DraftKings, your paradise of DFS nirvana, has done it again with a new contest called NBA Starting 5. 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.
For Monday’s Starting 5 slate, there are 11 games.
DEN, HOU and IND are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Joel Embiid is in. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Trae Young, Brandon Miller, Keyonte George, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Draymond Green, Josh Giddey, Bilal Coulibaly, Moses Moody, Cody Williams, Sam Merrill, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Suggs, Gary Harris, Ricky Council IV, Dalano Banton, Kyle Filipowski and Sam Hauser are questionable. Damian Lillard is doubtful. Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon and Moritz Wagner are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorites: CLE -14.5 over UTA and OKC -18.5 over WAS. BOS is -9.5 over ORL and DAL is -9.5 over POR. There is only one game within three points: MIL -1.5 over CHI. There are three games with a total of at least 230: UTA/CLE (230.5), MIL/CHI (238) and LAC/MEM (234). There are two games with a total below 220: BOS/ORL (216.5) and BKN/MIA (214.5). Log into DK Sportsbook for the updates.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $6K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
I do like Scottie Barnes against the Knicks with RJ Barrett sidelined, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is too enticing, especially since the Wizards are fourth in pace and 29th in defensive efficiency. There is risk of a blowout for sure, as DK Sportsbook has OKC favored by 18.5 points, but Gilgeous-Alexander will have likely had a big hand if that happens. Earlier in December, the Thunder won by 35 and 27 points. Gilgeous-Alexander only played 30 minutes in both contests but still produced at least 50 FPTS in each.
Shooting Guard
I don’t like this position tonight. I will side with Dyson Daniels since Trae Young is questionable. Daniels had a 20 percent usage rate last game without Young and finished with 40.75 FPTS. Even if Young does play, Daniels is such a menace on defense that he could still get there. It’s just that the added offensive boost is nice.
Small Forward
Norman Powell has stepped up big time this season with Paul George taking his talents to Philadelphia and Kawhi Leonard unable to suit up yet. He’s especially been en fuego recently, scoring 28, 29 and 29 points in the last three games, translating to 42.25, 52.25 and 39.5 FPTS. He’s played 42 and 38 minutes in the two most recent contests. The Grizzlies are one of the best defensive teams, but the volume and playing time are too much to ignore.
Power Forward
It’s either Giannis Antetokounmpo or Bobby Portis. Antetokounmpo is questionable after missing the last game against Washington, but if he plays, you start him. Don’t get cute. If he’s out, play Portis, as he put up 70 FPTS in the game Antetokounmpo missed. Both Washington and Chicago are similar in that they both play fast and view defense as optional.
Center
The center position is stacked and there are many paths to traverse. I will go with the guy that can put up 40 points and 10 blocks while dishing out five dimes. His name is Victor Wembanyama.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $6K 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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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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.
