Filling In Your Thursday NBA Lineups
Here are theScore's sample lineups for Thursday, April 21:
Cash Game Without UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Russell Westbrook (OKC) | at DAL |
| PG | Shaun Livingston (GSW) | at HOU |
| SG | James Harden (HOU) | vs. GSW |
| SG | Klay Thompson (GSW) | at HOU |
| SF | Paul George (IND) | vs. TOR |
| SF | Andre Iguodala (GSW) | at HOU |
| PF | Serge Ibaka (OKC) | at DAL |
| PF | Patrick Patterson (TOR) | at IND |
| C | Andrew Bogut (GS) | at HOU |
Westbrook and Harden present a high-floor foundation for a cash-game lineup. George and Thompson will also be high-usage leaders for their respective teams. The absence of Steph Curry will create a trickle-down effect that should mean increased minutes (and scoring looks) for a number of players, including Livingston, Iguodala and Bogut.
GPP Without UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Stephen Curry (GS) | at HOU |
| PG | Kyle Lowry (TOR) | IND |
| SG | DeMar DeRozan (TOR) | at IND |
| SG | Devin Harris (DAL) | vs. OKC |
| SF | Kevin Durant (OKC) | at DAL |
| SF | Michael Beasley (HOU) | vs. GS |
| PF | Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) | vs. OKC |
| PF | Myles Turner (IND) | vs. TOR |
| C | Salah Mejri (DAL) | vs. OKC |
In the event that Curry does play, savvy DFSers will want to have a tournament lineup built around his high ceiling. Lowry and DeRozan put up big stat lines all season but both have struggled; the Raptors may look to get them more involved. The chances of Harris or Turner having a massive game are slim but won't take down a deep tournament without striking gold.
Cash Game With UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Shaun Livingston (GS) | at HOU |
| SG | James Harden (HOU) | vs. GS |
| SF | Paul George (IND) | vs. TOR |
| PF | Patrick Patterson (TOR) | at IND |
| C | Jonas Valanciunas (TOR) | at IND |
| G | Monta Ellis (IND) | vs. TOR |
| F | Donatas Motiejunas (HOU) | vs. GS |
| UTIL | Josh Smith (HOU) | vs. GS |
Patterson and Valanciunas was the most effective Raptors big man tandem, with the former creating spacing for the later to operate down low. The strategy worked in Game 2 when DeRozan was struggling to contribute, so look for coach Dwane Casey to go back to what has worked.
GPP Without UTIL
| POS | NAME | OPPONENT |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Russell Westbrook (OKC) | at DAL |
| SG | James Harden (HOU) | vs. GS |
| SF | Andre Iguodala (GS) | at HOU |
| PF | Dirk Nowitzki (DAL) | vs. OKC |
| C | Salah Mejri (DAL) | vs. OKC |
| G | DeMar DeRozan (TOR) | at IND |
| F | Myles Turner (IND) | vs. TOR |
| UTIL | DeMarre Carroll (TOR) | at IND |
Nowitzki could see lower ownership because of a bruised knee. When paired with Mejri, the Mavericks played really effectively in Game 2. Carroll had just eight points and four rebounds in 39 combined minutes in Game 1 and 2 against the Pacers; at worst he's salary ballast, while at best, he could get hot from deep and end up with 15 points and eight boards.