Daily Fantasy NBA
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Last Updated: For anyone completely new to the concept of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), let’s address the basics before we discuss how they apply to basketball and the NBA. In simple terms, DFS contests are tournaments where you buy-in for a fixed fee and compete against other players. The aim of the game is to create a fantasy team from a set budget. Depending on the sport, individuals in your team will earn points based on their performance. By the close of that day’s games, the top point scorers win a share of the prizepool.
Now that’s out of the way, how does the NBA fit into the mix? Well, when you want to join the action, you simply find a DFS site and draft a team for a night of games. Depending on the platform you choose, you’ll have a salary cap of around $50,000 to $60,000. Using this budget, you need to select eight players to fit in the following positions: Point Guard (PG), Shooting Guard (SG), Small Forward (SF), Power Forward (PF), Center (C), Flex Guard (G), this is a flexible position which means you can insert a PG or an SG, Flex Forward (F), a flexible position which means you can insert a SF or an PF, and Utility (UTL).
Now, it’s important to note that some DFS sites will have a slightly different draft process. For example, you might have to pick two players for each position rather than having Flex and Utility players. However, the list above should give you a general idea of your mission. Once you’ve understood the basic premise of NBA DFS, the next important step is to choose the right site. Because each operator offers slightly different budgets, scoring systems, tournaments and bonuses, you need a strategy for finding the best one. Fortunately, this is where we come in, as you’ll see in the following sections.
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Established 2019Must be 21+ to participate. T&Cs apply. - 2
Established 2009Must be 18+ to participate. T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. New users only. The bonus will be added to your account. Bonus funds must be used for play and are not available for withdrawal. Bonus will expire 14 days from issue and any unused bonus may be removed from your account. - 3
Established 2012Must be 18+ years of age or older (19+ in NE, AL) (21+ in AZ, FL, IA, LA (select parishes), and MA). Paid contests not available while physically located in HI, ID, LA (select parishes), MT, NV, OR, or WA. Void where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. Available to first-time DraftKings Daily Fantasy (“DFS”) customers only.
Daily Fantasy NBA Tips
Choosing a Daily NBA Fantasy Site
To make your life easier, we’ve partnered with the leading DFS sites in the US to provide you with the best deals and easiest access to said deals. By clicking our secure links, you’ll be taken directly to the top platforms in the business. For our second trick, we want to help you become an expert. In this guide, we’ve outlined the information, tips and tricks you’ll need to thrive in the NBA DFS arena. With this in mind, here are three things you need to consider when you’re surveying our recommended DFS sites:
Bonuses and Offers
Each online DFS operator will give you something for signing up. This could be freeroll tickets or some form of bonus. Beyond this, the leading sites will offer regular guaranteed prizepools, jackpots and incentives for being a loyal customer and making deposits. Based on your experience level, look for the sites with deals that suit you. If you’re a small stakes player, look for a site with plenty of freerolls. If you’re an expert, find a platform with generous prizepools and jackpots.
Drafts and Budgets
Every DFS site will ask you to select a team in a different way. You need to find the one that works best for your tactics. For example, if you like to have more flexibility, opt for a site where Flex and Utility spots are offered. If you prefer to be guided, take one with fixed positions. Similarly, if you like to spend big, go for a site with a large budget. In contrast, if you feel you have a greater edge working with a tighter budget where every cent counts, go for that.
Scoring
Like drafting, all sites score player moves differently. In general, you should look for the sites that don’t negatively score missed shots. Moreover, if you’re a novice, look for a simple scoring system that doesn’t offer too many points.
Tournaments
The final thing you need to consider is the tournaments on offer. Wednesdays are the big day for NBA DFS players, so make sure the site has plenty of action on this day. Moreover, assess the buy-ins, guaranteed prizepools and the number of active players. If all of these are positive, you’re onto a winner.
NBA Daily Fantasy Scoring
DFS scoring for basketball will differ between sites. However, it’s possible to breakdown the action into simple and complex. The first list is an example simple scoring system and the second is more complex, which basically means there are more options added:
- 3-pointer
- 2-pointer
- Rebound
- Assists
- Block
- Steal
- Turnover
- Double-Double
- Triple-Double
- Milestone bonuses
- Bonuses for made 3-pointers
Understanding NBA Match-Ups
Every player and team you draft will have an opposite and you need to factor this into your decisions. For example, you might want to draft Jeremy Lamb of the Charlotte Hornets as your SG, but that week his team are playing the Boston Celtics. After analyzing the stats, it becomes clear that Lamb won’t get much breathing space and won’t fulfil his potential. If that’s the case, you shouldn’t pick him, even if he’s having a great season in general. Although we can’t go into all the factors a successful DFS NBA player will take into account when looking at match-ups, we can list a few general principles below:
- Vegas Lines = What do the odds makers predict and what information can you glean from this.
- Pace of Play = Do certain teams/players perform better in fast or slow-paced games? Will the match be fast or slow and how will that affect a team/player?
- Individual Stats = Does such-and-such player often falter against a tall defense? Is YY player more likely to score 3-pointers against attacking teams? All successful DFSers will look into specific details like these.
Finding Quality Role Players
As well as considering match-ups, you need to think about drafting players that will, essentially, do the small tasks so your stars can shine. Every strong DFS NBA line-up needs at least one high quality role player for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they’re usually cheap. Secondly, they fulfil a specific role that you might need. For example, J.J. Redick is known for his ability to run and virtually never stop. When a guard does this, it allows the offensive line to carve out more opportunities and, in turn, score more points. So, if you had a team full of star shooters, you’d want to bring someone like Redick into the mix so he could do the running (i.e. the hard work) for them. As a budding NBA DFS grinder, you need to think the same way. Indeed, if you can keep this in mind, consider match-ups and find the right place to play using our secure sign-up links, you’ll be on the right path to slam dunking some serious DFS wins.
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