NBA $15,000 SATURDAY: TIPS & SELECTIONS
NBA Saturday brings fans a 10 game slate with a couple of big time match ups. Most notably, all eyes will be on the final game of the day with the Bucks hosting the Warriors in a huge inter conference collision.
The Warriors are trying to get back on track after multiple three game losing slides, during which the Bucks stomped them by a vicious 43 points. Steph Curry wasn’t on board that night, he’s back now, so we should see fireworks.
Elsewhere, a potential Eastern playoff preview sees the 76ers visit Detroit in the next chapter of the ongoing feud between giants Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond.
With $15,000 up for grabs in the Saturday jackpot tournament, we take a look at some players you simply must have in your selections.
Lauri Markkanen – PF – $11,290
The Finnish sniper has wasted no time settling back in after a long wait to start his NBA season. In just his second outing of the year Markkanen was on fire with 21 points and 10 rebounds including five triples. We saw last year how prolific he can be from deep, and it looks like the elbow injury isn’t going to stop him picking up where he left off. He’s a significant part of the Bulls future, so should be getting more and more usage as his season progresses.
Blake Griffin – PF/C – $16,560
Griffin continues to pile on the points, going off for 31 with seven rebounds and four assists in his last showing, capped off by four triples which has become a real feather in Griffin’s cap. Philadelphia possess a looming force up front in Joel Embiid, but he has played monstrous minutes of late and looks to be suffering from it. Add to that, he’s going to have enough to worry about with Andre Drummond in his face all night. Philly doesn’t have much to handle Blake with Embiid tied up, and as a result we’ve seen him run wild on the 76ers twice this year putting up 50 points and 38 points on them earlier in the season.
Nikola Jokic – C – $16,040
Continuing the big men theme, the big Serbian has been posting up some big stat lines of late and has become a genuine triple double threat every night. He has five on the year, and multiple close calls to go with it. What separates Jokic from every other big man in the league is his uncanny passing ability. In his last two games, he’s put up assist totals of 13 and 15, and this is a guy who averages 17 points and 10 boards a game as well. His Nuggets have been on fire, and the Hornets middle of the pack defense doesn’t have a big man who can contain him.
Dwyane Wade – SG – $11,820
The future first ballot Hall of Famer is tough to trust nowadays as he continues through his farewell tour, but a growing list of injuries in Miami continues to add more weight to Wade’s aging shoulders. He has still shown some nights that there is a little more gas in the tank, and he’s still averaging 15 a game despite some limited minute outings along with close to four rebounds and assists. He gets a good match up here, having had a couple of days rest, up against a Phoenix team that sits 25th in the league in points allowed per game.
Jordan Clarkson – SG/PG – $9,090
Clarkson continues to be the high usage scoring option for a Cleveland team that everyone knows is going nowhere and is devoid of other places to look. He’s doing his job, averaging 16 a game on the year, a mark he has met or exceeded in eight of his past nine games, including multiple 20+ point outings. This contest shapes up as a rare good matchup for Clarkson. At home, hosting a Kings team that has concedes the second most points per game in the NBA, there may not be a whole lot of defense in this game from either team, but that will suit Clarkson just fine as he merrily jacks shots up.
Enter the NBA $15,000 Saturday tournament.
NBA SCORING SYSTEM
Point Scored = 1 point
Missed Field Goal = -0.25 points
Missed Free Throw = -0.25 points
Assist = 1.5 points
Rebound = 1.25 points
Turnover = -0.5 points
Steal = 2 points
Block = 2 points
3 Point Made Bonus = 1 point
Double-Double = 2 points
Triple-Double = 2 points
NBA