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NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Monday doesn’t bring a ton of action in the NBA with only five games on the schedule. However, with so many teams dealing with injuries, there are actually a lot of cheaper value plays worth considering. Here are a couple at each position who could provide value. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19

Shabazz Napier, BKN at BOS
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,600

The Nets are in a tough spot with Caris LeVert (foot) and Spencer Dinwiddie (thumb) on the shelf. To make matters worse, Joe Harris (hip) is listed as questionable for Monday. They don’t have much of a choice but to give Napier more playing time. He logged 28 minutes against the Knicks on Friday and he finished with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. His final line could have been even better if he wasn’t just 3-for-13 from the field. This isn’t a great matchup against a good Celtics’ defense, but Napier’s increased role warrants adding him to your lineup.

Trey Burke, NY at CHA
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,200

The Knicks are dealing with their own injury issues. Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) is already hurt and now Frank Ntilikina (groin) went down Sunday. With such a quick turnaround, don’t expect him to play in this contest. Burke is one of the few healthy point guards they have left, so expect him to receive more playing time in this matchup. He’s already scored at least 16 points in both games since Mudiay went down, so he could provide value at his cheap price on both sites.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19

Allonzo Trier, NY at CHA
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Recommending players on the Knicks can be tricky. They change their rotations so often that it’s hard to get a gauge on what they are going to do on a nightly basis. However, the injuries to Mudiay and Ntilikina help to provide a bit of stability because, frankly, they are running out of options. Trier has shown he can be productive when given added playing time by averaging 14.3 points, four rebounds and 2.3 assists across 23 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes.

Avery Bradley, LAC vs. ATL
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,700

The Clippers will likely be shorthanded again Monday with the expectation that Danilo Gallinari (back) will remain on the sidelines. That’s good news for Bradley, who has averaged 13 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 0.8 steals across the first five games that Gallinari missed. His upside might not be off the charts, but he’s priced really cheap on both sites and has a great matchup against a Hawks team that plays at the fastest pace (105.2 possessions per game) in the league.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19

Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. GS
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,600

The Pacers are a good defensive team, but this game could get ugly against the Warriors. The loss of Victor Oladipo (knee) puts them in a huge hole offensively, especially since they are already averaging just 108.9 points per game. To put that into perspective, the Warriors are averaging 118.8 points per contest. Bogdanovic is going to need to fire away to keep this game close and should get plenty of opportunities to do so. He already scored 21 points against the Grizzlies on Saturday and averaged 19.4 points per game earlier this season when Oladipo missed 11 straight games.

Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Batum is having an off year with averages of 9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. He’s shooting 46.4 percent from the field, but it’s not easy to provide a lot of offense when you have a 13.2 percent usage rate. On a positive note, Batum is averaging 14.5 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists over his last four games. That’s even more impressive when you consider two of those games came against tough defensive teams in the Pacers and Grizzlies. He likely won’t be met with the same resistance Monday since the Knicks allow the fourth-most points per game (115.3) in the league.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19

Marvin Williams, CHA vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,300

The Knicks have started to use Lance Thomas at power forward, so their shift to a small lineup could prove beneficial for Williams. Williams has really improved from behind the arc during his tenure in the league and is averaging a career-high two three-pointers per contest this season. He’s also had some access in two previous matchups against the Knicks with averages of 16.5 points, five rebound and one steal.

Marcus Morris, BOS vs. BKN
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,900

Morris’ shot was off again Saturday as he hit just three of his 12 attempts against the Warriors. That performance has left him 26-for-77 (33.8 percent) from the field across his last seven games. The good news is that he’s still getting plenty of shot attempts and averaged 6.1 rebounds per game during that stretch. If he can correct his shot Monday, he could prove to be valuable. Avoid him in cash games, but deploying him in tournament play might not be a crazy idea.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 1/28/19

Mitchell Robinson, NY at CHA
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Enes Kanter’s days with the Knicks appear to be numbered. He hasn’t played in any of their last three games and he hasn’t been shy about voicing his displeasure with that. Since Luke Kornet (ankle) is out, that has left a more secure role off the bench for Robinson. Even though he still isn’t playing a ton of minutes, he’s managed to average eight points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.8 blocks across his last four games. This is a great opportunity to roster him against the Hornets, who allow the sixth-most DraftKings points per game and the 10th-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.

Mason Plumlee, DEN at MEM
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Whether he starts or comes off of the bench, Plumlee is not someone to ignore in DFS. After scoring 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, six assists and one steal in a spot start for Nikola Jokic on Friday against the Suns, he followed that up with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block coming off of the bench Saturday against the Sixers. This game has some blowout potential, which could lead to more minutes for Plumlee. At an even cheaper price than Robinson, he is also someone to consider at center.

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/20/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner* 

There’s not a ton of action with just four games in the NBA on Tuesday. That doesn’t leave us with many value play options, but that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some great ones to consider. Here are some players at each position that stand out for the slate. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/20/18

Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. BKN
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,400

The Heat will be without Goran Dragic (knee) on Tuesday, marking the fifth game in which he has missed this season. Across the previous four contests, Johnson averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. The key is that he logged at least 32 minutes in three of those contests. Don’t expect him to start against the Nets, but he’s still likely going to receive enough playing time to be a great option at this price.

D.J. Augustin, ORL vs. TOR
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Augustin has racked up at least seven assists in each of his last three games as he continues to run the point for the Magic. He hasn’t just been stockpiling assists, either, scoring at least 12 points in back-to-back contests. His overall upside is limited based on his 15.5 percent usage rate, but the Magic have little choice but to give him the bulk of the minutes at point guard, making him a viable option for such a small slate.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/20/18

Allonzo Trier, NY vs. POR
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,000

The Knicks are trying anything and everything right now in terms of rotations. In their last game against the Magic, they started Trier, Kevin Knox, Emmanuel Mudiay and Mitchell Robinson alongside Tim Hardaway Jr. It was a disaster, which led to Enes Kanter, Noah Vonleh and Trey Burke logging significant minutes off the bench. Trier only had seven points and two rebounds across his 13 minutes after logging at least 32 minutes in back-to-back contests. He’s shown the ability to score when given the opportunity, making him a risk worth considering at this price.

Wayne Ellington, MIA vs. BKN
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,400

Johnson isn’t the only player on the Heat who has benefited from Dragic missing time this year. In those four games that Dragic was previously unable to play, Johnson scored at least 19 points twice. It’s hard to count on Ellington for much outside of points and steals, but he can get hot in a hurry from behind the arc. The return of Dwyane Wade (personal) does hurt Ellington’s upside some, but he should still receive added playing time.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/20/18

Joe Harris, BKN at MIA
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,600

Harris has started all 17 games for the Nets this season, averaging 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across 29 minutes a game. He’s one of their most lethal three-point shooters, averaging 2.5 a game while shooting 50.6 percent from behind the arc. This could be an opportunity for him to shine against a Heat team that has allowed the third-highest three-point shooting percentage (37.9 percent) in the league.

Jeff Green, WAS vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,200

The Wizards have certainly dug themselves an early hole at 5-11. The locker room appears to be a mess and there are already rumors of them looking to make trades. One player who has quietly performed well is Green, who is averaging 10.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Wizards could be without Dwight Howard (back) for this game, which would likely force them to play a lot of small lineups. Green would likely see added minutes in that scenario, so keep an eye on Howard’s status leading up to tip-off.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/20/18

Markieff Morris, WAS vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,900

Another player who would benefit greatly if Howard can’t play is Morris. With Howard sidelined for the first six games of the season, Morris averaged 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. Over nine games since Howard made his debut, Morris has averaged just 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks. Both of these teams are in the top-eight in the league in pace of play, so any added role could provide significant returns for Morris.

Ed Davis, BKN at MIA
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,900

If there is one thing you can count on from Davis, it’s that he’s going to attack the glass. He only averaged 19 minutes a game last year with the Blazers, but still grabbed 7.4 rebounds a night. Despite logging just 17 minutes a game since joining the Nets, he’s actually been even better with 8.3 rebounds per contest. The Nets are going to need Davis to battle with Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo, making him a viable target at this price.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/20/18

Enes Kanter, NY vs. POR
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $6,300

Kanter played 38 minutes off the bench Sunday against the Magic, posting 21 points and 19 rebounds. The Knicks continue to play him with their second unit, but they’ve lost five straight, so it’s fair to question why he isn’t starting. Luckily, his 25.9 percent usage rate off the bench has still enabled him to average 15 points and 12.1 rebounds per game in that role. Look for him to at least be a double-double threat again Tuesday.

Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. POR
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $3,600

Robinson is certainly someone you only want to consider in tournament play. Even then, he’s awfully risky. He had five fouls in just nine minutes against the Magic, leaving him with 14 fouls across his last three games. His offensive game is still very raw, but he can pile up rebounds and blocks in a hurry due to his athleticism. With so few quality cheap centers on the board, Robinson should at least be in the discussion if you want to save money at the position.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/16/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner* 

Friday brings eight games in the NBA, which is highlighted by a matchup between the Celtics and Raptors. With a lot of value play options to consider, let’s get right down to business and highlight some players with favorable matchups. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/16/18

Shelvin Mack, MEM vs. SAC
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Mack has bounced around a lot during his career, but he seems to have found a home with the Grizzlies. He’s done an outstanding job as part of their second unit, averaging 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest. Not known for his scoring abilities, Mack has been pretty consistent with at least 12 points in six of his last eight contests. The Kings play at the second-fastest pace (106.8 possessions per game), which could leave Mack with a few more opportunities to provide value Friday.

Ryan Arcidiacono, CHI at MIL
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Bulls really miss Kris Dunn (knee). They tried Cameron Payne as their starting point guard when Dunn originally went down, but that was largely a disaster. Arcidiacono showed a lot of hustle and the ability to play defense off the bench, which has now allowed him to overtake Payne at point guard. Across three games since taking over the starting role, Arcidiacono is averaging 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. His upside isn’t great, but the Bucks do play at the fifth-fastest pace (104.3), leaving Arcidiacono as an intriguing cheap option.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/16/18

Rodney McGruder, MIA at IND
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

The Heat were decimated by injuries to start the season, which opened up a starting job for McGruder that he has yet to relinquish. Things aren’t as bleak on the health front right now for the Heat, but McGruder is still averaging 12.3 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal over his last four contests. One of those was a matchup against these same Pacers when he finished with 11 points, four rebounds, five assists, and one steal. His ceiling might not be as high as it was earlier in the season, but that doesn’t mean he should be ignored at this price.

Allonzo Trier, NY at NO
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,200

The Knicks continue to change up their rotations, but Trier has remained a member of their second unit for all but one game. His overall numbers don’t jump off the page, but he is averaging 13.7 points per game with a 21.4 percent usage rate across seven games in November. The Pelicans play at the fourth-fastest pace (105.1) and allow the fourth-most points per game (115.8), so don’t be surprised if Trier gets hot in this contest.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/16/18

E’Twaun Moore, NO vs. NY
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Playing with Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic, and Julius Randle doesn’t leave a lot of headlines left for Moore. However, his contributions shouldn’t go unnoticed, especially of late. With the Pelicans battling injuries, Moore has averaged 26 points and 2.7 three-pointers across his last three games. Elfrid Payton (ankle) is targeting a return for Friday, but the status of Nikola Mirotic (ankle) has yet to be decided. If either one of those players doesn’t take the floor, expect Moore to continue to receive added scoring opportunities.

DeMarre Carroll, BKN at WAS
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Speaking of teams dealing with injuries, the Nets aren’t in great shape right now, either. Caris LeVert (foot) is out for the foreseeable future and Jarrett Allen (illness) and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle) are both listed as questionable. The Nets don’t have a ton of depth up front, to begin with, so if either Allen or Hollis-Jefferson can’t play, Carroll will likely receive increased playing time. That brings him onto the radar in DFS against a Wizards team that plays at the sixth-fastest pace (103.4).

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/16/18

Derrick Favors, UTA at PHI
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Favors continues to do damage in limited playing time, averaging 11.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across just 23 minutes a game. This sets up to be a potential situation where he could dominate based on the Sixers lack of talent up front. The trade of Dario Saric to the Timberwolves has left them with a hole at power forward that they are filling with Wilson Chandler, who doesn’t really have the size to match up well with Favors. Favors likely won’t get extended playing time again Friday, but he could do plenty of damage when he’s on the floor.

Kevin Knox, NY at NO
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Knox has missed seven games due to injury, but he’s scored at least 10 points in five of the eight games in which he’s been able to take the floor. The Knicks gave him the first start of his career Wednesday against the Thunder, resulting in Knox scoring 15 points to go along with five rebounds and one steal. The key is that he played 29 minutes in that contest. If he starts again in this contest, he could be in for another productive night based on the pace at which the Pelicans play.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/16/18

Enes Kanter, NY at NO
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,500

Kanter averaged 29 minutes a game as a starter to begin the year but is playing just 25 minutes a night since moving to the bench. The good news is that his usage rate has jumped up to 26.5 percent as a member of the second unit. He’s also continued to gobble up rebounds, enabling him to average 15.1 points and 12.1 rebounds in his new role. Although he doesn’t come at a significant discount, Kanter is still one of the better cheaper options on the board at center.

Mike Muscala, PHI vs. UTA
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,500

Without question, Muscala is someone to only consider in tournament play. His scoring upside is very limited, but the Sixers don’t have much of a choice but to play him after dealing away Saric and Robert Covington. Across the first two games since the trade, Muscala is averaging nine points and 6.5 rebounds while playing at least 26 minutes in both contests. Putting him into your entry would allow you to load up elsewhere with the savings, so if you don’t mind the risk, Muscala is worth considering.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/7/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Wednesday is going to be a great night in the NBA with 10 games on the schedule. With no time to waste, let’s jump right in and take a look at some value plays who could provide significant production. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/7/18

Derrick Rose, MIN at LAL
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,600

Rose returned from a one-game absence due to an ankle injury to play 35 minutes Monday against the Clippers, so he appears to be fine moving forward. Although it took him 20 shot attempts to get there, Rose scored 21 points in that game to go along with three rebounds and four assists. Jeff Teague (knee) will be out again for this contest, making Rose a great option against a Lakers team that plays at the third-fastest pace (106.4 possessions per game) in the league.

Shelvin Mack, MEM vs. DEN
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Mack is dealing with some groin soreness, but he’s listed as probable for this matchup. He’s turned into a key backup behind Mike Conley, averaging 26 minutes a game. Don’t expect him to lose playing time anytime soon since he’s averaging 12 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 three-pointers per contest. Rose certainly has a higher upside, but Mack is also worth considering.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/7/18

Allonzo Trier, NY at ATL
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Tim Hardaway Jr. entered Monday’s game against the Bulls with a back injury. He was listed as active, but he never entered the contest. Trier started in his place and shined in their double-overtime loss, scoring 21 points to go along with three rebounds, two steals, and two three-pointers. Even before Monday, Trier had scored at least 12 points in a game five times this season. His value will definitely take a hit if Hardaway starts, but Trier shouldn’t be totally ignored against a Hawks team that is playing at the fastest pace (108.2) in the league.

Antonio Blakeney, CHI at NO
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Blakeney can flat out shoot. The Bulls have been decimated by injuries to start the year, which has allowed him to log a few extra minutes. Across six games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes, Blakeney is averaging 16.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 three-pointers. His 25.9 percent usage rate is actually second on the team behind only Zach LaVine (34.1 percent). This game could become a blowout early, which could lead to a lot of garbage time scoring for Blakeney. At this cheap price, he should be on your radar in tournament play.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/7/18

Justise Winslow, MIA vs. SA
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,600

Winslow has started the last two games for the Heat. One was in place of the injured Goran Dragic and the other was in favor of the inconsistent Kelly Olynyk. He averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and one block in those games, making a case to stick in a starting role moving forward. It wouldn’t be surprising to at least see him start again Wednesday, especially with the Spurs likely having to play smaller with Pau Gasol (foot) already ruled out.

Jae Crowder, UTA vs. DAL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Even though Crowder has only started one game this season, his 30 minutes per contest rank fourth-highest on the team. He’s looked like the player that he was in Boston, averaging 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 three-pointers across his first 10 games. The Mavericks have allowed the eighth-most points per game (115.1), so this could be a high-scoring affair that benefits Crowder’s upside.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/7/18

Jerami Grant, OKC at CLE
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,100

The Thunder don’t have much depth, to begin with, but they’ll be tested even further with Russell Westbrook (ankle) out for this game. Grant isn’t necessarily counted on for much offense, but he could see a few extra shot attempts as a result of Westbrook being on the sidelines. Since taking over as the starting power forward, Grant is averaging 13.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and one three-pointer across six games.

Taj Gibson, MIN at LAL
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,500

One of coach Tom Thibodeau’s favorites, Gibson has actually seen his playing time decrease from 33 minutes a game last year to 26 minutes per contest this season. Even will less time on the floor, Gibson has still been able to average 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and one block. When these two teams met earlier this season, Gibson finished with eight points, six rebounds, two steals, and three blocks over 29 minutes. With the Lakers playing at such a fast pace, Gibson is a viable option at this reduced price.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/7/18

Tristan Thompson, CLE vs. OKC
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Things are getting thin up front for the Cavaliers. They have already been without Kevin Love (foot), but now Sam Dekker (ankle) is also on the shelf. Thompson will likely be forced to play more with limited depth behind him, especially facing Steven Adams on Wednesday. Although he hasn’t provided much in the way of defensive stats, Thompson is a nightly double-double threat with averages of nine points and 9.6 rebounds across his first 10 games.

Cristiano Felicio, CHI at NO
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,200

If the Bulls weren’t missing Lauri Markkanen (elbow) and Bobby Portis (knee), Felicio probably wouldn’t even be playing. Wendell Carter Jr. is getting the lion’s share of the minutes at center, but the Bulls have decided to give Felicio minutes as his backup over Robin Lopez. His skill set is extremely limited, but Felicio has averaged 6.5 points and 7.8 rebounds over four games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes. If the Bulls get blown out in this game, he should play more during garbage time. His ceiling isn’t very high, but he’s at least someone to consider at this dirt cheap price if you want to load up elsewhere.