Welcome to Bales’ NBA Game Theory (11/15)! In this article, I’ll outline my favorite cash game and GPP options at each of the positions. I’ll utilize our Projections Portal when making decisions about what types of leagues specific players are best suited for. You can get all of my Core Plays along with our Cheat Sheets, projections, and Premium Discord channels with our Premium NBA Package.
| Guards | Forwards |
Centers | Game Stacks |
| S. Dinwiddie | T. Horton-Tucker | N. Jokic | HOU/MEM |
| A. Caruso | A. Davis | B. Adebayo | PHX/MIN |
| C. Cunningham | E. Mobley | I. Stewart | CHI/LAL |
| D. Russell | J. Jackson | C. Wood | SAC/DET |
| J. Morant | D. DeRozan | J. Valanciunas | POR/TOR |
*If you don’t already play 3 max entry contests daily, try using the teams provided in the stacks above to maximize upside and correlation in your NBA lineups.
Guards
Cash
Cash games at point guard start with Spencer Dinwiddie tonight. He’s taking on a massive role for the Washington Wizards with Bradley Beal out once again. In his last game, he posted 49.25 DK points. Dinwiddie’s still too cheap for a plus matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight. Ja Morant’s been enjoying a breakout season for the Memphis Grizzlies, and he’s posted 50+ DK points in 4 consecutive games, flashing 60 DK point upside. He gets a great matchup against a weak Houston Rockets defense, although he isn’t going to come cheap. Morant can still be considered in all leagues tonight. Dennis Schroder gets an elite matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he can be considered here, as well.
Alex Caruso drew the start in his last game, and he’ll make a great cash game option if that’s the case again tonight. He posted 33.75 DK points over 39 minutes in that game, although he shot only 2/11 from the field. That suggests he comes with more upside than that game, and he’s still only $4k. The major concern here is that Coby White is expected to return. Aaron Holiday’s expected to play bigger minutes for the Washington Wizards with Bradley Beal out. He saw 35 minutes in their last game, and he could find similar minutes tonight. Holiday’s still far too cheap, and he’s an easy option to consider on this slate. If you’re spending up here, Zach LaVine and CJ McCollum (depending on Damian Lillard) can be used.
GPP
Cade Cunningham’s locked into big minutes and a massive role for the Detroit Pistons. He hasn’t been overly consistent, but he is a triple-double threat with plenty of scoring potential. Cunningham gets an elite matchup against the Sacramento Kings, who’ve struggled against guards, and he’s a solid tournament option on this slate. The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled against point guards, and Lonzo Ball gets the revenge matchup tonight. He isn’t always an aggressive option in the Chicago Bulls lineup, but he has the potential to triple-double. His inconsistencies keep his price tag low, and he’s an elite GPP option tonight. De’Aaron Fox, Cole Anthony, and Malcolm Brogdon can be considered in tournaments at point guard.
D’Angelo Russell’s been a boom or bust option for the Minnesota Wolves this season. He’s reliant on scoring, and he gets a plus matchup against the Phoenix Suns tonight. They’ve struggled to guard the three-point line at times this season, and Russell will benefit from a few open deep shots. With De’Andre Hunter out, Kevin Huerter’s starting, and he’s played 30+ minutes in each of his last 3 games. He’s viable in cash games, although I’m not sure you have to use him for salary relief. Huerter recently posted 42.25 DK points against the Utah Jazz, and he gets a plus matchup against the Orlando Magic tonight. There are very few players with as much upside as his price tag. Jalen Green, Lu Dort, and Jalen Suggs also make solid tournament options at shooting guard.
Forward
Cash
Talen Horton-Tucker is arguably the easiest play on the entire slate. He’s the minimum price, and he’s expected to play minutes in the high-20s tonight. He’s coming off of a game where he scored 27 DK points in 27 minutes, and he’s always been a solid per-minute producer. He makes an elite option in all leagues on this slate. I’d also consider Josh Richardson and Huerter here if you need a second salary relief option. This actual position starts and ends with Horton-Tucker, though.
There aren’t any power forwards that are sticking out well above others at the moment. If you can get to the top of the position, Anthony Davis makes an outstanding option. He’s scored 50+ DK points in 5 of his last 6 healthy games, including a trio of games with 65+ DK points. Davis gets a solid matchup against the Chicago Bulls who will be without Nikola Vucevic tonight, and he’s an elite option at this position. DeMar DeRozan is still surprisingly cheap for how well he’s performed this season. The Chicago Bulls are generally going small without Vucevic, and DeRozan is coming off of a 50.75 DK point performance. The Los Angeles Lakers’ defense has struggled throughout the season, making DeRozan a great option. Kyle Kuzma is another interesting option, although I have him in a tier below Davis and DeRozan when considering prices.
GPP
This is an odd situation where I believe Talen Horton-Tucker, Josh Richardson, and Kevin Huerter are all significantly better options than anyone else, even in tournaments. If you don’t want to eat the chalk of Horton-Tucker, the others are projecting for significantly less ownership tonight. There is a trio of spend-up options that can be considered tonight, as well. Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler (if active), and Anthony Edwards stick out as interesting high-priced options in tournaments. Dillon Brooks, R.J. Barrett, and Jae’Sean Tate can be considered, as well.
Evan Mobley is someone I continue to use with Kevin Love, Lauri Markkanen, and Collin Sexton out. He gets a great matchup against the Boston Celtics tonight, and Mobley makes an elite option tonight. He’s continuing to make his case for Rookie of the Year, and this is the perfect matchup to continue that. Jaren Jackson gets a great matchup against the Houston Rockets tonight, and he could play quite a bit of center because of the type of matchup. Houston’s struggled against centers throughout the season, and Jackson’s a player that comes with quite a bit of upside. Wendell Carter, Frank Kaminsky, Domantas Sabonis, and Kyle Anderson all come with varying price tags, and they make interesting options in tournaments on this slate.
Center
Cash
I’m keying in on only two centers in cash games at the moment. Nikola Jokic is playing as well as any fantasy option in the NBA this season. He isn’t going to come cheap, but he’s consistently been producing in 2021. There are more than enough salary relief options to easily fit him in your lineup, as the Dallas Mavericks don’t boast the defense to slow him down. The other option is Bam Adebayo. Although he’s been somewhat inconsistent, he’s been underpriced for the majority of the season. Adebayo gets an elite matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who’ve struggled against centers this game. Adebayo will lose a bit of value if Butler is active, although he’s still a reasonable option for his price tag and versatility.
GPP
Jonas Valanciunas isn’t a cheap option anymore, but he’s still a viable tournament play with his upside. He boasts 20/20 potential, and he’ll benefit from a matchup against the Washington Wizards tonight. Valanciunas’ role has dipped a bit with Brandon Ingram back, but that simply pulls him out of the cash conversation. Isaiah Stewart’s still far too cheap for his upside. With Kelly Olynyk out, he played 32 minutes in his last game. The Detroit Pistons can opt to go somewhat small with him against the Sacramento Kings tonight. He boasts far too much upside for his current price tag. Christian Wood is another interesting option, although he’s been extremely inconsistent in recent games. Still, he gets a great matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, and Wood could see minutes in the high-30s tonight. Richaun Holmes, Karl-Anthony Towns, and John Collins are other intriguing options at this position tonight.
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