We have more great NBA Playoff matchups on the schedule for today’s MomentRanks Play games — daily fantasy using Top Shot Moments.
The Nets head to Boston to look to keep the sweep alive. Behind their dominant big three of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden they have NBA fans thinking they could potentially make it to the Finals in only 12 games.
Their cross-town counterparts, the Knicks, are travelling to Atlanta for an important and tone-setting game against the Hawks. Look for Trae Young to perform for the home fans on his own floor. He’s someone to consider every time he plays, though I didn’t include him in the Core Moments.
To close out the evening, the Mavericks have the chance to go up 3-0 on their own court. They are the only team with that possibility, which nobody saw coming. 22-year-old Luka Doncic is a bonafide stud and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Clippers go home after just five games.
When building a roster in MomentRanks Play, each Moment can unlock a Moment Boost by achieving over their last-ten game averages (L10) in the stat that corresponds to the featured play. This means choosing the correct Moment is crucial to your lineup’s success. So how are you supposed to know which is the best?
First, make sure to understand the updated scoring and bonuses for Play if you haven’t already. Keep in mind: play type will dictate the Moment Boost if a player goes over their 10-game averages. You can also watch a quick tutorial on Play scoring.
Make sure to also participate in the First Round Head-to-Head Playoff Contest that MomentRanks launched. At the end of the First Round, the GMs with the top 50 records in public head-to-heads will be rewarded with Packs or Moments — including Cool Cats Drop 1 packs to the top three.
Core Moments
Julius Randle — Series 2 Common /35,000 Layup ($3)
I’ll start the Core Moments with a player I think has potential to have a breakout night. Randle picked it up at the end of the second game versus the Hawks, and if he keeps it rolling he could provide a massive Moment Boost. Randle is averaging just 21.9 points per game over the last ten games while taking 39 shots so far in the series, hitting only 11. These are abysmal numbers for Randle who could go for 35 if he has a star performance. I like this as a core play tonight.
Kyrie Irving — Series 2 Common /40,000+ Jump Shot ($4)
Irving returns to play his first game back in Boston since taking his talents to Brooklyn. This could easily be a game where Irving calls for the ball to make a point and show off in front of the fans for a revenge game. He’s been effective this series and should surpass his 25.8 point per game in his last 10 if he does go off. It is unfortunately hard to play Kyrie on a non-scoring Moment, as the cheapest qualifying option will run you $155 at the least for a steal Moment.
Luka Doncic — Series 2 Common /40,000+ Assist ($10)
Luka’s 65 assists over his last 10 appearances is low compared to the 18 he has dished out in the first two games of the series against the Clippers. Luka has been hurting the Clips badly with both his shooting and his passing, but you could see the Clippers look to lock down Luka’s dangerous scoring ability and force him into more passes. This Moment is a must-start Core play for my lineups today.
Kawhi Leonard — Series 2 Common /40,000+ Jump Shot ($6)
This Moment did extremely well for us last time I featured it, and I have no problem going back to the well again tonight. The Clippers have their backs against the wall and will need their star player to again shoulder the load. Leonard went off for 41 points last time out and still is only averaging 22.2 points per game in his last ten contests. This is my featured Moment play of the day.
Sleeper Moments
Marcus Smart — Series 2 Common /18,000 Steal ($10)
It’s a tough night to find a steal Moment as a sleeper, but if you’re looking to use one, Marcus Smart stands out amongst the options. Smart was able to grab two steals in the last contest against the Nets, and if the Celtics hope to avoid a third-straight loss, a few steals from Smart would certainly help. He currently has 1.5 steals per game over his last ten appearances, so it’s worth playing this Moment if you think he can again get two.
Steal Pivot: Reggie Bullock S1 Common Steal /3999 ($34)
Clint Capela — Series 2 Common /40,000+ Block ($3)
Capela is sitting with a very convenient 1.9 blocks per game, which means he only needs two to hit his boost. He’s recorded two and five blocks in the first two games against the Knicks. His five block game propelled him into winning lineups in Game 2. Now returning to his home floor, I expect that Capela will be able to notch a third or fourth block in this game to give this Moment some very high upside. He is also rebounding and scoring effectively, giving him a decent floor.
Block Pivot: Nerlens Noel S2 Common Block /40,000+ ($3)
Have questions about setting your lineup on Play? Check out the Play FAQ, or send me a tweet, @JustinPerri8.