FanNation fantasy basketball picks for Monday, Feb. 9
Ready to show your friends you know more about the NBA than they do? FanNation's Basketball Throwdown fantasy basketball game is your best option. You pick a guard, forward and center who you think will exceed their fantasy projections. The scoring system takes into account points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals and turnovers. The team that out-performs its projections by the largest amount wins, so picking a lineup of Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Joakim Noah is no sure-fire path to victory. You can also bet anywhere from $1 to $500 on each night's matchup or play for free.
I'll give you my picks each day and a recap of yesterday's top performers so you can get bragging rights over your friends.
Sign up for tonight's Basketball Throwdown here.
Sunday's overachievers
Guard: Jordan Clarkson, Lakers, +24.2
While the Lakers were blown out by the Cavaliers on Sunday, Clarkson more than doubled his Basketball Throwdown projection. He scored a career-high 20 points and added six rebounds, four assists and three steals to finish with 39.2 points. In his last six games, Clarkson has averaged 15.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. With just a 15-point projection, Clarkson is a good fantasy option moving forward.
Forward: Luis Scola, Pacers, +16.3
Scola had a big game off the bench on Sunday to help the Pacers beat the Hornets. In just 26 minutes, he piled up 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists. The 34-year-old is averaging just 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds this season, but is still capable of a breakout game. The Pacers are two games out of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and will need Scola to play well to reach the playoffs.
Center: Al Jefferson, Hornets, +16.6
Jefferson nearly single-handedly carried the Hornets past the Pacers on Sunday. With Kemba Walker out of the lineup, Jefferson made 13 of 22 shots en route to 30 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and a block. While his minutes have been limited since he returned from a groin injury, Jefferson played 36 minutes against Indiana. As long as Walker is out, Jefferson should be the team's first option and consistently beat his projection.
Today's picks
Guard: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks vs. Nets, 8 p.m. ET
Antetokounmpo has beaten his projection in seven straight games, averaging 15.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 blocks while shooting 61.2 percent from the field. In his second season, Antetokounmpo has shown flashes of superstar potential, including a 25-point game against the Lakers last week and a 27-point game against the Rockets. The Nets don't have anyone who can match Antetokounmpo's size on the perimeter.
Forward: Chandler Parsons, Mavericks vs. Clippers 8:30 p.m. ET
Parson's statistics are down slightly from last season with the Rockets, but he has beaten his projection in three of his last four games while averaging 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals. With Blake Griffin out with an elbow injury, the Clippers are reeling and Parsons will have an advantage against whoever guards him.
Center: Brook Lopez, Nets at Bucks, 8 p.m. ET
Since returning from a back injury, Lopez has been a key factor for the Nets off the bench. He has beaten his projection in five of his last six games while averaging 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks on 52.8 percent shooting. The Bucks have size at all five positions, but don't have a big man to slow down Lopez on the block.
- Paul Palladino
