NBA $15,000+ Friday Best Buys
There are six NBA games on Friday, but who are the best buys for the NBA $15K Friday contest? Check out our picks for Friday’s slate of games.
Here is a team you may consider for the NBA $10K Friday competition
Point Guard
Damian Lillard ($17,200)
The Blazers have reeled off a three-game winning streak to launch themselves back into the Western Conference playoff picture and it has come with plenty of assistance from star point guard Damian Lillard. He has scored over 50 fantasy points in two of the past three contests, to add to a gargantuan 69.25 he scored against Cleveland recently. If this sort of form isn’t enough for you, Lillard comes up against the Mike Conley-less Grizzlies on Friday, where he will be guarded by the likes of Andrew Harrison and Wade Baldwin. A must-have.
Sergio Rodriguez ($9,700)
The Philadelphia 76ers are back doing 76ers stuff, losing their last seven games on the trot, but it is in no way Sergio Rodriguez’s fault. The Spanish point guard has averaged 12.6 points, 7.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds whilst hitting 57.1% of his threes in his last five games, resulting in a fantasy average of 31.25 points over this time. He’s clearly in good form, and with fellow point guard TJ McConnell struggling, Rodriguez will see plenty of action. He will be up against New Orleans, who will have guards Jrue Holiday and E’Twaun Moore coming back from minor toe ailments and should cause little damage to Rodriguez’s purple patch
Shooting Guard
Zach LaVine ($10,550)
LaVine is enjoying a third year breakout under coach Tom Thibodeau, averaging career highs in points (19.8), rebounds (3.1) and three pointers made (2.5 at 36.7%). This is great news for our fantasy teams, where LaVine has been just as consistent all season. Coming up against a middling Toronto defence, LaVine should thrive. DeMar DeRozan’s perimeter defence is lacklustre and Jonas Valanciunas’ rim protection is mediocre at best, which should allow the athletic off-guard to get whatever shots off he wants. Priced around guys such as Rodney Hood and Will Barton, LaVine is not only a safe option, but has a huge ceiling.
Jamal Murray ($6,850)
The rookie shooting guard out of Kentucky is quietly putting together an impressive first season in the Mile High City. He’s currently averaging 10 points per game on 39.3% shooting from deep, whilst showing flashes as a facilitator and rebounder. Denver comes up against a struggling Washington Wizards team that has been poor on defence so far this season – especially on the wings. Picking Murray is risky, though. He’s put up over 30 fantasy points in five of his last nine games, but has also gone under six in two of those contests. If he can get hot and Coach Malone keeps him in the game, he will bring you a huge reward, if not, you could be looking at a very low score. At this price however, he’s worth the gamble.
Jimmy Butler ($15,050)
Butler has cemented himself as a superstar of the league this season, leading the Bulls to 11 wins. This has led to him becoming a fantasy superstar as well, averaging over 41 fantasy points per game. He’s dipped below 30 fantasy points just once in his past 14 games, which have included monster scores such as 65 against Atlanta and 63.5 against Washington. Coming up against San Antonio, Butler will be keen to prove his worth against one of the best wing players in the league in Kawhi Leonard.
Tony Allen ($7,300)
Since Mike Conley’s injury, Tony Allen has been forced to stand up for the Memphis Grizzlies on the offensive end of the floor. The injury to Conley has coincided with injuries to wings Chandler Parsons, James Ennis and Vince Carter, which has further increased the load on Allen. In this time, he’s averaged 12 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals, resulting in just over 27 fantasy points per game. For comparison, Danilo Gallinari is priced at $10,950 and averages a tick under 27 fantasy points per game. Allen will once again be forced to bear a heavy load against Portland on Friday, where he should see plenty of action and score sufficiently for your team.
Power Forward
Draymond Green ($13,450)
The beauty of Draymond Green is that he does so well in the miscellaneous categories that he doesn’t even need to score points to put up good fantasy numbers. For example, in the Warriors thumping of Indiana recently, Green scored just two points, but still managed 31.5 fantasy points. This gives him enormous upside for games when he does score, as evidenced by a couple of monster scores of 55+ this season. He’s a big chance to do so against Utah, who he averaged 16.3 points, 9 rebounds and 6.3 assists against in their four contests last season. And he is due for a triple double after recording 13 last season and not recording one to date, so Green is the sort of match winner that could win you the contest.
JaMychal Green ($9,250)
Similarly to Tony Allen, Green has taken over the offensive mantle for the Grizzlies out of sheer necessity. Since the aforementioned players (Conley, Parsons, Ennis and Carter) have been out, Green has put up a stat line of 11.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1.5 assists and 1 block whilst being efficient from the floor. Against the league-worst Portland defence, Green should once again capitalise, using his athleticism to out-rebound the Portland small-ball lineups with Al-Farouq Aminu at the four. Expect the Grizzlies big man to put up a double-double and some big numbers for your team.
Centre
Mason Plumlee ($9,550)
The Blazers big man has proven a reliable fantasy option for us so far this season, scoring less than 25 points just twice in his last fifteen contests. The passing big man is a constant double-double threat and has even flirted with a triple-double on occasions this season (such as a 12 point, 14 rebound, 8 assist outing against New Orleans recently). His upside is limited – he has only scored over 35 points on five occasions this season – but you know what you’ll get from him, and against an injury-riddled Memphis team, there is a high probability that he will score well once again.
The Line Up
PG: Damian Lillard ($17,200)
PG: Sergio Rodriguez ($9,700)
SG: Zach LaVine ($10,550)
SG: Jamal Murray ($6,850)
SF: Jimmy Butler ($15,050)
SF: Tony Allen ($7,300)
PF: Draymond Green ($13,450)
PF: JaMychal Green ($9,250)
C: Mason Plumlee ($9,550)
Salary Remaining: $1,100
NBA SCORING SYSTEM
Base Points
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 point
Block = 2 points
Bonuses
3 Point Made = 1 point
Double-Double = 2 points
Triple-Double = 2 points
Tune into ESPN2 Channel 500 from midday AEDT for a huge doubleheader. In the first game, keep tabs on Zach LaVine when his Timberwolves face Toronto. Then, watch Jimmy Butler’s Bulls clash with the in-form Spurs.