While most of the attention will be on NFL today, we still have a quality seven-game NBA slate for you to participate in on SuperDraft! This slate includes the top two MVP candidates right now in Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden. Both of which are listed at a 1x multiplier. Should you put these two in your lineups despite the low multiplier? We answer that question and more by breaking down the top picks for each multiplier tier.
Guards
1x-1.3x
James Harden (1x) Houston at Phoenix
So to answer our question that we posed, James Harden should definitely be in your lineup. It seemed impossible for Harden to top what he did last year when he averaged 36.1 points per game. Incredibly, he has done that this year so far averaging an obscene 38.5 points per game while also racking up 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
Despite the fact he has a multiplier of 1x he should be heavily considered every single night to be in your lineup. The consistency of high volume stats he puts up simply outweighs the fact that he is 1x. The times you should consider fading him is when he is playing a high quality defensive team. While the Phoenix Suns have improved defensively they still rank 17th in the NBA in defensive efficiency. This should be another night where Harden has a typical monster fantasy game.
1.35x-1.65x
Devin Booker (1.35x) Phoenix vs Houston
While Harden is an all-world offensive player, he is widely known as a below average defensive player. The man he will be tasked with guarding is one of the best scoring shooting guards in the league in Devin Booker. With Ricky Rubio as his backcourt mate this year, Booker’s fantasy value has dropped slightly. He is averaging 1.8 less points, 0.5 less assists and 0.2 less rebounds.
However, those numbers are still fantastic at 24.8 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. With this match-up against Harden and the Rockets he is poised for a big fantasy night. In their first match-up, Booker racked up 50.5 fantasy points which was his 5th highest of the season. He got there by putting up 35 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds. In this match-up, Booker is a steal at 1.35x.
1.7x-2x
Donte Divincenzo (1.75x) Milwaukee at New York
In the biggest game of the NBA to this point when the Lakers and Bucks squared off on Thursday, George Hill was the Milwaukee guard to take advantage of Eric Bledsoe’s absence. He scored 21 points in 27 minutes in the Bucks win. With Bledsoe still out, the Villanova product DiVincenzo will be the one to take advantage of the lowly Knicks.
With Bledsoe out, Divincenzo has gotten more of an opportunity playing in 27.1 minutes per game while averaging 33.9 fantasy points over his last three – a big jump from his season average of 21.7. With a match-up against the Knicks, you should expect him to have one of his highest minute games of the year. With this expected to be a one-sided game, the Bucks will have no inclination to play 33-year-old George Hill heavy minutes. It would make a ton of sense for this to be a game where DiVincenzo continues to flourish with his extended minutes.
Forwards
1x-1.3x
Giannis Antetokounmpo (1x) Milwaukee at New York
Like Harden, Giannis is a player you should almost never fade with the way he is playing right now even at 1x. He has followed up his MVP season with an even better season so far this year averaging 31.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.2 blocks and now 1.8 three-pointers per game. It has been said that Giannis with a three-pointer is the NBA’s worst nightmare and that is starting to come to life with him shooting 34% on five attempts per game.
He is averaging 61.7 fantasy points per game and it is reliable and consistent points every single night. Even if he has an off shooting night, he will get you the fantasy points with his athleticism and hustle. This shows up in the stat sheet with grabbing rebounds, steals and blocks. Facing a poor defensive team such as the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, Giannis should have another monster performance.
1.35x-1.65x
Tobias Harris (1.4x) Philadelphia vs. Washington
After a big letdown performance last night against the Luka-less Dallas Mavericks, the Sixers and Harris should be poised for a bounce-back performance at home vs the Wizards. Harris had his worst fantasy night of the whole season against the Mavs scoring just 11.5 fantasy points. This seems like a rare time where having a back to back is a good thing where there is an opportunity to quickly forget about a poor game.
There is not a better opponent for Harris to get than the Wizards. Washington is ranked dead last in the NBA in defensive efficiency allowing 114 points per 100 possessions. Harris, the last time he faced the Wizards, had his second-best fantasy game of the year scoring 49.75 fantasy points. Even after a brutal game on Friday, tonight is a night where you can bank on Harris giving you great value at 1.4x.
1.7x-2x
PJ Tucker (1.7x) Houston at Phoenix
Tucker has always been a player whose value went beyond the stat sheet with his defense and grit. However, this season at age 34, he is having his best statistical season averaging career highs in points (9.5) and rebounds (7.4). Even though those numbers still seem a little low, what makes him a nice value pick is his minutes. He is averaging a staggering 36 minutes per game which is tied for the eighth-most in the entire NBA.
Those minutes have given him opportunities to pop fantasy-wise this year. His three-point shooting can be hit or miss fantasy-wise as he only takes 4.7 per game, but what has been consistent is his rebounding. This month he has grabbed nine rebounds or more in seven of the nine games he has played in. With the Suns ranked 27th in the league in rebounding rate, this should be another game where he feasts on the boards. Combine that with a hot shooting night, he is a great pick at 1.7x.
Centers
1x-1.3x
Andre Drummond (1.1x) Detroit vs. Chicago
Speaking of rebounds, our top play at center tonight is the king of the boards in Andre Drummond. Drummond is leading the league in rebounds at 16.5 per game while also averaging 17.6 points, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.8 blocks. This career season for Drummond has made him one of the top fantasy centers in the league, averaging 51.3 fantasy points per game.
With this match-up against the Chicago Bulls, he is primed to have one of his best games of the year. The Bulls are ranked 28th in the league in rebounding rate as they have a weak rebounding front court of Wendell Carter and Lauri Markkanen. Drummond put up his third best fantasy performance of the season against the Bulls scoring 69.50 fantasy points on 11/1/19. Most of those points came from his 25 points and 24 rebounds. Drummond with a performance like this is a great value pick at 1.1x.
1.7x-2x
Lamarcus Aldridge (1.4x) San Antonio Los Angeles Clippers
It has been a down year for Aldridge and the Spurs. Aldridge’s points and rebounds per game have dropped down by 2.5 points and 1.8 rebounds respectively and the Spurs are 11-16. However, even though he has declined, the stat line of 18.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game is still very good value for a center at 1.4x.
This is more of a commentary on the other options in this tier at center which include Jonas Valanciunas (1.55x), Richaun Holmes (1.5x), Wendell Carter (1.6x) and Aron Baynes (1.65x). Aldridge has simply but up much better fantasy points than those guys all year and he has a favorable match-up against the Clippers. His 3rd best fantasy game of the season came against the Clippers on 11/29/19 scoring 52.5 fantasy points. His size advantage in the front court should allow him to put up big numbers in the points and rebounding categories.
1.7x-2x
Brandon Clarke (1.7x) Memphis vs Sacramento
The rookie out of Gonzaga has been a pleasant surprise for the Grizzlies this season. He is averaging 13 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while only playing in only 21 minutes per game. The minutes are what makes him a risky play but his recent performances give him great potential at 1.7x.
In two of his last four games, he has scored 25 and 27 points respectively which are his two highest point totals of the season. Against a below-average Kings’ defense (19th in defensive efficiency) picking Clarke at 1.7x is a good bet to make based on his recent play.
This article expresses the personal views of the writer and does not reflect the view(s) of SuperDraft in any way.
