The Shot Dude: Fives are Wild
5 is a very important number, and we sometimes take it for granted.
For example, 5 is a prime number, the age at which many of us start school, and the number of fingers most of us have on each hand.
Your favorite Shot Dude has also noticed that five NBA teams have clinched a playoff spot and there are five games on tonight's schedule.
I've pinpointed more than five ballers to help you slam together a formidable fantasy squad. You can check out the matchups with the help of the Bovada data tool located on our Home page:
FanDuel has tons of fantasy games for you to join. Head over there and get in on a few of them when you're finished here.
Point Guards
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland ($7000) ... is coming off a 16-6-8 performance at the hands of the Bucks that rewarded his fantasy users with over 37 fantasy points. Since Brooklyn is currently 24th in the league against opposing point guards, I like Irving to be in the 31-33 fantasy points range tonight.
Toney Douglas, New Orleans ($5100) ... will get his eighth start for the Pelicans tonight due to Norris Cole's back injury. Dude's come up with at least 23 fantasy points in all but one of those starts and faces Indiana tonight. The Pacers defense is tough, but Douglas will see at least 30 minutes in this one. Put him down for 28-30 fantasy points.
Shooting Guards
Jrue Holiday, New Orleans ($8200) ... has been the other Pelican to carry the offensive load with the injuries to Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, and Norris Cole. Dude's scored 20 or more points in 7 of his last 10 games. Holiday is one of my five-star players tonight, and I think he goes off for 46-48 fantasy points.
Rodney Hood, Utah ($5300) ... has been a solid contributor for the Jazz by averaging over 14 points per game. Dude's been averaging over 23 fantasy points per game with a usage rate approaching 20. With Oklahoma City ranking 22nd against shooting guards this season, watch Hood score 24-26 fantasy points in this one.
Small Forwards
Carmelo Anthony, New York ($8700) ... always gets his minutes and points. Against Chicago, dude's got a chance to explode. Not only do the Bulls give up the sixth-highest total of fantasy points to the teams they play, but they also rank 26th in the league at defending small forwards. I will conservatively put Melo's fantasy score at 38-40 tonight.
Gordon Hayward, Utah ($6700) ... can shoot the lights out of any arena on any given night. In fact, dude just burned Houston last night for 22 points and a fantasy score over 47. I don't foresee a repeat of that, but a solid 32-34 fantasy point output is where Hayward should end up.
Power Forwards
Kevin Love, Cleveland ($6400) ... is another dude coming off a great game. Love enjoyed beating the Bucks for a double-double resulting in 44 fantasy points last night. Brooklyn ranks currently 21st in stopping power forwards, so watch Love easily get 29-31 fantasy points against them.
Kristaps Porzingis, New York ($5900) ... would get the rookie up-&-down award if there was such a thing. Two reasons he should have an up night are that the Bulls are the NBA's seventh-worst team at defending power forwards, and he scored just under 40 fantasy points against them last night. Dude should come back to earth with 30-32 fantasy points tonight.
Center
Robin Lopez, New York ($6000) ... has met or exceeded five times his fantasy value in 7 of his last 10 games, including a monster 51 fantasy point outburst against Sacramento four days ago. Lopez should eat when Chicago comes to town; this team is ranked 25th against centers. I put him in the 28-30 fantasy point range.
Your favorite Shot Dude hopes you score at least five more points than your opponent which will make you a winner.
Go outside and breathe in some fresh air today, and always give it your best shot!
You can follow me on twitter@fsofia8.