Week 13 of the NBA season will kick off a bit earlier due to MLK day. Things are quickly ramping up in the East, with the once top-seeded Magic careening downward in the wake of their injuries down to the 7th seed with a 23-21 record and having lost seven out of their last 10 games. They’re now firmly entrenched in the play-in area alongside the Heat, Pistons, Hawks, and Pistons. There’s a sizable 4.5 game gap between these teams and the 10th seeded Bulls. We’re still curious whether the 15-26 76ers will be able to summon up the mid-season rally to leap back into a Play-In spot, but it seems unlikely with Joel Embiid’s continued struggles with his health.
In the West, the Nuggets have crept into the top four, having won seven out of their last 10 games. The jockeying for a Play-In spot in this conference remains as competitive as ever. I would only discount the bottom feeder teams such as the Jazz, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers. Every other team in the West has a shot to make the Playoffs.
And yes, we’re all eagerly waiting to see what develops with Jimmy Butler, who’s interestingly rejoined the Heat after suspension and is playing despite all the drama.
We’re shooting the Three Lists of Threes today for your weekly dose of fantasy tips: Buy-lows, sell-highs, and streams.
Here are some buy-lows we can consider.
Buy ’em
Paolo Banchero, SF/PF, Orlando Magic
The budding star’s been in a bit of a rut since returning from his oblique injury. Over his past five games, Banchero is shooting poorly at just 42.4% from the field and 75% from the line. His free throw shooting has never been good, but typically his contributions in other areas make up for this. He’s ranked 122 in these last five games and has plenty of room to bounce back, especially as he ramps up following his injury. With the Magic currently sliding, they’ll continue to lean heavily on Banchero to carry their offense while they wait for their other key contributors to rejoin the team.
Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
Morant’s been dealing with some injury issues this season. We look at Morant’s flashy plays and dunk attempts and assume that he’s been himself, but he’s not. His averages are down across the board in points, assists, rebounds, and FG% compared to last season. He’s only playing 28 minutes per game. Despite his individual play declining, the Grizzlies are still third in the West, just one game ahead of the fourth seeded Nuggets. Morant will be instrumental to the Grizzlies’ attempt to hold onto their spot in a tough Western conference, and there’s plenty of room for Morant to bounce back as he gains some rhythm.
Nic Claxton, C, Brooklyn Nets
It’s been a pitiful year for the Brooklyn Nets, whose misery has no end in sight. They’ve traded Dennis Schroder for D’Angelo Russell, but this is not the fun Atkinson Nets team of old.
Claxton’s inability to create his own shot will always hamper his offensive output. When Claxton’s FG% was sky-high, it was because he had others to set up his easy buckets and draw defensive attention away from him. This season, Claxton’s minutes have plummeted to 26.2 and his points production down to single digits. His blocks have halved.
It’s dire, but I’m not giving up on Claxton yet. He’s only 25 so I’m not concerned about the Nets pulling the plug on him at any point. My expectations aren’t high, but if you can get him cheaply, I think it’s a wise investment.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user 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
