After Monday's NBA schedule included 11 games there are only four on the slate for Tuesday, and as one would expect the pickings are slim. So slim that FanDuel players would be wise to build their team around a Russell Westbrook ($13,000) or James Harden ($11,400). The only players in action with five-figure salary cap numbers, Westbrook and Harden are both averaging at least 52.7 points per game. But once you decide which of those two guards to build your team around, who should be the next selection? Miami center Hassan Whiteside ($9,200) is one option, as he's averaging 41.2 FanDuel points per game on the season.
Whiteside's scored 37.6 FanDuel points or more in eight consecutive games, posting a double-double in seven of those games. Whiteside currently leads the NBA in rebounding with an average of 14.9 per night, and during the aforementioned eight-game run he's grabbed 15 boards or more in six outings. Given the losses of both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and his breakout 2015-16 campaign, Whiteside was expected to be a major building block for the Heat and he's held up his end of the bargain in the post. Using at least a third of your $60,000 salary cap on two players, which would be the case if pairing Whiteside with either Westbrook or Harden, can be a risk. But given the lack of options on this night, it may not be a bad idea to do just that.
Here are our FanDuel picks for Tuesday's games, using the rules of a $60,000 salary cap and a nine-player roster. (Getty)
PG: Isaiah Thomas, Boston
Opponent: vs. Memphis
Price: $7,900
The Grizzlies are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, ranking first in defensive rating (100.3) and opponent points in the paint per game (35.9). But they did not have an answer for Thomas in the first meeting between the two teams this season, as Thomas lit up the Grizzlies with 44 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals on December 20. He was incredibly efficient in that game as well, shooting 10-for-16 from the field (7-for-10 3PT) and 17-for-17 from the foul line. Duplicating those numbers will be tough, but given how well Thomas has been playing (23 points or more in six straight games) he should have another good night. (Getty)
PG: D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers
Opponent: vs. Utah
Price: $5,600
Russell missed the second meeting between the Lakers and Jazz as he was recovering from a knee injury, but he struggled in the first. In Utah's 96-89 win over the Lakers on October 28, the Jazz limited Russell to nine points on 3-for-14 shooting from the field and he also had just one fewer turnover (four) than assists (five). George Hill, who was healthy for that game, is still out of the lineup with a toe injury so that could help Russell put together a better performance. It's a risk, especially with Utah being so good defensively, but one worth taking. (Getty)
3. Houston
Record: 26-9
Last week: 5th
Houston's won its last four, most recently beating the Knicks with James Harden producing a dominant performance. Harden, who now has seven triple-doubles this season, finished with 53 points (14-for-26 FG), 17 assists and 16 rebounds. While Harden is clearly an MVP candidate, the play of his teammates is why the Rockets have managed to play so well thus far. Ryan Anderson scored 25 points against the Knicks, and in their 140-116 win over the Clippers a total of six players scored in double figures with Montrezl Harrell racking up 29 points. As long as the supporting cast continues to benefit from Mike D'Antoni's offensive system, the Rockets are sure to be heard from out west. (Getty)
SG: Eric Gordon, Houston
Opponent: vs. Oklahoma City
Price: $5,800
With the James Harden and the Rockets taking on Russell Westbrook and the Thunder, the question is which supplementary players stand to benefit from the exploits of their teams' respective stars. One option is Gordon, who's averaging 17.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game off the bench for one of the NBA's best offensive teams. Gordon has scored in double figures in ten straight games, most recently dropping 31 on Washington, and there has even been some conversation as to whether or not he should be an All-Star this season. (Getty)
SF: Trevor Ariza, Houston
Opponent: vs. Charlotte
Price: $5,800
Ariza has accounted for 32 FanDuel points or more in four of the last six games for the Rockets, most recently tallying 32.9 points in their win over Toronto Sunday night. And during that six-game stretch he's averaging 13.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, with all three numbers being better than his averages for the season. Charlotte's done a good job against opposing small forward units recently, allowing just 34.1 FanDuel points per game over the last five according to Rotowire. But given how Ariza's played of late, he wouldn't be a bad player to have on your roster. (Getty)
SF: Jae Crowder, Boston
Opponent: vs. Memphis
Price: $5,100
Miami's Justise Winslow ($5,200) is another possible option here, especially when considering that Oklahoma City is giving up 36.4 FanDuel points per game at the small forward position while Memphis is allowing just 32.1 according to Rotowire. But the pick here is Crowder due to how the two played in their first meetings this season against their respective opponents. Winslow scored six points, shooting 2-for-13 from the field in Miami's first game against Oklahoma City. Crowder against Memphis: 13 points (3-for-8 FG), seven rebounds and two assists. (Getty)
PF: Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City
Opponent: vs. Denver
Price: $5,500
Averaging 23.3 FanDuel points per game on the season, Kanter has exceeded that number in seven of his last nine outings for the Thunder. Kanter's averaging 13.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on the season, and he's scored 19 points or more in six of the last eight games. Denver has some size to use off the bench, but the size of a Jusuf Nurkic shouldn't render Kanter ineffective. At minimum Kanter should score safely into the twenties from a FanDuel standpoint. (Getty)
PF: Zach Randolph, Memphis
Opponent: at Boston
Price: $5,400
Averaging 25 FanDuel points per game on the season, Randolph was kept relatively quiet by the Celtics last week in Memphis. Z-Bo finished with nine points and five rebounds, producing just 20 FanDuel points in 21 minutes of action. This is a tough matchup for Randolph, as Boston has multiple power forwards capable of pulling him away from the basket and out of his comfort zone defensively. But he's good enough to make adjustments, and if you aren't confident in that happening Memphis' starting power forward (JaMychal Green; $4,900) was more effective against the Celtics last week. (Getty)
C: Rudy Gobert, Utah
Opponent: vs. Phoenix
Price: $7,800
Gobert's double-double streak of 11 games came to an end Thursday night against the Sixers, as he scored just nine points while also grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking two shots. It would surprise no one if Gobert were to begin a new streak Saturday night, as he accounted for 40.2 FanDuel points in Utah's win over Phoenix on December 6. Gobert finished that game with 22 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, and the combination of the return of Hill and the Suns being one of the NBA's worst defensive teams should benefit Gobert in this matchup. (Getty)
FanDuel NBA Lineup Picks, Advice & Analysis for December 27