The Shot Dude: Avoid the Bricks
No one likes to put up a brick.
All you have is just an ugly ball that often makes a loud clanging noise on the rim.
Your favorite Shot Dude was once told to go build a house by collecting all his bricks during an off-shooting night.
There will be no insults flung today, only ballers I think will avoid bricks and bring your fantasy team success during today's lucky-seven slate of NBA goodness.
Our focus here will be on the evening games, but you can check out all the matchups -- the Wizards and Cavaliers are already in the books; since LeBron took it off, so did we -- with the help of the Bovada data tool located on our Home page:
FanDuel never produces anything ugly, only fine fantasy games for you to enter. Give them the once-over after you're done here.
Point Guards
Goran Dragić, Miami ($6300) ... has strung together five great games, with four of them resulting in 33 fantasy points or higher. Dude doesn't have the highest usage rate at 17.5, but he'll take on the New York Knicks tonight, the team that ranks 19th in defending point guards. I like Dragić for 29-31 fantasy points in this one.
Reggie Jackson, Detroit ($6700) ... has been at 35 fantasy points or higher in 3 of his last 4 contests. I love that Jackson's 16 shots-per-game average ranks within the NBA's top 25 and his usage rate is almost 26. Toronto is tough defensively, but given that Jackson touches the ball so much, I have him at 31-33 fantasy points today.
Shooting Guards
Dwyane Wade, Miami ($7500) ... falls in a few spots higher than Jackson by averaging 16.2 shots a game. Dude has an eight-game streak of at least 16 points and 3 assists in each. Since Wade's usage rate is 27, he averages more than a fantasy point per minute, and the Knicks are just average defensively against shooting guards, I forecast 36-38 fantasy points for him.
DeMar DeRozen, Toronto ($7700) ... ranks just outside the NBA's top ten with the 17.6 shots he averages per game. This has resulted in DeRozen averaging over 35 fantasy points per game and a usage rate of 25.8. Toronto has an impressive home record of 21-6 and will take on a pooped Detroit team that played last night in Milwaukee. Put DeRozen down for 37-39 fantasy points.
Small Forwards
Marcus Morris, Detroit ($5400) ... has played quite consistently with at least 32 minutes in 10 straight games and meeting or exceeding five times his fantasy value in seven of them. Back on 8 February, dude torched Toronto for 34 fantasy points. Although today may very well be different, I still see Morris in the 26-28 fantasy point range.
Carmelo Anthony, New York ($9000) ... is the only player for whom I feel it's worth spending top dollar today. Dude is currently 12th in the league in average shots per game with 17.8. Anthony has scored 40 fantasy points or more in 6 of his last 8 games, and has averaged greater than a fantasy point per minute this season. He'll do it again with 40-42 fantasy points against Miami.
Power Forwards
Myles Turner, Indiana ($5600) ... has now scored double-digits in nine consecutive games. The Pacers' home game against Portland has a nice total of 212 points and a close 4½-point spread. With Turner scoring almost a fantasy point per minute, and Portland ranking 20th in defense against power forwards, look for a 27-29 fantasy point effort here.
Kristaps Porzingis, New York ($6400) ... is only worth taking a shot on today if you're a risk taker. Porzingis turned in six great fantasy performances and four poor ones in his last 10 outings. He is an inconsistent rookie and boom-or-bust type fantasy option that's capable of a double-double against any team. I'm gambling Porzingis rewards us today on his home court with 30-32 fantasy points.
Center
ZaZa Pachulia, Dallas ($5300) ... had a stat line to disregard from his last game. Dallas played Denver, a team that installed a small lineup strategy and only played their own center 11 minutes. As a result, Pachulia only played eight minutes himself. Most fantasy players will look at this and figure he is injured or at odds with his coach. Neither are true, so get ahead of everyone else and benefit when Pachulia turns in a 26-28 point fantasy output today.
Your favorite Shot Dude hopes there are on bricks in your fantasy game future, and you end up a winner.
Always treat others the way you would like to be treated and give it your best shot!
You can follow me on twitter@fsofia8.