NBA $50,000+ Thursday Lineup Tips

We have officially made it through the opening week of the NBA season. There has been no shortage of drama on and off the court, which is just the way we like it. There are a mouth-watering 10 matches being played today, with the highlights including Ben Simmons and his 76ers taking on the undefeated Rockets, Paul George’s Thunder taking on his old side, the Pacers as well as the Warriors hosting the Raptors. Tip-off is at 10.00am AEDT, and with $50,000 up for grabs, it is a perfect opportunity to get involved.

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

Point Guard

Ricky Rubio ($12,150)

Rubio was traded to the Jazz from the Timberwolves in the offseason and early indications are showing that it is a good fit. Rubio is a creative distributer, who thrives alongside a dominant big man, which he has with Rudy Gobert. The jazz come up against the Suns who are in freefall at the moment. Their coach has been sacked and best player Eric Bledsoe is about to be traded. Rubio should be able to dish out plenty of assists on his way to a big score.

Jose Calderon ($5,000)

With Derrick Rose most likely going to miss this game with his ankle injury, Calderon should be the starting Point Guard for the Cavaliers. Whilst LeBron will run the offense, Calderon should still get plenty of looks when James is sitting on the bench. There is also a strong possibility of a blowout victory in this game as well and Calderon leading the second unit when all the stars have been benched for the night. This pick is a little bit speculative, but to finish high on the leaderboard, your team needs to have a few good roughies.

Shooting Guard

Bradley Beal ($12,450)

Beal has started the season in a great manner, scoring plenty of points for the Wizards. Beal gets a great matchup against the Lakers who are not very strong defensively. This games should be shootout with Beal being one of the main beneficiaries. Look for him to put up plenty of points as the Wizards help themselves to an easy win.

J.R. Smith ($5,050)

With Dwayne Wade electing to start off the bench, Smith should see plenty of game time. Smith is a great 3 point shooter and he should get plenty of open looks against the Nets who are allergic to defense. Smith represents great value at his salary of $5,050 which will no doubt increase in the coming days as his game time increases.

Small Forward

Kevin Durant ($17,350)

Durant has taken a couple of games to warm up into this season, but he is starting to get to his usal high levels of scoring and efficiency. Durant posted 56.75 DS points against Memphis before putting up 47.5 DS points in just over three quarters against the Mavs. He is starting to find his groove and faces a good matchup against the Raptors. The match should be close enough for Durant to play his full quota of minutes, which is essential if you want your team at the top of the leaderboard.

Andrew Wiggins ($10,300)

Maple Jordan announced himself on the big stage against the Thunder, draining a huge buzzer beater to win the game. Many thought that with all of the acquisitions the Timberwolves had in the offseason would see Wiggins with a limited role in the offense, but that could not be further from the reality. Wiggins has been an integral part, outplaying Jimmy butler so far this season. Look for Wiggins to continue his strong form against the Pistons, who have really struggled so far this season.

Power Forward

Paul George ($13,150)

After five season with the Pacers, Paul George faces them for the first time with his new team. George will be fired up for this one. He has fitted in seamlessly into the Thunder offense, averaging 21 points per game so far this season. Whilst George’s usage has been reduced this season as he shares the court with Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, he is getting much better looks. Watch for George to make a statement against his old team.

Draymond Green ($12,000)

Green hasn’t had the best start to the season, which could be one of the reasons why Golden State have dropped two early games. Green might not be Golden State’s best player, however he is arguably their most important, so getting him back and in form is imperative. Green is not a heavy scorer, but grabs a lot of rebounds and creates a lot of opportunities for his teammates, meaning that he is a triple double threat in most matches.

Centre

Brook Lopez ($11,600)

Lopez was absolutely bullied in his last match against the Pelicans and their twin towers, but can bounce back in a big way against the Wizards. Lopez is a great shooter for a big man and should be able to grab a lot of rebounds against a serviceable, but limited Marcin Gortat. Lopez should be able to dictate terms and he is a great choice at his salary.

The Line Up

PG: Ricky Rubio ($12,150)

PG: Jose Calderon ($5,000)

SG: Bradley Beal ($12,450)

SG: J.R. Smith ($5,050)

SF: Kevin Durant ($17,350)

SF: Andrew Wiggins ($10,300)

PF: Paul George ($13,150)

PF: Draymond Green ($12,000)

C: Brook Lopez ($11,600)

Salary Remaining: $950