NBA playoffs, NHL playoffs, and MLB daily games. This is the time of year in which FanDuel and DFS players get as giddy as Augustus Gloop receiving a golden ticket to tour the Willy Wonka Chocolate factory. So many games and so many options are available that it can be hard to keep up at times. Don’t worry, Rotoballer is here to help you with your NBA playoffs picks so you don’t drown in a metaphorical chocolate river of DFS debt.
We have provided our daily picks throughout the year and we will continue to push hard during this second NBA season. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for Saturday April 18th, 2015.
Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured players, so be sure to check all lineups prior to tip-off. If you want to chat about your roster picks, check out the DFS chat room at the bottom of this post.
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Out of the three series we have resuming on Monday, two of them could come to a close before the night is over. The Milwaukee Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers will be fighting for their playoff lives, and that might very well mean they will lean more heavily on their stars. That may be something to take into consideration when building your lineups.
The other point to consider when trying to cash in is finding the high-scoring teams. The Trail Blazers and Grizzlies have seen considerably higher totals during their series than the other four teams. So, when in doubt, roster someone from that game, hoping that they benefit from the faster pace and scoring.
Worth The FanDuel Investment
Derrick Rose (CHI, G) - $6,100
Derrick Rose has come to play in this playoff series. Disregarding his most recent 25-FDP game (which the Bulls lost, by the way), Rose has scored 35.5, 37.9, and 55 FanDuel points. That doesn’t sound like a six thousand-dollar player to me. When he wants to, Rose can become the focal point of a very high-powered offense. Expect Rose to show up in a big way on Monday night and lead the Bulls to the second round in front of their hometown crowd.
Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Butler (CHI, G), Joe Johnson (BKN, G)
LaMarcus Aldridge (POR, F) - $9,400
You gotta pick LaMarcus Aldridge on Monday. He’s one of the few guarantees on the slate, and he’s getting big minutes in a big role. I mentioned at the top of the article that stars tend to shine when their backs are against the wall. The Trail Blazers will most likely rely heavily on Aldridge to take as many shots as he wants if it can keep them in the game. There are a few other options that I like, and I will list them below. But Aldridge is a must, especially in cash games, on Monday night.
Honorable Mentions: Paul Millsap (ATL, F), Thaddeus Young (BKN, F)
Marc Gasol (MEM, C) - $8,400
Marc Gasol's price has risen a tad in the past week due to his stellar playoff play, but he continues to put up rare numbers from the center position. Gasol’s great passing ability remains an advantage over other center options, and high minutes against a less than stellar defensive front court is very intriguing. Don’t overthink this one. Gasol may be expensive, but he’s worth the investment for sure.
Honorable Mention: Brook Lopez (BKN, C)
FanDuel Sleepers & Value Picks
Beno Udrih (MEM, G)
If you haven’t noticed yet, this article is extremely similar to the one I posted last Wednesday. This time around, Beno Udrih has an even more appealing reason to be rostered in FanDuel lineups. Mike Conley will sit out Monday after facial surgery, so as long as his ankle holds up, Udrih will take full reigns of the offense. The point guard has shown a stellar ability to get to the basket in his limited minutes so far in the playoffs, and I’m excited to see what he’ll do in an expanded role. Monitor the status of his ankle up until game time, but Udrih will certainly be a great value play as long as he’s getting a minutes boost.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Korver (ATL, G), Bojan Bogdanovic (BKN, F)
NBA & DFS Chat Room
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