Merry Christmas! Posting Schedule for this Week

I’m not going to be doing much posting this week.  Everyone is off work and out of school and more family coming in later in the week, so I figured I’d just take the whole week off and come back strong January 2nd.  Hope you guys all have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.  See you next Tuesday.

NBA Probable Starting Lineups for Friday, December 21

Orlando @ Toronto
Magic:  J. Nelson, A. Afflalo, M. Harkless, (A. Nicholson/J. McRoberts), N. Vucevic
Raptors:  J. Calderon, D. DeRozan, M. Pietrus, E. Davis, J. Valanciunas

Glen Davis is out 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury.

 

Atlanta @ Philadelphia
Hawks:  J. Teague, K. Korver, D. Stevenson, J. Smith, A. Horford
Sixers:  J. Holiday, J. Richardson, E. Turner, T. Young, (K. Brown/L. Allen)

Evan Turner is a gametime decision.  Look for Dorell Wright to get the start if Turner can’t go.

Devin Harris is out.

 

Milwaukee @ Boston
Bucks:  B. Jennings, M. Ellis, M. Daniels, LRM aMoute, L. Sanders
Celtics:  R. Rondo, (C.Lee/J. Terry), P. Pierce, B. Bass, K. Perkins

 

Chicago @ New York
Bulls:  K. Hinrich, M. Belinelli, L. Deng, C. Boozer, J. Noah
Knicks:  R. Felton, J. Kidd, R. Brewer, C. Anthony, T. Chandler

 

Washington @ Detroit
Wizards:  (S. Livingston/J. Crawford), B. Beal, M. Webster, C. Singleton, E. Okafor
Pistons:  B. Knight, (K. Singler/R. Stuckey), T. Prince, G. Monroe, J. Maxiell

 

Indiana @ Cleveland
Pacers:  G. Hill, P. George, G. Green, D. West, R. Hibbert
Cavs:  K. Irving, D. Waiters, A. Gee, T. Thompson, (A. Varejao/T. Zeller)

Anderson Varejao missed his last game, so check his gametime status tonight.

 

Dallas @ Memphis
Mavs:  D. Collison, OJ Mayo, S. Marion, D. Jones, C. Kaman
Grizzlies:  M. Conley, T. Allen, R. Gay, Z. Randolph, M. Gasol

 

New Orleans @ San Antonio
Hornets:  G. Vasquez, A. Rivers, A. Aminu, (A. Davis/R. Anderson), R. Lopez
Spurs:  T. Parker, G. Neal, D. Green, T. Duncan, T. Splitter

 

Sacramento @ LA Clippers
Kings:  (I. Thomas/A. Brooks), (F. Garcia/M. Thornton), J. Salmons, J. Thompson, D. Cousins
Clippers:  C. Paul, (W. Green/J. Crawford), C. Butler, B. Griffin, D. Jordan

 

Charlotte @ Golden State
Bobcats:  K. Walker, G. Henderson, M. Kidd-Gilchrist, B. Mullens, B. Biyombo
Warriors:  S. Curry, K. Thompson, H. Barnes, D. Lee, F. Ezeli

Picks for Tonight’s $200,000 FanDuel Fantasy Basketball Championship Qualifier

It’s Friday, which means FanDuel is hosting their weekly qualifier for the $200,000 Fantasy Basketball Championship tonight.  I’ve looked through tonight’s games and put together a list of elite players who should have good games, as well as some bargain plays who might surprise with a good performance.  If you haven’t been playing this weekly tournament, you can SIGN UP FREE HERE.

 

Point Guard

Stephen Curry (GSW, $8000) – At home, against the Charlotte Bobcats, need I say more about this matchup?  Curry should have a big night.

George Hill (IND, $6700) – Hill is matched up on Kyrie Irving, who isn’t known for his defense.  Hill put up 30 FD points on the Cavs a couple weeks ago without Irving in the lineup and I’d expect that he will probably get close to that again tonight.

Jose Calderon (TOR, $4900) – Kyle Lowry continues to be sidelined with his triceps injury which leaves Calderon as the starter.  Calderon has been averaging nearly 30 FD points a game and has a nice matchup at home against a weak Magic squad.

 

Shooting Guard

DeMar DeRozan (TOR, $6400) – Toronto’s two primary scorers, Kyle Lowry and Andrea Bargnani, are out so the scoring load has fallen to DeRozan.  He should get somewhere between 15-20 shot attempts against the Magic at home, which is good potential for $6400.

Jordan Crawford (WAS, $6000) – The Wizards are without John Wall and AJ Price and have been giving Crawford plenty of run with the ball in his hands.  That should continue tonight in Detroit.

Alan Anderson (TOR, $3500) – The Raptors are loaded with good plays tonight and Anderson is another one.  He’s bargain basement price and seems to be scoring well going for 24, 18 and 16 points in his last three games.  If you want to load up on a couple of studs elsewhere on your roster, Anderson is a great cheap roster filler.

 

Small Forward

Carmelo Anthony (NYK, $9100) – He’s scored 30+ in four of his last five.  He’s a must start if you have the salary cap space.

Paul Pierce (BOS, $7500) – Pierce has been a little hit or miss lately, but he put up 40 in his last one and could be on a nice streak.  He’s also one of those guys that even when he’s not completely on, still puts up a good FanDuel score because he can contribute in so many categories.

J.R. Smith (NYK, $5600) – Smith went through a slump a couple weeks ago, but he’s been looking good lately scoring 15+ in his last 7 games.  That should continue tonight at home against a Bulls team running Kirk Hinrich and Marco Belinelli in the backcourt.

 

Power Forward

David Lee (GSW, $8800) – At home against the weakest interior in the league.  Matchups just don’t get any better than that.

Zach Randolph (MEM, $7900) – Randolph has a home matchup against the Mavs, who might be without Elton Brand and Brandan Wright.  Not sure if there is anyone that can stop Randolph tonight.

Ed Davis (TOR, $4500) – And back to Toronto we go.  Andrea Bargnani is out and Davis has been doing a great job filling in for him.  At $4600, he should easily be able to pick up enough stats to justify that salary.

 

Center

Marc Gasol (MEM, $7500) – Gasol has a great matchup at home against Chris Kaman.  Should be a good night for Gasol.

Greg Monroe (DET, $6800) – The Pistons have  home game against the weak interior of the Wizards.  Monroe should match up well against Chris Singleton, Kevin Seraphin and Emeka Okafor.

Nikola Vucevic (ORL, $5600) – Vucevic has been putting up nice double-doubles over the last couple of weeks and has a decent matchup against the Raptors who are dealing with injuries.

 

NBA Probable Starting Lineups for Wednesday, December 19

Posted 9:00 AM EST.  Check @FantasyNBADaily Twitter Feed on the homepage for lineup updates.

Detroit @ Toronto
Pistons:  B. Knight, K. Singler, T. Prince, G. Monroe, J. Maxiell
Raptors:  J. Calderon, D. DeRozan, M. Pietrus, E. Davis, J. Valanciunas

 

Brooklyn @ New York
Nets:  D. Williams, J. Johnson, G. Wallace, (R. Evans/K. Humphries), B. Lopez
Knicks:  R. Felton, J. Kidd, R. Brewer, C. Anthony, T. Chandler

Carmelo Anthony is a gametime decision.  Chris Copeland would likely pick up a start if Melo can’t go.

 

Washington @ Orlando
Wizards:  S. Livingston/J. Crawford, B. Beal, M. Webster, C. Singleton, E. Okafor
Magic:  J. Nelson, A. Afflalo, M. Harkless, G. Davis, N. Vucevic

 

Utah @ Indiana
Jazz:  Mo Williams, R. Foye, Ma. Williams, P. Millsap, A. Jefferson
Pacers:  G. Hill, P. George, L. Stephenson, D. West, R. Hibbert

 

Cleveland @ Boston
Cavs:  K. Irving, D. Waiters, A. Gee, T. Thompson, A. Varejao
Celtics:  R. Rondo, (C. Lee/J. Terry), P. Pierce, B. Bass, K. Garnett

 

Oklahoma City @ Atlanta
Thunder:  R. Westbrook, (T. Sefolosha/K. Martin), K. Durant, S. Ibaka, K. Perkins
Hawks:  J. Teague, K. Korver, D. Stevenson, J. Smith, A. Horford

Not sure about DeShawn Stevenson tonight, Hawks could go with Josh Smith at SF and start Zaza Pachulia at center.

 

Philadelphia @ Houston
Sixers:  J. Holiday, J. Richardson, E. Turner, T. Young, (K. Brown/L. Allen)
Rockets:  J. Lin, J. Harden, C. Parsons, M. Morris, O. Asik

Jrue Holiday is a gametime decision.

 

Charlotte @ Phoenix
Bobcats:  K. Walker, G. Henderson, M. Kidd-Gilchrist, B. Mullens, B. Biyombo
Suns:  G. Dragic, S. Brown, J. Dudley, (L. Scola/M. Morris), M. Gortat

 

Milwaukee @ Memphis
Bucks:  B. Jennings, M. Ellis, M. Daniels, LRM aMoute, L. Sanders
Grizzlies:  M. Conley, T. Allen, R. Gay, Z. Randolph, M. Gasol

 

Golden State @ Sacramento
Warriors:  S. Curry, K. Thompson, H. Barnes, D. Lee, (F. Ezeli/A. Biedrins)
Kings:  (I. Thomas/A. Brooks), T. Evans, J. Salmons, J. Thompson, D. Cousins

Tyreke Evans is a gametime decision.

 

New Orleans @ LA Clippers
Hornets:  G. Vasquez, A. Rivers, A. Aminu, (R. Anderson/A. Davis), R. Lopez
Clippers:  C. Paul, (W. Green/J. Crawford), C. Butler, B. Griffin, D. Jordan

Good luck on picking the starting SF for New Orleans as it changes nightly.

Fantasy Basketball Daily Injury Report for Wednesday, December 19

It was a fairly healthy night on Tuesday with just a few injuries being reported and just a handful of gametime decisions tonight.

Devin Harris (ATL) – Left Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury and didn’t return.

Daniel Gibson (CLE) – Sprained an ankle Tuesday night.

Anderson Varejao (CLE) – Suffered a knee contusion, but played through it.  Check his gametime status tonight.

Elton Brand (DAL) – Missed Tuesday with a groin injury.

Derek Fisher (DAL) – Suffered a right knee injury that the Mavs are calling a strained patellar tendon, and didn’t return to last night’s game.

Rodney Stuckey (DET) – Stuckey is a gametime decision tonight with back spasms.

Kenneth Faried (DEN) – Played through the flu and even vomited on the bench during the game.  Give the guy credit for playing sick, but keep an eye on the rest of the Nugget players to make sure it doesn’t spread to other teammates.

Patrick Patterson (HOU) – Doubtful Wednesday with a foot injury.

Steve Nash (LAL) – Nash is predicted to return Saturday.

Carmelo Anthony (NYK) – Gametime decision Wednesday with a sore ankle.

Raymond Felton (NYK) – Probable with bruises on both hands.

Anthony Davis (NOR) – Suffered a minor leg injury Tuesday, check his gametime status tonight.

Jrue Holiday (PHI) – Missed Tuesday with an ankle injury.  Gametime decision tonight.

Tyreke Evans (SAC) – Could be out for awhile with his knee problem.

John Wall (WAS) – I’m getting the feeling that Wall’s injury was a lot more serious than the Wizards were willing to admit.  Not sure if he’s going to see the court again this season.  BulletsForever.com had a great article on Wall’s injury information.