RADIO
Well, this should be interesting. Here we are looking at the final three games of the NBA season, and you want to play NBA DFS. My advice to you? Go play MLB DFS for a few days. I’m just kidding (kind of). But, if you really are interested in MLB DFS, we have analytic articles on that too. In fact, I write one every Friday, so be on the lookout.
Anyways, if you’re reading this then you are a gutsy DFS star. The amount of risk that surrounds each player is tripled during the final week of the NBA season, especially for teams that have already clinched or are out of the race. We’ve already seen plenty of teams rest their starters at the last moment before tip-off. So, just be prepared to check your lineups thoroughly before they lock.
With all that being said, I decided I would target the six teams who still have uncertainty as to whether they will make the playoffs or not. The idea of having something to play for gives me a little bit of comfort when making a lineup. These teams are the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Out of those six teams, Boston and Indiana don’t play Monday. That leaves us with four. There is still some predictability among other teams, but for the most part I’m going to stick with the teams that still have a strong reason to win games.
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Worth the FanDuel Investment
Anthony Davis (NOP, F) - $11,700
You can’t go wrong with a guy like this. You know Anthony Davis will be the focal point of the Pelicans offense when the playoffs are on the line. Davis only played 23 minutes on Friday due to a throat injury, but he still put up Davis-like numbers in that time. With no signs of ill-effects on Sunday, he should be good to go for a monster game against a poor Minnesota Timberwolves defense. Barring a massive blowout or another freak injury, Davis should bring home FanDuel value Monday night.
Hassan Whiteside (MIA, C) - $7,700
Hassan Whiteside’s FanDuel price has looked more like a roller-coaster than anyone else I can think of this season. And right now, the coaster is climbing the tracks back up to the peak. In his last two games, Whiteside played a combined 72 minutes. Coach Erik Spoelstra knows that his big man is going to be vital for the Heat’s success in the playoffs. Nikola Vucevic is not nearly as long as Whiteside, and you can expect a double-double with the potential for a monster game from the young center.
Safer DFS Bargains
These NBA players are on the cheaper side, but you can expect some solid DFS production from them with the potential for star-like numbers.
Dwyane Wade (MIA, G) - $6,800
I don’t know how he still does it, but Dwyane Wade keeps showing us time and time again that he can take over a game and put the Heat on his back. After a heartbreaking loss on Saturday to the Raptors, Wade should be fired up and ready to lead the Heat to the promised land Monday against the Magic. One of the best scorer and facilitator combo guards in the NBA, Wade knows what it takes to make the playoffs, and I don’t see any way he doesn’t go off on Monday.
Enes Kanter (OKC, C) - $7,400
After Russell Westbrook picked up his 16th technical foul on Sunday, he will likely be forced to sit Monday's game against the Portland Trailblazers. Enes Kanter could be someone that benefits greatly in the scoring category due to Westbrook's absence. Still needing a win, expect OKC to rely heavily on their big man.
High Risk, High Reward
These inexpensive DFS picks are more trained for the tournament players. If you need to stand out from a crowd, these guys have the potential to hit 30 FDP. On the other hand, don’t be surprised if they come up well short of that mark.
Zach LaVine (MIN, G) - $6,100
If I’m going to go against my theory of playing only playoff-contending players, this is the section to do it in. However, Zach LaVine seems to be about as safe as it gets right now. Yes, his price is certainly rising. But it is clear that he has complete control of the offense. With nothing left to lose, LaVine has been given the green light to do whatever he can to score. The young dunk contest champ played a whopping 44 minutes on Saturday (more than Andrew Wiggins), and put up a team-high 21 shots. If you’re going to stray from my strategy mentioned above, this is a pretty good reason to do so.
Dion Waiters (OKC, G) - $4,900
Dion Waiters could be a strong value play on Monday night. Waiters played 40 minutes on Friday, and his price is reasonable for a guy who’s heavily involved in the offense. The added bonus of Westbrook being sidelined almost makes Waiters a must-play option. I will say that it seems like every time I play Waiters, Anthony Morrow goes off. But hey, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. If you’re looking for a way to make your lineup stand out among the rest, Morrow might be the way to go. However, I find Waiters to be the much safer bet here.
Avoid At All Costs
If it were up to me, these players would have a 0% usage.
Top-Seeded Teams
There’s no need to use guys from Atlanta, Cleveland or Golden State. They are pretty much locked into their seeds and rest for the starters (at least part of the game) is almost assured. Do yourself a favor and stick to the desperate teams that need a win on Monday.
Have a Twitter account? Want more lineup help for your FanDuel team? Follow me @BellRoto and mention me in a tweet. The first 5 mentions will receive my FanDuel lineup for Monday night. My lineup… for free! Find me on Twitter for more info.
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