The NBA season is moving toward the postseason, but there’s still plenty of games to go before the final playoff spots are determined. Friday, February 5th, looks like a night full of great games. We’ve broken down some of the bigger games for you, complete with our daily fantasy basketball analysis for you, if you’re struggling to put together a roster.
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers have the better record going into this game, despite the turmoil that they’ve been going through on the coaching front. The last time these two teams saw each other, the Cavs won by 12 in an extremely low scoring game, and Vegas has given the edge to them once again. LeBron James is the biggest name in this game, but he might not be the best fantasy choice for this one. He’s the fifth ranked scorer in the game right now, but there are a handful of other forwards ranked above him, such as Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is the far better pick for this slot this night because of his other stats, too. James is likely to be expensive in every league you play in too, just because of his name. However, there are other players to choose from in this game. Look to both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love for consistent double digit points per game (each has more than 16), but superior strength in other categories, too.
Boston’s team has some strength, but there are likely not going to be any top tier positions to come from here. Still, that doesn’t mean that you will not find great value. If you can grab Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, or Avery Bradley for dirt cheap, they have potential to add to your team, especially against a vulnerable Cleveland. Thomas is the big name, but at point guard, there are likely going to be many ahead of him. However, Crowder and Bradley both are averaging 14 or more points per game, and their secondary stats are both competitive. They have a lot of added value, too.
Sacramento Kings at Brooklyn Nets
We’ve already mentioned DeMarcus Cousins, and if you have any doubts on why you should draft him over James, let’s settle them here. Cousins has more points per game than James (27.0 v. 24.9), he has more rebounds (11.3 v. 7.2) and the Nets have a far worse defensive team than the Celtics do. The Nets have a 12-37 record while Boston is standing above .500. The Kings are in a position to do far more damage than the Cavaliers will, and even though Cousins will be pricey, he’s worth it in this situation.
Rudy Gay is also a viable choice at forward. He has 18.4 points per game and 7.0 rebounds. That puts him at second on the team, but near the top of the list when it comes to other forwards. He’s a strong player, and against a weak team like the Nets, he could have a big night. If you can get him for a reasonable price, he’s worth adding to your roster.
It’s really not worth it to draft from Brooklyn, unless you are picking up Thaddeus Young as a secondary forward, or Brook Lopez as a cheap center to fill in some gaps.
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks
The Spurs are one of the strongest teams in the NBA right now with their 40-8 record. GF Kawhi Leonard is young, and he’s consistent in most stat categories. He leads the team with 19.8 points per game, and has been putting up 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists, too. LaMarcus Aldridge is also a strong pick at FC with his 16.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds. The Mavericks are decent, but not at the same level as SA with their just over .500 record. This is a game where the Spurs will show their strength and dominate, even though they are playing on the road.
