RADIO
The atmosphere of the playoffs has had an effect on every aspect of the NBA. Superstars are playing well above their potential, teams are rallying together to overcome 3-1 series deficits, and bench players are earning the respect they deserve around the league.
With the NBA Draft Lottery tonight, individuals like myself, who favor teams that were not lucky enough to make it to the NBA postseason, will be waiting to see their teams next potential superstar. Although this is irrelevant to DFS, if the Knicks pick a Kentucky Wildcat this year, I will be extremely disappointed and probably crawl into a hole until the end of next season.
Back to the NBA playoffs and the fantastic matchup we have tonight, and the spectacular matchup tomorrow. The field has been slimmed and it looks like a Curry-LeBron finals is the most desired projection.
Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry - GS, G - $10,400
Stephen Curry had struggled early on against the Memphis Grizzlies last round. He seemed to regain his confidence and his shot in the later games which propelled the Warriors easily past the tough Grizzlies defense. If there was any team that would be able to shut down the Splash Co. (Not just the splash brothers because the Warriors have been shooting excellently as of late) it would have been the Grizzlies. With his shot percentage continually rising through every game, Curry shows no signs of stopping any time soon. I am going to confidently start him against the Rockets every game because if the Warriors want to him, Curry will be a major factor.
David Lee - GS, F - $3,000
To counter the expensive price of Stephen Curry, David Lee is a cheap option who is receiving the minutes he needs to produce. He is a veteran player who knows how to do it all. He is a great role player and can finish when he needs to. His ceiling is not necessarily high but his low price makes his ceiling a more reachable goal. He proved that he can contribute against a stingy Grizzlies defense. With Marreese Speights still out, Lee will still get the minutes and should have higher numbers of production. It is a riskier play but when it comes to minutes, Lee will get his fair share.
Dwight Howard - HOU, C - $8,700
Dwight Howard had a rough matchup against DeAndre Jordan but still managed to come out with 40+ FPS the past three games. He is contributing huge numbers in the rebounding category and has increased his offensive production significantly. I personally do not like Howard as a player, (whines too much and can’t hit free throws) but that does not take away from his superstar ability. He will score and he will rebound every night and should explode against a weaker opponent in Andrew Bogut. I think that Howard and his inability to make his free throws and foul trouble will hurt his numbers but should still be a solid play. His lower value also makes him the perfect option that will produce superstar numbers with a price that is not through the roof.
There are not many other options I like other than Dwight Howard and James Harden. I do not feel confident enough in any other Rockets players that will come out to play in game 1. Corey Brewer (HOU, G - $4,500) would be a riskier option but along with Josh Smith, (HOU, F - $5,500) should be the top offensive performers tonight outside of James Harden (HOU, G - $9,500) and Dwight Howard.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks
LeBron James - CLE, F - $11,400
As much as I want to advise playing LeBron James because of his previous performances, I feel that his price tag is a very high price and not worth the investment. I hate doubting James but I think today would be a prime opportunity to pass up James and free up space for more players in the higher price but not $10,000+ department. Of course if you can and want to play James, by all means do it, I just believe that this will be one of the games where he will not produce the immense FPS that he has been producing previously.
Tristan Thompson - CLE, F - $5,800
Tristan has stepped up lately in place for Kevin Love. The only thing that the Cavaliers have to worry about with Thompson is how much he will be asking for in future. He has filled Love’s perfectly and will produce further into the playoffs. He faced a tough Chicago Bulls defense and managed to come out successful and ready for the next opponent. He suffered a minor shoulder injury and is listed as questionable at the moment but should be a solid play for game one against the Hawks. He is not entirely cheap but he should be able to outplay his projected value Wednesday.
Al Horford - ATL, C - $7,900
Al Horford has been contributing in every game this postseason. With a fairy low price for a spectacular player, Horford should be owned in most lineups. I do not need to explain why you should pick Horford because if you have been watching the playoffs, you see that Horford is more or less the heart of this team. He runs fast breaks, he can finish, he can block, and he can rebound. Is there anything else you need...from a center? No, he needs to be played strictly because of his court versatility and his range for offensive production.
DeMarre Carroll - ATL, F - $6,900
Another player I have doubted due to the talent surrounding him, DeMarre Carroll has proved me wrong time and time again. He is a fiery player and hustles all over the court. He wants to win and will do anything he can to achieve that objective. The defense of the Cavaliers should be focused on the rest of the dynamic Hawks offense that he should be able to produce around 30-40 FPS in game one. Carroll is going to be one of my favorite players to watch tonight. Also a risky play but still a significant part of the Hawks offense if they want to compete with the Cavaliers.
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