Antonio who averages 28 points a game for his basketball team

The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program began to pay dividends in its second year. The 2007 USA Senior Team, comprised of 12 players selected from the 33-member senior National Team program, rumbled over its opposition at the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, and finished 10-0 to win gold and capture one of the FIBA Americas zone's two qualifying berths for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2007 USA RESULTS (10-0)

2007FIBA AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL STANDINGS

In winning its 10 games in just 12 days, the USA extended its unbeaten streak in Olympic qualifying play to 36 consecutive wins, a run that dates back to the 1992 Tournament of the Americas.

The USA team in its 10 games averaged 116.7 ppg., the most by a USA senior national team since the 1994 USA World Championship Team averaged 120.1 ppg.; and the USA defeated its 10 opponents by an average of 39.5 ppg., the largest margin by a senior squad since the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team defeated its opponents by 43.8 ppg.

The USA team led the FIBA Americas Championship overall team statistical rankings in 13 of 17 categories. The USA team shot 58.7 percent from the field, a sizzling 47.0 percent from 3-point and a solid 72.0 percent from the foul line. The USA team averaged 59.7 points by halftime of its 10 games and its average lead at halftime was 23.0 ppg. Of the USA's 420 made field goals, 259 were assisted meaning an astounding 61.7 percent of the team's made field goals were assisted on.

The USA team rewrote eight USA team records for the Olympic qualifying event and added a pair of single game marks. USA players wrote themselves into eight single game records and four competition records.

Competing in preliminary group play Aug. 22-26, behind 17 points from Carmelo Anthony and Michael Redd the Americans opened impressively with a 112-69 victory over Venezuela. Anthony and Redd again teamed to lead the U.S. scoring effort with 22 points each as the USA easily disposed of the U.S. Virgin Islands 123-59. Clamping down defensively and fueled by Anthony?s 25 points on 9-for-12 shooting, the U.S. posted a 113-63 decision over Canada. The USA closed out its preliminary play 4-0 after posting a one-sided 113-76 win against Brazil. Anthony and LeBron James combined to shoot 16-24 as each tallied 21 points in the win.

Advancing to the second round, the USA and Anthony continued their march and behind 28 points from Anthony claimed a 127-100 win over Mexico. James poured in 21 points as the U.S. rolled to a 117-78 win against Puerto Rico. James had a perfect shooting night and sank 11-of-11 shots from the floor, including a 4-for-4 from 3-point, to finish with 26 points as the U.S. manhandled Uruguay to the tune of 118-79. Meeting previously unbeaten Argentina in the final second round game, the U.S. sprinted out earlier and never looked back in a 91-76 victory that saw Kobe Bryant lead the charge with 27 points.

Moving on to semifinals action with a berth in the 2008 Olympics going to the victor, the USA dominated Puerto Rico 135-91 as Anthony and Redd recorded 27 and 23 points, respectively. Facing 2004 Olympic champion Argentina in the Sept. 2 gold medal contest, the Americans sprinted to a 35-14 first quarter advantage and stormed on to a lopsided 118-81 win. James saved his best offensive effort for last, scoring a USA Olympic qualifying record 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting that included a sizzling 8-for-11 show from beyond the 3-point arc. Dwight Howard added 20 points on perfect 7-for-7 shooting from the field.

Statistically, there were plenty of impressive individual stat lines. Anthony averaged 21.2 ppg., a team high and the second most overall in the championship. James accounted for 18.1 ppg., Bryant added 15.3 ppg., Redd posted 14.4 ppg., while Amare Stoudemire, 11.1 ppg., and Howard, 10.0 ppg., also finished the tournament averaging in double-figures. Howard, 5.3 rpg., Anthony, 5.2 rpg., and Tayshaun Prince, 5.2 rpg., paced the U.S. effort on the glass, while James, 4.7 apg., Jason Kidd, 4.6 apg., Deron Williams, 4.6 apg., and Chauncey Billups, 2.6 apg., led the USA's magnificent passing attack.

While the USA and Argentina secured the two berths for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, third place finishing Puerto Rico, fourth place Brazil and fifth place Canada each earned a spot in the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament that will be conducted in July 2008.

We have 12 games in total, with all but six teams taking the floor. That always leads to some saturated player pools and lengthy injury reports. It also means a lot to discuss, so let’s get started!

Injury Report

• Devin Booker (groin) OUT
• Darius Garland (thumb) Questionable
• Evan Mobley (ankle) Questionable
• Kelly Oubre (hand) Questionable
• Gordon Hayward (hamstring) Questionable
• RJ Barrett (finger) OUT
• Khris Middleton (knee) Questionable
• Jrue Holiday (hamstring) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (hamstring) OUT
• Brandon Ingram (toe) Questionable
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) OUT
• D’Angelo Russell (illness) Questionable
• Cade Cunningham (shin) OUT
• Stephen Curry (shoulder) OUT
• Andrew Wiggins (illness) Questionable
• Anthony Davis (foot) OUT
• Russell Westbrook (foot) Questionable
• Clint Capela (calf) Questionable
• Malik Monk (shoulder) Questionable
• Kevin Huerter (back) Questionable

Core Plays

Joel Embiid (PF/C – PHI): $11,200 DraftKings, $11,600 FanDuel
Embiid has scored at least 53 DraftKings points in 16 of his previous 19 games, generating a 62-point average in that span. He’s thrived against the Pacers over the last two years, averaging 63 DK points per game in their last three meetings. That’s no surprise since they surrender the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Julius Randle (PF/C – NYK): $10,500 DraftKings, $9,900 FanDuel
Randle has scored at least 58 DraftKings points in six straight games, posting a 61-point average in that span. That’d make him a worthy play against anyone, but San Antonio is the best matchup in fantasy. The Spurs are last in both points allowed and defensive efficiency while owning a 29th OPRK against opposing power forwards. He also had 70 DK points in their one matchup earlier in the season.

CJ McCollum (PG/SG – NOP): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,600 FanDuel
In the last six games without Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, McCollum is averaging nearly 50 fantasy points per game. It’s easy to understand why, with McCollum playing 35-40 minutes, taking 20-plus shots, and posting a 35-40% usage rate. That’s rough for the Rockets, who allow the most fantasy points to opposing guards this year.

Cash Game Considerations

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $9,900 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
The only concern with Gilgeous-Alexander is that this is the second half of a back-to-back set. The good news is that he’s played in most of those, averaging over 50 DraftKings points per game this season. The reason we love him here is this outstanding matchup with Orlando, who sit 22nd in defensive efficiency ratings. We expect things to be close, and you know SGA will go off as the best player on the floor. In their one matchup this year., Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 56 DK points.

LeBron James (SF/PF – LAL): $10,700 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
James has scored at least 37 DraftKings points in every game this year, scoring 68 and 76 DK points in his last two outings. Those are some of the best games of his storied career, but they need him to keep balling out with Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook both nicked up.

Jordan Poole (PG/SG – GSW): $8,300 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel
Poole has taken over Golden State’s offense in the absence of Stephen Curry, which has allowed him to average 36 DK points per game in his 19 starts this year. He’s seeing a massive boost in minutes and shot attempts with Curry on the sidelines, leading the team with a 32% usage rate. He’s talented enough to be a monster in that expanded opportunity, and we’re not concerned about him facing a 29th-ranked Pistons defense.

GPP Targets

Immanuel Quickley (PG/SG – NYK): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Quickley has played 36 or more minutes in four straight games, totaling a 43-point average in that span. That’s a tremendous total from a player in this price range, and we’re really encouraged that he played 36 minutes in Jalen Brunson‘s first game back. We already talked about this sensational matchup, with the Spurs having the worst defensive numbers in the NBA.

Jalen Duren (PF/C – DET): $5,000 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Duren has been starting for a few weeks now, averaging 28 DK points per game across 29 minutes a night over his last 14 games played. That’s scary for a kid this young, and he’s only going to get better from here on out. The Warriors are a wonderful matchup, too, ranked 26th in points allowed.

Steven Adams (C – MEM): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
Adams has back-to-back 20-rebound games, scoring at least 42 fantasy points in three straight outings. That’s all you can ask for from a player in this price range, and he should sting a defense like the Hornets. Charlotte sits 25th in defensive efficiency and 28th in points allowed while surrendering the most fantasy points and rebounds to opposing centers.

John Collis is looking like a great value play for Jan. 4 games.

Value Plays

John Collins (PF/C – ATL): $6,000 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
It’s hard to understand why Collins still sits around $6K as he’s been providing value in almost every game over the last two weeks. The big man has scored at least 34 DraftKings points in four of his last five games, getting his minute’s restriction lifted last week. That’s massive since he’s seeing extra time in the absence of Clint Capela, and he should feast once again against a 26th-ranked Warriors defense.

Jonas Valanciunas (C – NOP): $6,300 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Larry Nance‘s injury is allowing a revival from Valanciunas and he should see a 25-minute role tonight. In fact, Valanciunas has played at least 25 minutes in 20 games this season, generating a 36-point average in those outings. He should have another one of those ceiling games with the Rockets ranked 28th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Kyle Anderson (SF/PF – MIN): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,600 FanDuel
Anderson has been doing his thing as a starter of late, averaging 27 DK points per game across 30 minutes a night in his 13 starts this season. He was also one of the primary playmakers with D’Angelo Russell out on Monday, and if that’s the case again here, Anderson is one of the best values of the day. The matchup is the icing on the cake, with Portland ranked 20th in defensive efficiency. That was on full display when Anderson averaged 27 DK points in their two matchups this year.

Advantageous Pricing

• Steven Adams (C – MEM): $5,400 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Jalen McDaniels (SF/PF – CHA): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Jalen Smith (PF/C – IND): $3,500 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Scottie Barnes (PG/SF – TOR): $6,700 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel
• Gary Trent Jr.(SG – TOR): $5,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Ayo Dosunmu (PG-SG – CHI): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Drew Eubanks (C – POR): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel
• Patrick Beverley (PG/SG – LAL): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,300 FanDuel

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.

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