This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Each week, RotoWire will provide value plays for your daily fantasy basketball lineups on FantasyDraft. You have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of eight players. Of those eight players, you must select three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players. The scoring is as follows:
Points Scored – 1.0 point for each point scored
3-Point Basket – 0.5 bonus points for each three-pointer made
Assist – 1.5 points for each assist
Rebound – 1.25 points for each rebound
Steal – 2.0 points for each steal
Block – 2.0 points for each blocked shot
Turnover – minus 0.5 points for each turnover
Double-Double – 1.5 bonus points for double-double
Triple-Double – 3.0 bonus points triple-double
FantasyDraft is running contests in beta stage, but full capabilities for their users are available. There are 50/50s, guaranteed tournaments, and more available options in the lobby, so be sure to check it out.
The target for each player to reach value is 2.5x the player's salary. If a player costs $10,000 against the cap, expected value is 25 fantasy points.
It's the end of the first round in the NBA Playoffs, and FantasyDraft is still offering NBA contests. The rundown below will help you get ready for the upcoming slate of games.
With a two-game slate Thursday and one game Friday, there aren't many options to consider, so be sure to make the right choices. RotoWire is here to help.
Players to Target
Blake Griffin, F, LAC, $20,200 – In terms of fantasy points scored, Griffin has been the best player in the league this postseason. Griffin has tallied below 57.25 fantasy points just once in the past five games, and he has reached 63 or more fantasy points three times over that stretch.
Griffin is averaging 24 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, one block and two steals, making him worth up to $25,000 on FantasyDraft. While that price seems absurd, Blake's average production this postseason is just below the expected value of 60 fantasy points. Luckily, Griffin is priced nearly $5,000 cheaper, so he makes for a near must-play on a short slate.
Nearly every lineup will have Griffin on FantasyDraft, so be sure not to miss the boat. It is incredibly risky to stay away from a player with upside of 60 (or more) fantasy points, especially with limited options to make those points up.
Jimmy Butler, G, CHI, $17,100 – Butler has been one of the most consistent players in the NBA playoffs, simply because he can accrue fantasy points in many different ways. In the Bulls last game, he shot just 5-of-21 from the floor, but he was still able to notch 53 fantasy points.
Butler is averaging over 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals per game in the first round, averaging close to 45 fantasy points per game. His price would yield an expected return of 42.75 fantasy points, which is slightly below his average for the playoffs.
Considering Butler's shooting volume has increased of late, expect him to have higher upside than the other guards at this price on FantasyDraft.
Nikola Mirotic, F, CHI, $6,300 – In order to afford the top plays like Griffin and Butler you will need to find some cheap players to balance your lineup. Mirotic can be that player for Thursday's games. His price has dropped immensely due to a dip in playing time, but he is still a focal point of the action when on the floor.
Mirotic has not shot the ball well in the last three contests, going just 6-of-22 from the field. But if he is able to bounce back to the mean (he shot 40 percent during the regular season) he is a candidate to reach value at such a cheap price.
Players to Avoid
Tony Parker, G, SAS, $10,200 – Parker was a top target in daily fantasy basketball entering this series, but Chris Paul has shown his defensive prowess and eliminated Parker's ability to rack up fantasy points. Parker has not reached value yet this postseason, and his price has fallen dramatically.
In five games, Parker has totaled just 74 fantasy points. His price warrants a return of 25.5 fantasy points, which he has not reached this postseason. With Paul defending, it will be tough for Parker to reach value. The Spurs offense runs on multiple passes, which takes the assist out of Parker's hands. Given that the Clippers have defended the pick and roll relatively well this series, Parker's upside is limited. Stay away from him on FantasyDraft.
Boris Diaw, F, SAS, $10,400 – Diaw has been one of the premier values in daily fantasy basketball so far this postseason. The issue is, his price has risen far too much to be considered a top value play at this point. Diaw's price warrants a return of 26 fantasy points. He has reached that plateau twice in five contests. Diaw's price was much lower during the beginning of the series, so those outbursts of fantasy points look enticing.
The two games where Diaw exceeded value, he took a total of 22 shots. Since those two games, he has only attempted 14 shots (seven in each game). With his offensive statistics limited now, and his price raised, he is not the value he was during the beginning of the series. Stay away from him at his price point on FantasyDraft for Thursday's games.
Here are the current round matchups:
Western Conference
(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (Golden State won 4-0)
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks (Houston won 4-1)
(3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (6) San Antonio Spurs (Spurs lead 3-2)
(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies (Memphis won 4-1)
Eastern Conference
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Brooklyn Nets (Atlanta leads 3-2)
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics (Cleveland won 4-0)
(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks (Chicago leads 3-2)
(4) Toronto Raptors vs. (5) Washington Wizards (Wizards won 4-0)
The NBA playoff schedule is structured, so there will be two to three games per day in the first round, and the number will decrease as teams are eliminated.
Good luck, and don't forget to join the fun at FantasyDraft. Sign up now.
