What’s up, FANation! Hopefully everyone enjoyed the first big slate of the NBA season last night as we had eleven games to pick and choose from. Tonight, we only have three games on tap, but wipe those tears, we return to a nine-game slate for Friday to kick off your weekend. Below I will do a small break-down of all three games on the slate for this Thursday night, while also detailing a few of the targeted players to be looking for. Let’s get it!

 

Atlanta Hawks @ Detroit Pistons 

Spread: DET -1

 Total: 222

We finally have just a small amount of regular season data to run with here, so this makes this game a little more convenient to break-down. Detroit is playing on their first back-to-back set, as they played the Pacers last night IN Indiana. That is something important to factor here, and I say this because a few of the Pistons played heavy minutes last night, including Andre Drummond (41 MINUTES). Also, veteran guard Derrick Rose played 27 minutes, Luke Kennard played 28 minutes, and starting SG Tony Snell saw 32 minutes. The Pistons were already short-handed with the absence of Blake Griffin , and Markieff Morris stepped in to cover the PF spot, playing 23 minutes on the night, while also garnering the highest usage rate on the team at 29.2%! Kieff was followed in usage by the likes of Rose at 27.7%, Kennard at 25.3%, and then Drummond at 24.5% (although Drumm had a monster game). So, for one, what can we expect from Detroit on this back-to-back is the question? I believe they are going to be running a lot more tonight, as the Hawks ranked inside the top 5 in PACE last season, and they are going to get up and run in their regular season debut game tonight! I believe the Hawks have a slight advantage here, and do really like quite a few players on their team. This game isn’t even the highest total on the board, but I really think this game has nice flow, considering the DET/IND game last night finished at a total of 239!! Now, we look at the players to target.

PISTONS: Andre Drummond (be careful, big mins last night), Derrick Rose , Luke Kennard , Markieff Morris (really like this one, short mins last night, should see more tonight),

Value:  Christian Wood (only played 4 mins last night, look for him to get a much larger role tonight on b2b), Reggie Jackson (played 20 mins only, Trae Young not great on D), Langston Galloway (saw 20 mins, with the guards playing heavy mins last night, might see a bump)

HAWKS: Trae Young (too easy against Reg Jax D, big mins and usage), John Collins (fresh legs and will be focal point of offense, usage high), Alex Len (should see decent success on the boards and in the paint and fresh legs).

Value: Jabari Parker (should be one of first off bench and can score), DeAndre Bembry (also first off bench, nice value).

 

Milwaukee Bucks @ Houston Rockets

Spread: HOU -2

Total: 231

Here is the marquee match-up of the night, and I know many will say it is the late game with the Clippers and the Warriors, but nu uh, folks. This is a potential NBA Championship clash here. Not to mention, this game carries the highest total on the small slate for tonight as well at 231. The Bucks ranked 5th in terms of PACE for the 2018 – 2019 NBA season, but the Rockets only 27th in that regard. With this being said, it creates a tempo that has to be matched by the slower team – this being the Rockets in this case. Now, we can go ahead and mention that the Rockets did add a PACE-up guard in Russell Westbrook in the offseason, so this could actually improve their PACE for that fact heading into this season, as RWB and the Thunder ranked 6th in terms of PACE a season ago. I do feel this game could get into a foot race, as the transition buckets SHOULD be a plenty in this one. I expect to see the Bucks try to capitalize on the mistakes (turnover prone RWB), and basically out-run the Rockets tonight in transition. Last season, the Bucks were not a team I loved to target in terms of player options against, however, on a three-game slate with the highest total, this game is a must, and I do like options for both sides as well. Both teams have usage monsters and these guys will HAVE to be your staples tonight, or anchors of your line-ups if you will. I won’t have much from this game, but what I will have should make up most of the fantasy points scored tonight.

BUCKS: Giannis Antetokounmpo (highest usage rate for the NBA during preseason and will be a monster tonight), Khris Middleton (2nd behind Giannis in scoring, great 3-point shooter, can fill multiple stats), Eric Bledsoe (RWB isn’t exactly known for his D, Bledsoe has decent upside at his price)

Value: Brook Lopez (starting C that could see 30+ mins, 3-point upside also), George Hill (likely backing up Bledsoe and has decent upside at price), Sterling Brown (Could see upwards of 20+ mins in relief of guards, is a pretty good scorer also)

ROCKETS: James Harden (no brainer, right), Russell Westbrook (going to have the usage as well), Clint Capela (not my favorite C spot for tonight, but in game-stacking is a must here)

Value: Eric Gordon (a real try-hard, can knock down multiple 3-pointers, not afraid to drive the lane, Austin Rivers (should see time on the 2nd unit, dirt cheap guard that could see 20 mins or so).

 

Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors

Spread: LAC -2

Total: 224

I wasn’t trying to down-play this game by any means, but the game I will be looking most forward to is the one above. This game has its own perks however, and for fantasy purposes, this game will have a bit more value for tonight’s slate. The Warriors host the Clippers for their season debut in The Oracle Arena. The Clippers being winners in their season debut at home against the Lakers on Monday night. The Clip looked really good against LBJ, AD and co., and Kawhi is still proving to everyone that he is arguably the best all-around basketball player in the league. I highly expect this game to be somewhat of a shoot-out, as we know the identity of the Warriors is now highly rested on Steph Curry’s shoulders, alongside Draymond Green as Klay Thompson seems to be out for the whole season after some reports last week. This is not great for the Warriors, but it is great for fantasy as we know that Steph could literally take 30 shots a game, and we will hope he does so. My ONLY question mark for tonight on Steph, is that he will likely get Pat Beverly D, and we all saw that crack-head against LBJ on Monday night. They put Bev on the best player for the other team, and that is clearly Curry here tonight. I think Draymond could be somewhat of a dark-horse here, as I don’t think many will be on him in this game, but I like the spot. This game features a few main plays, and a couple values as well.

CLIPPERS: Kawhi Leonard (they really don’t have anyone who can guard him), Montrezel Harrell (played big mins on Monday, and fully expect it here again), Lou Williams (usage monster and great play tonight again),

Value: JaMychal Green (hopefully sees 20-22 mins), Mo Harkless (highest min player off bench behind Lou and Harrell), Landry Shamet (saw 26 mins, great shooter with scoring upside)

WARRIORS: Steph Curry (usage, usage, usage), Draymond Green (Going to be the next go-to, nice upside), DeAngelo Russell (more usage).

Value: Kevon Looney (likely starting at the 5 tonight, should play nice mins), Omari Spellman (also should see mins at the 4 and 5 on second unit, may even start), Alec Burks (Warriors spark-plug offense for the 2nd unit here)