NBA 100k Preseason Tip-Off + Bonus DraftKings Entries
NBA 100k Preseason Tip-Off Lineup 1:
Dennis Schroder: With Lebron and Anthony Davis most likely out for Friday’s season opener, Schroder should become the main scoring option for the Lakers. Since Schroder is young and new to the team Frank Vogel is more likely to give him minutes so that he can generate chemistry with team and get used to his role. Schroder himself might want to have a big game to place himself in the good graces of Lakers fans. Schroder averaged 30.7 DraftKings points during the regular season last year. Schroder is an efficient enough 3 point shooter to score big points on low minutes when he’s feeling hot. I’d expect him to play 20-25 minutes tomorrow.
Zach Lavine: It’s a little harder to predict Lavine’s minutes. There isn’t much to say with Lavine, he’s really good player going against a depleted Rockets team. James Harden has been confirmed out for the game. Some people expect John Wall to have big game in Harden absence, but Wall hasn’t played in two years. It’s likely that the Rockets restrict his minutes, leaving most of the playing time to their bench and role players.
RJ Barrett: Rookies, second and third year players have an increased value in the preseason because the teams often give them a larger work role. Teams are trying to see what they have in these players and for rookies It helps them adjust to the NBA speed and allows for the games to be more box office.
Obi Toppin: I admittedly have a soft spot for Obi Toppin. It’s so rare for a player to have dunk contest level dunking skill in college. Toppin just finds a way to score any time that he gets close to the rim. With Tom Thibodeau coaching the Knicks, we know he like to give his starters high minutes. Thibodeau still plays his rookies however, as he did in 2019 when he was on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jarret Culver and Josh Okogie both played 25 minutes in the Wolves first game against the Suns last year. If Toppin gets 25 minutes then I expect him to be able to leave with a ton of points.
Wendell Carter Jr: I like Carter for a lot of the same reasons that I like Lavine. Carter has extremely good value for his pricing especially against Houston.
Killian Hayes: The rookie for Detroit is currently listed as a starter. The Pistons spent their seventh round pick on Killian Hayes so they must believe in the French-American prospect quite a bit. If the Knicks play well as they typically do in the preseason, then the Pistons could have the ball quite a bit. With most of the starting five on the Pistons being older, Hayes has the potential for a lot of minutes.
John Collins: This Hawks team is unbelievably scary. They are by far the most improved team coming into the year. It’s hard to decide on which Hawk to put in your lineup between Trae Young and John Collins. I think both will end up being correct, thus in this lineup I paid down for Collins.
De’Aaron Fox: The Kings always seem to show out during the preseason. The Trailblazers are a great team. That adds up to a close, hard fought preseason game between the two franchises. Last year in the Kings first game of the season against the Pacers last year they lost a close game 130-131. De’Aaron fox ended up playing 33 minutes scoring 16 points and creating 8 assists. I’m hoping that the game tomorrow goes a similar way.
NBA 100k Preseason Tip-Off Lineup 2:
Trae Young: These Hawks young players should be able to smash this Orlando team and continue their undefeated streak from the bubble. Ice trae is too cold to not drop in at least one lineup.
Buddy Hield: Hield was 2nd last year in 3 pointers trailing Harden by 28. It is important to keep in mind that Harden had a lot more attempts over the season. This is all to say that Hield is a very efficient shooter. His minutes should go up if this Kings game ends up being close.
Montrezl Harrel: With Lebron and AD out, the Lakers need some big men. Marc Gasol is certainly talented, but he’s also 35 years old making him unlikely to play very many minutes in the season opener. Harrel seems prime to take the minutes left behind from the absences of his teammates being the only true 5 that’s left on the roster.
Kyle Kuzma: I’m not confident that Kuzma will be on roster by the end of the year, but with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope most likely having reduced minutes, Kuzma’s ball hogging tendencies could end up working out in his favor. Frank Vogel kept giving Kuzma primetime minutes throughout the playoffs and finals last year even though he was playing terribly. That was only two months ago, so Vogel will probably keep playing Kuzma in the preseason with a roster filled with veterans.
Julius Randle: I’m a big believer in the Knicks this week and Randle is young enough to handle Thibodeau playing him for big minutes. Randle is a lock for 14 points and 23 minutes.
