The Shot Dude: Award-Winning NBA Roles
Every movie, television, and stage performance has its stars and role players.
Same thing goes for an NBA team.
It's the assembly of your daily fantasy lineup using the correct combo of stars and role players that will bring home the dosh.
Your favorite Shot Dude is back with some hoopster help. Here's tonight's 11-game NBA slate, compliments of the Bovada data tool on our Home page:
I'll break this down into two sections: star players and role players, complete with positions and Fan Duel salaries so you can see how my winning team is constructed.
By the end of their performance here, your favorite Shot Dude might just have to prepare his acceptance speech to accept the award for the best fantasy lineup.
Star Players
Blake Griffin, LA Clippers (PF - $10,200) ... is a star I like to build most of my lineups around. Griffin ranks sixth in the NBA with an average of 19.4 shots per game. Since he's been shooting 58% from the field and 80% from the line, dude's my early season MVP. His fantasy stock is only heightened by tonight's opponent. Not only did Dallas play last night, but they have no defensive answer for the power forwards they face.
Damian Lillard, Portland (PG - $9300) ... has put up one great fantasy performance after the other so far this season. Dude ranks second in the league by taking 20.6 shots per game, which has resulted in a average of 27.5 points per game. Throw in 7.3 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal per game, and we have a complete player. An aging Tony Parker shouldn't slow Lillard down when the Spurs come to Portland tonight.
Paul George, Indiana (SF - $8900) ... is back. After missing last year due to injury, George has returned to rank tenth in the league with an average of 17.9 shots taken per game. You can virtually expect 24 points, 9 rebounds, 5 ,and 2 steals from George every time he takes the court. Tonight, the Pacers visit Boston, and the Celtics just played last night in Milwaukee.
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio (SF - $8300) ... has become the Spurs' biggest attraction. This stud averages 17.6 shots and 22.1 points per game, but it's all the other stat categories he fills that make his salary seem like a bargain. Leonard has scored over 30 fantasy points in 8 of his last 10 games and always sees ample court time because he's San Antonio's best defensive player.
Role Players
Ish Smith, New Orleans (PG - $5100) ... has been getting starter minutes due to Jrue Holiday's recovery from off-season surgery. Dude's taken advantage, with at least 25 fantasy points in 5 of his last 7 games. He even topped 40 fantasy points last game in just 27 minutes of action. Hard to beat that for only $5100.
Will Barton, Denver (SG - $4900) ... will play many minutes at home against a winded Milwaukee Bucks team, as the Nuggets could very well take the court with only 10 healthy players. In 7 of his last 10 games, Barton has been a fantasy point per minute player. For just $4900, I'll take the chance he does it again today.
Marcus Thornton, Houston (SG - $4500) ... might have a decreased role very soon but seems safe for tonight's game against the Nets. There's a chance that Terrence Jones and Patrick Beverly will be back -- check right before lineups lock to be sure -- but Thornton has been quite valuable in their absence. Dude's registered at least 20 fantasy points in 7 of the last 8 games he's played.
Dwight Powell, Dallas (PF - $4600) ... is a situational play for your favorite Shot Dude tonight. Even though he's been valuable in his minutes, Powell might very well get extended run tonight. Dallas is playing the second of back-to-back games and facing a Clippers team that should be far ahead by the 4th quarter. In the last seven games Powell has played at least 20 minutes, he's scored 23 fantasy points or more.
Dewayne Dedmon, Orlando (C - $4100) ... has a great chance to rack up a big fantasy night. He's playing starter minutes due to an injury to Nik Vucevic, and faces an exhausted Lakers team that played Miami last night. The Lakers interior defense has been bad vs. big men this season, and Dedmon has had at least 26 minutes and 20 fantasy points in 3 of his last 4 games.
I certainly hope that this mixture of stars and role players will help you write your own script for an award winning fantasy lineup.
Remember that on the court as in life, you can't score if you don't give it your best SHOT!
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