*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 2/7/18
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POINT GUARDS
Jeff Teague, MIN at CLE
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,700
Teague has not been good offensively lately, scoring nine points or less in four of his last five games. He doesn’t provide many rebounds either, leaving him with limited upside when he struggles to score. The good news is he gets to face the Cavaliers on Wednesday, who have been horrible defensively. They have been particularly poor defending points guards, allowing the second-most points per game on FanDuel and the third-most points per game on DraftKings to the position. It might be worth the risk that he rebounds offensively in this game based on his price.
Tyler Ulis, PHO vs. SA
FanDuel =$4,400
DraftKings = $4,400
Ulis started with Devin Booker (hip) injured Tuesday, scoring eight points to go along with seven assists and one rebound. The key is he played 30 minutes in the game. He has played at least 30 minutes in a game nine times this season, averaging 10.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per contest. Booker is not expected to play again Wednesday, so the volume of playing time alone makes Ulis someone worth considering for your entry.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Danny Green, SA at PHO
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,900
Green has struggled with his shot this season, shooting only 39.7% from the field. That would actually mark his third-straight season shooting under 40%. He’s made up for his offensive deficiencies lately though, averaging 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.0 blocks in his last three games. In his first meeting with the Suns this season, Green scored 14 points to go along with two rebounds, two assists, one steal and two three-pointers. The Suns allow the most points per game (112.2) in the league, so Green might be worth the risk at this cheap price.
Wayne Ellington, MIA vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,300
The Heat have suffered a lot of injuries this season, but their health has improved of late. As a result, Ellington has played 29 minutes or less in three of his last five games. The majority of his value comes from his ability to score and hit three-pointers, so limited playing time is going to hinder his value. However, he could see a few extra minutes Wednesday as the Rockets like to use a lot of small lineups. The Rockets also play at the ninth-fastest pace (100.7 possessions per game) in the league, so Ellington might be someone to take a chance on in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at NO
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,200
Bogdanovic has scored at least 18 points in four straight games, shooting 53.8% from behind the arc during that stretch. He’s not always one of the Pacers primary scoring options, but he can put up points in a hurry when he gets in a groove. Wednesday brings a favorable matchup against the Pelicans who allow the second-most points per game (111.1) and play at the fourth-fastest pace (101.8) in the league, giving Bogdanovic excellent upside.
Reggie Bullock, DET vs. BKN
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,600
Bullock has seen an increase in playing time since the Pistons big trade with the Clippers, logging at least 34 minutes in three straight games. He’s an excellent three-point shooter, hitting 7-of-16 shots from behind the arc during that stretch. The Nets play at the sixth-fastest pace (101.1) in the league, which is a plus for Bullock when you factor in his increased playing time. Although he might not provide much outside of scoring, Bullock is still priced low enough to warrant consideration Wednesday.
POWER FORWARDS
Thaddeus Young, IND at NO
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,500
Young may not put up flashy numbers, but he’s averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals in his last six games. It’s important to note that he played at least 34 minutes in four of those six contests. The heavy minutes could mean added opportunities to produce Wednesday with the Pelicans struggles on defense and their up-tempo style of play. The Pelicans allow the third-most points per game on DraftKings and the fourth-most points per game on FanDuel to opposing power forwards, making Young a viable option for your lineup.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, HOU at MIA
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,000
Mbah a Moute has been getting a lot of playing time for the Rockets lately, logging at least 35 minutes in three of his last four games. With Trevor Ariza (hamstring) out and Ryan Anderson (ankle) questionable for Wednesday, Mbah a Moute should see plenty of action again in this game. His limited offensive skills don’t leave him with great upside, but he could contribute enough across the board to be worth consideration at this cheap price.
CENTERS
Jarrett Allen, BKN at DET
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,100
Allen has taken over as the starting center for the Nets and that should continue moving forward, especially since they just traded Tyler Zeller to the Bucks. In five starts this season, Allen is averaging 15.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. He’s playing just 24 minutes per game as a starter and doesn’t provide great defensive numbers, but he can still provide value on a night like Wednesday with only six games on the schedule.
Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
The Heat have been limiting Hassan Whiteside’s playing time, especially late in games. Adebayo has been one of the primary beneficiaries of that move, logging at least 24 minutes in three straight games. He’s made the most of the opportunity, recording a double-double in two of those games. This isn’t a great matchup against a Rockets team that likes to play small, but the Heat may be forced to give Adebayo plenty of playing time if Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) is unable to play. Keep your eye on Olynyk’s status throughout the day and if he is indeed ruled out, Adebayo is a viable option in tournament play.
