The $50,000 NBA Draftstars slate includes three games on Thursday night (Friday 10.30AM AEDT) featuring three of the game’s premium players; Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. Can you get them all? Probably not. So who do you pick?
Curry’s Golden State Warriors will back up Tuesday’s 121-114 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers when they host last season’s Western Conference finalists, the Los Angeles Clippers, who are without the injured Kawhi Leonard.
The reigning champions, Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks, are up again after their impressive 23-point win over the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday when they face the Miami Heat, who they brushed aside 4-0 in the first round of last season’s playoffs but have since added Kyle Lowry.
Surprise Conference finalists, the Atlanta Hawks, entertain Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks, with both sides hoping to build on last season.
OPENING NIGHT LEARNINGS
Antetokounmpo showed no signs of a title hangover or a nagging knee injury and reinforced his premium status with 32 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal in a stellar all-round game, that translated to a score of 66 points.
Bobby Portis (hamstring) and Donte DiVincenzo (ankle) both did not play while Jrue Holiday succumbed to a right heel contusion, meaning more minutes for Pat Connaughton (SG/SF $7,590), who impressed in last season’s playoffs, Grayson Allen (SG (SF) $8,710) and Jordan Nwora (SF (PF) $8,730), which could continue against the Heat, offering some value. Connaughton had 20 points for the game, while Nwora added 15 along with six rebounds.
Curry shot poorly against the Lakers, going five-from-21 from the field, but still managed a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists along with three steals, totaling 56.5 points. The good part in all that is simple; if he shoots better, expect more points.
Young shooting guard Jordan Poole (SG (PG) $9,940) had an excellent pre-season and he was in the Warriors’ starting five, scoring 20 points, confirming him as a great value option. Value center Kevin Looney (C $6,000) started in James Wiseman’s absence but didn’t have much impact and ended up only playing 15 minutes.
Lowry’s (PG $13,740) move to the Heat has boosted Miami’s hopes of going deep in the playoffs this season but from a Draftstars point of view the 35-year-old point guard is beyond his best
INJURY NEWS
Atlanta center Clint Capela has battled Achilles soreness lately and only played 12 minutes in their final pre-season game, opening the door for more minutes for back-up Gorgui Dieng (C $6,000) who joined from the San Antonio Spurs in the off-season.
Hawks guard Trae Young (PG $15,630) shook off any quad injury worries with 27 points and 15 assists from 30 minutes in Atlanta’s final pre-season game.
Leonard being out may benefit Reggie Jackson (PG $11,840) at the Clippers, as indicated by the playoffs where his output lifted in the two-time NBA Finals MVP’s absence. Serge Ibaka has also been ruled out for the Clippers with a back issue, meaning Marcus Morris Sr (PF $11,290) could start, having been declared available.
The Bucks haven’t confirmed anything about Holiday’s availability for the Heat game yet following his heel contusion so keep an eye out on that but given the quick turnaround, he may miss, meaning more time for bargain-priced Connaughton or veteran point guard George Hill (PG (SG) $6,840), who has joined Milwaukee from the Philadelphia 76ers. Hill only managed one point, five rebounds and three assists from 23 minutes against the Bucks. If Holiday (PG $11,530) does play, he may prove value after injury curtailed his opening night score having been benched at half-time.
VALUE OPTIONS
Capela’s Achilles concern may offer up more opportunities for points and rebounds for John Collins (PF (C) $11,290) who has been solid in pre-season. Hawks small forward Cam Reddish (SF $6,000) made an impact on the scoreboard during last season’s playoffs after an Achilles injury and appears to have some value, if he can get minutes.
New Warriors power forward Nemanja Bjelica (PF (C) $9,370) got 26 minutes off the bench on Tuesday, racking up good numbers with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
Terance Mann (SG (SF) $7,940) got 18 or more minutes in the Clippers’ last three pre-season games and after exploding on the scene during the playoffs, including a 39-point game, looms large.
Heat guard Tyler Herro (SG (PG) $11,330) had a down year in 2020-21 but may be worth a punt, after dominating Miami’s final pre-season game, with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists after starting on the bench.
Dallas power forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (PF $14,160) may be under-valued given his injury history, but he’s been a solid contributor since moving to the Mavs from the Knicks and may be a good second tier option.
PREMIUM PLAYS
It’s impossible to fit Curry, Antetokounmpo and Doncic all in your side, so decisions will need to be made.
It’s hard to go past Curry (PG $18,080), given he led the league with a career-high 32.0 points per game last season. He also averaged 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game and will continue to be the central figure for the Warriors while Klay Thompson is out indefinitely, as proven by Golden State’s first game.
Antetokounmpo (PF $19,320) is the reigning MVP and his opening game score was compelling enough to get the edge over Doncic (PG $20,450) who accumulates statistics, leading all shooting guards for rebounds and assists last season. Doncic had the fourth most triple-doubles last season with 11, ahead of Antetokounmpo in sixth with seven.
FADES
Lowry’s (PG $13,740) move to the Heat has boosted Miami’s hopes of going deep in the playoffs this season but from a Draftstars point of view the 35-year-old point guard is beyond his best, and will likely take points off Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
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