NBA daily fantasy: February 22 picks
The NBA kicks off this week with a seven-game Monday, and daily fantasy owners everywhere are lusting after Anthony Davis’s production from 24 hours prior. In fact, we'll be awfully happy if we can find a player who can replicate half of Davis’s 59 points and 20 rebounds against Detroit.
PG: Isaiah Thomas ($8,100) @ MIN:Thomas has turned into a legitimate star this season, flourishing under the leadership of Brad Stevens. There’s a three-headed monster at the top of the position in Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry, but Thomas makes it easy to bypass those admittedly great options. The Timberwolves have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season, and this game features a robust 217 over/under.
Forgotten franchise: The demise of the Vancouver Grizzlies
SG: Devin Booker ($5,200) @ LAC:Booker hasn’t been especially productive in his two games since All-Star Weekend, but his role in Phoenix’s offense is unquestioned. Shooting guard is relatively thin compared with the four other positions, so it’s an ideal spot to find savings on Monday. There’s never anything wrong with paying just $5,200 for a player who can legitimately score 30 real points on any given night.
SF: Giannis Antetokuonmpo ($7,500) vs. LAL:Antetokuonmpo always had the ceiling that is inherent in a player with so much raw talent. What we’ve seen from him this year is the development of an identifiable production floor, a sure sign of him growing as a player. He has three straight double doubles, averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 37.7 fantasy points in that time. The Lakers, meanwhile, have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to small forwards this season.
PF: Julius Randle ($6,300) @ MIL:Monday is a joyous day in the daily fantasy basketball world because we can finally recommend Randle without having to include the, “but you never know with Byron Scott” qualifier. Scott said over the weekend that Randle would be his team’s starting power forward for the rest of the season, finally unleashing a player who is going to be a linchpin for the Lakers for years to come. He celebrated on Sunday by having one the best games of his young career, going for 22 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to Chicago. Milwaukee has surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points to power forwards this season.
C: DeAndre Jordan ($8,800) vs. PHO:No one ever loses by targeting Phoenix’s weak defense, especially with a player who is rolling like Jordan. Over his last 10 games, he has averaged 13.3 points, 17.8 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 42.1 fantasy points. Phoenix has been good against centers this season, but Tyson Chandler, the team’s best interior defender, is likely to miss the game with a shoulder injury.
