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How do you mix those elements into your point guard (PG), shooting guard (SG), small forward (SF), power forward (PF), center (C), guard (G), forward (F), and utility (U) lineup slots? While the specifics will shift depending on the slate of NBA games, there are some general guidelines we can apply. Game theory is somewhat (though not entirely) de-emphasized in cash contests, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of strategy involved.
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I'll focus mainly on cash games - those where half of the field roughly doubles their money - but you can apply much of this information to guaranteed prize pool (GPP) games too. Your lineups need the right combination of value, upside and safety to be in contention. The 2020-21 NBA season may have already started, but you can create or join an ESPN Fantasy Basketball league at any time and start your season from when you draft your team. You have to read game flow and Vegas information correctly, interpret pace, usage and other stats right, anticipate what others will do with their lineups (game theory) - and, of course, the players have to execute. To win in any daily fantasy sports contest, a lot of things have to come together.
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