NBA $20,000 THURSDAY: TIPS & SELECTIONS
NBA Thursday features a 10 game slate with multiple big games between current playoff teams. The star of the card is a huge Eastern clash between the second place Raptors and third place Pacers.
Across the conferences, the Heat, sitting seventh in the East take on current west eight seed Clippers and fourth ranked Philadelphia host sixth placed San Antonio.
Rounding out the show, the Nuggets, still second out west, host the surging sixth place Jazz in a collision between two of the NBA’s best big men. The James Harden train is still in full flight, and he gets to showcase his wares on the grand stage of Madison Square Garden.
James Harden – SG/PG – $28,580
He only put up 37-6-3 last game. That is the point we have reached now with Harden where that is a disappointing line. He only put up 54.25 points in Draftstars last game, the only time he has dropped below 64 points in his last eight games, and one of only three times in that span he has dropped below 70. Harden is doing historical things, putting up stats and numbers that people will still be talking about a decade from now. Now he gets to put on a show, in New York, against the 28th worst defense in the league. Yes, he’s the most expensive player on the slate, but that’s because he’s probably getting a 40 point triple double here, AGAIN.
Marc Gasol – C – $14.060
With news coming out that the Grizzlies are open to offers for franchise cornerstones Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, we can expect to see Memphis ensure they are showcasing these talents as much as possible to attract potential suitors. Gasol has been quiet lately, particularly by his standards, but is still a legitimate double double threat averaging 15 points and 8.5 boards on the year. He also remains one of the best passing big men in the league, averaging 4.5 assists, and is good for at least one triple most nights. He gets a good match up here with Charlotte here who rank 20th in the league in rebound differential. He is listed as a GTD currently, so monitor his status before locking him in.
Kenneth Faried – PF/C – $8,240
Speaking of players on the move, the Manimal has made his way to Houston and instantly found himself logging 23 minutes for 13 points and six rebounds. Not a huge return, but encouraging for his first game on the Rockets. Before his move, Faried had been getting some more minutes and was producing, with back to back double doubles in games where he logged 27 and 28 minutes against stiff competition in Boston and Milwaukee. The Rockets are still short on bodies, hence the acquisition of Faried, so he should be logging even more minutes going forward with them.
Kevin Huerter – SG – $12,510
I have been beating the Huerter drum for some time now and will continue to do so. His price is rising, but he’s still in an appealing spot close to the 11k average. He continues to be a big minute eater, Taurean Prince has returned, whose minutes Huerter had been gobbling up, but Kent Bazemore remains out of action, and the Hawks have little reason to not get right behind the rookie. He has scored double digits in every game this year, and he’s averaging 19-4-3 with four triples in his last four games while regularly contributing steals as well. He gets a Bulls team that isn’t a pushover defensively, but certainly allows some opportunities particularly from deep where they are giving up the 23rd most triples per game in the league.
Treveon Graham – SF/SG – $5.950
Graham has been logging some big minutes for the Nets, playing 27 or more minutes in five straight games. That has produced some mixed results, a 21 point five rebound surge against the Rockets, but also a doughnut against the Celtics. Is he going to blow up for you? probably not, and he’s playing against a Magic team that is one of the tougher groups in the NBA, but for close to basement price, a guy who is logging close to 30 minutes and has proven he can drop 20 points in the league is a pretty good punt if you are scraping the barrel.
Enter the NBA $20,000 Thursday 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