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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 the 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.
RIVAL Fantasy Bingo Picks
Donte DiVincenzo vs. Indiana Pacers
The New York Knicks are in a great pace-up spot tonight, versus the Indiana Pacers who lead the league in possessions per game with 106.2. Donte DiVincenzo will be able to continue his amazing play as he is coming off a 33-point game versus the Utah Jazz. He is averaging 19.8 points, four rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in his last five games. Seeing Indiana once so far this season, DiVincenzo recorded 38 points, six rebounds, and two assists with four steals and one block. He filled up the stat sheet.
With the Pacers, they are fifth-worst versus opposing shooting guards. They are allowing them to average 25.3 points, six rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. With it being a huge pace-up spot for the Knicks, Donte DiVincenzo and the rest of the team should be able to pad their stats while filling up your bingo cards.
Jalen Brunson vs. Indiana Pacers
Continuing with the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson is in strong play also. He's averaging 28.8 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in his last five games. Similar to Donte DiVincenzo, he had a strong outing versus the Indiana Pacers in their first meeting. Brunson recorded 28 points, six assists, and one rebound. This season, Brunson has been a scoring machine, averaging 26.8 points per game with a usage rate of 29.4%. He holds a 48% field goal percentage with a 42.2% 3-point percentage.
The guards for the Knicks should have a good night as the Pacers also allow point guards to average 24.2 points, 7.9 assists, and 6.3 rebounds. This will most likely also be the game to stack for both sides of the basketball but there will be multiple ways for Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo to fill up the cards.
Jayson Tatum vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Boston Celtics are in a similar position as the New York Knicks as they are also in a pace-up spot versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Jayson Tatum has been having a strong five-game span as he is averaging more points, rebounds, and assists than he has on the season. In the last five games, Tatum is averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and five assists per game. On the season, he's averaging 26.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists with a field goal percentage of 47.3.
Now getting to face the Los Angeles Lakers once again, he'll be looking to repeat his performance versus them from earlier this season. He recorded 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists while playing 41.2 minutes. The Lakers have struggled versus opposing small forwards as they allow them to average 22.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. This should give Tatum to match the output by Brunson or even reach a higher ceiling.
Pascal Siakam vs. New York Knicks
Pascal Siakam has found success in recent games with the Indiana Pacers as he is almost averaging a double-double in his last five games. He has recorded 23 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in his last five games with two double-doubles last week versus Denver and Philadelphia. With the pace-up spot overall for the Knicks, Pacers may be able to control the tempo and allow Siakam to have more opportunities.
The Knicks have been playing very solid basketball recently and give some trouble to opposing power forwards. While they do hold them to just 22.1 points and 3.8 assists per game, they allow 9.1 rebounds. That can bring upside for Siakam to record a double-double tonight which usually pops up on the majority of the cards on Fantasy Rivals. It will be challenging for Pascal Siakam but he has the skillset to get the job done.
RIVAL Fantasy Bingo Lineup
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