NBA DFS Picks: The SuperDraft Starting Five | Aug. 20

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and I’m here to give you my starting five NBA DFS picks on SuperDraft — two guards, two forwards, and a center — for Thursday’s NBA DFS main slate.

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NBA DFS Picks: SuperDraft Starting Five

CHRIS PAUL (1.4X MULTIPLIER)

I was all over Chris Paul in Game 1 — where he finished one assist shy of a triple-double — and I’m happy to jump on board again today. Paul was the catalyst for OKC on the offensive end, creating space for his lethal mid-range game and easy opportunities at the rim for his big men against Houston’s undersized frontcourt. I see more of the same coming in Game 2, and at this multiplier, he’s my favorite guard play on SuperDraft.

EVAN FOURNIER (1.65X MULTIPLIER)

If you just clicked off of this page, I would understand. Fournier underwhelmed in Game 1, which was no problem for the Magic as they rolled all over the No. 1-seeded Bucks. Normally a green-light specialist, his eight shot attempts in 36 minutes was a bit surprising, resulting in his lowest fantasy output of the bubble. But if Aaron Gordon gets ruled out again, I’m happy to give Fournier another chance, as his 28% usage rate with Gordon off the court this year is hard to ignore. Looks gross/is gross, but a hot shooting display from Fournier a 1.65x here could be a low-owned, GPP-winning play.

GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO (1X MULTIPLIER)

I don’t normally fire up 1x multipliers, but when I do they are elite basketball unicorns in revenge mode. After Tuesday’s turd of a performance by the Bucks, I see the ‘Greek Freak’ going out and inflicting pain on the Magic in this one. After only 34.5 minutes in Game 1, expect Giannis and his 34% usage rate to come fast and often at Orlando. Add in that the Magic are missing their most capable defender to slow-down him down in Jonathan Isaac — and possibly without their next-most capable in Aaron Gordon — and you’re looking at free roam for Giannis. Multiplier be darned here: Giannis goes for 75+ today.

JIMMY BUTLER (1.4X MULTIPLIER)

Pretty sure I write up Jimmy Butler every day, and pretty sure he never lets us down. Butler looks hell-bent on punishing the Pacers (more specifically T.J. Warren), getting to the rim and the line early and often. With point guard Kendrick Nunn seemingly out of the playoff rotation, Butler’s assist rate is going to see a spike going forward, and he’s always been capable of filling up a box score with defensive stats. Butler feels safe for 40+, and at a 1.4x multiplier, safe still has lots of upside.

JUSUF NURKIC (1.35X MULTIPLIER)

Scoping around the center position, you’ll see that Nurkic has nearly the same multiplier as everyone else, and that’s just flat-out wrong. Courtesy of PopcornMachine.Net, Nurkic picked up his 5th foul at the 7:04 mark of the 4th quarter, or else his minutes would’ve jumped from 33 to the 37-38 range. The only concerning thing here is Terry Stotts’ 8-man rotation is going to have some overlap with Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside on the court at the same time, which should cut into Nurk’s rebounding rate. But my guess is if he stays out of foul trouble this time around, he’ll be by far the best center play of the day.

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Author

Eric Lindquist

Eric Lindquist hails from Sioux Falls, South Dakota (yes, that’s the one with Mount Rushmore). A steady diet of three SportsCenters a day at an early age led to his obsession with sports, one that 30 years later is paying dividends for him as a successful DFS player and sports bettor. Despite over half a million dollars in net career earnings, he’s most passionate about helping others achieve their financial goals, an energy you can witness on the daily in his current role as a host and analyst at Stokastic. He’s a former Division I golfer at Iowa State, wishes he was a former Minnesota sports fan, and is a proud father to a 100-pound Bernese Mountain dog named Duke that wishes he could just eat people food instead of the crap he and his wife feed him on the daily.