This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
The Jazz and the Pelicans both found a way to stifle their opponents in Game 2, but the Warriors were ultimately able to figure out how to stop New Orleans in the second half. Meanwhile, the Jazz showed up with a defensive effort that mirrored their superlative work in the regular season with a convincing win over the Rockets.
In looking at the two-game slate, I'm intrigued at how obvious some of the playable spots are, and how we're able to get away with some value picks that leave us able to essentially spend up where we want. Certainly, there are some questions: will Rudy Gobert continue to show up? Can Nikola Mirotic and Anthony Davis find a way to exploit the Warriors' interior? I believe there's a way to avoid all of the question marks and put up a high number.
First, we'll look at the 10K-plus players: James Harden ($10,800) and Anthony Davis ($10,700).
I'm fading both of them.
The truth is that neither one of these guys are going to give me any more output than a combo of Steph Curry ($8,700) and Kevin Durant ($9,300), which is a stack that I can get for $3,500 less – barring an insane game from Harden where he throws up a number like 80 DKFP, this isn't the way to go. So, in short, Curry and Durant is the stack I'll be going with. The Warriors are simply too strong in the long run for the Pelicans, especially in the second half.
Beyond those picks, I'll now pick two players at each position that you can build around this stack, or use as a foundation for another play.
GUARDS
Donovan Mitchell, Jrue Holiday, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo: They're all reasonable picks but a lot of people will go to these spots. I'm going to highlight two low-cost picks that will allow for spending up on Friday.
Eric Gordon, HOU at UTA ($4,400): With an average of around 32 minutes of court time in the postseason, Gordon is poised to once again be impactful against the Jazz. He seemed to be the only backcourt player who could consistently find a shot in Game 2. He had a dreadful 0-for-6 shooting night in Game 1, but the encouraging stat line in Game 2 makes him a great value pick.
Alec Burks UTA vs. HOU ($4,200): This will likely be the last night that you can utilize this play as we'll see Ricky Rubio return in Game 4. People were not sold on Burks in Game 2 as he posted low ownership and burned those who didn't go his way. While Royce O'Neale was no slouch, Burks was easily the better option in lieu of Rubio. He took over the Utah backcourt with ease and looked like an every-night starter. His low-price tag will allow you a lot of flexibility elsewhere.
Additional guards to consider:Klay Thompson, GS at NO ($5,900)
FORWARDS
Joe Ingles, UTA vs. HOU ($5,700): Like Burks, the sharpshooter saw a huge increase in output due to Rubio's absence, and was pivotal in the Game 2 victory. He was a constant presence in all four quarters and shot a blistering 7-for-9 from beyond the arc. Until Rubio returns we should continue to see amazing numbers from Ingles.
Jae Crowder, UTA vs. HOU ($4,700): There's no way around Crowder's numbers against the Rockets. He's shifted into a higher gear against Houston, and he surprisingly co-led the team in scoring in Game 2. While Utah's deep bench could confound DFS players on Friday, Crowder is still the safest play and it would be wise to ride this wave while it lasts.
Additional forwards to consider: Draymond Green, GS at NO ($8,200); Nikola Mirotic, NO vs. GS ($6,200); P.J. Tucker, HOU at UTA ($3,800)
CENTERS
Clint Capela, HOU at UTA ($6,700): Watching Rudy Gobert go off in Game 2 likely gave Capela owners fits, but at the end of the day Capela bested him by 6 DKFP. I see no reason that the Houston big man will deviate much from his consistent play thus far, and a floor of around 35 DKFP is a reasonable projection.
Beyond Capela and Gobert, you can't really get cute at this position. You could opt for Draymond Green with his dual eligibility, or if you want to take a stab at a tournament play, opt for...
Derrick Favors, UTA vs. HOU ($5,000): If you think that the big game from Gobert was an aberration, then Favors is your logical play as tournament pick. He generally hovers around 20 DKFP, but he has had 30 and 40-DKFP outing in this postseason, which has been coupled with poor nights from Gobert.
NOTE REGARDING RUBIO: While he is officially deemed questionable, we could find out that he'll see some minutes on Friday. If he plays at all, it may be wise to move off Burks and reorganize your lineup by downgrading at forward to guys like Tucker or Looney. If he starts, I'd also slide Ingles out of your lineup and cover your risk with a safer pivot.
