Both of these top-of-the-market franchises, the Warriors and Clippers, are looking to take a major step in the right direction in their season. Both teams are in playoffs spot coming into tonight’s game but have been wildly inconsistent with usually top players having to carry the teams. James Harden for the Clippers has had to deal with no Kawhi Leonard while Steph Curry lost his Splash Brother. Curry and Harden are still playing at a very high level but need some young players to really step up, as both superstars are toward the back halves of their careers.
Warriors at Clippers DFS Start’em
Warriors F Dennis Schröder($6,000 on DraftKings)
With the great Steph Curry out of the Warriors lineup, the sole point guard is Golden State’s new trade acquisition. Since being a Warrior, Schröder hasn’t had the big impact many were expecting him to have. But here is a golden chance to get into the action in a major way. The Clippers don’t have great defending guards who play big minutes which means the chance for Schröder to produce is high. It also helps he will get the green light from Steve Kerr to let the ball fly and try to score. This is the best value pick for this night capper.
Clippers F Norman Powell($8,800 on DraftKings)
Other than James Harden and Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell has been the main bright spot for Los Angeles this season. The former Raptor leads the team in scoring and he has scored at least 28 points in four consecutive games. This is a high price point, but that should not deter you from either starting him or even making him your team captain. This is by far the easiest start in this Western Conference battle.
Warriors at Clippers DFS Sit’em
Warriors G Buddy Hield($4,600 on DraftKings)
The Warriors’ new guard from free agency had a fantastic start to his Warriors career. But since a scorching hot start, Hield has cooled off which has shown why he has bounced around the association his whole career. Hield has dipped so dramatically that he isn’t even getting 20 minutes a game over the last two weeks. Many people will jump to start Hield, especially at that price point but he hasn’t gotten things going in a while. The volume of shots won’t be enough to start him and his inefficiency should land him on your bench.
Clippers G Kevin Porter Jr.($5,000 on DraftKings)
The former Houston Rocket has found a nice role with the Clippers. Most people believed that he was a total bust but a bench role with a team that needs depth has been a huge plus. While he has been playing well recently, he is coming into this game with an illness which is never a good sign. Even if Porter Jr suits up tonight, it seems he won’t be at 100% and it will be interesting if Ty Lue pushes him too hard tonight. Normally, this would be a great value but not with the illness coming into Friday night.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, this could be a wide-open game for the Warriors with Steph Curry not playing. Who knows who will contribute in a major way as most of the Warriors’ game plan always revolves around Curry on and off the ball. That makes this an intriguing game but difficult for DFS players as it’s hard to predict who can step up. Clippers have more certainty with their players about who plays well on a nightly basis. This means the chances of being in for the big money are higher if you take good risks with Golden State.
