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In our NBA Fantasy Basketball Daily Shopper series, RotoBaller Brad Leibfried brings you his expert picks for NBA Daily League contests on DraftStreet.
The Daily NBA Fantasy Shopper: NBA Expert Picks for DraftStreet - 11/18/2013
Today, we're going to suggest stacking up and picking on some weak defenses on both coasts.
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PG: Jose Calderon ($11,539): Calderon has filled the point guard role nicely in his first season in Dallas. He has not been overly impressive, as he is only averaging 10 points and 5.8 assists a game, but he’s been a steady force and is getting 32 minutes a game. Calderon shoots the ball well and also does not turn it over frequently, which ups his value as well. Tonight he gets a Philadelphia team that gives up a league-worst 111 points a game while allowing opponents to shoot 46%. Expect Calderon to have a huge night.
SG: Monta Ellis ($14,711): Much like Calderon, Ellis has filled his role of second scorer to Nowitski quite well in his first season for the Mavericks. Ellis is currently putting up 21.9 points, 5 assists and 1.7 steals a contest. The biggest thing Ellis has done this year is become more efficient, as he is shooting 47% on the season. As with Calderon, Ellis faces the Philadelphia defensive sieve, and with Michael Carter-Williams likely missing this game, they become even thinner in the backcourt. Tonight seems like a perfect night to stack Maverick guards in your lineup.
SF: Luol Deng ($14,678): With Derrick Rose struggling to start this season, Deng and Carlos Boozer have stepped up their games to keep the Bulls in contention to start the season. Deng in particular has shown why he will be in high demand this offseason. He is currently averaging 16.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4 assists a game. Deng also chips in with 1.6 steals a game. Charlotte has been solid as a team on defense, but their weakest position may be at small forward, so look for Deng to take advantage—much like LeBron James did on Saturday night.
PF: Serge Ibaka ($15,373): Perhaps no player in the NBA is playing as well as Ibaka currently is. In his last game, he set a career high with 20 rebounds while also tossing in 15 points and 4 blocks. Outside of the Clippers game in which he was ejected, Ibaka has three straight games of 12 or more rebounds and 3 or more blocks. Tonight, the Thunder face a team a Denver with a small frontcourt that allows opponents to block 6.6 shots per game. Everything points to a great night from Ibaka.
C: Marc Gasol ($15,095): Most people gloss quickly over Gasol in daily leagues, as he is not a player who will put up giant scoring or rebounding nights very often. However, Gasol is one of the most consistent players in the league and he stuffs the stat sheet nightly. He is coming off of back-to-back games in which he nearly posted triple-doubles against the Kings and Lakers. Tonight, he gets a Clippers team that does have an athletic front court but still allows opponents to score nearly 106 points a game. With DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin being huge parts of the Clipper offense, Gasol should play a ton of minutes to help slow them down while putting up a good game in his own right.
U: Mason Plumlee ($7,175): Like his brother Miles, Mason Plumlee came out of obscurity to put up a huge 19 points and 6 rebounds against the Clippers on Saturday. With starters Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett out of the lineup with injuries, the rookie from Duke was forced into action. Plumlee was given 25 minutes off the bench and he outplayed starter Reggie Evans. Be sure to watch the injury notes today to see if Lopez and Garnett are out; if they sit, Plumlee should provide a nice stat line against a fairly weak Portland frontcourt.
U: Tony Allen ($10,065): Allen is another example of a player who will not provide huge point totals but provides a very steady and consistent all-around game. Presently, he is averaging 2.1 steals a game and has scored in double digits in four of his last five. Memphis plays in Los Angeles against the Clippers, so Allen will likely be called on for huge minutes to help defend J.J. Redick and Chris Paul. Los Angeles also allows the opposition to steal the ball 8 times a game, so Allen could be in for a good defensive night. Considering the modest price, the steady Allen should be able to exceed expectations.
Good luck with your DraftStreet selections for this Monday!
