NBA $20,000+ Thursday Line-Up
Another big day of NBA action on Thursday with eight games to choose your $20k line-ups from.
Here is a team you may consider for the NBA $20k+ Thursday competition
Point Guard
Kyrie Irving ($14,500)
Following a terrific championship season last year, many expected Kyrie Irving to take another step up in 2016, and he has certainly lived up to those expectations. Irving’s minutes have bumped up from 31.5 to 34.2 per game this season, which has subsequently seen an increase in his statistical output. So far this season Irving is averaging 23.8 points and five assists from 48% of time on court – numbers enough to prove his value for your first point-guard spot. Since returning from a two game absence, Irving went all out against the Lakers, putting up 21 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for a total of 53.25 fantasy points. Expect Irving to take advantage of his short rest, and put up another big individual performance against Milwaukee.
Reggie Jackson ($10,700)
Since returning from a long-term injury lay off just a few weeks ago, Reggie Jackson has taken his time to find his feet again. Jackson was given only limited minutes upon his return and struggled with poor shooting performances, which produced some below par fantasy outputs. However, across the last seven days Jackson has picked up his own slack – averaging 17.7 points and six assists per outing while also shooting a handy 44% from the field. Given Jackson’s caliber and his price of just above $10k, there is no better candidate for your second point-guard spot this week. Up against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, let’s hope Jackson can back up a double-double performance with one on Tuesday, and even more importantly, on Thursday.
Shooting Guard
Eric Gordon ($9,100)
Houston’s sixth-man Eric Gordon, has been nothing short of outstanding of late, putting up three 20+ point performances in his last four outings. The most noticeable of those came against the Pelicans on Saturday as the Rockets dropped a record 24 three-point field goals – seven of which came from Gordon. With a team usage rate of 22.9, which is only behind James Harden, Gordon is evidently being looked upon to produce a large scoring punch off the bench and knock down wide-open looks. Averaging 17.7 points from around 30 minutes of action per game, Gordon has been relatively consistent all season, and more importantly producing an even stronger output of 20.5 points per game over the past week. Expect him to run Phoenix’s second-unit ragged to again give himself a lot of open shot opportunities.
Tim Hardaway Jr. ($5,500)
At a price of just $5,500, Tim Hardaway Jr is too inexpensive to ignore. Not only does his price give you the chance to splash your cash elsewhere on established stars, but given Hardaway’s recent output we could land a bargain. Across the last couple of weeks, Hardaway has been the beneficiary of a struggling Kyle Korver, with him being handed Korver’s starting shooting-guard spot. Averaging 33 minutes of action across the last week, Hardaway has been solid for Atlanta putting up approximately 15.7 points, 2.7 boards and three assists per game. Taking into account recent form and an almost basement price tag, Hardaway is certainly our best pick for the second shooting guard spot.
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($18,350)
The ‘Greek Freak’ has been nothing short of phenomenal this year, and particularly over the last week, where he’s averaged an astonishing 27.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and three steals – which equates to a 55.2 fantasy point average. He takes this form into a game against the high-scoring Cavs, who he lit up earlier in the season to the tune of 34 points (on 68% shooting), 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks in one of his best games of the year. Expect Giannis to rise to the challenge of going up against LeBron James once again, and play the aggressive brand of basketball he thrives in, and which is also incredibly enjoyable to watch.
Trevor Ariza ($9,450)
On Thursday, the Houston Rockets – who are second in points per game in the NBA – find themselves matched up against the Phoenix Suns, who allow the second most points per game in the NBA. Expect scoring aplenty from a team that has won 10 games in a row in the Rockets, and particularly for their starting small forward Trevor Ariza. Ariza has not only been lighting it up from deep lately, averaging 3.3 threes per game in the last week, but he has also averaged three steals per game in this time. The promise of an extremely high scoring match, and a productive past week, are enough for us to pull the trigger on this three-and-D specialist as our backup small forward this week.
Power Forward
Paul Millsap ($13,450)
The very versatile Paul Millsap always receives consideration week in, week out for our Thursday lineups. With an average of 17 points, eight rebounds, 3.7 assist, 1.7 steals and one block per game, Millsap brings the ability to build his fantasy score from multiple avenues. Evidently, over the past seven days for example, his rebound and steal numbers have slightly dropped, however his assist numbers have increased. A very consistent performer, Millsap is someone who can easily be relied upon to produce a solid output for our squad this week. The Hawks face the young Timberwolves, a team whom Millsap dropped 22 points on again in his final outing last year, to go along with ten boards and two steals.
Ryan Anderson ($9,600)
This week we LOVE the Houston Rockets, and in keeping with this theme we have Ryan Anderson as our backup power forward. Anderson is coming off a 28-point, six-rebound performance against Minnesota, and although we can’t count on him to replicate his defensive stats this week (three steals and a block against the Timberwolves), the points, threes and rebounds are enough to warrant his selection. Anderson has a reputation of being a very streaky player, however he seems to have found his feet in this Rockets lineup,- particularly in this past week. Take advantage of Anderson’s purple patch on Thursday, as the Rockets face a very up and down Phoenix Suns side.
Centre
Tyson Chandler ($9,200)
Suns starting center Tyson Chandler doesn’t give you a lot of points, but he sure does make up for it with an abundance of rebounds. Chandler gains our center spot this week on the back of two-20+ rebound games in the past week and a half of action. Averaging 13.3 rebounds and 9 points over the last seven days, Chandler has been solid without being hugely phenomenal on a consistent basis. However, what warrants Chandler’s selection this week is the fact that his Phoenix Suns come up against the Houston Rockets. Up against the improved Clint Capela, Chandler won’t be forced to leave the paint much in either offence and defence, and that’s where Capela spends most of his time on the floor. This certainly makes things more comfortable for Chandler, who also has the experience and strength to pull-in a heap of rebounds against the young Capela. While Chandler does carry some risk, back him in with confidence to perform.
The Line Up
PG: Kyrie Irving ($14,500)
PG: Reggie Jackson ($10,700)
SG: Eric Gordon ($9,100)
SG: Tim Hardaway Jr ($5,500)
SF: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($18,350)
SF: Trevor Ariza ($9,450)
PF: Paul Millsap ($13,450)
PF: Ryan Anderson ($9,600)
C: Tyson Chandler ($9,200)
Salary Remaining: $150
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 ESPN Channel 508 from midday AEDT for an exciting clash between Russell Westbrook’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and Anthony Davis’ Pelicans.