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The only game tonight is Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Clippers and Suns. The Clippers are trying to erase their third 0-2 hole of this year's playoffs alone! They will again be without Kawhi Leonard, who is still being evaluated (allegedly) on a game-by-game basis. He'll join Serge Ibaka in street clothes. Marcus Morris is again a game time decision, but he has played in each of the first three games. The one we really have to watch is Cameron Payne, who left early in Game 3. He is tentatively scheduled to play.
We will stay in Showdown mode for DFS on DraftKings tonight. To build our rosters for this particular format, we need to identify a Captain and five utility players. It's just like the analytics nerds dreamt it up: positionless basketball. The Captain will earn 1.5 times the amount of points he regularly tallies, but it also drives up the price for your more prominent players.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/26/21. You can also check out today's FanDuel lineup picks. With COVID-19 a significant factor, remember to monitor injury news as the slate can completely change before lineups lock.
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Phoenix Suns (-1, 218.5 total)
Chris Paul - PG (Captain: $14,700, Utility: $9,8o0)
CP3 played a gamely 39 minutes in his return from COVID in Game 3, but he was an atrocious 5-19 from the floor. He still put up a solid 43 DraftKings points. If he shoots closer to his season average, Paul is going to clear 50 DraftKings points by a healthy margin. Is the rust gone? That's the only real question here. We all know what kind of player he is and what he brings to this team by now.
Deandre Ayton - C (Captain: $12,300, Utility: $8,200)
My only concern with Ayton is that his ceiling isn't as high with Paul around. Still, he has looked good against the Clippers so far because they don't have much for size on the interior. The dynamic changed in Game 3, but Ayton has still proven to be a solid option. He likely wont win us a slate at captain, but if you see no true ceiling game for CP3 or George in this one, Ayton is a solid captain play in GPP formats where leverage is gained by being different. He's a utility pick in all formats.
Cameron Johnson - SF/PF ($4,000)
The Suns are loaded with forwards and they all play well in solid minutes. Johnson is the lowest priced with the highest ceiling, so I'm going there. I see nothing wrong with Mikal Bridges or Jae Crowder, but the savings on Johnson and how efficient he is in his court time has me coming back for more.
Other options: Devin Booker ($10,800), Mikal Bridges ($5,400)
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Los Angeles Clippers (+1, 218.5 total)
Paul George - SG (Captain: $16,800, Utility: $11,2o0)
This series will only go as long as George can carry the team on his shoulders. He has 156.75 DraftKings points through the first three games of the series. Some role players for the Clippers are helping out as well, but George has the highest ceiling and safest floor of any player on either team regardless of whether his team wins or loses. He's a lock at captain in cash games. In GPP's you can try and get creative since George hasn't showed signs of a ceiling game in this series yet.
Reggie Jackson - PG/SG (Captain: $11,100, Utility: $7,4o0)
The Clippers may finally be on to something here. Jackson has 109 DraftKings points in three games this series. Patrick Beverley has started alongside him in all three of those games. This doesn't feel like a coincidence. Jackson is at his best when the Clippers run small because he is free to get open and score. He has easily been the Clippers' second-best option behind George in this series. That wont change anytime soon.
Ivica Zubac - C ($4,200)
The Clippers are morons. You mean to tell me they had this guy who dominates when he plays over 30 minutes a game (74.75 DraftKings points in 67 minutes over the last two games) rotating with DeMarcus Cousins.....why? Hopefully that's over now. As per usual, DraftKings is slow to come around in raising his price, making Zubac a superb value play. Cousins is once again persona non grata in Clipperland, so expect another nice performance out of Zubac.
Other options: Terrence Mann ($6,600), Patrick Beverley ($3,800)
