We’ve got a great Featured Champion Mode Slate at 10:00pm ET on TNT with the Knicks out in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers! Both teams are top 5 in defensive rating, so expect a hard fought battle. Which players should you depend on for your lineup? We’ve got the picks and projections you need below.
Before you enter your lineup, make sure to read our EXCLUSIVE tips on how to play NBA Champion mode HERE.
After looking at our picks, Enter our $15 multi-entry NBA Jump Shot contest with $5,000 in prizes ($1,000 to first)!
Low-Multiplier Lock
Anthony Davis (1.15x // 1.75x) – While high-multiplier players have high ceilings, they also tend to have low floors – because they either play few minutes or are or very low usage in the minutes they play. While uptempo games with blowout risk might support enough possessions and some added run for these deeper plays, this game possess neither of those properties. Both teams play slow & methodical and are good defensively – as reflected by the 211 game total & the 3-point spread that favors Los Angeles. With this in mind, taking some low-multiplier/high floor players will likely be a winning strategy. Davis emerges as the best low-multiplier option. With LeBron out AD will be the focal point of the Los Angeles offense and he adds a ton of value as a rebounder & defender. Lock in AD to your lineups, and he should be a strong consideration as your Champion (although we’d recommend being open to other Champion options as well).
High-Multiplier Consideration
Alex Caruso (2.25x // 3.85x) – Caruso does a little bit of everything, and he has been getting good minutes as of late, comfortably in the high 20s with a low 30s minutes ceiling. With James & Schroder out again, Caruso will likely serve as one of the core offensive cogs for LA behind Davis. Caruso rebounds, collects assists, and is a factor in the steals department, his 2.25x & 3.85x utility & champion multiplier are simply too high relative to his role for him to be overlooked. Caruso should be considered as both a Utility option & a Champion option.
Player to Fade
Andre Drummond (1.25x // 1.9x) – With Anthony Davis back from injury, Drummond’s fantasy relevance has taken a nose dive. With Davis out, Drummond was getting minutes in the high 20s and had a rebound rate centered in thee 20s. Now that Davis is back, Drummond is playing minutes in the low 20s and has nightly rebound rates centered in the teens. The role & efficiency for Drummond has come down but but his price has not, such that he shouldn’t be a part of your cash or tournament player pool.
This article expresses the personal views of the writer and does not reflect the view(s) of SuperDraft in any way.
Featured Image Source:Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY
