NBA Fantasy Update

Fantasy sports are always going to be unpredictable no matter how much studying you do before the season starts. Some superstar players are going to disappoint and other players are going to come out of nowhere to deliver great value to their potential fantasy owners. Making adjustments to the way you value each player during the season is the only way you will be able to compete with the other teams in your league. These are the biggest underachievers and surprise breakout stars in fantasy basketball this year.

Disappointing Stars Worth Dropping

Nikola Mirotic
Nikola Mirotic was expected to have a big year after a performing well in the final two months of last season. These high expectations got Mirotic drafted around the 7th round of most fantasy basketball drafts. While he started the season off fine, Mirotic's biggest problem this season has been a lack of playing time. New coach Fred Hoiberg simply does not trust Nikola Mirotic on the court right now. This has caused his playing time and scoring to drop every month of the season. You may have spent a high draft pick on him, but it is time to find someone delivering more playing time and production than Nikola Mirotic.

Aaron Gordon
It may seem odd to recommend dropping Aaron Gordon after he just had a huge game with 33 points and seven rebounds, but that performance was an anomaly for Gordon this season. Gordon actually only had 32 points in his previous four games before his huge performance against the Clippers a few days ago. Aaron Gordon is one of the most talented young players in the NBA, but he is far too inconsistent to help fantasy owners on a consistent basis. His playing time issues were also supposed to end when head coach Scott Skiles quit in the off-season, but he is still struggling to get consistent playing time under new coach Frank Vogel.

Must-Add Surprise Players

Maurice Harkless
No player has surprised more than Maurice Harkless this season, but he is still available in most fantasy leagues. Harkless has been a great source of production from the small forward position because he is averaging more than 31 minutes of playing time per game. He may not be one of the most talented players in the league, but the extensive playing time is allowing Harkless to average more than 12 points, five rebounds and one steal a game. He may not be known by everyone right now, but it will not be long before Harkless is owned in every league if he continues his great season.

Thabo Sefolosha
Thabo Sefolosha has always been one of the most underappreciated players in the NBA, and his balanced game is finally rewarding fantasy owners this season. Sefolosha received limited playing time during his first two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, but that has recently changed thanks to the poor play of Kent Bazemore and Kyle Korver. Sefolosha is getting ignored by most fantasy owners because of he only averages just under 8 points a game, but his ability to help in every stat category is the main reason you want him on your team.

Adam Hayes hails from New York City where he is a marketing associate by day and blogger by night. He is a self proclaimed fantasy guru that spends too much time perfecting his lineup. One summer Adam visited 21 of 30 MLB stadiums (and only caught one foul ball).

Free data period extended

I had originally announced that the master NBA data file would move to a premium (pay) service at the beginning of December.

I've decided to postpone that date, primarily because I didn't get the programming set up yet. When I'm ready, I'll post a notice here, and I'll also email all subscribers of last year's file.

RotoBaller DFS Advice: FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/18/16)

10 games make up Friday night's slate, most of which have a ton of daily fantasy appeal. Two offensive powerhouses faces off in the state of California while the new-look Los Angeles Lakers will have one of their toughest tests this season against the San Antonio Spurs.

Russell Westbrook will also take the floor as the Thunder welcome the Brooklyn Nets to Oklahoma City. He should be considered every time he laces up.

These are my daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/18/16. I try to only advise players I believe will outperform expectations and the players I advise are players in my lineup so if it all goes downhill, I'll be tumbling down right next to you. Let's get rolling…

FanDuel DFS Guards

Brandon Knight - SG, @ IND ($4,800)
Proving to be much of a disappointment in seasonal leagues, and an unreliable option for daily fantasy, Brandon Knight finally exploded after nearly three weeks of inconsistency. Knight dropped 32 points in his last contest against the Denver Nuggets, including three from downtown on five attempts.

Infrequently pulling the trigger from behind the arc this season, Knight displayed a proclivity for the long ball before going down with injury last season. In order to return to form, Knight will need to become a three-point threat again. Lucky for him, the Indiana Pacers have allowed the fourth most three pointers made in the NBA. He's inexpensive and will look to build off his best performance of the young season.

Jeff Teague - PG, vs PHO ($6,500)
Bringing the ball up on the other side of the court in the Phoenix/Indiana matchup will be Jeff Teague. Teague has been a solid addition to the Pacers this season and has dished out six or more assists in nine of 12 contests this season. The Suns have allowed 23.3 opposing assists per game this season, 10th most in the league.

While Teague has proved to be generous in the backcourt, his point totals have also stood out. He has dropped 20 or more points in five games in the early going, and is capable of breaking out for 30 on any given night. Luckily for him, the Suns allow the most points in the league; a dismal 116 per contest.

Also Consider: Russell Westbrook - PG, vs BK ($11,400), E'Twaun Moore - SG, vs POR ($4,500)

FanDuel DFS Forwards

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RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/15/16)

The season is still young so there are things that will eventually change. But for right now, it is a completely legitimate question on whether or not you should draft LeBron James or DeMar DeRozan. Despite DeRozan’s blistering start to the season, he’s still not putting up King James numbers, but the difference is Nate Robinson small. If these two aren’t your favorites to build around, Damian Lillard and Karl Anthony-Towns will gladly take their places.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/15/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.

DraftKings DFS Guards

Ricky Rubio – PG, CHA ($5,700)
In Rubio’s two games back from injury he has total of 10 rebounds, 16 assists, and four steals. People still seem concerned about the fact that Rubio has trouble hitting the backboard with his shot, but he is one of the best guards in the league at rebounding, getting steals, and dishing the ball. The Kris Dunn experiment has to be scaled back so he can catch up with the speed of the game. In the interim Rubio should get his usual minutes and should put up his usually reliable production. Before he goes on an assists streak and gets priced in a different category it would be worth getting on the Rubio train as he showcases his skills to eventually become trade bait for Minnesota.

Lou Williams – SG, BKN ($5,600)
Right now Lou Williams is having the best year of his 12-year career, but he’s still consistently being priced less than or as much as his two backcourt mates, D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. All three guards have created a decent rotation of big time shots and timely drives to the basket. But as of now, Williams is the one with the most value because he consistently gives the greatest return on investment.

Kent Bazemore – SG/SF, @MIA ($5,000)
In order, Bazemore’s last five scoring totals are 0, 20, 25, 3, and 17. He has epitomized inconsistency to start the season. But when you couple his total average of 11 points per game with three rebounds, three assists, and two steals per game it begins to become clear why he’s priced where he is. Paying 5k for a player that scores no points is the nightmare of all daily fantasy players. The risk is always there with Bazemore but he’s poised to have the best season of his career. If you can be the one to guess which nights he puts up his big numbers than you deserve every cent of your winnings.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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RotoBaller DFS Advice: FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/14/16)

With eight games on the slate for tonight, there should be no reason why you can't find enough value to spend up on a few superstars. There is only one superstar I will be spending up on but we will get to James Harden later...

These are my daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/14/16. I try to only advise players I believe will outperform expectations and the players I advise are players in my lineup so if it all goes downhill, I'll be tumbling down right next to you. Let's get rolling…

FanDuel DFS Guards

Jamal Crawford - SG, vs. BKN ($4,100)
I was split between either J.J. Reddick ($4,100) or Jamal Crawford and decided to go with Crawford because of his ability to get shots much easier. Reddick has been a tad quiet this year as the Clippers starting shooting guard and both carry a decent bit of risk. That being said, you know you need to risk a little bit to get the big pay out but either one is a fine play tonight. The Clippers have been dominating and expect the lower-valued Clippers to get the most minutes tonight.

J.J. Barea - PG, at NY ($5,800)
I hate going against the Knicks because I feel like a bad fan, but I need to be honest to all my RotoBaller supporters. The Knicks are garbage on defense, probably because Jeff Hornacek doesn't practice defense, but anywhoooo... J.J Barea has capitalized on his starts for the Mavericks and he has plenty of experience to handle a full workload. With Deron Williams out, J.J. is a much more consistent option with a good price tag, especially if your contemplating 'Streaky' Seth Curry.

Also Consider: James Harden - SG, vs. PHI ($11,600)
Yeah it is Philadelphia but James Harden feasts on these match-ups.

FanDuel DFS Forwards

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Serves You Right

I'm in the process of migrating to a new server. The old server was over 4 years old, and had been experiencing some signs of hardware degradation.

The plan is to cut over to the new server on Sunday afternoon (Nov 13). I'm not expecting any noticeable glitches, but if you do detect anything abnormal on Sunday afternoon or evening, please feel free to send me an alert (davehall@rotoguru2.com).

If all goes well, you won't even notice.

RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/11/16)

The 2016-’17 NBA season is officially underway. The first few weeks of the season always offer up tough choices, as decisions are largely based off of a small sample size.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/11/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.

DraftKings DFS Guards

Kemba Walker – PG, TOR ($7,500)
Walker has been enjoying an All Star type of season. He’s averaging 23.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Tonight, he gets a great matchup against the Raptors, who have struggled to guard the point guard this season. Walker is the main scorer for the Hornets, and they will need him to keep up with DeMar DeRozan tonight. He’s still a bit too cheap, and he can safely be used in all leagues.

Rodney Hood – SG, @ORL ($5,800)
Hood comes with a bit more risk than his recent games suggest. He can’t continue to shoot over 50% from the field all season, but luckily, we only need him to do it for one more night. He has been on fire from beyond the arc recently, and hot streaks are a huge part of basketball. He gets a great matchup against the Magic, who have tried to become a more defensive team this season, but it hasn’t worked out well yet. Hood still isn’t all that expensive, and he can be used in all leagues for now.

Danny Green – SG, DET ($4,000)
Green returned to the Spurs starting line in his last game, and he scored 25.25 fantasy points in only 26 minutes. He should see a small uptick in minutes tonight, which only boosts his value. He has much more upside than he displayed in his first game, as he only shot 25% from beyond the arc in that game. He gets a solid matchup against the Pistons, and Green is a safe salary relief option tonight.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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[click here to read the rest of the article on RotoBaller.com]

Fantasy Basketball Surprises

Every time fantasy basketball season rolls around, that guy your buddy drafted in the last round ends up on the All-Star team and leads that lucky soul to a fantasy championship. Here are 5 players nobody expected to be off to such a hot start.

Myles Turner

Myles Turner showed us flashes of how good he could be last season with the Indiana Pacers, and it appears those flashes were for real. Turner is currently averaging 17.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game to go along with a very good 54.9 field goal percentage. He is still seeing under 30 minutes per game, but these are great multi-stat numbers if you were able to grab him in the later rounds. If Turner starts to see more playing time, his value will skyrocket even higher.

T.J. Warren

T.J. Warren was probably drafted in the last round of your draft if he was drafted at all. He has rewarded those savvy enough to snag him by averaging 21.7 points and 6.2 rebounds to go along with a decent 46 percent from the field for the Phoenix Suns. Warren is on the floor for about three quarters of every game, and should continue to improve moving forward.

Avery Bradley

While Bradley was generally drafted a bit higher than the other guys on this this list, nobody expected the amount of production he has provided across the board. Avery is averaging 20.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field. Players that can fill up a stat sheet like this tend to be taken in the first few rounds, making Bradley a fantastic mid round steal.

Dennis Schroder

Dennis Schroder was handed the keys to the starting point guard spot for the Atlanta Hawks this season. He has been rounding into form, averaging 15 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game. As a guy who went in the last few rounds of fantasy drafts, if at all, these are great numbers. Schroder is also capable of catching a hot hand from three-point range, making him especially useful in leagues that score individual stat categories. For a guy who is still getting used to a feature role in Atlanta's offense, he should continue to grow from here.

Joel Embiid

The Philadelphia 76ers drafted Embiid 3rd overall in the 2014 draft, but he ended up missing the next two seasons with a broken foot. Now that he is finally healthy, Embiid looks set to explode. Despite being restricted to about 20 minutes per game while the 76ers ease him into action, Embiid is averaging 18.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks. This is insane production considering the small amount of playing time he has been seeing. This can only bode very well for those who scooped him up with one of their final picks.

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Scott Levy hails from New York where he recently hung up his sneakers after a mediocre intramural basketball career. When he's not working or out hiking with his dog Baxter you can find him glued to whatever NBA game is on TV, and usually blogging about it afterwards.

RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/7/16)

The three big names on deck tonight are Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Anthony Davis. All three are priced at over 10k and come with a serious resume. Everyone is going to have one of these and some may even try and squeeze two onto the same team.

Remember, it’s always your best bet, if you have more money to spread around, to get better players that you know won’t go scoreless or barely contribute. Below are some of the cheaper options that have had productive seasons thus far.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/07/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.

DraftKings DFS Guards

Tim Frazier – PG, NO ($6,600)
The New Orleans Pelicans have been plagued by injuries and tragedies to all their stars for a few years now. Jrue Holiday’s situation is unique as he’s taking care of his wife and newborn child. In Holiday’s absence it seems New Orleans has gotten lucky and found a true starting point guard. Frazier has been playing well and is slowly being priced closer to his production level.

Tyler Johnson – PG/SG, MIA ($4,700)
Johnson signed one of the many head scratching contracts this season that left everyone but Pat Riley asking, how did that guy get $50 million? Turns out Riley saw something special as Johnson is now averaging 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists on 53% shooting. All of these are career highs for Johnson who is so far in the running for sixth man of the year and most improved player.

C.J. Miles - SG/SF, IND ($4,100)
Miles has been hot from three and is on a scoring tear of late. As long as the Miles train is humming along at 15 points per game he is worth considering in DFS. The veteran player has gotten hot for a month or two before but has never been able to put together a full season of consistent scoring. Right now he’s hot though, so until he shows he isn’t, there is a tremendous amount of value in the Indiana wing man.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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[click here to read the rest of the article on RotoBaller.com]

RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/4/16)

The 2015-’16 NBA season is officially underway. The first few weeks of the season always offer up tough choices, as decisions are largely based off of a small sample size.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/04/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.

DraftKings DFS Guards

DeMar DeRozan – SG, TOR ($8,000)
DeRozan has consistently been exceeding, which is why his price tag is so surprising tonight. He has been an elite scorer this season, as he has taken more than 20 shots per game and he’s averaging 36.3 points per game. He has also adds 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, as well. He gets a decent matchup against the Heat, who have been far from an elite defense this season, but do like slowing the pace down at times. Still, DeRozan is a big enough part of the offense to be used in all leagues tonight.

J.J. Barea – PG/SG, DAL ($4,800)
Barea has been a pleasant surprise for the Mavs this season. He’s playing big minutes off the bench, and he has been a solid scorer. He adds a few extra stats each game, as well, which gives him good upside. He gets a great matchup against the Blazers, who are one of the fastest paced teams in the NBA. That will give Barea a few more extra possessions for fantasy points. He’s still fairly cheap, and he can be used in all leagues until his price jumps a bit more.

Sean Kilpatrick – SG, BKN ($4,400)
Kilpatrick was one of the best players in the NCAA when he was at Cincinnati, but that hasn’t transferred to the NBA. Still, he has plenty of upside and he has looked great through five games this season. He played the majority of his minutes at point guard after Jeremy Lin was injured, and he get more minutes at point guard tonight. He’s coming off a huge game against the Pistons, and while he isn’t like to repeat that effort, he should easily be able to exceed value tonight.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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[click here to read the rest of the article on RotoBaller.com]

RotoBaller DFS Advice: FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/3/16)

Welcome to another night of daily fantasy basketball. With only five games to choose from, it is essential to hit on all of those value players. This article will help! Who is ready to see Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant square off for the first time since Durant landed in Golden State? I sure am.

In this column, you will find my daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for FanDuel on 11/03/16. These NBA DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays on FanDuel. Good luck tonight. May November forever be in your favor.

FanDuel DFS Guards

Russell Westbrook - PG, at GSW ($12,200)
Russell Westbrook's price tag is growing by the game, but it is still not high enough to avoid him. He has over 55 fantasy points in all of his first three starts this season, and against the Phoenix Suns, he posted over 80. He is shooting the ball over 20 times per game, dishing out assists, and grabbing rebounds. He contributes in all stat categories, and a triple-double has been expected at this point. Westbrook can be used in both 50/50 contests and tournaments.

Zach LaVine - SG, vs DEN ($6,000)
Zach LaVine looked great in his last game. He posted over 35 fantasy points in only 29 minutes on the court. The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Memphis Grizzlies, resulting in the starters sitting out the fourth quarter. LaVine had 31 points already, along with four rebounds and two assists. He should be able to score tonight against the Denver Nuggets, a team that is not known for defense. LaVine's price tag is reasonable, and his upside is great.

Also Consider: Evan Fournier - SG, vs SAC ($6,000)

FanDuel DFS Forwards

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[click here to read the rest of the article on RotoBaller.com]

RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/2/16)

The stars of the NBA have wasted no time shining in an explosive start to the 2016-2017 season.

Oklahoma City doesn't seem too lonely anymore, Kevin Durant now a memory of a team looking to taste glory for the first time in franchise history. They will be truly tested for the first time this season against the Los Angeles Clippers. Keep an eye on that contest.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for DraftKings on 11/02/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays on DraftKings. Without wasting anymore time, let's get down to business!

DraftKings DFS Guards

Derrick Rose - PG, NYK ($5,700)
Brandon Jennings has been starting at point guard for the New York Knicks (just two games) but let's be clear about something; the backcourt in Madison Square Garden belongs to Derrick Rose. New York's matchup against the Houston Rockets, if there was ever a better opportunity, will be the team's best offseason acquisition's coming out party in the only other professional uniform he has slipped on besides one of the Chicago Bulls.

Any time the Rockets come to town, and the invisible defensive play of James Harden becomes oh so evident, it's wise to take notice for daily fantasy. Rose is still extremely cheap for what he's capable of. Give him some time to get acclimated in a new city, but we could see the hype surrounding his injury-prone career sooner than we think.

Russell Westbrook - PG, OKC ($12,900)
At this point, Westbrook's price could skyrocket to $20,000 and he'd still be a shoe-in to exceed projection. With ease. Westbrook has posted two straight triple-doubles, and was one assist shy in Oklahoma City's first game of the season. It's safe to say that he is the Thunder, that the absence of Kevin Durant has not affected him in the slightest.

Understandably, in three wins this season, the Thunder have beat the Lakers, the Suns, and the 76ers; three of the league's worst. The real test will be handed out on Wednesday night against an also undefeated Los Angeles Clippers. Expect this game to be high scoring with all the firepower set to take the court.

Andre Roberson - SG/SF, OKC ($4,100)
If anything, we should be pleased with Roberson's minutes played. With little room to score because of the aforementioned Westbrook seemingly hogging every offensive statistic in existence, Roberson has quietly produced for daily fantasy at a very affordable price. His stats won't blow you away, but he is capable of making up for his less than stellar scoring abilities. Last week against the Suns, Roberson posted five steals, 11 boards, and nine points.

We don't need him to do much, and heading into a Western Conference showdown against the Clippers, he'll have plenty of opportunities to do just enough.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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[click here to read the rest of the article on RotoBaller.com]

RotoBaller DFS Advice: FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (11/1/16)

After yesterday's short four-game slate, NBA fantasy players have to be excited about tonight's action. There are various games to attack, a lot of great value, and a few solid expensive options as well.

Good luck tonight. May November forever be in your favor.

FanDuel DFS Guards

Stephen Curry - PG, at POR ($8,700)
Stephen Curry is far from the elite point guard that he was last season, mainly due to Kevin Durant stealing a few of his shots, but he is still a great tournament option. He has double-digit three-point attempts in two of his first three games, and the Portland Trailblazers, despite their solid defensive play, love to push the pace of the game. Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry are going to go back and fourth tonight, in what should be fun for the casual fan and fantasy player.

Evan Fournier - SG, at PHI ($6,000)
Evan Fournier is playing big minutes for the Orlando Magic right now. He showed flashes last season, especially earlier on. In his last start, he posted over 25 fantasy points in 38 minutes of action. The impressive part is that he has over 37 minutes in two of his first three starts. The Philadelphia 76ers are borderline pathetic on defense, and Fournier should have no issues scoring. Use him in tournaments tonight on FanDuel for his price tag.

Tim Frazier - PG, MIL ($5,500)
Tim Frazier is too cheap. His last performance (18.3 fantasy points in 25 minutes on the court) likely scared away a couple of fantasy owners, but he should return to form. In his first two games of the season, he posted over 40 fantasy points in each. The Milwaukee Bucks are tough defensively, especially Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Frazier will find open shots, as the defense focuses on Anthony Davis. Use him in both 50/50 contests and tournaments.

FanDuel DFS Forwards

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[click here to read the rest of the article on RotoBaller.com]

RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (10/31/16)

Only four games on the slate for Monday Night DFS hoops. Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, and DeMar DeRozan have all started the season off hot and should definitely be the first options when deciding who you should build your team around. Don't be afraid to take all three and then some of the guys off the list below.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/31/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays on DraftKings. Without wasting anymore time, let's get down to business!

DraftKings DFS Guards

Chris Paul – PG, LAC ($8.500)
The Clippers have only played one game so far but they looked really good. Paul put up 27 points, 5 boards, and 5 assists against the Trailblazers. He will be taking on talented young guards again tonight in Phoenix. Expect Paul to put on a teaching lesson for Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, and Devin Booker. There are no signs of age or regression with CP3 so a 20 point and 10 assist season would be the expectation. Paul is definitely expensive but everyone will have him in their lineups and he is well worth it.

Jeremy Lin – PG, BKN ($6,300)
Lin’s last stat line (21 pts, 9 rebs, 9 asts) was something that hasn’t happened in a Nets uniform since the Jason Kidd days. Brooklyn’s offense runs through Jeremy Lin. He is the prime ball handler and facilitator. Expect both the Bulls and Nets to go up and down the court despite Chicago not being the youngest team. Isaiah Thomas was able to go off for 26 points against the Bulls on their opening night. Rondo and Wade are not the most aggressive defenders in their old age and should be letting guards score on them all year.

Bojan Bogdanovic – SG/SF, BKN ($4,600)
Bogdanovic will consistently be one of the better bang for your buck options out there. He had a humongous summer with his national team and has slid that form right into the regular season. After pouring in 26 points and eight boards against the Bucks in a loss, it is obvious that Bojan has the confidence and the green light necessary to consistently go off. While Lin might be the Nets most important ball handler and playmaker, Bojan is definitely Brooklyn’s most lethal scorer. While having Lin and Bogdanovic in your lineup might make you one of the worst teams in the NBA, having them in your fantasy lineup is a very reasonable and potentially profitable decision.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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Boxscores: Breakout and breakdown

I've made a few updates to the site.

You can now optionally view the Daily Point Recap sorted in "boxscore order". Each game is segregated, with the away team on top and home team underneath. Starters are shown as the first five players for each team, followed by bench players, with the latter shown in order of descending minutes played. This format was in response to a request for a daily boxscore format that provided all games with a single click.

Also, the Stats Summarizer is now configured for the 2016-17 season. This facility gives you the ability to select and consolidate stats based on a variety of possible selection criteria. Output is presented in text format, suitable for copying into a spreadsheet.

RotoBaller DFS Advice: DraftKings Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks (10/28/16)

It's the NBA season and it could not feel any better! A couple night ago we got our first look at Joel Embiid, the Lakers upset the Rockets, and we saw the Thunder without Kevin Durant. It's going to be a crazy year, so strap in for the ride!

Without wasting anymore time, let's get down to business!

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy NBA lineup picks for DraftKings on 10/28/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players, to mid-priced options, and value plays on DraftKings.

DraftKings DFS Guards

Russell Westbrook (vs PHO, $11,800)

There are a plethora of elite guard options tonight, but Russell Westbrook is my favorite. He looked outstanding against the Sixers in his first game, and he will be a triple double threat the entire season. He gets a great matchup against the Suns, who love to push the pace and aren't known for their defense. At times during this game, Westbrook could be defended by Tyler Ulis, who stands only 5'9" tall. Westbrook should be able to do anything he wants in this game, and he's an elite option in all leagues tonight.

Tim Frazier (vs GS, $5,400)

Frazier is starting for the Pelicans while Jrue Holiday is taking care of his family. There was a lot of speculation about how many minutes Frazier could handle, but he played 37 in a competitive matchup against the Nuggets, and he will likely see similar minutes tonight. He gets a tough matchup against the Warriors, who are solid defensively, but this game will be played at an extremely fast pace. Frazier has the ability to fill the stat sheet in multiple ways, and he's still far too cheap. He can be used in all leagues.

Joe Johnson (vs LAL, $4,900)

Johnson was a surprise on Opening Night, but that doesn't mean he can do it again. He has always been a talented player, but he's no longer a player to build your franchise around. He's starting for an injured Gordon Hayward, and he was able to score 29 points with four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in his first game. His offensive production will rely heavily on Derrick Favors, as Johnson will likely lose shots if Favors is healthy enough to play. Still, Johnson will be locked into minutes, and he's a cheap option. He also gets a great matchup against the Lakers, who aren't a great defensive team. Johnson may be best suited for tournaments, though.

DraftKings DFS Forwards

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They're ba-a-a-a-a-ck...

The Daily Point Recap pages are now up and running for the new season. DFS point and salary data is available for each regular-season game day for FanDuel, DraftKings, DraftDay, and Yahoo DFS.

The NBA DFS master file is also now available. This file will be a premium service starting in December, but will be available for free through the end of November. For notes on the files contents and operating parameters, see rotoguru1.com/hoop/nba-dhd-2017-notes.txt

The NBA Player Stats Summarizer has not yet been updated for the new season. This should be ready within the next day or two.

All data is typically updated by 6am ET each morning.

Making a list, checking it twice..

I expect to have the Daily Point Recaps and the master data file available on Wednesday (Oct 26). Ditto for the Stat Summarizer. However, before releasing them, I want to do some extra checking and testing in the morning, just to make sure everything looks to be ship-shape. So don't expect them to be available when the sun rises. I'll post here when they are ready for prime time - along with the applicable links.

With any luck, sortable stats and player pages will update automatically overnight. But, of course, if you notice something that looks wrong, there's a good chance that it is. It always takes a day or two at the start of a new season to shake out the bugs.

Limited preseason data now available

As some of you know, RotoGuru.com and affiliated sites DailyHoopsdata and DailyBaseballData are a one-man operation. So if I'm not available to work on the site(s), nothing happens.

I decided to take an extended vacation for the first three weeks of October, and as a consequence, all efforts to get prepared for the impending NBA season were delayed until I returned. So I'm scrambling at the moment.

In recent seasons, I've tracked and posted stats for preseason NBA games. I've finally generated those results for the current preseason, and they are now available subject to some limitations:

1. There may be some errors. In particular, games in which an NBA team faced an international team are suspect. I checked a few instances, and they looked OK - but I'm not completely confident. Caveat emptor.
2. I have not captured preseason DFS salary data for those sites that offered preseason contests.
3. That said, if you pull up an individual player page (ex: Lebron James), you can now see DFS points for preseason games.
4. I've also incorporated preseason point data in the sortable stats as long as you select a point period of 7, 15, or 30 days. Full season data will still only reflect regular season production. Note also that players are only listed if they have been included in a DFS contest for the related site. Since some sites (notably FanDuel and DraftKings) have not yet released contests for Wed, Oct 26, the player listings are currently limited to Tuesday game players.

Preseason results will not appear in the Daily Recap pages, nor will they be included in the master data file when that becomes available.

Prior year data is available

Last year, I produced a data file with daily data for every player in the NBA for the 2015-16 regular season and postseason. DFS points, salaries, and positions are shown for each gameday for FanDuel, DraftKings, Draftday, and Star Fantasy. The file is still available at a cost of $20. For more information, follow this link.

A similar file is available for the 2014-15 regular season. It is available for free. The data elements are a bit more limited, but you'll probably find what you are looking for. Here is the link.

In each case, the file can be easily imported into Excel. Simply copy/paste the data into an excel spreadsheet, then select
Data->Text to columns->Delimited->Other : (colon)->Finish
to parse the data into columns.

I plan to produce a similar file for the upcoming season. It will also be a subscription service, updated daily. The file may not be ready for opening day, but should be available during the first week. Pricing details are not yet finalized, but the file will be free for an initial trial period.

Ready, set, wait

NBA processing will not start until the regular season begins. In some years, I have generated preseason NBA stats, but this year I’ll be taking an extended vacation for the first half of October, so all NBA processing will be deferred until the regular season starts. I expect to be offering stats similar to last year, probably with a few minor tweaks. More details will be announced near the start of the season.

DNP data disparity

I discovered that some DNP games were incorrectly being included as games played for some players in the various RotoGuru stats reports. This caused some per-game averages to be understated.

I think I have it fixed. But please let me know if you think otherwise. If a player does not appear in a game, it should not be included for determination of per-game averages.

NBA Data file - version 2

Based on some early feedback, I've added a few enhancements to the NBA data file. The following data elements are now available in "version 2".

GameID - a unique identifier for each game.
Game time (ET)
Double-double indicator
Triple-double indicator
Daily salary change (for each game site)

For more details, see this thread at the RotoGuru Hoops Forum.

NBA DFS data file goes to subscription basis on Feb 1

I've had a pretty active response to the NBA DFS data file discussed in my Jan 9th blurb (see item below). The file has already been accessed from almost 400 different IP addresses in less than two weeks.

As promised, continued access to this file will be a premium service, effective Feb 1, 2016. From that date forward, only subscribers will have access to the complete file. The subscription fee of just $20 (one-time) will provide access for one user for the remainder of the current NBA season, including the playoffs.

The file will continue to be updated daily, usually by 6:00am ET. Links to subscribe and for terms of service now appear at the top of the file. (Note that the subscription heading will not appear if you access the file through an authorized subscription URL.

Link: http://rotoguru1.com/cgi-bin/nba-dhd-2016.pl

NBA Data gluttony: all-in-one file

Many DailyHoopsData and RotoGuru users already pull down NBA DFS data in text format from various sources. This allows them to manipulate and massage the raw data to meet individual needs.

I've developed a consolidated text file that includes game-by-game player history for the entire 2015-16 NBA season. DFS points, salaries, and positions are shown for each gameday for the four affiliated DFS sites. Data on games started, minutes played, and final team scores are also provided. If you've been cobbling together your database from multiple sources, this file might be your one-stop shopping solution.

For the moment, I'm making this file free to all. However, it will eventually be a premium service, for which I'll probably charge a flat $20 (per user) for daily access throughout the remainder of current NBA season, including the playoffs. I need to do this because advertising is one of the primary revenue sources for the site, and those who access this data file will be getting it ad-free.

The interface and mechanism for a subscription service has not yet been developed, so there is no opportunity to sign up yet. Until that is set up, you can access it for free using this url:
http://rotoguru1.com/cgi-bin/nba-dhd-2016.pl

The data fields in each line are colon delimited, with data headings in the top line. Hopefully, most of the data elements are self explanatory. If you have feedback or questions, please use the related thread in the RotoGuru Hoops Message Forum.