in with the mentality that teams are not pushing their stars today and that we are about to see some mostly atrocious basketball. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers came out and stated that they do not plan to rest their starters which is fairly believable but to a degree. Given that the Clippers have hardly been at full health this season, they might want to continue providing their star duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard as much of a chance to build chemistry as possible and come into the playoffs as a tight unit.
Without further ado, here are our daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/14/20. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lock.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
James Harden - PG/SG, HOU vs PHI ($11,500)
While it is best to assume that starters are not going to get pushed today, if Harden is indeed starting, he should be in your lineup. With Russell Westbrook out, Harden is essentially averaging two fantasy points per minute. He is the Houston offense and will command all of the ball while he is on the floor. Unfortunately, we do not know EXACTLY how much he will play, the fact that Harden nearly had a triple-double at halftime in the Rockets' last game should suggest that even in limited minutes, he can and will produce. The 11.5k price-tag is not pretty but with how many cheap options there are to be recommended, it is hard to pass on the Beard.
Note: Keep an eye on any reports of limitation for Houston's starters
Austin Rivers - PG/SG, HOU vs PHI ($5,300)
This might seem like a hedge on Harden but it could also be looked at as a piggy-back. If, say, Harden is pulled after 25-30 minutes of play, it is the Austin Rivers Show immediately after. We saw as recently as this past Sunday, Rivers dropping 41 (non-fantasy) points in a game Harden played 33 minutes in. It is not out of the question for these two combo guards to simultaneously eat. At his price tag of 5.3k, it is a worthwhile bet.
Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF, OKC vs LAC ($4,300)
Hamidou Diallo steps into a larger role against the Clippers with Lugentz Dort and Chris Paul out. He has been averaging roughly 24 minutes per game over the past four games and should be more involved Friday. Diallo's ceiling is not the highest but he has should an ability to return value at cost while priced in the mid-3000 salary range. Now, at 4.3k, he is priced up but worth buying given the circumstances. If SGA is out and/or limited, Diallo's appeal only goes up despite a tough match-up with a full-health Clippers.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
Paul George - SF, OKC vs LAC ($8,600)
With Doc Rivers' comments on playing starters in the inconsequential final game of the regular season, it might be worth starting Paul George against his former team. There is a very likely scenario where George and Leonard are limited but George has shown to be better able to provide fantasy value of late at a lower cost, especially with his shooting proficiency and ability to score in bursts. With the low cost plays in your lineup already, it is very possible to afford Paul George and James Harden in the same lineup and not worry about losing out on minutes given the thin superstar tier.
Darius Bazley - SF/PF, OKC vs LAC ($5,400)
Bazley has been on FIRE. He's averaged 22 points per game, 8~ rebounds, and one steal over his past three games. While Danilo Gallinari did miss one of those games with an ankle injury, Bazley maintained his production despite the return. With this game versus the Clippers essentially useless for their future, it is unlikely that Gallinari plays much if at all, resulting in more of an opportunity of Bazley to continue providing returns at his price. Bazley's three-point shooting is not exactly sustainable, but he's going to air it out (26 attempts over the past four games). Even with the jump from the 3k range to 5k, he is worth it.
Keita Bates-Diop - SF, DEN vs TOR ($3,400)
Keita Bates-Diop is a near-min play with favorable opportunity potential. The Nuggets are set with their playoff seeding and will probably limit, if not sit, veteran Paul Millsap and fragile rookie Michael Porter Jr. There is a scenario where MPJ does see a good bit of time to continue acclimating but if the rest of the team is limited, it is likely that he sits as well. Bates-Diop is a direct beneficiary as a swing-forward who should absorb those minutes and usage. He's seen over 20 minutes in two of their past three games and while he has not displayed much fantasy value since late-January, in limited minutes he has shown the ability to produce a few points and boards.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Ivica Zubac - C, OKC vs LAC ($6,000)
Zubac is a "starter" for the Clippers but not necessarily a central player. This, along with his recent performances, should make for a fruitful Friday. Zubac's played at least 21 minutes over his past six outings and is averaging roughly 33 DK points per game in that span. With Montrezl Harrell still out of the Bubble, Zubac does not have much competition at the center spot where the Clippers will likely stay big to match Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel. Joakim Noah's unlikely to see major minutes, if anyone, Patrick Patterson could see an increase but he can coexist on the court with Zubac for small-stretches. Zubac should be good for another 20~ minutes, if not more.
Chris Boucher - PF/C, TOR vs DEN ($5,300)
Serge Ibaka is questionable for this game after missing the past two. While the Raptors might want him to see some game action prior to the playoffs, it is seemingly unlikely that he suits up for a meaningless game. Even if he does "start" it's hard to imagine they push him with a knee issue as to not re-aggravate it. Boucher is a safe start at 5.3k against a Denver Nuggets team that is big-heavy and will not force Boucher off the floor unless he gets in foul trouble. The past two games without Ibaka have been glorious with 50 points averaged between the two and can absolutely be surpassed if Boucher matches up against Bol Bol often.
Good luck to everyone in their NBA DraftKings contests!
