Happy Friday everyone! We have a nice big slate ahead of us, TON of news, a bunch of chalk.. This is a great time to get those low-owned punts into your lineup for tournaments. Let’s dive into some of my favorite GPP plays for tonight!
Point Guard
Similar to all positions, I want players with the highest upside and the highest floor. We want generally a low risk/high reward player that won’t kill the entire line if he busts. Starting off, I’m looking at Ja Morant which actually might be my favorite play today. I usually don’t write up complete studs because they need a ton to reach their ceiling..but with all the injuries to the Grizzlies right now, Ja Morant is sporting a 35% usage rate and literally saw the ball a TON last game against the Bucks. The Nuggets have given up a bunch of FP to point guards the past few games, and their defense has not gotten any better. This could be another ceiling spot for Ja as he will be going into this game with the same squad with the same guys out, allowing him to be the main and sole playmaker for the Grizzlies. He had 28 potential assists last game and still ended with 14. He had no stonks either which usually raises his ceiling a little. My only gripe here is that the pace isn’t too ideal but it shouldn’t matter because Ja will have the absolute most usage to try and carry his team to a W tonight.
BONUS: Alex Caruso (if no min limit)
Shooting Guard
Max Strus is the current fill-in 6th man while Herro is out in COVID protocols and that was shown last game against POR. This time he gets an easier matchup against ATL that allows t5 PPG, that is t5 in pace, and t5 in worst defenses in the league. Now Jimmy Butler being out the 2H did help him, I think Caleb was the bigger beneficiary from that. I think Strus gets minutes no matter what and can see similar minutes like he did in last game. With that being said, that gives him more opportunity to hit his ceiling tonight, especially against a team he has shot really well against before. Over 50% from 3 against ATL in his past 2 match-ups, with good volume too, in WAY less minutes. If he is to see the same allotment of minutes, I think he can hit 30 DKP tonight.
BONUS: Jalen Suggs
Small Forward
John Konchar is currently starting as a fill-in for the multiple Grizzlies that are currently out and will be out for today’s game against the Nuggets. As I mentioned before, they are missing Brooks, Bane, and Jones, so their backcourt is completely decimated. Because of that, Konchar has been starting at SG but fits in here for SF position eligibility. He saw 32 minutes in a primed match-up against the Bucks and if you think about it, sorta let down there with only 24.75 DKP shooting 0-4 from the field against a Bucks team that is one of the worst at guarding the perimeter. Obviously that was a let down, but he was able to pick up the slack with his peripheral stats, which definitely raises his floor. I think he has a better shooting night tonight and also has the chance to put up the same peripherals if not more. Remember, this guy had 17 rebounds against MIN off the bench around 4 games ago, his ceiling for that is high.
BONUS: Joe Ingles
Power Forward
Jonathan Kuminga usually would be an easy cash play, but with Kerr’s benching of him yesterday… no one is safe. I guess Kerr didn’t like his initial aggression or whatnot.. he took 0 shots and still put up 15.25 DKP. Maybe he got in foul trouble? Either way, Kerr didn’t play him at all after his stint in the 2nd Q. This a primed match-up against a HOU team that is like ATL, t5 in pace, t5 worst defense, which sets up Kuminga for a double-double opportunity tonight, granted he gets the minutes. I don’t see how they don’t play him tonight seeing that they lost yesterday night’s game against an Indiana team missing 4/5 starters…embarrassing. Klay is also out for GSW tonight, which opens up the minutes and usage for Kuminga (GRANTED…HE PLAYS…. I hate you Kerr).
BONUS: Jeff Green
Center
Kelly Olynyk is a stretch play, but looks a ton better if Rudy Gobert does sit tonight. In his first game back in AGES, Olynyk saw 21 minutes but saw a 38.9% usage rate off the bench. Yes, even more than some of the studs on this slate. Wtf? We all knew DET was waiting for his return but to do THAT much on the court in your first game back? Definitely a spot for upside here, considering this game stays close. Again I want Gobert to sit to make this make even more sense but even so, UTA lost to HOU at home last game out WITH Gobert on the court…and DET hasn’t been looking THAT bad lately. At only 5.5k, you are definitely looking for 35-40 DKP for a ceiling and I think Olynyk can hit that, shooting 17 shots last time out as well as picking up a ton of peripheral stats as well. If this is the savior DET is looking for, he can definitely be it.
BONUS: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Follow me at @SrirachaDFS on Twitter!
