Fantasy Basketball Daily

Fantasy Basketball Daily Pre-Game Report for Monday, January 16

Jan 16, 2012 Blog

Alright guys, we’ve got games all day starting at 1:00 PM EST, so make sure you get your rosters in early.  I’m going to make a quick run through today’s games with the information that I have available this morning.  I don’t like days with early games because daily fantasy cash games lock rosters at the first game of the day and you really run the risk of news coming out later in the day regarding guys who might not play.  If you are going to enter early rosters, play smaller dollar amounts.  I’ll be updating player news in the Twitter Feed on the right hand side of the Homepage, so check that during the day.

Monday’s Daily Fantasy Tournament Schedule:

Fanduel $5000 NBA Slam – 1:00 PM EST, $25 Entry, Top 24 Teams Paid
Fanduel $1500 NBA Assist – 1:00 PM EST, $5 Single Entry, Top 36 Teams Paid
Fanduel $2000 NBA Shot – 1:00 PM EST, $2 Entry, Top 120 Teams Paid
Fanduel Two Player Head to Head Matches – 1:00 PM EST, $1 to $535 Entry

 

Monday’s NBA Schedule, Starting Lineups, Lines, Injuries and Sit/Start Picks

Orlando @ New York  OFF
ORL:  J. Nelson, JJ Redick, H. Turkoglu, R. Anderson, D. Howard
NYK:  I. Shumpert, M. Bibby, B. Walker, A. Stoudemire, T. Chandler

• Jason Richardson is dealing with a bone bruise and could miss this game.  JJ Redick will get the start if Richardson can’t go and makes a great daily cash game play.
• Carmelo Anthony is a gametime decision.  Bill Walker would get another start if Melo can’t go.
• Mike Bibby was given the minutes at SG in New York’s last game and the Knicks could stick with that lineup for a few games.  The move sent Landry Fields to the bench, and he should probably be on your fantasy bench as well.
• Season long league owners need to check your waiver wire to make sure Baron Davis isn’t still out there.  He’s scheduled to return in about two weeks and will get every opportunity to succeed.

 

Chicago (-4.5) @ Memphis   177.5 Total
CHI:  D. Rose, R. Brewer, L. Deng, C. Boozer, J. Noah
MEM:  M. Conley, (T. Allen/OJ Mayo), R. Gay, M. Speights/D. Cunningham, M. Gasol

• Derrick Rose hasn’t been slowed at all by his foot injury.  Get him back on your daily rosters.
• Rip Hamilton is a gametime decision, again.  Ronnie Brewer will start at SG.
• The Marreese Speights / Dante Cunningham timeshare at PF for the Grizz has been absolutely horrible.  Avoid them both.
• Marc Gasol has been picking up some extra rebounds and shots with Zach Randolph out and makes a great fantasy play.
• Joakim Noah may still be dealing with a thumb injury.  He’s been slumping pretty badly this season, so avoid him if possible.

 

Milwaukee @ Philadelphia (8.5)   186.5 Total
MIL:  B. Jennings, S. Jackson, C. Delfino, J. Leuer, A. Bogut
PHI: J. Holiday, (E. Turner/J. Meeks), A. Iguodala, E. Brand, S. Hawes

• Stephen Jackson has finally started looking like himself and appears safe to start using in daily cash games.
• Jon Leuer has picked up a couple of starts at PF for the Bucks, but be careful using him as his minutes are really risky.
• Andrew Bogut should return from his concussion injury.  I’d avoid him today just to make sure he’s actually healed and ready to play at a high level.
• Evan Turner is dealing with a  knee injury which limited him to just 13 minutes in his last game.  Check his gametime status and probably look for a better option.
• Spencer Hawes seems to still be limited by his back injury.  He’s only played 19 minutes each in his last two games after missing a game.  I’d avoid him until he works back up near 30 minutes.

 

Houston (-5.5) @ Washington    188.5 Total
HOU:  K. Lowry, K. Martin, C. Parsons, L. Scola, S. Dalembert
WAS:  J. Wall, N. Young, C. Singleton, T. Booker, J. McGee

• Kyle Lowry has turned into a fantasy stud and is worth every penny of his daily salary.  He’s going up against the horrible defense of John Wall.
• Andray Blatche is likely out again with his shoulder sprain.  Trevor Booker will get another start.
• Chris Singleton has been starting over Rashard Lewis and will probably continue to do so.  He’s not a very good daily fantasy play though.
• JaVale  McGee has been putting up some big lines and you have to give him a look against Samuel Dalembert, especially with the very reasonable salary.
• Chandler Parsons continues to start, but he doesn’t do enough to warrant a daily play.

 

Cleveland @ Charlotte (-2)    194 Total
CLE:  K. Irving, A. Parker, O. Casspi, A. Jamison, A. Varejao
CHA:  DJ Augustin, K. Walker, G. Henderson, T. Thomas, B. Mullens

• Antawn Jamison has a chance to put up a good line against Tyrus Thomas, who just refuses to get his act together on defense.
• Byron Mullens has taken over the starting center spot for the Bobcats and makes a great cheap salary daily play.
• The Bobcats moved to a three guard set in their last game starting DJ Augustin and Kemba Walker in the backcourt and Gerald Henderson at SF.  Walker probably benefits the most in this setup and becomes a great daily play if Paul Silas continues with this strategy.
• Kyrie Irving continues to impress at a reasonable salary.
• Boris Diaw’s 235 game starting streak was snapped, as he found himself on the bench to start the Bobcats last game.

 

Portland (-5.5) @ New Orleans   182 Total
POR:  R. Felton, W. Matthews, G. Wallace, L. Aldridge, K. Thomas
NOR:  J. Jack, M. Belinelli, (AF Aminu/T. Ariza), E. Okafor

• I actually have no idea who is going to get minutes for New Orleans.  DeJuan Summers got the start at PF last game and Carl Landry got the start the game before that.  Emeka Okafor, Jason Smith and Chris Kaman rotate at the coaches whim, which really makes choosing any of these guys for daily fantasy games nearly impossible.  Avoid them all, except for Jack and Belinelli.
• Jarrett Jack is quietly putting up some great stats and has a nice matchup against Raymond Felton.
• Raymond Felton left his last game with an undisclosed injury, so check his gametime status just to be sure it isn’t going to be an issue tonight.
• Nic Batum is a sneaky play tonight.  Marcus Camby will likely miss this game and the Blazers could slide LaMarcus Aldridge to center, move Gerald Wallace to PF and insert Batum at SF for some major minutes.

 

New Jersey @ LA Clippers OFF
NJN:  D. Williams, A. Morrow, M. Brooks, K. Humphries, M.Okur
LAC:  C. Paul, C. Billups, C. Butler, B. Griffin, D. Jordan

• Chris Paul injured his hamstring last game and could miss this one.  The Clippers really have a problem at PF because Mo Williams is dealing with an injury too.  I could see the Clips moving Chauncey Billups to PG and playing Randy Foye at SG.   But even if they do this, Billups is dealing with a sore back, so who knows if he’ll be able to log big minutes.
• Without Paul, the Clippers could look to give Blake Griffin more play inside, which could mean a monster line against Kris Humphries and Mehmet Okur.
• Mehmet Okur managed to log 30 minutes and seems to be almost fully recovered from his back problems.  He doesn’t have a great matchup in this one, but should definitely be back on your daily roster radar.
• The Nets have moved to a three guard set much like the Bobcats have done and the beneficiary will be MarShon Brooks.  He’s a primary scoring option for the Nets.

 

Toronto @ Atlanta (-10.5)   177.5 Total
TOR:  J. Calderon, D. DeRozan, (R. Butler/L. Kleiza), E. Davis, A. Johnson
ATL:  J. Teague, J. Johnson, M. Williams, J. Smith, Z. Pachulia

• Andrea Bargnani might miss Monday with a calf injury, check his gametime status.  Ed Davis should get the start.
• Zaza Pachulia will start at center for the injured Al Horford.
• Marvin Williams returned after missing a few games and should have decent fantasy value now that Al Horford is out.  Vlad Radmanovic returns to fantasy obscurity.
• Jeff Teague,  Joe Johnson and Josh Smith have all had big lines in the time the Hawks have played without Al Horford.  It will be interesting to see if this continues.
• Leandro Barbosa is a good play off the bench for Toronto.  He’s been putting up some good lines in his last 5 games.
• James Johnson is likely out with an ankle injury.

 

Oklahoma City (-2.5)  @ Boston   186.5
OKC:  R. Westbrook, J. Harden/T. Sefolosha, K. Durant, S. Ibaka, K. Perkins
BOS:  R. Rondo, R. Allen, P. Pierce, K. Garnett, (J. O’Neal/B. Bass)

• Jermaine O’Neal just isn’t cutting it at center.  The Celtics could start playing Kevin Garnett more at center, with Brandon Bass playing PF.  Keep an eye on this and if it looks like it’s going to happen, then move Brandon Bass up your rankings.
• I don’t like Thabo Sefolosha.  If it weren’t for him, James Harden would be a fantasy beast. 
• Russell Westbrook has been putting up some good lines but he runs into the great defenes of Rajon Rondo.  It might be best to go with another high priced option rather than playing Westbrook today.
• Kevin Garnett is dealing with an ankle problem, so check his gametime status.

 

Sacramento @ Minnesota  (-7)   194.5
SAC:  T. Evans, M. Thornton, J. Salmons, JJ Hickson, D. Cousins
MIN:  R. Rubio, L. Ridnour, D. Williams, K. Love, D. Milicic

• You just have to wonder how long it’s going to be before DeMarcus Cousins has a total meltdown, or legal troubles.  He had more controversy surrounding after his last game when he got into some type of confrontation with a photographer.  Nothing came out of it, but it just seems that trouble seems to find Cousins.   I’d look to seel high on him, now.
• Marcus Thornton returned from a thigh injury and logged 33 minutes.  He’s a good play against Luke Ridnour.
• Luke Ridnour moved into the starting lineup at SG along side Ricky Rubio and the lineup seemed to work pretty well.  Ridnour could actually be a useful fantasy asset if the Wolves keep the lineup.
• J.J. Hickson really had an opportunity to show the Kings something after the injury to Chuck Hayes, but he just hasn’t done much.  Look elsewhere for a PF play.
• Tyreke Evans will test the defense of Ricky Rubio.  Evans is very quick and could have a good game against Rubio.
• Ricky Rubio has the starting PG spot and he will not be giving it up anytime soon.  He’s a must start.

 

Dallas @ LA Lakers  (-4)  183.5 Total
DAL:  J. Kidd, D. West, S. Marion, D. Nowitzki, B. Haywood
LAL:  D. Fisher, K. Bryant, M. Barnes, P. Gasol, A. Bynum

• Steve Blake is out for about a month.  Derek Fisher will handle all the PG minutes, but isn’t a great daily play.
• Jason Kidd returned from his back injury and had a solid game.   The most impressive thing about it was 6 steals, which shows he’s able to move pretty well and play effective defense.   It looks safe to plug him back in your roster.
• Delonte West covered for Kidd at PG, but has now moved back to the starting SG spot.  Vince Carter is back on the bench where he belongs.  Jason Terry might also see a small reduction in minutes now that Kidd is back.
• Andrew Bynum should have a huge game against Brendan Haywood.