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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers, and welcome back to our new series covering RIVAL Fantasy Bingo picks for the NBA season! We will be covering how to play and the strategies to win.
Fantasy Bingo is a spin on the classic game Bingo but the goal is to match achievements, not numbers. You will build a DFS lineup for the weekly games to unlock the achievements and fill in those squares. You can win by getting five in a row, all four corners, or an entire card blackout.
The prize pool for the weekly slate is distributed among all of the winning cards. They are broken down in two ways. 56% of the prize pool to cards that have five in a row -- vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. 44% of the prize pool is for cards that just cover the four corners. Also, the prize pool gets larger as more bingo cards are entered. You can have up to 100 max cards all with different lineups created. Check here for the updated rules and scoring.
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RIVAL Fantasy Bingo Strategy
When it comes to Fantasy Bingo and NBA, the strategy will be different than the NFL Strategy. Stacking would go out the window unless the slate is two to three games. Targeting high usage players though is the same. Players who can fill multiple categories on the stat sheet like Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Ben Simmons (surprisingly). On top of that, if players are averaging double-doubles or triple-doubles at a good rate, you'll want to get a piece of that pie as the Bingo Cards may call for it.
Targeting defensive players who are logging more than two blocks or steals per game will be needed also. Those appear at a consistent rate on the Bingo Cards. Players like Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid excel at blocks and are averaging more than two per game. For steals, players like Marcus Smart, Donovan Mitchell, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are already recording 2.5 steals per game.
Filling every single category of the stat sheet will be needed as you construct your lineups. Spreading it out between key offensive and defensive players as there is no salary cap for you to be restricted by. Look for games with high totals, teams that play at a fast pace, and players that may get boosts from teammates ruled out due to injuries. You can make your lineups throughout the night but waiting for injury news to rule in will be your best route to go before the first game tips off.
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RIVAL Fantasy Bingo Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Indiana Pacers
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a player that is hard to pass up when it comes to Fantasy Bingo. The Greek Freak can fill up the stat sheet on both sides of the ball which he has consistently done recently. He is averaging 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game but also has had at least one to two blocks and/or steals per game. As usual, he is a player that averages a double-double almost every night and we need that for the Bingo Cards.
Antetokounmpo gets a prime matchup Thursday night facing the Indiana Pacers. They rank near the bottom in defending opposing forwards and give up a double-double. Allowing 25.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game is the perfect mix with Giannis's usage rate of 34.1%. When it comes to making multiple Bingo cards, the Greek Freak should be in a majority of them.
Tyrese Haliburton vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Tyrese Haliburton has been playing amazing basketball this season and he's another player that is hard to pass on. He is a key player for assists and you can usually find a good amount of assist-based squares on the Bingo cards. Haliburton has now racked up 14 double-digit assist games in the 17 that he has played. He averages almost 12 per game alongside 26 points. While his usage rate isn't the highest (sitting at just 26.8%), he manages a game very well. On the bright side for bad plays, Haliburton also turns into a turnover machine at times and that could be crucial for the funky squares for negative plays.
The boost that may be key for the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night is their pace of play. They lead the league in possessions per game with 107.8 and will control the tempo of the game. The Milwaukee Bucks don't play as quickly but are still up there with 105.1 per game. This gives more opportunities to both Tyrese Haliburton and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Brandon Ingram vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Brandon Ingram may be an under-owned play across the board and could be the key piece in securing more Bingos. Ingram is holding a 29% usage rate while averaging 34.3 minutes per game. On the season, he has averaged 24 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game. Pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo makes a good duo as Ingram has put up one or more steals in four of his last five games. Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans get a pace-up spot versus the Los Angeles Lakers as the Lakers average 104.2 possessions per game to the Pelicans' 102.9.
Jonas Valanciunas vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Any center versus the Los Angeles Lakers I am going to target and Jonas Valanciunas is no different. He gets to face a Lakers defense that is currently giving up 15.4 rebounds per game to opposing centers. Overall, the Lakers are giving up 22.5 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, making Valanciunas an appealing play. On top of that is his double-double capability. In his last five games, he has secured a double-double in four of them. His usage rate isn't the highest, it sits at just 19%, but averaging close to a double-double in 27 minutes of play, Valanciunas has a tremendous ceiling.
RIVAL Fantasy Bingo Lineup
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