Tonight’s Top NBA PICKS 2/23

Ricky Rubio- PG- Minnesota Wolves - $11,500

Slick Rick has looked amazing since coming back from his ankle injury, his past 2 games he’s averaged 14 pts, 2.5 steals, 9.5 assists, and 8.5 rebounds.  He is putting up Curry numbers at a Jarrett Jack/Tony Parker price.  He squares off against Patrick Beverley tonight, who has seen his Defense decline the past month.  I used to hate to start PG’s against Beverley, but he has been pretty mediocre.  With Mo Williams and Thad Young no longer with the team, a good portion of the scoring and stats will come from Rubio who looks like he did 2 years ago.

Deron Williams- PG- Brooklyn Nets- $10,800

Williams will be the starting PG tonight because Jarrett Jack has already been ruled out due to injury.  The Nets get Denver tonight, who are one of the worst defensive squads in the NBA.  Ty Lawson can be a beast, but hates defense, and currently hates his coach which doesn’t really up his motivation.  Williams has played Denver 22 times in his career, his AVERAGE is: 18.5 pts, 10 assists, 1 steal, 3 rebounds.  What else is there to say……………if you don’t have him in your lineup tonight at this price, you might be an idiot.

Matt Barnes- SF- LA Clippers- $8,800

Just like every other night this year, SF is the toughest spot to pick.  I’m going to go with a somewhat cheapy in Barnes.  I’m not promising an All-Start performance from him tonight, but for $8800, I think he will get the job done.  His usage % has gone up since Blake Griffin got injured, and I like his matchup tonight against Jeff Green.  I think he fills up the sheet just enough tonight to make him a “Nice Play”.  Just hope his mouth doesn’t get him in Technical Foul trouble.  He is a decent player, and a talented kid, but a bit of a clown.

Pau Gasol- PF- Chicago Bulls- $18,700

He is expensive, I know, but worth it tonight.  Last time Gasol played Milwaukee it looked like this:  46 points, 1 steal, 3 assisits, and 18 rebounds.   His pricetag could be $22,000 and he would be worth it with those stats.  The bucks are messy at PF,  and can’t seem to stop anybody, especially not a stud like Gasol.  Another reason to like him tonight:  Taj Gibson is out with an injury, Pau will get all the minutes he can handle.  If you are going to anchor your team tonight around one high priced guy, Gasol is the man.

 

Hassan Whiteside- Center- Miami Heat- $12,700

Whiteside is a monster!!  He is by far one of the most exciting young players in the NBA to watch.  He has the talent and ability to put up stupid stat lines, he is one of the only guys that on a good night can give you 20 points and 20 rebounds.  He plays The 76ers tonight, and if you’re curious how well The 76ers do against a rebounding Center, just look what Vucevic did to them last night.  Bosh is done for the season, leaving Heat with no real big man except Whiteside.  The only big guy, playing against a team that sucks against big guy’s, makes Whiteside a no brainer for tonight.  I like paring him up with D Wade too for a nice combo play.  (Side Note: if you want to go cheap tonight with a Center, ALEX LEN might return serious value at a small price tag)

Tonights Top DraftDemons NBA Picks

PG- Derrick Rose- $13,100

Derrick Rose has averaged 37 MPG, 9 assists, and 2 steals over the past 3 games.  His minute restriction has been lifted, and he looks like Derrick Rose of old.  Tonight, he goes up against SPENCER DINWIDDLE !!  THE SPENCER DINWIDDLEE!!!  Is it possible to have a better matchup?  No, it is not possible.  Detroit is a MESS, and my only fear is that Rose plays 25 minutes due to a complete ass-beating by The Bulls.  If he plays close to 30 mins, hes looking at double digit assists and 25 plus points.

 

PG -George Hill- $10.300

I should just copy and paste the above paragraph.  Same exact scenario.  Hill has no minute restriction, and faces The 76ers tonight and THE ISSIAH CAANAN.  I have more faith in the 76ers offense than most do, and I don’t see a blowout here, I think Hill is a “SAFER” play compared Rose because of the minutes and hes 3 K cheaper.  His price is going to jump soon, play him for short money while you still can.

 

SG- Kevin Martin- $10,100

Martin has been on fire since returning from his wrist injury that held him out for almost half the season.  With Dragic being sent packing, the Suns will be shorthanded tonight due to the fact that newly acquired Brandon Knight won’t suit up.  Gerald Green will guard Kevin Martin tonight and will have his hands full with Martin’s shooting capabilities.  5 or 6 three pointers and and 30 points plus is in Martins immediate future

SG- Gerald Green- $8,600

The other side of the coin is Gerald green DIRT CHEAP.  As good as Martin has been offensively, the man still stinks on D.  The T-Wolves are terrible against opposing SG’s.  and Green should see 30 minutes on the floor with extra shooting attempts because of the depleted Suns roster

SF- Andrew Wiggins- $11,400

I pretty much hate all SF’s tonight.  Toughest spot to fill, by far.  Thaddeus Young ain’t playing tonight, and USUALLY when he’s out, Wiggins picks up his slack.  Love the matchup against PJ Tucker, love his outlook to put up a monster stat sheet tonight, and easily return his value.

PF- David West- $12,400

West OWNS Philly, he loves playing them and absolutely smoked them when he played them earlier this season.  The PF position is where Philly struggles mightily, and when a player has great history against a team AND that’s their weakness, he becomes a MUST PLAY

 

 

PF- Brandon Bass $7,700

Sullinger is out with some kind of stress fracture in his foot.  That leaves Brandon Bass and Tyler Zeller playing every minute they can handle tonight against The Kings.  Zeller gets Demarcus Cousins, Bass gets Jason Thompson, don’t over-think that one, Bass is the guy.  I like him for 15 points and 15 rebounds tonight, at $7,700, that might be the bargain of the night

C- Jusuf Nurkic- $8,600

Nurkic’s numbers always depend on how many minutes he plays.  If he can stay out of foul trouble, he can put up big numbers (Especially blocks) on any given night.  He gets The Bucks tonight, and their weakness seems to Centers.  John Henson isn’t the best defender in the world, and I think Denver will exploit that all night long.

C- Rudy Gobert -$9,900

Utah sent Enes Kanter to OKC yesterday at the trade deadline.  That leaves the door WIDE OPEN for Gobert.  Rudy had some great games early on in the season when Kanter was hurt, one of those games was against Portland which he faces tonight.  Again, good price, he will put solid minutes and solid production

 

*Anthony Davis could be an AMAZING play tonight, he is super expensive, but every single PF who ever plays Orlando SHINES.  He is questionable tonight with a shoulder issue, but if he’s a go, try really hard to fit him in*


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