The Core
Frank Ntilikina
With Elfrid Payton still out & DSJ in question, Frank has to be locked after playing 37 minutes vs Boston. Frank isn’t the best offensive player but he sure knows how to use his length on defense. He stayed out of foul trouble while acquiring 3 steals, and Frank isn’t the best offensive player but he sure knows how to use his length on defense. He’s confirmed starting vs Fox as Coach Fizdale has praised his play as of late. Frank is especially a play on FD where he’s only 3.8k and should have no problem accumulating peripheral stats, hitting value in his 30 + minutes of run.
Rudy Gay
Another underpriced player, what’s new? Rudy has hit value in almost every game so far and should thrive vs the slow paced Lakers. In close games, he sees 20+ minutes and isn’t only scoring dependent, seeing high rebound games in the first 5. Even so, Rudy will need to be a look on offense and the increased half court sets allow him to go to work with his old legs. Love his price and he’s a safe play in all formats.
Russell Westbrook
Russ has hit value in almost every game so far due to his ability to rack up all types of peripheral stats. However, Fanduel decides to keep him at 10.3k. Today, he gets Miami’s defense who allowed a huge double double to… DeAndre Bembry… and has not played great defense so far as they are potentially missing their two best defenders in Butler and Winslow (Q). If they are both out, Russ and Harden become great plays, preferably Westbrook. However if Butler and Winslow end up playing, Russell is still a cash building block being that this game will be the highest paced of the slate.
Value Plays
Dwight Powell
Dwight Powell will see “his minutes gradually increase” and he’s 4K on Fanduel. He touched 25 minutes vs the Lakers and had 12/5. However, CLE has been a tough interior team with Love and Thompson not allowing many offensive rebounds, so Powell comes with some risk. But… center is a pretty bad spot tomorrow, so Powell might be able to fill in that spot and get 20 FDP with a potential for more with a minute increase.
Avery Bradley
Avery Bradley has been a dog defensively and he is usually out there defending their opponents best offensive player. Tomorrow he gets DeMar DeRozan, and will have to lock him down defensively, thus paving the way for another 30+ minute game. That should give him ample time to stumble upon points to hit value. Rondo is also out again for Sunday’s game, giving Avery more slack because the Lakers more inclined to run Lebron at PG with Alex Caruso & Quinn Cook backing him up.
Tournament Plays
R.J. Barrett
RJ is a rookie that has seen consistent minutes in the high 30s and even 40 one time. Fizdale has no problem playing his young star a high amount of minutes which allows him the potential to hit his value and more. Against Orlando, he started at the PG position with Wayne at the 2 and was seen to facilitate more which stunts his ability to not only score but obtain peripheral stats. I also like him playing along side a 1 because he is a lot better at a position where he can cut and take the ball to score more often than bringing it up and running a play.
Buddy Hield
Buddy has been getting buckets inconsistently partially due to the fact that he has been facing tough defenses for the last few games. Against hard matchups like UTA twice and DEN in the last 4, Buddy is finally getting a good match-up vs the Knicks. I believe one of these games he will blow up and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be here in which looks to be a competitive game. He has yet to have a ceiling game this season and with his new contract extension, I believe he would want to show he is worth that money.
Richaun Holmes
This could honestly be in the core as well, and he might as well be but I am afraid of foul trouble. He has a very high upside and in a spot like this against the Knicks who struggle everywhere, this could be another one of his ceiling games. He fits well due to his ability to defend bigs as well as hustle, thus leading to a good opportunity for blocks and steals. Last game he had a tough matchup and got into foul trouble against UTA, but before that he logged 35 minutes against Charlotte, and 30 against Denver (defended Jokic!) Dwayne Dedmon has now been demoted to the 2nd unit and has been losing minutes but knowing Luke Walton… anything could happen.
