The NBA 2 game slate on Thursday night is just what I need to get refreshed for the 12 game slate that awaits on Friday night. I’ve broken down the action and have come up with the following guys that I think are worth rostering on Friday. I really would like to get the point out that these plays are up for discussion and would like to hear from some readers on twitter to discuss.

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Here we go…………………………………………….

THE ELITE STUDS

Kevin Durant is simply the best player in the NBA from a fantasy standpoint right now. He’s averaging 49 fantasy points per game and has ceiling that goes above 70 fantasy points.

Lebron James created a daily fantasy buzz for his game Wednesday with some comments he made in the press. He didn’t really live up to those comments from a fantasy standpoint with only his usual 45 fantasy points. I think after the loss on Wednesday and trip to Philly where they are giving up the most points in the league could be just what Lebron needs for the huge fantasy game.

Steph Curry is a guy I just can’t seem to ever go without mentioning in this section. He just has one of the highest ceilings of any fantasy player you can choose from and has a prime match up against Durant in which I expect him to show up big during.

Carmelo Anthony has been playing really well over the course of his last 5 games putting up 2 50 point fantasy games and one 48 fantasy point game. He’s playing an average of 39 minutes per game and will have to score to keep the Knicks in this one with the Clippers.

AVOID THESE STUDS
Kevin Love is coming off a pretty good game, but his price is so high right now you need him to produce 50 or more fantasy points on most sites. Toronto is playing really good basketball right now and allowing the 3rd least points per game this year. I think they find a way to slow him down.

Demarcus Cousins is matched up with Memphis and Marc Gasol is now back. Cousins price has gotten to a point it is higher than Lebron and Love on some sites and it will be tough to reach value with this match up. There are better options when paying up on Friday.

NOW ONTO THE REST OF THE PLAYS

Ty Lawson is coming off back to back 40 or more point fantasy games and now gets a match up with Kyrie Irving. Irving has no interested playing defense at all and that should allow Lawson to continue his 40 points games. He’s averaging 35 fantasy points per game this year and should reach value in this contest.

Spencer Hawes is a name I sit and stared at for a few minutes before deciding yeah I’m writing this guy in for Friday. The Heat struggle to rebound and are 21st in defending the center positions. Hawes was able to put up 37 fantasy points the last time he faced the Heat and if he’s able to grab a few more rebounds he’s got an easy double double in this contest. Hawes also gets the match up at home where he is shooting 52% this year.

Demar Derozan and Kyle Lowry are both going to make great fantasy options on Friday as they take on the Timberwolves who are allowing 103 points per game over the last 10. I’m going to be looking more towards playing Derozan in this one as the Timberwolves play a fast pace game which will allow him to put up more shots. Derozan hasn’t finished below 35 fantasy points in any of his last 6 games.

Al Jefferson has gone over 20 real points in the last two games and finally is doing what many thought he would in Charlotte which is fill up stat sheets. He’s being let loose by the Bobcats as he’s playing close to 40 minutes per game and will draw a match up with Orlando who will have to attempt to stop him with Big Baby Davis. I’m thinking Jefferson could do big things on Friday night.

Brandon Jennings has been such a roller coaster when I’ve played him at times this year, but if you’ve watched Trey Burke try to play defense you will see why I like Jennings on Friday. The Pistons are well rested and Jennings can provide you with stats in just about all categories. You never know when Jennings might take the night off though, so I’d only use him in your GPP games.

Jared Sullinger is the guy I’m most likely going to target from Boston as the back court is going to be hard to figure out with Rondo back. The Lakers are giving up 113 points per game over the last 10 games. The return of Rondo will get Sully more shot options as I can see Rondo dishing it inside to him more often. Sully has had double-digit rebounds in the last 4 games and as long as he’s out of foul trouble I don’t see anyone on the Lakers stopping him.

AND THE VALUE GUYS TO FIT THE STUDS

Alec Burks is a guy I’ll be all over if Gordan Hayward sits out again on Friday. Burks has logged 38 minutes in each of the last two games in Hayward’s absence and has produced in both games. If he’s starting he’s going to get plenty of shots as he’s taken 17 and 19 shots in the last 2 which almost assures you he can hit value.

Wesley Johnson basically plays every useful minute right now for the Lakers and should see at least 38 minutes of action again on Friday. Johnson is the type of player that can contribute in just about every statistical category and right now while he’s getting around 12 shots per game he’s the ideal value guy.

Courtney Lee didn’t produce the value lines we were all hoping for on Wednesday, but I’m expecting him to bounce back on Friday. As long as Tony Allen doesn’t play he will see his 25 minutes of action. He just needs to get the shots falling early and we will see another of his 20 plus fantasy point games.

Josh McRoberts is like the little sidekick to the Big Al show in Charlotte, but with a match up against Orlando I can see both guys hitting value. McRoberts plays close to 30 minutes per game and has seen a decrease in price lately due to his lack of production. I think he bounces back in this contest and makes for a decent value play.

NOTES

The situation in Orlando is one we need to monitor as the day goes and the injury announcement for Affalo comes out. Affalo was supposed to return on Wednesday but was held out one more game. If he’s held out in this one I’m going to be all over Jameer Nelson and Victor Oladipo. The Bobcats do not defend the guard position well, but my best guess is Affalo is going to play which kills the value in these guys.
Rajon Rondo is going to be play on Friday for the Celtics, so I’m avoiding the Celtics back court till we see how this shakes out.

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