This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
After holding the Suns to 38 percent from the floor and dominating in the second half of Game 3, the Clippers have fought off a 2-0 deficit and have a chance to even the series with Phoenix. Today we'll tackle the single-game offering for Game 4. For a more in-depth look at various single-game strategies, read my recent article on the subject.
Let's begin by taking a look at a winning cash game lineup from Game 3.
2x Paul George 108
1.5x Chris Paul 63.6
1.2 Deandre Ayton 45.36
UTIL Ivica Zubac 44.7
UTIL Cameron Johnson 19
I employed this lineup with great success in 50/50s and cash contests, and though a Zubac multiplier switch yielded a higher total, this combination was the best build I came across in my cash spread Thursday. Unless you're content with getting a diluted total in tournaments due to identical entries, cash contests are ultimately the most profitable way to get through single-game affairs. My allotment is more weighted to cash, with about 10 percent of my daily bankroll going to tournament fliers in the hope of differentiating enough to spike a win.
The combo of George and Ayton once again proved to be a sound strategy, and the addition of Chris Paul provided the expected effect despite an inflated salary. Decent production from Zubac and Johnson was also unsurprising, although it appears that the final utility spot will be a lucky dart throw for the remainder of the series. Patrick Beverley was present in several winning builds as well.
INJURIES TO MONITOR
PHO Cameron Payne (ankle) - PROBABLE
LAC Marcus Morris (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
Both of these players will likely take the floor. The injury to Morris is probably the only one that will affect our builds, as Chris Paul's return puts reasonable doubt on a good total from Payne.
MULTIPLIER CANDIDATES
Paul George, LAC ($15,000)
Chris Paul, PHO ($15,000)
Deandre Ayton, PHO ($13,000)
Reggie Jackson, LAC ($12,000)
Ivica Zubac, LAC ($11,500)
The most glaring omission from the multiplier pool is Devin Booker ($14,000). Although an additional day of practice with his protective mask might yield a better total, Booker has largely underperformed relative to our single-game builds, and it seems that barring an outlier total, he won't be the best avenue for a multiplier. He's not a complete fade in MME builds, but exposure for him should be lower than usual for the current game script. Paul George continues to be the top play at the 2x multiplier, although Chris Paul came somewhat close to being the premier play at the double-up spot. Although it's usually smart to deviate from a previous winning lineup to a degree, the multipliers are relatively stable this time around. We would have ended up with a better total by inserting Zubac into a multiplier, but history shows that he hasn't come close to this number in a while. The last time he sniffed 40 FDFP was in a game against Toronto back in May, so it's fair to consider his total an outlier. I'm still quite confident in what Ayton can do against the Clippers' interior, and Paul should also be in the mix for the majority of builds. Mixing and matching Ayton and Paul with the 1.5 and 1.2x multipliers is also an excellent way to diversify at the top. Reggie Jackson is a bit too expensive for a utility spot, and although his lower price doesn't help you much, he's a reasonable alternative for the 1.2x multiplier as well.
UTILITY CANDIDATES
Ivica Zubac, LAC ($11,500)
Terance Mann, LAC ($9,500)
Patrick Beverley, LAC ($9,000)
Cameron Johnson, PHO ($8,500)
Unfortunately, it's unlikely that we can afford Zubac any longer if we intend on using the same multiplier setup. While we can use him at the 1.2 multiplier spot, we would have to downgrade to Reggie Jackson at the multiplier to make him viable as a utility. Since most of our multiplier builds will leave us an average of $9,000 per player, the bottom three players on the list are exponentially more likely to merit a spot. As the prices show, the only reasonable combo with our current multiplier build is a combo of Johnson with Mann or Beverley alongside him. Other role players could outdo this trio, but for cash purposes, they are the strongest candidates. Beverley's numbers have been impressive in this series, but I favor a build with Mann and Johnson due to their heightened upside when their shooting is dialed in. I can envision leaving some cash on the table with a Beverley-Johnson combo as well, however.
ALTERNATIVE BUILDS
For tournaments, you'll have to get unique, but it's essential not to get too cute as you try to differentiate. It's ultimately unwise to omit Paul George right now, especially with Kawhi Leonard out. To a lesser degree, the same can be said for Chris Paul. The place you will differentiate the most is at the 1.2 multiplier. Ayton, Jackson, Zubac and Mann are all players who could flip the script at this position. A flip of Paul to the 2x is also worth considering, although it's unlikely that anyone will top George in tonight's box score.
