NBA $15,000 SATURDAY: TIPS & SELECTIONS
NBA Saturday this week features a 10 game slate, highlighted by a huge inter-conference clash as the Raptors visit Houston to take on the Rockets.
In the East, Giannis and the conference leading Bucks host the seventh ranked Hornets.
In the West, two of the league’s premier big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert clash in an offense vs defense throwdown.
There is $15,000 up for grabs in the Saturday jackpot tournament.
James Harden – SG/PG – $29.030
Coming off his lowest Draftstars score since December 12, which was still a huge 54.25, the Beard bounced back for a new career high with 61 points with 15 rebounds. The result was 94.25 points in Draftstars, his highest output of the year. For some perspective, the 54.25 Draftstars points he put up the game prior is what fellow MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo averages. Sure, that last game came against New York, and Harden has a much tougher game here against Toronto, but he has run riot against the top teams in the league too. Chris Paul is expected back shortly, this might be the last we see of Harden not needing to share the ball with CP3, he’s going to be jacking it up all night again.
Marc Gasol – C – $14,350
With news out that the Grizzlies are now open to offers for Marc Gasol, we tipped the big Spaniard to have a big showing with Memphis wanting to showcase their longtime cornerstone. Gasol delivered in spades, stuff the stat sheet with a 22-17-10 triple double in 39 minutes. This was the second straight game that Gasol has put up 22 points. The logic remains here, if the Grizzlies want a good return, they need to ensure he’s getting plenty of opportunities to maximize his value, and it’s in Gasol’s best interests to elevate his game here as well. He gets a juicy match up here against a Sacramento team that gives up the 27th most points in the league and has the 26th worst rebounding differential.
Dragan Bender – PF/C – $6,440
In the absence of DeAndre Ayton and Richaun Holmes, the Croatian big man has found himself logging good minutes and really making the most of them. In his last three games, he is averaging 29 minutes, 14 points, and just under eight rebounds. He has posted a double double in two out of those three games. He gets a very tough task here dealing with one of the leagues toughest defenses in the Denver Nuggets and star big man Nikola Jokic. But for this price, and a certainty for big minutes with Ayton and Holmes still out, he is a great cheap option.
Will Barton – SG/SF – $9,670
Barton has found himself spending much more time on the court recently, playing 21 minutes or more in his last three, including just under 30 minutes in his last game. He rewarded coach Michael Malone with a 22-9-5 showing against the Jazz in his last outing. Barton has shown some really strong play at times in this recent stretch, and coming off that last performance we can expect him to get further opportunities here, but this time against a Phoenix defense ranked 26th in the NBA.
Shabazz Napier – PG – $6,900
With Spencer Dinwiddie looking set to face a long stint on the sidelines due to a thumb injury, Napier figures to be one of the primary benefactors when it comes to filling the 30 minute void Dinwiddie’s loss now creates. Napier has been pretty reliable for around 10 points a game in the limited minutes he has been getting through the year so far, and with Dinwiddie joining an injury list that already includes Caris LeVert and Allen Crabbe he should have a lot more work to do. He gets a great chance to really make the most of these opportunities against the 28th ranked Knicks defense.
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