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All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are some DraftKings DFS picks for February 6th, 2015.
Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured players, so be sure to check all lineups prior to tip-off. If you want to chat about your roster picks, check out the DFS chat room at the bottom of this post.
Editors Note: If you have not tried out FanDuel 1-day fantasy basketball leagues, RotoBaller offers the best bonuses around. Signup and make a deposit for a new FanDuel account, and receive a 100% bonus on your deposit up to $200.
Worth the Investment
Russell Westbrook (OKC, PG - $10,600)
Kevin Durant has missed four of the last five games and he didn’t practice on Thursday. He is considered questionable to play tonight against New Orleans, but considering the circumstances, his chances of suiting up don’t look too promising.
That means more Russell Westbrook. The UCLA product is coming off a monster 45-point, six-rebound, six-assist outing at New Orleans just two nights ago, and in the four games sans Durant, Westbrook is averaging 32.0 points, 7.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. His usage rate is an astronomical 40.3 in those contests, and you can expect the ball to be in hands a ton again if Durant is out again.
Don’t think twice about the price tag, because he’s averaging 55.08 DFS points in the last week alone.
Let Westbrook be Westbrook.
Greg Monroe (DET, PF - $8,400)
It’s no secret that the Pistons have played better since waiving Josh Smith. Greg Monroe has been on a personal run of his own as well, recording eight consecutive double-doubles during a two-week span to end the month of January.
He’s only averaging 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in two February games, but Monroe will face a Denver defense that has really struggled of late. Losers of 11 of their last 12, the Nuggets have allowed 106.1 points per game during that stretch (pace adjusted).
Coinciding with Denver’s skid, they’ve allowed a whopping 51.57 total DFS points to power forwards over the last three weeks, which ranks worst among all NBA teams during that stretch.
The Moose is ready to break loose.
Nikola Vucevic (ORL, C - $8,200)
Despite Orlando’s struggles (losers of 10 straight games), Nikola Vucevic has quietly put together another strong season. The seven-footer has registered six double-doubles in the last eight games, during which he’s averaged 23.0 points and 12.6 boards. In fact, over the last three weeks, Vucevic has totaled 39.38 DFS per game.
The Lakers give up a healthy 49.61 points to opposing centers on the year, eighth-worst among all teams. Don’t be surprised to see a rallying performance from all Orlando Magic players, after Jacque Vaughn’s firing on Thursday.
Ol’ Saint Nik is ready to deliver.
Sleepers
Marcus Smart (PG, BOS - $4,600)
The youth movement has begun in Boston. Marcus Smart is likely firmly entrenched as the starter the rest of the year and over the last five games, his minutes have reflected that: 24, 27, 30, 37, 41. He’s not going to wow you in any one category, but he contributes in a lot of different areas, particularly on the defensive side.
His marks of 7.2 points, 6.0 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals is good enough for 24.2 DFS points over the last week. But tonight, he faces a 76ers squad that allows the sixth-most DFS points to opposing point guards. Coupled with his minutes rising in each of the last five, this is is a Smart choice to make.
Donatas Motiejunas (PF, HOU - $5,600)
Since Dwight Howard went down, Donatas Motiejunas has averaged 17.2 points and 8.0 rebounds. The second-year pro has recorded two double-doubles in the last three games, including a monster 26-point, 12-board effort vs. Boston.
With Milwaukee’s front line decimated by injury (Ersan Ilyasova, Zaza Pachulia, Larry Sanders), the matchup is ripe for Motiejunas to put together another strong performance. Even though the Bucks are one of the better teams in limiting power forwards based on DFS points, looking at the circumstances and the price tag, the seven-footer is worth a look.
D-Mo is ready to roll.
Brandan Wright (C, PHX - $3,000)
Starting center Alex Len played just nine minutes in Phoenix’s loss at Portland on Thursday. He left the arena in a walking boot, although X-rays were negative. Remember, Len underwent two ankle surgeries prior to even starting his NBA career.
That said, don’t be surprised if the Suns want to play it safe, thus opening up minutes for Brandan Wright in the frontcourt. His per-36 averages: 15.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.0 steals.
Even with tonight’s game being a back-to-back, don’t expect a drop-off. The Suns play at the second-fastest pace in the league, averaging 99.3 possessions per 48 minutes. Wright is certainly at his best when rim running or diving to the hoop out of pick-and-roll action– something Phoenix utilizes heavily with their two- and three-guard sets.
Don’t be afraid to take flight with Wright.
