The Shot Dude: Wealthy Wednesday
There are always a few extra expenses to pay for this time of year.
Let's hope you've planned ahead, spent within your means, and got out of this month just fine.
Whether you're a planner or last-minute type, your favorite Shot Dude has some NBA player ideas to jump-start your fantasy lineup and hopefully make this a wealthy Wednesday.
There's a massive 13-game schedule today, which you can check out using the Bovada data tool located on our Home page. Here are seven of them:
There are nine players whom I like tonight, and I'll give a short reason why they stand out.
Our friends at FanDuel have tons of games to enter, head over there and try them out.
Point Guards
Reggie Jackson, Detroit ($7800) ... has a favorable matchup against the Hawks tonight. Atlanta ranks 19th in the NBA in defending opposing point guards, and I haven't been very impressed with Jeff Teague's defense throughout his career. Jackson not only ranks 17th in the league with an average of 16.8 shots a game but has scored 30 or more fantasy points in 7 of his last 10 games.
Tim Frazier, Portland ($3800) ... will be starting in place of Damian Lillard again tonight. All he did last game in the same role was score 12 points, adding 7 rebounds and 7 assists. It was easily Frazier's best fantasy night, ending up at almost eight times his value with 32 points. It'll be hard to match because Portland will have CJ McCollum returning from injury to share the scoring burden, but New Orleans is third-worst in defending point guards.
Shooting Guards
CJ McCollum, Portland ($7500) ... has stated he'll play tonight despite missing the last game with a set of sprained ankles. Without Lillard, McCollum will be Portland main source of scoring. Even with Lillard alongside him, dude has scored less than 33 fantasy points only twice in his last nine games. New Orleans ranks 24th in its defense of shooting guards this season.
Will Barton, Denver ($6400) ... has shown incredible improvement as this season has progressed. Dude's scoring average was just over 13 points per game through the first 19, but he's increased it to over 20 points and seven boards in his last nine games. Denver takes on Phoenix, whose defense against opposing shooting guards is 26th in the league.
Small Forwards
Paul George, Indiana ($9100) ... had just 22 fantasy points last game. So why am I recommending him? It's not only that he was being guarded by Kawhi Leonard -- whom many consider to be the best defender in the NBA -- last game, but also that many will see his sub-par performance and not pay up for him tonight. George shoots the ball 19 times per game. I think he'll have a huge bounce-back game against the Kings, which isn't only because this is the highest total on the board at 212 points, but also that Sacramento ranks 25th in defending shooting guards so far this season.
Nicolas Batum, Charlotte ($6900) ... has had a string of fantasy performances lately that resemble a yo-yo. That's been mostly due to illness and the tough defenses he's faced. Tonight, though, dude has a chance to be on the upswing when he squares off against Boston. Batum's better fantasy scores have come on his home floor, and that's where he will take on the Celtics, who are 23rd this season in their defense of small forwards.
Power Forwards
Anthony Davis, New Orleans ($10,400) ... had 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks the last time these two teams met. Tonight the Pelicans will host Portland and I cannot wait to see what Davis does for an encore. Davis puts up 17.5 shots per game on average. Some players just own other teams no matter what the matchup is. There are seven players listed on FanDuel at $10,000 or higher, and Davis is the one I want in my lineup.
Lavoy Allen, Indiana ($3600) ... is the kind of value player, along with Frazier, who can help you roster studs like Davis and George tonight. Allen only needs 18 fantasy points to make five times his value, which he's accomplished or approximated in 4 of his last 5 games. Plus, there are only three NBA teams that defend power forwards worse than Sacramento.
Center
Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City ($4800) ... just had an outstanding game against the Lakers, finishing with 19 points and 14 rebounds. That 40 point fantasy score was the highlight of Kanter's season so far and he will get a chance to match it tonight. Los Angeles is last in the NBA in defending centers and if you are afraid of a blowout, Kanter accomplished all his scoring in just 23 minutes last time against them.
Your favorite Shot Dude hopes your Wednesday is filled with health and wealth due to some fantasy NBA success.
Just like your favorite hoopsters, always give it your best shot!
You can follow me on twitter@fsofia8.