This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
It's the playoffs, so we get another two-game slate featured on DraftKings for Saturday. The Celtics and Raptors kick things off with their Game 4 showdown, followed by Game 2 between the Clippers and Nuggets. With Kawhi Leonard coming in as the only player over $10k, taking a balanced approach could be a good way to attack this slate, as finding reliable value is always a challenge during the postseason.
Slate Overview
BOS vs. TOR (-1), O/U 214
The Raptors will look to avoid going down 3-1 in the series. They received stellar play from Kyle Lowry in Game 3 but will need more from Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka if they want to even things up and put the pressure back on the Celtics. It's been difficult to peg the Boston side, the Big 3 if you will, each have had their highlight reel game more or less but from a price standpoint Jaylen Brown remains the most appealing bargain of the trio.
DEN vs. LAC (-9), O/U 221.5
The opening game of this round is one the Nuggets will likely want to forget. They were never really in it from the start as you could see the fatigue from their grueling seven-game series against the Jazz begin to take its toll. We will see if they can respond with a better effort here but either way, the Clippers look like the more well-rounded team and I wouldn't be surprised to see them steamroll through the rest of this series.
Positional Breakdown
The biggest price discrepancy is at the center position. Nikola Jokic is $9,500 with the next closest being Serge Ibaka $3.600 cheaper. If going for a more balanced build, Ibaka offers near the same upside for a lot less, allowing you to spend more freely at other positions.
Injury Situations to Monitor
We are all systems go on the injury front. It's never a bad idea, however, to check in before lock just in case someone pops up unexpectedly.
Elite Players
Kawhi Leonard ($10,400)
On a two-game slate, raw points are paramount and nobody gives you the safety of that like Kawhi Leonard. He's averaging over 50 fantasy points per game in the postseason and has been the backbone to the Clippers' success with Paul George struggling to find his rhythm. Ranking in the top 10 in usage at 30.1% during the regular season, he offers the highest floor and ceiling of anyone on the slate.
Jayson Tatum ($9,200)
If you can't find the salary for Leonard, Tatum makes for a nice alternative as he leads the Celtics in usage at 27.1 percent. He tends to be streaky but can flash 50-60 fantasy point upside when he's locked in and adding peripherals. With Gordon Hayward done for the season, they'll rely on Tatum to be their go-to guy as they continue their quest for an NBA Championship.
Expected Chalk
Fred VanVleet ($7,700)
You can really flip a coin here between Lowry and VanVleet, but I'll give the slight edge to FVV as he is the better three-point shooter of the two. Draining five in Game 3, he took a backseat in the overall scoring department to Lowry but still managed to deliver six assists and usually plays well over 30 minutes a game.
Jaylen Brown ($7,600)
Despite his scoring being erratic at times, Brown offers a high upside without breaking the bank at his moderate price tag. Pouring in 44.5 fantasy points in Game 3 against the Raptors, he'll look to build off that performance with his ability to add valuable peripheral stats like the six blocks and three steals he's collected so far in this series.
Key Values
OG Anunoby ($5,600)
After logging 45 minutes on his way to 38.5 fantasy points, Anunoby continues to be a key piece for the Raptors as he's able to do a little of everything from blocks to steals to knocking down shots from three. Speaking of that, he is 8-for-14 from behind the arc against the Celtics thus far and should be expected to keep firing from downtown as they'll need his scoring to even this series.
Marcus Morris Sr. ($5,400)
As I said previously, I think this is a great slate to go more with a more balanced approach. The goal is not having to delve into the player pool below 4k and target players that have 30+ fantasy point upside above that. Morris Sr. definitely fits that bill as he's become a vital piece to the Clippers rotation since joining the team. Playing roughly 30 minutes per game, he can rebound, step back and make a three and provide a strong defensive presence as shown by his eight steals versus the Mavericks in round one.
