This article is part of our FantasyAces NBA series.
With the NBA regular season completed, some may think it is the end of daily fantasy basketball. The truth is, it is a new beginning. Playoff fantasy basketball on FantasyAces is just as fun as the regular season, and in some cases it's even more enjoyable.
With the playoffs comes less frustration on injuries, rested players, etc., which means the rotations are more predicable.
RotoWire aims to help you win on FantasyAces, as we will break down a few value plays, some players who are currently trending up and others who are trending down for the given slate.
There is value to be had on FantasyAces, and identifying that value will allow you to spend on top-tier players to round out your lineup.
Without further ado, here is our breakdown for this weekend's NBA Playoff games on FantasyAces.
Value Plays
J.J. Barea, G, DAL, $3,800 – With news that Rajon Rondo (back) is out indefinitely, Barea is due for a big upgrade in minutes. While Devin Harris (toe) will also see an uptick, Barea is the healthier (and safer) option of the two. At Barea's price of just $3,800, expected value is set at 22.8 fantasy points. Barea scored 19.5 fantasy points in his last game, playing 33 minutes off the bench. He did turn the ball over four times, which prevented him from reaching value.
Considering that Rondo is out, Harris is banged up, and the rest of the Mavericks' backup guards play minimal roles, Barea could see big minutes, which is more than enough to take a flier on him at his current price.
Al-Farouq Aminu, F, DAL, $3,850 – Richard Jefferson is the starter for the Mavericks with Chandler Parsons (knee) out, but Aminu is the primary beneficiary in terms of production. Aminu has the ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game, giving him the floor and upside as a value play.
In the Mavericks' last game, Aminu played 22 minutes and registered nine points, four rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and two steals en route to 27 fantasy points, which is five points over his expected value. Expect Aminu to play a larger role on Friday due to his recent play, and given his ability to produce in multiple categories, he is an excellent cheap play on FantasyAces.
Boris Diaw, C, SAS, $3,800 – Diaw was the top value play in his last game. Expected value at his price is 22.8 fantasy points, and Diaw scored 38.25 fantasy points. Of course, you can't expect that type of production from a reserve on a regular basis, but Diaw played 37 minutes in the second game of the series, and he should continue to play a large role in the Spurs rotation for the remainder of the series.
With Tiago Splitter limited and Aron Baynes fading out of the rotation, Diaw looks to be the second big alongside Tim Duncan for San Antonio. Diaw's ability to pass the basketball is a bonus in the Spurs' offense. Until Diaw's price rises, he is worth slotting in your lineups on FantasyAces.
Trending Up
LaMarcus Aldridge, F, POR – Aldridge has been the lone star in the Trail Blazers' rotation so far this playoff season, as the offense runs through him. The Grizzlies are one of the better defensive teams in the NBA, but Memphis has focused on shutting down the rest of the Blazers' offense while allowing Zach Randolph to play Aldridge one-on-one. This is the main reason why Aldridge has taken 54 shots in two games. It has worked for the Grizzlies, and allows Aldridge to continue as a fantasy-point-producing monster.
For fantasy purposes, Aldridge has been a staple in winning lineups so far this postseason. He has played 42 minutes in each contest, totaling 56 points and 28 rebounds, while averaging nearly 60 fantasy points per game. Get him into your lineups as long as the Blazers are still in the playoffs.
Blake Griffin, F, LAC, $6,600 – Like Aldridge, Griffin has been the focal point of his team's offense. Griffin has 120.5 fantasy points in two games, scoring 59.5 and 61 fantasy points, respectively. In addition to Griffin's scoring, he has 17 assists and 24 rebounds in two games. With all the ways Griffin has been racking up fantasy points this postseason, he has been worth a price up to an absurd $9,800. Get him into your lineups on FantasyAces at the discounted rate of $6,600.
Trending Down
Brandon Bass, F, BOS – Towards the end of the regular season, Bass was one of the better values at forward, as he was posting solid scoring and rebounding numbers while reaching value on a regular basis. Since the playoffs have begun, however, Bass has taken a backseat to some of the Celtics' bench players. Jae Crowder, Kelly Olynyk, and even Jared Sullinger have taken minutes from Bass, diminishing his value on FantasyAces.
The Celtics are down three games to Cleveland, but for the rest of the series be sure to stay away from Bass, as he has played just 64 minutes in the first three games. Even in the minutes he has played, Bass has only been able to score 16 points and grab five rebounds.
Good luck and be sure to enjoy playoff daily fantasy basketball on FantasyAces for this weekend's contests.
