The NBA playoffs are here, meaning that many year-long fantasy leagues have closed up shop for the season. Fortunately, sites like Draft Kings and Fan Duel are still going strong, offering one-day leagues throughout the playoffs. The start of the playoffs means the loss of over half the league’s roster, so now the choices are even smaller with regards to who you can start on a nightly basis.
These four point guards are a good place to start.
1. Stephen Curry – Golden State
2014-15 Season Averages: 23.8 PPG, 7.7 APG, 4.3 RPG, 48 % FG, 44% 3PFG, 91% FT, 2.1 SPG, 3.1 TPG
This one wasn’t hard to see coming. Most likely this season’s MVP, Curry absolutely lit up nearly every major statistical category aside from rebounding, and he did it while shooting high percentages from the field, three-point range, and the foul line, while also keeping his turnovers low, which is no easy feat for how much he handles the ball. His 2.0 steals per game is a career-high, and is just icing on the cake for a player with stellar offensive numbers.
Curry often sat out entire fourth quarters during the regular season, as the Warrios routinely had games won by the time the final period began. With the competition ramping up in the playoffs, expect Curry’s minutes to increase a moderate amount, which will only add to his already high value. With the point guard pool sliced in half in the playoffs, the high salary spent on Curry will pay off, so he remains a must-start each night he plays. Don’t get cute with your lineup — Start Curry first and fill in the gaps elsewhere.
2. Chris Paul- Los Angeles Clippers
2014-15 Season Averages: 19.1 PPG, 10.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 48% FG, 39% 3PFG, 90% FT, 1.9 SPG, 2.3 TPG
Again, another obvious one. While his scoring always tends to hover just under the 20 points per game range, Paul’s assists numbers are more than enough to close the gap in leagues that value assists at 1.5 points per. His consistent amount of steals are a high value for the same reason. Paul’s shooting numbers are respectable as always, and he remains a nearly automatic free throw shooter.
Paul actually had a slightly better series-opening game on Sunday than Curry, but don’t expect him to score in the 30’s every game this postseason. Still, as a highly-capable scorer while being primarily a pass-first point guard, Paul will never hesitate to do the job himself if all other options are covered. He is going to rack up fantasy points regardless if it is via his passes or on scoring himself.
Paul averaged 19.8 points, 10.3 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 46 percent field goal shooting, and 3.0 turnovers per game in 13 playof appearences last season, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t do the same this year.
3. John Wall – Washington
2014-15 Season Averages: 17.6 PPG, 10.0 APG, 4.6 RPG, 44% FG, 30% 3PFG, 78% FT, 1.7 SPG, 3.8 TPG
It’s been quite the year for Wall. He made his first All-Star game start, averaged career-highs in assists and field-goal percentage, and guided the Wizards to a higher win total than last season, good enough for the No.5 seed in the East.
Despite being limited in his shooting range at this point in his young career, Wall still managed 11 games with at least 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Statline stuffers Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul were the only two players besides Wall to reach that milestone more than 10 times this season. That’s pretty good company.
Wall had a decent postseason last year, averaging 16.3 points, 7.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 3.3 turnovers per game in 11 appearences. He shot a paltry 36 percent during the 2014 playoffs, but don’t expect the same this year, given his obviously-improved shooting and shot selection this season.
4. Damian Lillard – Portland
2014-15 Season Averages: 21.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 43% FG, 34% 3PFG, 86% FT, 1.2 SPG, 2.7 TPG
With fellow point guards Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry remaining somewhat unpredictable as they play with nagging injuries, Damian Lillard moves up on this list by default. Lillard had a career season scoring-wise in 2014-15, and looks poised to continue in the playoffs, despite all the injury troubles the Blazers themselves have faced this season. His assist numbers aren’t very high when compared to other point guards on this list, but are still respectable and are boosted somewhat by his offensive production.
Owners aren’t going to get very much out of Lillard in the defensive category, but again, no big loss when you consider his potential for scoring. Lillard, alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, remains as Portland’s go-to option, and he should be reliable in posting a high number of fantasy points, just like he did in 11 playoff appearances in 2014, when he averaged 22.9 points, 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, 43 percent field goal shooting, 1.0 steals, and 2.7 turnovers.
