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 Thursday’s Starting 5 slate, there are eight games.
ATL, BOS, DAL, GSW, LAC, OKC and SAC are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Tyler Herro is probable. Franz Wagner, Deandre Ayton, Jeremy Sochan, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Toumani Camara, Anfernee Simons, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Jonathan Isaac, Keshad Johnson, Ochai Agbaji and Kris Murray are questionable. Goga Bitadze is doubtful. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are two double-digit favorites: OKC -10.5 over DAL and LAC -12.5 over WAS. There are no games within 3 points. There are three games with a total of at least 230: TOR/ATL (236), SAC/DEN (239.5) and CHI/GSW (231). There are two games with a total below 220: POR/ORL (209) and DAL/OKC (218.5). 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 has the best floor at the position and possibly the second-highest one behind Nikola Jokic. He doesn’t have the ceiling of Jokic, though, but not many do. SGA has put up at least 50 FPTS in 10 of the last 11 games. He didn’t make it a perfect 11-for-11 because the Thunder beat the Wizards by 41 points, so his services weren’t needed. He still finished with 44.75 FPTS in that one.
Shooting Guard
It’s been quite the transformation for Malik Monk. He used to be strictly a microwave off the bench. Now he’s starting, playing close to 40 minutes a night and dishing out dimes left and right while still showing that he’s a professional getter of buckets. He “only” put up 35.75 FPTS in the last game against Washington, but that’s mainly due to only playing 30 minutes due to a blowout. In the prior six games, he put up over 40 FPTS in all with a high of 59.75 FPTS.
Small Forward
Zach LaVine looks healthy and spry. Over the last 13 games, he’s put up over 40 FPTS in 11 of those contests with four over 50 and a high of 63.5 FPTS. The usage rate has been in the 28 to 31% range and Coby White is not expected to play on Thursday, so there’s a good chance he gets another game with a usage rate over 30%. Over the last 10 games, Golden State has been 26th in defensive rating.
Power Forward
The matchup isn’t great for LeBron James, as Boston has been ninth in defensive rating over the last 10 games. That said, James put up 55.75 FPTS against the Clippers two games ago and they have been second in defensive rating. Despite being 40 years old, James is still a threat to triple-double, something he accomplished in the most recent game, translating to 62 FPTS.
Center
Nikola Jokic is on the slate so you click on him. Easy game.
Jokic has the highest floor/ceiling combo, having failed to produce 50 FPTS only three times this season while going over 80 FPTS nine times with three of those over 90.
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.
