Bryan Armetta makes his DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections before Thursday’s Mavs-Jazz matchup.
There’s just one game on tap Thursday, as the Mavericks visit the Jazz. Even though the options are limited, there’s still plenty of ways to get in on the action with DraftKings Sportsbook, including DraftKings NBA Pick6 selections ahead of tonight’s matchup.
Another year, same Kyrie Irving. The eight-time All Star is off to another solid start, averaging 25.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists on 54.5% shooting from the field. Most impressive has been the guard’s proficiency from distance; he’s shooting 54.1% on three-point attempts.
While Irving’s marksmanship is unlikely to continue over the course of a full season, his volume is also due for an uptick. He’s only attempted 5.5 shots from beyond the arc this season, which would be his lowest amount in over eight years. The Jazz have serious perimeter defense issues, allowing 37.2% shooting from three, the sixth-worst percentage in the NBA. Look for Kyrie to take advantage of that as an off-ball shooter tonight.
Utah has struggled to establish an offensive hierarchy behind All Star Lauri Markkanen. While forward John Collins has played well down low, the team’s guard rotation remains uncertain. Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson are proven scorers, but second-year man Keyonte George might be the most talented of the bunch. The former Baylor Bear is an atrocious shooter (32.3 FG%), but his all-around game is appealing for the rebuilding Jazz.
George is slowly showing some improvement; through four games in the month of Novemeber, he’s put up 17.0 points. He also scored 17 the last time these two teams met on October 28th. It might not be pretty, but the young guard’s hefty role in Utah’s offense gives him a good chance at surpassing this total.
The most under-reported storyline in Dallas might be Daniel Gafford’s growth on offense. While the big man has always been a quality defender, he’s put up a league-leading 72.5% field goal percentage on a career-high 12.4 shot attempts per game. The 26-year-old is generating 12.2 points in just 21.1 minutes (20.8 PPG per36).
Gafford brings a four-game streak of 15 or more points to tonight’s contest with the Jazz. The center has had 13 or more points in four of his last five meetings with Utah, setting him up for another solid offensive showing against a subpar opponent.
Despite starting seven of ten games, Cody Williams has struggled to get going so far. The rookie is averaging just 3.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists despite playing over 22 minutes per game. Still, there’s enough reason to think the former tenth overall pick will only get better from here.
While Williams wasn’t the most polished prospect entering last summer’s NBA Draft, he’s a better player than what he’s shown so far. Shooting a miserable 26.4% from the field, the Colorado product is due for some positive regression. Even if he doesn’t score much tonight, this number is simply too low for any NBA starter. It’s not the most comfortable pick on the board, but I’m willing to bet that talent and opportunity win out in this spot.
All eyes were on Klay Thompson, who made his long-anticipated return to The Bay against the Warriors on Tuesday. While Golden State won the game, their former shooting guard tallied 22 points, his most since opening night. After such an emotional game, tonight’s contest appears to be a classic letdown spot.
However, Utah’s defensive shortcomings are simply too much to ignore. Aside from their previously mentioned difficulty defending three-pointers, the team is giving up the fifth-most points in the NBA (119.0 PPG). Klay has thrived in this matchup, averaging 25.4 points over his previous seven games against the Jazz. There’s little reason not to expect another great performance tonight.
While the loss of Derrick Jones Jr. has played a role in Dallas’ slow start, Naji Marshall has been a solid contributor. Signed in the offseason from New Orleans, Marshall has been useful as a ‘glue guy’ surrounded by superstars. Recently, with P.J. Washington injured, the career role player has excelled as a starter. In his past four games, he’s posted 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds.
When the Mavericks visited Utah earlier this season, Marshall pulled down six boards in just 15 minutes. While such a small sample size doesn’t guarantee future success, it’s still reassuring. With a bigger role and an opponent that struggles to secure rebounds, Marshall could surpass this number before the fourth quarter.
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of 2+ players and select whether or not you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you can not pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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