The second round of the NBA playoffs will have a different feel to them on Friday night. Both the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards will attempt to avoid elimination in front of their home fans as the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks go for the kill. The elimination aspect will undoubtedly impact the way that the games play out and therefore which players to take in DraftKings NBA Daily Fantasy Leagues.
PG: Stephen Curry, Golden State
Salary: $10,500
Curry has been outstanding throughout these playoffs averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 4.2 three-point shots per game. After struggling from the field in Game 5, we will expect him to play at an MVP level with a chance to put away Memphis in Game 6. The Warriors don’t want to play another home game until the Western Conference Finals and if Curry hits his playoff averages across the board, it will be the type of monster performance that a winning lineup is built upon.
SG: Bradley Beal, Washington
Salary: $6,600
Beal was Washington’s best player again in Game 5 when he scored a team-high 23 points with seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks, a steal and a three-point shot. It looks like John Wall will be playing in the all-important Game 6 but he’s clearly not 100%. It only makes sense to plug the Wizards best player in here heading in to an elimination game at home.
SF: Otto Porter Jr., Washington
Salary: $3,000
Porter played 33 minutes off the bench in Game 5 when he scored nine points with 10 rebounds and a steal. While those aren’t elite numbers by any measure, the fact that he can potentially get us a double-double with his team facing elimination at home at just a $3,000 salary makes him a valuable asset that we can plug in to this lineup at the SF spot.
PF: Paul Millsap, Atlanta
Salary: $8,700
Millsap struggled from the field in Game 5 but he still managed to score 14 points with seven rebounds, two assists and a block. Considering he has averaged 15.3 points,8.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 1.2 three-point shots per game in these playoffs, he is undoubtedly still the best option at the PF spot for Friday night in the NBA.
C: Al Horford, Atlanta
Salary: $6,600
The Hawks aren’t facing elimination but they have the chance to end their second round series and book a spot in the Eastern Conference Final. It’s important not to underestimate their players as some of the best in the NBA. Horford could very well finish the night with a better stat line than Marcin Gortat, Marc Gasol and Andrew Bogut, and with him listed at under $7,000 we aren’t afraid to plug him in here.
G: Courtney Lee, Memphis
Salary: $4,300
Any chance that Memphis has to avoid elimination will depend heavily on its guard play at both ends of the floor. They will undoubtedly need their starting shooting guard to step up in Game 6. Just look at the facts: in the Grizzlies three losses in this series, Lee is averaging 7.3 points per game while shooting 0.7 three-pointers per game. In the Grizzlies two wins, Lee has averaged 13.0 points per game and 2.0 three-pointers.
For the postseason, Lee has averaged 13.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 three-point shots and with big minutes, he will be expected to produce a big stat line with the Grizzlies’ season on the line.
F: Andre Iguodala, Golden State
Salary: $4,000
Iguodala hasn’t been the most consistent performer throughout these playoffs but he was excellent for Golden State in Game 5. That means he could play a bigger role in Game 6. Iguodala had 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two three-point shots in just 25 minutes in Game 5 and that could open the door to more playing time for him in Game 6.
FLEX: Jeff Green, Memphis
Salary: $6,100
Green is another player that hasn’t dominated throughout these playoffs but he fits in with our remaining salary. The potential is there for him to have a big game with the Grizzlies facing elimination at home. We’re banking on him to produce in a starter’s role as Tony Allen is questionable. Green had 10 points, four rebounds and an assist in Game 5 and if he can find his shot he will undoubtedly be leaned upon to play more than the 28 minutes he got in the last game.
