DFSGhost 
We’re back for another edition of the Gems and have a 3-game NBA slate to tackle in the evening. The Bucks and Lakers are looking to close out the Magic and Trail Blazers, respectively, with the former seemingly hanging around in every game despite the obvious mismatch, while both the Rockets and OKC search for an important Game 5 win in a 2-2 series. With multiple studs to pay up for and some glaring value available, there are different routes to take, but let’s explore the best ones:
The Lock: James Harden, SG ($11,600 FD / $11,800 DK)
The Beard will be the stud that I have the most exposure to, along with the Greek Freak who is listed below. James Harden was back to doing James Harden things on offense last game, en route to a stellar 32/8/15 performance, where he also made six 3-pointers. With Russell Westbrook now day-to-day, I imagine he’d be back for the second round, should Houston make it out, and with a decisive Game 5 victory inching them that much closer, look for Harden to take this one over early and often on his birthday.
The Core Gems
Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF ($11,300 FD/DK)
With the Bucks looking to close out the Magic, I’m expecting no mercy from the NBA MVP. Averaging 31.3 PPG to go along with 15.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the series, there are maybe a handful of players that can matchup versus Giannis, and Orlando does not have a single one of them. He’s averaging 2.05 FPPM in the series, and if he sees 30+ minutes in this one, he’ll have no problem contending to be the highest scorer on the slate.
CJ McCollum, SG ($7,200 FD / $8,100 DK)
With Damian Lillard already ruled out for the Trail Blazers’ elimination game tonight, CJ McCollum will have a big part in whether they get to see the court for a Game 6. Sporting a 26.2% usage rate on the season, McCollum sees a drastic increase to 33.4% with Dame off the court, which largely used to come closing out the opening and third quarters. His back injury has slowed him down at times, but he has turned in back-to-back efficient performances. Although I’ll be underweight versus the field in tournaments, he’s worthy of strong consideration in cash games due to his inflated ownership at the time of writing.
Also Consider: OKC Trio of SGA, Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder
The Value Gems
Orlando Magic Value
Another NBA slate where the opening game will draw heavy ownership. The trio of Markelle Fultz, Evan Fournier, and James Ennis will continue to pull ownership, probably for the last time this season, and we need to be aware of that for our cash games. Both DJ Augustin and Gary Clark are also in play here, in addition to Terrence Ross, so look for updates in Discord as to who is coming in at the highest ownership rates for cash games.
Portland Trail Blazers Value
While they aren’t pulling the ownership that I thought they would, the value pieces on the Blazers are an interesting, collective pivot from some of the Orlando value at much cheaper prices. The trio of Gary Trent Jr., Anfernee Simons, and Mario Hezonja should all be due for bigger roles here, especially if this one gets out of hand early.
Los Angeles Lakers Value
On the flipside to the Blazers value, if you’re making a lineup based on game theory, why not run back your Portland value with some Lakers value? If you’re anticipating this game getting out of hand due to LeBron and AD simply overpowering McCollum and company, pieces such as JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, and Alex Caruso should all see extended run. Blowouts are not something I advise trying to predict, and it can bury your lineup rather quickly, but this game has a lot of intrigue for tournaments.
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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