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In this NBA Fantasy Basketball series, RotoBaller Brad Leibfried will bring you his daily picks for NBA Daily League contests on DraftStreet.
NBA Expert Picks for DraftStreet - 11/13/2013
PG: Ty Lawson ($15,520): In the offseason, the Nuggets went through wholesale changes as they fired George Karl, traded Andre Iguodala and signed J.J. Hickson. With all the changes, the only constant has been Lawson. The star guard has flourished this year, putting up 21.7 points, 7.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds a game. Tonight he faces a Lakers team that gives up over 106 points a game and is coming off a game over this weekend in which Ricky Rubio lit them up for a triple-double. Look for Lawson to have a monster night.
SG: Evan Turner ($14,468): Turner came into this season with no contract extension and even more motivation to have a big year. Through the first two weeks, that is exactly what the ex-Buckeye star has done. The biggest spike for Turner has been his shooting, where he was a career 43% shooter coming in to the year but has started this year shooting nearly 51% from the floor. He has scored over 20 points in all but one game this year and a matchup against a Houston team that struggles on defense looks like another game featuring a juicy Turner stat line.
SF: Kevin Durant ($21,870): After struggling with Russell Westbrook out the first week of the year, Durant has found his stroke, putting in 70 points over his last two games. He has also continued to improve in all aspects of the game, as he posted 13 rebounds in his last game. As always, Durant will carry a huge price tag, but for a player who shoots above average from the floor and is a lock to score over 20, most nights he will match the price. It should also be noted that the Clippers two best wing defenders, Matt Barnes and Jared Dudley, are banged-up which should make it harder for them to stick with Durant.
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge ($16,698): One of the most understated superstars in the NBA, Aldridge consistently puts up numbers for Portland. He has scored over 22 points, pulled down 8 rebounds, and chipped in 1 steal and 1 block a game this year. Tonight he faces a weak Phoenix front line which he already victimized for 28 points to open the year. With no other offensive options up front, the Blazers rely on Aldridge to put up numbers in his 37 minutes a game, and he almost always comes through.
C: Brook Lopez ($14,545): Seen by many as the top offensive center in the league, Lopez leads all centers in scoring this year at 19.4 a game. With veterans like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce now in Brooklyn, defenses have not been able to focus on stopping Lopez, and he has shot 48% from the floor this year. He has never been a dominant rebounder, but he is posting a solid 6.3 boards a game this year, which helps his value immensely. The Kings let opponents shoot 47% from the floor on the year and teams especially hurt them down low, so Lopez should be a great play.
U: Jordan Crawford ($8,425): With Brad Stevens opting to move Crawford to the point guard, the Celtics offense has opened up. In the two games he has started at the point, Crawford has put up 31 points, 14 assists and 7 rebounds. He has always been a wildcard who can often fire up too many shots, but if Stevens can get him to buy in and be Boston’s top playmaker, he could get a nice bump in value.
U: Danny Green ($9,265): Though four games, Green was averaging a paltry 3.5 points a game while struggling to put up any stats. His last four games have been the exact opposite, as he has posted 16 points and 7 rebounds per contest. Green has taken advantage of players such as Tim Duncan missing time to crash the glass more and increase his value. Having now played with the Spurs a few seasons, Green has found his role for coach Popovich, as evidenced by his 26 minutes a game. Coming off a game in which he went 5-for-7 from deep, it is safe to expect Green continues to get looks against a putrid Wizards team giving up nearly 107 points a game.
