3 NBA FanDuel Studs to Target on 12/29/17

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Price: $11,500

Just as we turn our attention toward the new year, Westbrook is doing his best to make sure we don't forget 2017. As he did a year ago, he's basically taken over the Oklahoma City offense, and it's been just what the doctor ordered. The Thunder are playing their best basketball of the year and have now won six straight heading into Friday night. DFS players have to be rooting for OKC to stretch to seven tonight.

While the Thunder are starting to prove themselves as a real Western Conference threat, Westbrook's starting to throw his name back into the very early MVP conversation. During the win streak, he only has one triple-double, but he's done just as well in tallying four double-doubles and four 30-point games in that span. His aggressiveness is at max setting, which should explain him making 45.8% of his field goals from inside five feet.

Unfortunately for the Milwaukee Bucks, Westbrook's strength has proven to be one of their big weaknesses this season. According to Cleaning the Glass, their defense has given up the highest percentage (38.4%) of attempts at the rim. They're holding teams to 61% shooting on those attempts, but due to the high volume of opportunities Milwaukee's defense ranks 23rd with an opponent effective field goal percentage of 53.3%.

Oklahoma City and Milwaukee play at similar paces (95.0 and 95.7 possessions per 48, respectively), so the game script wouldn't favor Westbrook on its face. However, Vegas is in disagreement, as evidenced by the Thunder's implied total of 108.5 points.

If that wasn't enough, Paul George has now been ruled out. Per NBAWowy, his absence has given Brodie a 12.3% boost in usage (44.9%) and an added 0.1 FanDuel point per minute (1.53) when he's been off the floor this season. That gives us the all-clear to deploy Westbrook in all formats this evening.