I know I say it all the time, but I truly love these five game slates. I feel like they’re a lot more exploitable than the 9+ game slates. I almost look at this slate as more of a four-game slate though, because outside of maybe the cheapest guys who should benefit in the plethora of anticipated garbage time, the Spurs/Suns game is pretty ignorable.

The Suns are playing like one of — if not the — worst teams in the league right now, and the Spurs are undoubtedly top-two. San Antonio is only allowing 89.6 points per game (through 42 GP), which is more than five points less than the next lowest. The Suns by the way, allow 106.7 PPG (only Sacramento allows more). Crazy stat: LaMarcus Aldridge has played 36 games this season, and he’s actually been able to sit out 12 fourth quarters due to blowouts, Tim Duncan has sat out 14 of 36 fourth quarters. The Spurs are quick to both give their primary bigs rest when not needed in the game, as well as allowing their back-up bigs to get some extra run.

Vegas lines and totals

Detroit (+1.5) @ New Orleans — projected total of 206
LA Clippers (+6) @ Cleveland — 202
Memphis (-2) @ Denver — 195.5
Atlanta (+1) @ Sacramento — 216
San Antonio (-14.5) @ Phoenix — 200.5

The dreamiest numbers on the night easily come from the Hawks/Kings game. The Kings give up a ton of points nightly, and they can score it as well, so them having a total like this is nothing new. I will definitely be getting plenty of action in that game, maybe a stack or two and at least a couple players in my other non-stack lineups as well. As I said in the intro, probably steering clear of the Spurs/Suns game aside from cheap garbage time beneficiaries. Both the Pistons/Pelicans and Clippers/Cavs games are solidly projected to where they are both intriguing, more so than the Grizzlies/Nuggets game for sure.  Now, let’s get in to the top plays and values at each position to help you cash out tonight.

POINT GUARD

[cointent_lockedcontent article_labels=”basketball”]

Jrue Holiday – I’m leaning towards going either mid-tier or cheap at point guard tonight, not because I totally dislike Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, but because I think there’s just really good value in the mid-tier tonight. Jrue has already been named as a starter with Eric Gordon sidelined, and Holiday was already playing sensational of late off of the bench. While I don’t expect his minutes to sky rocket, I do think he goes from around 27 minutes a night to 31. Over the last six games Jrue has averaged 36 fantasy points (FPs), which is already six over value for his price.

Mike Conley – In his first game back after missing two weeks, Conley looked just like his old self on Tuesday, playing 27 minutes, scoring 15, dishing 10 dimes and knocking down three triples for 34 FPs against the Pelicans. He has an equally great matchup tonight in Denver, and he should again exploit it and beat value going up against rookie Emmanuel Mudiay and veteran Randy Foye.

Cheap risk option: Norris Cole is another guy who benefits from the absence of Eric Gordon for the Pels, and while he may not have big upside, at this cheap price and likely to play close to 30 minutes, he should have no issue putting up 20+ FPs. I won’t recommend this next guy to you because he was awful the last few times he started for the Spurs, but with Tony Parker out, I will — probably stupidly — use Patty Mills as a punt option more so in GPP (big tournaments) lineups.

SHOOTING GUARD

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – What a crap shoot shooting guard is tonight, huh? No studs available, and even most of the mid-tier options are not ones you usually like to rely on. Tyreke Evans could go off, but the way he’s looked since tweaking his knee, I’m staying away in case he plays low-20 minutes again. KCP is my top play because he has a nice role for the Pistons and while he’s a bit inconsistent, he’s been better more often than not recently, hitting at or above value in three straight games including last night.

Jamal Crawford – This sounds terrible, but Crawford should be good enough tonight. Yep, that’s how dissatisfying SG is on this Thursday slate, you’re just happy with decent. Just give me somebody who will get me by and not crush me. Jamal has hit value five straight games, and that’s mostly due in part to volume. The sixth-man has averaged 16 shot attempts per night in those five games, and he’s played over 30 minutes the most recent two games. The Clips will need his scoring again tonight, so let’s just hope he gets hot, but even if he doesn’t, he should hit around his value of 23 FPs due to the opportunities given.

Cheap risk option: I don’t like any of the guys at $4K or under honestly, but if I had to go with one, I would use Iman Shumpert who should see around 30 minutes due to his defensive skills to guard J.J. Redick. Shump has a low ceiling still, at best you’re hoping for around 20 FPs. I’d pay a little more for better options.

SMALL FORWARD

LeBron James – Embarrassed on Monday at home by the team who beat them in last year’s championship, then basically a night off last night on the road against Brooklyn, I fully expect LeBron to be refocussed and in straight up kill-mode back at home tonight against a good Clippers team. Plus, who is going to stop him for the Clips, Paul Pierce or Wesley Johnson? I don’t think so. Look for Bron to bounce-back in a big way tonight. I have him projected at 50 FPs.

Danilo Gallinari – I debated back and forth on Gallo or Rudy Gay here because they’re both similar price, but while Rudy is in the game projected to be super high scoring, the Hawks have been pretty damn good at slowing down small forwards lately. Tobias Harris, Joe Johnson and Nicolas Batum all were held down sufficiently, so I am rolling with the Italian stallion in Denver tonight over Rudy. Gallinari has been great lately and is a matchup nightmare for teams. Have him projected at 36 FPs.

P.J. Tucker – Keep an eye on the Phoenix situation today, because Markieff Morris, Mirza Teletovic, Jon Leuer and T.J. Warren are all questionable to play. If they all miss, Tucker should see minutes even if this game gets bloody early on due to a lack of other options. I’ll update as news comes out.

Cheap risk option: Thabo Sefolosha seems to get to value no matter where they have his minutes at night to night, and they’ll probably give him around 30 tonight for defensive purposes. Nothing big to see here, but Thabo should hit you in the 20-25 FP range for cheap. If you need a true punt, go with Alonzo Gee who should play 30 minutes for sure with Gordon out — he did here and there anyways — and he’s got the potential to hit above 20 FPs if he hits his shots. That’d be a nice get at his near minimum tag.

POWER FORWARD

DeMarcus Cousins – This is a spot that I will be paying up at for most of my lineups. Cousins is the best player in a game projected to have 218 points scored, so I doubt I need to expand on why he’s a terrific option tonight. He’s always a threat to get ejected in the first half, but the upside he has each night is super-elite.

Paul Millsap – It will be more like Paul Trillsap tonight, sorry… OK, not sorry. Sap has been more inconsistent than we’re used to seeing him recently, but this matchup is too sexy to dwell on those few let down games. Also, the last time these teams faced off, Paul went for 58 FPs. I prefer him over Anthony Davis because he’s $1.8K cheaper and I have him projected just 5 FPs less than Brow (42 to 47). Brow may be the better — or higher ceiling I should say — GPP play, but in cash I am def going Millsap.

Cheap risk option: Going back to the Mike Scott wagon tonight. He’s super cheap, plays near 20 minutes and usually gets 15-20 FPs. Boris Diaw and David West also have to be cheap options, but you never know how many minutes they will get in a blowout.

CENTER

DeAndre Jordan – Yeah, the Cavs are usually pretty good at limiting centers, but DJ is another breed. He’s not one who relies on scoring, he’s just a see the ball come off the rim and go get it guy. Although, Jordan has seen an increase in scoring since Griffin has been out, mostly of the dunk variety. Look for him to dominate the glass, block a lot of shots and throw down some alleys per usual.

Marc Gasol – I really like Marc at this price tonight, and he’s been on a heater lately to boot. I couldn’t blame you for going with Andre Drummond (who went a pathetic 13/36 from the foul line last night), but I would rather go with the safer money play in cash, Drum I will mix in to some GPPs. The Nuggets could again be without Nurkic, and will have nobody capable of stopping Marc dismantle them for four quarters. Marc managed 34 FPs against the Nuggets last time and he shot really bad, don’t expect him to be that off this go-around.

Cheap risk option: This is an easy one, it’s definitely Willie Cauley-Stein. His price is too good with his starting role and coming off a game last night where he looked really in-sync with Rondo. He’s definitely in play as a punt center or bargain utility play who can get you around 20 FPs. Also, Boban Marjanovic is in play as a garbage time clean up man. He should get some minutes here and there and then a big chunk in the fourth, and he’s been averaging basically 1.5 FPs per minute, so even if he only plays 15 minutes, he can potentially get you 20 or more FPs.

Cash game rankings:

This isn’t necessarily an order of who will score the most DraftKings points. Rather, the rankings are aimed to find the best price, value and production combo to help you win cash games, also taking into account potential ownership levels for each player.

PG
1) Jrue Holiday
2) Mike Conley
3) Chris Paul
4) Reggie Jackson
5) Norris Cole
6) Kyrie Irving
7) Rajon Rondo

SG
1) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2) Jamal Crawford
3) J.J. Redick
4) Tyreke Evans
5) Gary Harris

SF
1) LeBron James
2) Danilo Gallinari
3) Rudy Gay
4) Omri Casspi
5) Thabo Sefolosha
6) Jeff Green

PF
1) DeMarcus Cousins
2) Paul Millsap
3) Anthony Davis
4) Zach Randolph
5) Ryan Anderson
6) Ersan Ilyasova

C
1) DeAndre Jordan
2) Marc Gasol
3) Andre Drummond
4) Willie Cauley-Stein
5) Boban Marjanovic
6) Al Horford

As always, stay locked to Twitter and Rotoworld for any late-breaking news the hour before the first game tips at 8 p.m. EST. I’ll do my best to update this article as news breaks throughout the day, but the best way to get the latest is always to follow me on Twitter @BigZack44, where I’ll do my best to break down the implications of any late scratches or lineup changes.

[/cointent_lockedcontent]