Bryan Armetta picks his three favorite forwards for Wednesday night’s NBA action.
Wednesday’s eleven-game slate of NBA action means there’s plenty of ways to find value in season-long fantasy and DFS formats. Yet even with so many matchups, there’s plenty of risk, so making the right choice is essential. Here are three forwards I’m looking to back tonight.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Winning the NBA Finals hasn’t slowed down Jayson Tatum at all; if anything, he’s a different player this year. The Celtics superstar has taken his play to another level, scoring 28.5 points per game on 51.3% shooting from the field. Most impressive has been the All Star’s improvement from long-range; Tatum’s mark of 41.9% on three-point attempts would be the highest since his rookie season.
With all that said, the choice for tonight’s top forward is fairly obvious, regardless of opponent. That Wednesday’s game comes against the Pacers is just an added bonus. During last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, Tatum averaged 30.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over four games. Boston’s homegrown phenom is making a serious push for MVP, and this is the kind of matchup you don’t want to miss out on.
Although Paolo Banchero isn’t consistent enough (yet) to reach superstar status, the über-talented 21-year-old is certainly on his way. For evidence, look no further than Monday’s victory over Indiana, as the former Duke Blue Devil put up 50 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists over 40 minutes of play. It’s a clear sign that Orlando’s young star, despite his age, needs to be discussed amongst the game’s best forwards.
A date with the Bulls is fantasy gold for any scorer. Last season, Chicago had the ninth-worst defensive rating in the league. Aging center Nikola Vucevic has difficulty guarding stretch fours, so Banchero should get plenty of good looks. While he isn’t a guarantee to go off every night, Paolo’s gigantic upside makes him impossible to ignore.
It’s been a surprisingly slow start to the season for LeBron James. While his numbers are still good (20 PPG, 7.5 APG, 7.0 RPG), the King’s stats have been buoyed by a triple-double against Sacramento last Saturday. Monday’s three for 14 shooting vs. the Suns has generated some cause for concern, but I’m willing to bet the 40-year-old still has plenty left in the tank.
That’s why Wednesday’s return to Cleveland comes at the perfect time for James. Since joining the Lakers in 2018, LBJ has averaged 29.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.4 assists in nine games against the Cavaliers. In front of his hometown crowd, with son Bronny likely making an appearance, I think LeBron delivers another vintage performance.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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.
