NBA | Games to Target | 11/18/17

Written by Justin Macmahan – CEO on November 18, 2017

Today’s 11 game slate has a ton of options available, and we suggest that you key in on 4 games in particular.

Golden State @ Philadelphia
The surging Golden State Warriors will be visiting the Philadelphia 76ers in what figures to be a good matchup. The game has the highest over under on the slate (current set at 232.5) and the warriors are 8-point favorites. The play style of the warriors generally starts slow and then picks up as the game progresses, and we believe that the risk of a blowout is slim. Joel Embiid is coming off a career game and will now get the Warriors, who rank 24th vs. the center position by DvP, and 27th vs the Power Forward position. Because of this, we suggest that you key in on Ben Simmons (FDraft: $10,200 DK: $9,300 FDuel: $9,700), Joel Embiid (FDraft: $19,500 DK: $10,000 FDuel: $11,000), Dario Saric (FDraft: $8,400 DK: $4,500 FDuel: $4,600), and Robert Covington (FDraft: $12,000 DK: $6,300 FDuel: $6,700). Simmons, Embiid, and Saric will likely see plenty of time at the PF and C positions, and Covington should get a minutes bump due to his defense and Kevin Durant on the opposing side of the ball.

Houston @ Memphis
This game carries a 213.5 over/under, and aside from Tyreke Evans (Must-Have), we believe that there is one other person that you should target in your lineups: Mario Chalmers (FDraft: $7,800 DK: $4,100 FDuel: $3,900). This year, in games without Mike Conley, Mario Chalmers has averaged .85 fantasy points per minute (FPPM), and we do not see that changing. Chalmers will see limited time in his matchup against Chris Paul, (due to injury), and should not have a problem sustaining the .85 FPPM clip. We believe that Chalmers will easily be able to hit value in what figures to be a pace up matchup for Memphis. At 30 minutes, we would expect him to reach approximately 25 fantasy points.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Charlotte
The Clippers will visit the Hornets, and this game has the potential to change the slate substantially, as Kemba Walker is currently set to play through a wrist injury. It is difficult to trust Nick Batum here since he is coming off an injury, and we would most likely have to pivot to either Jeremy Lamb (FDraft: $10,300 DK: $5,100 FDuel: $4,600) or Malik Monk (FDraft: $6,800 DK: $3,600 FDuel: $3,700) if Walker were to get scratched at the last second. Malik Monk is priced cheap enough where he can smash value in Kemba’s absence. Malik Monk leads the team in minutes played with Kemba off the floor, at 170.6, and averages .85 FPPM. Monk has significant GPP appeal if Kemba were to be a late scratch. While that’s obviously not very likely, it’s important to be ready. Regardless of whether or not Kemba plays, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (FDraft: $7,500 DK: $4,000 FDuel: $5,200) is a terrific play on FantasyDraft and DraftKings, where he remains very underpriced for his upside.

Utah @ Orlando
Utah is another team that we recommend you target for tonight’s slate. Orlando is a poor defensive team and rank 25th vs the Power Forward position by DvP, and rank 26th and 17th vs. the point guard and shooting guard positions, respectively. It appears that the best way to attack the Magic is through the guards, which suits the play style of the Jazz well right now, given the absence of Gobert. Ricky Rubio (FDraft: $12,000 DK: $6,200 FDuel: $7,000), Donovan Mitchell (FDraft: $12,300 DK: $6,700 FDuel: $6,400), and Rodney Hood (FDraft: $10,800 DK: $5,500 FDuel: $5,700) are the main sources of offense for the Jazz, and are usage monsters, with usage rates of 26.1%, 30.5%, and 28.4%, respectively. With Rubio reportedly seeing limited minutes and Hood likely coming off the bench, our favorite play here is Mitchell.

If you have any questions about other players in these games, please ask us in the War Room!