DraftKings, your paradise of DFS nirvana, has done it again, with a new contest called NBA Starting 5. It’s so easy to play that my dad would have fun with it, and he barely knows how to text me.
You select one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward and one center.
There is no salary cap.
The only stipulation is that you must select players from at least two different teams.
That’s it. EZ PZ.
For Saturday’s slate, there are seven games.
As for injuries, Kawhi Leonard, Kristaps Porzingis, Malcolm Brogdon, Isaiah Hartenstein and Devin Vassell are out. Josh Richardson is questionable. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
DraftKings Sportsbook has BOS as the biggest favorite at 13.5 points over DET. There are three teams favored by at least nine points; CLE over was, MIN over TOR and OKC over CHI. There’s only one game with a total of at least 230: CLE/WAS (230) and DAL/PHO (233). The lowest total is the LAC/DEN game at 219.5. Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $10K Zone [$2K to 1st]
Point Guard
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best players in the league, as he stuffs the stat sheet. The usage rate is over 30%. This game has a total of 230 and the environment should be a good one, as the Bulls are tied for first in offensive pace and are 19th in defensive efficiency. On Thursday, SGA put up 58.75 FPTS. LaMelo Ball is en fuego right now, but he’s playing the second leg of a back-to-back and the Heat are usually one of the more methodical teams in the league.
Shooting Guard
Donovan Mitchell only played 29 minutes in the opener because of a blowout. He still put up 36 FPTS and garnered a usage rate of 33.6%. This game has a juicy total of 230 and the Wizards have been among the league leaders in pace over the last few seasons.
Small Forward
Through the first two games, Franz Wagner has gone for 41.5 and 46 FPTS. Wagner has garnered a usage rate of 28.3% on the season and is the bonafide number-two option behind Paolo Banchero. The Magic play the Grizzlies and the spread is only 1.5 points, so it should be a competitive affair with Wagner getting a full complement of minutes.
Power Forward
Paolo Banchero has a 27.5% usage rate through two games. He’s produced 38.5 and 58.8 FPTS. As mentioned in the Franz Wagner section, this should be a competitive affair so playing time shouldn’t be an issue. Many of the other games have heavy favorites, which could shave playing time off for some of the stars.
Center
Alperen Sengun went for 45 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, five steals and a block last season against the Spurs in a March game, with Victor Wembanyama on the court. Through two games this season, Sengun has put up 39.8 and 66 FPTS. This is his fourth season, and he’s already leveling up, adding a three-point shot to his game with improved free-throw shooting.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $10K Zone [$2K to 1st]
What is the DraftKings NBA Starting 5 Game Style?
- The Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 Game Style is a type of contest in which participants draft lineups by selecting one point guard, one shooting guard, one small forward, one power forward, and one center. NBA Starting 5 is scored the same way as classic NBA DFS contests.
Important Information:
- Fantasy Sports NBA Starting 5 contests require no salary cap balancing.
- NBA Starting 5 contests span multiple games, and Fantasy Sports participants must select athletes from at least two different teams.
- Participants will see all five positions on the draft screen, and must pick one athlete per position.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is sontzu) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
