One of the best ways to optimize your NBA lineups is to keep close track of potential scratches and to adapt quickly to changes. Every Wednesday and Friday I'll give you a few things to watch for based on players with statuses that could indicate they won't play -- and what that could mean for adjustments to your lineup. I'll also answer questions on Twitter closer to lock @cfrelund.
Good luck!
If Cleveland rests either Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love ...
Then consider playing just one of the three stars. LeBron James hasn't played since Monday, and his usage goes up with either Irving or Love off the court (a bit more when Irving is gone than Love). If Love doesn't play, this boosts Kyrie's potential production because his usage rate goes up. If Irving doesn't play, the same thing happens for Love. James is priced at less than $10,000 on both sites and an even better potential value on DraftKings, where he's only $9,300, which I believe is underpriced for the matchup against the Magic, whose defense is bottom third in the league. One note: This game has the second-lowest total for the night, so I wouldn't play more than one Cavs player in cash games.
If Brandon Jennings is starting ...
Then he becomes a low-cost option to consider. Watch the availability of Magic teammate Elfrid Payton, and if he's a no-go, look for Jennings to start. The Cavs defense is the best overall on the night, but opposing point guards have been their weak spot. Watch who starts for the Cavs, too, so you can see if it's Irving or Matthew Dellavedova.
If Kyle Lowry is rested ...
Then Isaiah Thomas and DeMar DeRozan become great options. For Thomas, read my sleeper pick from today's building blocks post, then factor in that Lowry is a nasty on-ball defender who Thomas won't have to deal with. As for DeRozan, his usage goes way up when Lowry is out and as such becomes a great potential value for either format on DraftKings and a GPP-only candidate on FanDuel.
Track New Orleans carefully because if Toney Douglas is starting ...
Then he's worth considering in Norris Cole's (questionable) absence. If Tim Frazier starts (he's on a 10-day contract), then he becomes a low-cost GPP option because the Trail Blazers defense is bottom third against opposing shooting guards on the season.