Tuesday’s NBA games have some nice looking matchups, especially for those looking to put together a solid daily fantasy basketball team. For the sake of helping you draft the best team possible, we’ve looked at some of the top matchups, and have posted our own analysis on them.
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
Despite the differences in record, these two teams are far closer in talent level than what first appears. On the season, these teams have each beaten the other once, and lost once. This should provide for a close game, with players on both sides trying to take the series edge away from the other. The Celtics have the advantage going into this because of their superior record, but even though the Knicks currently have a losing record, the Knicks should have a great outing. The first player that you should consider is, of course, forward Carmelo Anthony. As far as forwards go, Anthony is number four in the NBA right now when it comes to points per game. And while this doesn’t directly translate into fantasy points per game, Anthony has a high number of rebounds and assists, putting him more accurately in the top three when it comes to fantasy ability. Only Kevin Durant is scoring higher more consistently than Anthony, and he’s not playing on this night.
You should also consider Boston point guard Isaiah Thomas. In the PG category, he has the third highest number of points per game at 21.6. He is lacking in rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals, but if you don’t mind paying a little too much for his fantasy value, he will be a decent addition, especially if you have extra salary and are looking for high ceiling player that other fantasy managers will stay away from because of the variance associated with him.
Miami Heat at Houston Rockets
The Heat have had a rocky season, but this is another game where two big names are pretty evenly matched up. Guard Dwyane Wade of Miami is one of the big names in this game as he ranks in at number five in the NBA when it comes to points. He has more than 18 points per game, and his assist numbers and rebounds are just above average at his position. He was once one of the top players in the NBA, and even though his talent has declined, he’s still a good choice at this position, depending on his price. You may also want to consider Chris Bosh at center. He has more than 19 points per game, and ranks number three for all FCs in the NBA. His salary is likely to be high, but you’re not likely to find a better center on this night.
However, the big catch of this game in any fantasy league, DFS or not, will be James Harden. The GF for Houston, Harden leads the NBA for all guards in points scored per game, with 27.5 points. His other stats also lend to his fantasy value as he has more than 6 assists per game, and more than 6 rebounds, too. His only drawback is that he’s likely to be very expensive in any league. Harden will be the most expensive player on this night in most leagues, but if you can afford the cost, he’s likely to be worth the money as Miami’s defense is not quite at the level it once was and Harden is projected to have a strong night. So, even though he’s pricey, he is more than likely to contribute at a high level on February 2, 2016 to your team despite that, as long as you can make up value in other places with cheaper talent.
