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 six games.
BKN, MIA and PHI are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Anthony Davis, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Kyle Anderson, Gabe Vincent and AJ Green are questionable. Brandin Podziemski and Jerami Grant are out. Keep track of all the pertinent injury updates at DK Live.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is one double-digit favorite: MIL -13 over BKN. There are two games within 3 points: MIA -1.5 over IND and GS -1.5 over PHI. There are no games with a total of at least 230. There are two games with a total at or below 220: LAC/OKC (217.5) and BKN/MIL (218.5). Log into DK Sportsbook for updated lines.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA Starting 5 $8K Zone [$2K to 1st].
Point Guard
He’s buried at the bottom of the pool, but I’m going with Austin Reaves. The ownership should be miniscule compared to the other options at top. Something flipped three games ago for Reaves, as the usage rate, shot attempts and dimes have all spiked. That translated to 63.25, 58, and 60.5 FPTS. This run could be a mirage, but I’ll ride this wave until it crashes.
Shooting Guard
I hate this position. After meditating for a few hours, I’ve decided to go with Derrick White. While he will likely land in the 30 FPTS area, he has gone over 40 FPTS seven times with a high of 50 FPTS. The usage rate isn’t high, but White contributes across the board, providing a relatively high floor while showing the ability to access a ceiling if things break right.
Small Forward
Jimmy Butler is such an enigma. He can dominate on any given night, just like he did against Detroit a few weeks ago, putting up 88.75 FPTS. More often than not, though, he lets the game come to him and plays within the system. He recently missed five games due to an illness, but he’s playing on Wednesday and should be good for Thursday. The range of outcomes is wide with Butler, but Indiana is 24th in defensive efficiency and I’ll hunt for the upside.
Power Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo has a Q next to his name but he is officially listed as probable. He’s put up over 60 FPTS in the last two games, and in two earlier meetings against Brooklyn, finished with 51 and 61.75 FPTS. The Nets do not have anyone to stop Giannis when he gets into the paint.
Center
Speaking of range of outcomes, Deandre Ayton has gone for 26.5 and 52 FPTS in the last two games. How’s that for consistency? The last time he faced the Lakers back in early December, though, Ayton finished with 43.75 FPTS. He’s playing a ton of minutes and should deliver the fantasy goodies as long as he’s on the court.
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.
