The Late Cut: NBA $5,000 Wednesday

NBA on Draftstars returns today with a small, but high quality day’s play. With only three matches to select your lineups from it is extra important to nail your selections. The highlight of the day’s play is Portland travelling to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder. The Trail Blazers should be fresh after their previous game was postponed. Draftstars will be running a $5,000 game for today’s play, with $750 going to first place. Tip-off is at a later than usual 12.00pm AEDT, so make sure you get your lineup in by then.

PLAY NOW

Here is a team you may consider for the NBA $5k+ Wednesday competition

Point Guard

John Wall ($20,250)

The super consistent Wall is preparing his team for a deep playoff run. Washington are currently the 3 seeds in the East, one game behind the second place Celtics, which means that every game is important from here on in. Wall has been playing at a high level so far in 2017, he has only dipped below 40 DS points on two occasions since the start of February (where he finished with 38.25 and 37.5 DS points). Wall should be able to dominate the Suns, hopefully the match is not a blowout and Wall plays his full allotment of minutes.

Yogi Ferrell ($9,850)

Yogi is a good option to include in your lineups for today’s play. There are many expensive PG options such as Westbrook, Wall, Lillard etc. Yogi comes in at about half of all of their salaries. He is up against the Lakers who are very poor defensively, so Yogi should get plenty of opportunities to shoot and dish out a few assists.

Shooting Guard

Devin Booker ($11,900)

Booker has been going through a bit of a form slump lately, which included posting his first night of single digits points since late December 2016. For the most part, Booker has been producing quite consistently for a young player, scoring over 20 points per game. Although he is coming up against the Wizards, he still should be able to have a good night.

Brandon Ingram ($7,200)

Much like most of his Laker teammates, Ingram can be quite inconsistent. Since the All Star break, Ingram has had three matches with over 23 DS points, but also a game with 8 DS poijts where he did not score a point in 26 minutes on court. Whilst Ingram can be poor, he is a good option at this price, because he is given plenty of minutes on the court.

Small Forward

Otto Porter ($12,050)

Porter has not been playing to the same high level as he was before the All Star break, but he is starting to work back into form. Porter has only recorded one match of above 40 DS points, but he should have every opportunity to do so against the Suns.

Wesley Matthews ($9,750)

After missing a week with a hip injury, Matthews returned in the Mavericks last match and did okay, finishing with 20.75 DS points. Matthews will be much better for the run and will be ready to resume his quality production here against the Lakers. Matthews was in great form before the break and was one of the main reason why the Mavericks went on a hot run.

Power Forward

Markieff Morris ($11,250)

Morris was under a slight injury cloud in his last match where he struggled to finish with 17.5 DS points. In his previous three matches, Morris was playing well, averaging a healthy 34 DS points. Morris is a good rebounder and scorer and should be able to do both with his fellow big man Marcin Gortat is a form slump.

Alan Williams ($5,550)

Williams has exploded onto the scene after the All Star break, getting regular court time and posting big scores. Williams is averaging 32.8 DS points over his last six matches, which is a return of approximately 6 points per thousand salary. That is double what you should consider a good score. Williams has been dominant crashing the boards and scoring in the paint. The only question mark is whether or not he will start.

Centre

Jusuf Nurkic ($10,250)

Nurkic has started life as a Blazer in brilliant form, providing them with rebounding and solid inside play, which they have been lacking all season. Nurkic is averaging over 35 DS points per game as a Blazer, which is about 3.5 points per thousand salary. He can easily continue his hot form against the Thunder who tend to struggle rebounding the ball against quality big men.

The Line Up

PG: John Wall ($20,250)

PG: Yogi Ferrell ($9,850)

SG: Devin Booker ($11,900)

SG: Brandon Ingram ($7,200)

SF: Otto Porter ($12,050)

SF: Wesley Matthews ($9,750)

PF: Markieff Moriss ($11,250)

PF: Alan Williams ($5,550)

C: Jusuf Nurkic ($10,250)

Salary Remaining: $1,950