NBA $50,000+ Thursday Lineup Tips

After a tasty entrée of two games on opening night, this is the big one. Everything we love about the NBA is back today with a huge 11 games to sink our teeth into. There are some cracking matchups today including Ben Simmons debut with the Wizards hosting the hyped-up 76ers, as well as the Celtics hosting the Bucks and the Spurs hosting the Timberwolves. There is a massive $50,000 up for grabs with $7,000 going to first place. Tip-off is at 10.00am AEDT, so make sure you get your lineups in by then.

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Here is a team you may consider for the NBA $50k+ Thursday competition

Point Guard

Jrue Holiday ($13,400)

With Rajon Rondo most likely going to miss the first month of the season, Holiday gets the job of leading this offense. With two of the best big men in the league to work with, Cousins and Davis, Holiday should be able to rack up plenty of assists as well as have lots of opportunities to knock down jumpers against the Grizzlies. When he is on song, Holiday is a lethal shooter, but he can be a little bit erratic at times. I expect him to be a good point of difference for today’s contest.

D’Angelo Russell ($12,100)

Russell has made the switch from the Lakers to the Nets in the offseason and he gets an opportunity to showcase his talents against the tanking Pacers. Whilst the Nets may not win much, they are a great team for Draftstars due to how high scoring their games are. Russell now has a bit more help than he had at the Lakers with a healthy Jeremy Lin playing a long side him. I think the Nets may surprise a few people this year and it will start with a win on opening night.

Shooting Guard

Avery Bradley ($12,250)

Another playing lining up with a new team (how crazy was the offseason), Bradley should expect to see a more positive role in the Pistons offence. He was used mainly last year as a shut-down player to compensate for Isaiah Thomas’ lack of defence. Bradley should be able to get more offensive looks which should translate into more DS points.

Allen Crabbe ($8,750)

Yet another new face, Crabbe has joined the Nets from the Trail Blazers. Crabbe will start for the Nets which means that he will get more court time than he did last season where he was mainly a bench player. Crabbe was very good in games where he played over 30 minutes last season, including scores of 44.25, 32.5 and 35.75 in his last three matches over 30 minutes. Crabbe’s elevation to the starting unit in a high scoring team makes his an excellent value pick.

Small Forward

Harrison Barnes ($12,250)

Barnes significantly improved his output last season after making the move from Golden State to Dallas. Barnes is now the main man there with the fading star Dirk Nowitzki expected to take more of a secondary role, so this could be the year we see Barnes explode. Barnes is a great outside shooter and should collect his fair share of rebounds and assists. The Mavericks are up against the Hawks who will most likely struggle this season after their two best players, Millsap and Howard, both left.

Robert Covington ($11,300)

There is a lot of hype around the 76ers this year with the unveiling of two number one overall picks, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz. However, the one I am really keen to play on opening night is Covington. RoCo is a great 3 point shooter as well as a great rebounder, something which the 76ers might lack when Simmons is playing on the perimeter. Covington should be able to clean up the glass and that is great for his fantasy production.

Power Forward

Rudy Gay ($12,100)

IRudy looks to be a good play in this matchup against the Timberwolves. With Kawhi Leonard under an injury cloud, Gay looks likely to start and should get considerable minutes. Gay was a fantasy jet last season before his injury when he was with the Kings and looks like he can pick up where he left off with the Spurs. Gay would be one of the favourites for sixth man of the year and he probably isn’t a good play if named to come off the bench, but if he starts he looks likely to score big.

Ryan Anderson ($9,000)

Anderson was one of the few Rockets not traded to the Clipper in the CP3 deal and he looks likely to flourish with all the focus being on the two all-star guards. Anderson loves shooting corner 3 pointers as well as cleaning up the glass, which bodes well for his production with the Rockets taking on the Kings, who are another fast paced team. Anderson looks like a good value pick.

Centre

Dewayne Dedmon ($8,750)

The big man has made the move from the Spurs to the Hawks and will slot into the spot left vacant by Dwayne Howard. Dedmon is an old school centre who thrives at rebounding and scoring in the paint. Cheap, starting centres are gold on Draftstars as they tend to consistently score well and it frees up money elsewhere in your salary cap to spend elsewhere. Look for this big guy to score 3-4 points per thousand dollars salary, which is a great foundation for your lineup.

The Line Up

PG: Jrue Holiday ($13,400)

PG: D’Angelo Russell ($12,100)

SG: Avery Bradley ($12,250)

SG: Allen Crabbe ($8,750)

SF: Harrison Barnes ($12,250)

SF: Robert Covington ($11,300)

PF: Rudy Gay ($12,100)

PF: Ryan Anderson ($9,000)

C: Dewayne Dedmon ($8,750)

Salary Remaining: $100