DFSGhost 
After Houston shocked LA in Game 1 and Miami put Milwaukee on the brink of a second-round elimination by a potential 4-0 sweep, today’s NBA slate has more on the line than when these four teams were on our Friday slate. James Harden showed us all that he remains one of, if not the most prolific scorer in the league right now and the Lakers need Game 2, Giannis seems frustrated as can be, and Mike Budenholzer is seemingly refusing to shorten his rotation as they try to fend off an early playoff exit. Let’s see how things will shake out today:
The Lock: Anthony Davis ($11,400 FD / $10,600 DK)
Going right back to the well with this one – in Game 1, AD was my lock and he came through with 56.5 DK points and was in the optimal lineup to take down every tournament on the slate. With news circling around the Lakers indicating AD will see more minutes as the ‘5’, my interest for the Lakers big man on tonight’s NBA slate grows even more; PJ Tucker will not be able to guard AD, and while Robert Covington is an excellent defender, AD has him outmatched in the paint. After dropping 25/14 on 10-for-16 shooting, look for AD to see more shot attempts and get to the free throw line more often.
The Core Gems
Goran Dragic ($7,200 FD/DK)
His price continues to remain stagnant, and so will his place in my NBA lineups. The key to these two-game NBA slates is to have players that are playing meaningful minutes, or at least value plays that see enough minutes – and do enough with them. Goran Dragic has seen 34, 34, and 36 minutes in the first three games in the series, respectively, and scored under 20 actual points for the first time all playoffs as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo took over the fourth quarter. He has a safe floor, and a ceiling like no other in the mid-range.
Khris Middleton ($7,500 FD / $8,100 DK)
While most will flock to Giannis in an elimination game, I much prefer AD as my stud and to build around mid-range targets that have high ceilings such as Dragic and Middleton. While he isn’t the flashiest player and certainly hasn’t been playing like a #2 option in the bubble, Middleton has seemingly found his game in the past five games, nearing 40 DK points or more every game; the volume is there, and the Bucks will need him to be on if they want to stay alive.
Also Consider: Bam Adebayo ($8,200 FD / $8,300 DK)
The Value Gems
Miami/Milwaukee Value
- Heat: Tyler Herro, Jae Crowder, Duncan Robinson
- Bucks: Brook Lopez, George Hill, Marvin Williams
LA Lakers/Houston Value
- Lakers: Rajon Rondo, Danny Green, Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma
- Rockets: Eric Gordon, Jeff Green
A Quick Note on NBA DFS
While there are many different sports and various contests pertaining to DFS along with their respective strategies, we focus on the main approaches to build both reliable cash and GPP lineups for a successful NBA night including pace, the projected over/under, one on one matchups (DVP), a player’s usage rate, and a team’s defensive rating. Make sure to stay active when building NBA lineups – if you cannot be in front of a computer, tablet, or on your phone an hour before lock, do not throw your money away! NBA DFS lineups can change at the blink of an eye and are the most variable compared to any other sport in DFS; players get injured, some sit for load management, and others find themselves on the DNP list for other reasons; any of which can sway your lineup and where to find value. Stay alert on the WinDaily Discord chat to follow along with our updated plays. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
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