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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on September 1, 2020. Euan Leith provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
Ba de ya, say do you remember? Ba de ya, playoff basketball in September. Ba de ya, but there are only two games today.
Welcome to September, where playoff basketball dominates the sports world, and Jamal Murray doesn't miss a three-point attempt. As the cream rises to the top in the playoffs, we look forward to a two-game slate with a game seven between the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets while the Toronto Raptors look to bounce back from their embarrassing game one performance against the Boston Celtics.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 9/1/20. You can also check out today's DraftKings lineup picks. Remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @EuanOrYouOut. Good luck.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Jamal Murray, PG - DEN vs. UTA ($9,400)
The popular narrative for Jamal Murray is that he can't maintain his star-like level of play consistently. It seems that his last three games have thrown that story in the trash. Murray became the first player since Allen Iverson in 2001 to score at least 40 points in three-straight playoff games after dropping another 50 on the Jazz in game six. Murray is averaging 34 points, 6.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.3 made three-pointers per game throughout the series and has a chance to continue his blazing hot shooting streak tonight. Can he do it again in game seven with a semifinal berth on the line? I'm don't know, but I won't be betting against him.
Donovan Mitchell, SG - UTA vs. DEN ($8,500)
If the Utah Jazz wants to advance to the conference semifinals, it's going to be on the shoulders of Donovan Mitchell. The third-year guard has been incredible this series as he and Jamal Murray trade giant bucket after giant bucket. Mitchell has scored 50 points in two games of this first-round matchup and is averaging 38.7 points on 54.8 percent shooting, with 5.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 5.2 three-pointers on 55.4 percent shooting from behind the three-point arc. It's the same deal with Mitchell as it was with Murray. It seems impossible that his run can continue, but there's no way I'm going against Spida in his current form.
Marcus Smart, SG - BOS vs. TOR ($5,700)
Marcus Smart started in game one for the Celtics and was hyper-efficient in the win. Smart had 21 points on 6-for-10 shooting and added five three-pointers, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 31 minutes. The guard has started all four games since Gordon Hayward went down with an ankle injury and seems to have seamlessly transitioned into his starting role. Smart's 21 points marked the second-highest total in 50 career playoff games. While it's unlikely he will beat that against the Raptors tonight, his all-around contributions will allow him to garner enough fantasy points to be an ideal candidate for your lineups.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Serge Ibaka, PF - TOR vs. BOS ($6,500)
Serge Ibaka was great in the first round of the playoffs, where he averaged 37.5 fantasy points per game in the Raptors sweep of the Brooklyn Nets. Game one of the second round did not go well for Toronto, but Ibaka still gave us a manageable fantasy performance with 15 points, nine rebounds, and one assist. Boston is a much more formidable opponent than Brooklyn, but Ibaka should be able to get back to the 30-point fantasy mark in game two.
Jaylen Brown, SF - BOS vs. TOR ($6,300)
It seems that FanDuel is not too impressed with Jaylen Brown's recent performances as his price sits below $6,500 for the first time in his last four games. It's odd timing with the two-game slate, but daily players will take it. Brown has proven the type of ceiling he has with three performances of at least 42 fantasy points inside the bubble. With his lower than usual cost and high ceiling, Brown has all the makings of a contest-winning play on Tuesday.
Daniel Theis, PF - BOS vs. TOR ($5,300)
Daniel Theis dominated in game one versus the Toronto Raptors. In 25 minutes, he recorded 13 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and one steal for 37.5 fantasy points. Could Theis be taking advantage of a favorable matchup? He faced off against Joel Embiid in round one and averaged 18.8 FPPG, but Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka are not that calibers of defenders. It wouldn't be shocking to find out that Brad Stevens sees something he likes in that matchup. Let's ride Theis in game two, where another night returning five times value could well be in the cards.
FanDuel DFS Centers
Marc Gasol, C - TOR vs. BOS ($4,500)
Gasol is my pick at center for the two-game slate mostly because Nikola Jokic and Rudy Gobert have taken a back seat in their series to the high scoring guards. Getting Gasol at this price allows daily players to get Murray, Mitchell, and another higher-priced stud in their lineups with the correct build. The big man from Spain isn't a zero, though. He has three consecutive games with at least 19 fantasy points and gives managers a solid floor on Tuesday.
