A tough situation has become even tougher for the Memphis Grizzlies with the news that Mike Conley will undergo surgery to repair multiple fractures to his facial bones. Conley has already been ruled out for Monday’s Game 4 in Portland against the Trail Blazers and it’s a good bet he will miss Wednesday’s Game 5 as well – if the Trail Blazers are able to extend the series. To do so, the Trail Blazers will have to register their first win in seven tries against the Grizzlies this season.
While the Blazers have their own concerns, so do fantasy players who were thinking about using Conley in the rest of Round 1. With him sidelined, the biggest question in DraftKings Daily Fantasy Leagues is whose fantasy value improves now. Here is a look at five players whose fantasy numbers could potentially improve the most with Conley sidelined for the short term future.
PG: Beno Udrih
Udrih is dealing with a nagging ankle injury that kept him out of Game 3 but he practiced Sunday and should be available to play a bigger role with Conley sidelined for Game 4. The precedent for a strong fantasy stat line is already there after Udrih went off for 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Game 1. If the Grizzlies lean heavily on him for Game 4 with Conley sidelined, then he could prove to be an excellent bargain sleeper play as the one player whose fantasy value benefits most from the injury.
SG: Courtney Lee
With Conley and Udrih sidelined in Game 3, it was Lee who stepped up with 20 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. He could be in for another strong fantasy beneficiary again in Game 4. Lee has averaged 15.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game for Memphis so far in the series and there is every reason to think he will top those averages as the team’s best guard in the lineup for Game 4.
C: Marc Gasol
Gasol has been the most productive fantasy option on the Grizzlies for the entire series and there is every reason to think that will continue with even more responsibility in his hands when Memphis looks to complete the series sweep on Monday. Gasol scored a team-high 25 points with seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in Game 3 and he should be reliable to at least match those numbers for Game 4. With Conley out, don’t be surprised if the Grizzlies lean on their big men even more, which means there is a good chance that Gasol is able to top Game 3’s figures.
SG: Jeff Green
If there was ever a time for Green to step up for Memphis, it would be in Game 4 where he will very likely get another opportunity to prove he can produce in the playoffs. Green scored just nine points with six rebounds in 26 minutes of action in Game 3, which is quite disappointing. Remember, the Grizzlies acquired him midseason and figured he’d be the missing piece of the puzzle as he had been a much better offensive weapon than he’s shown in Memphis. He has been limited to an average of 9.7 points per game in the series but the Grizzlies could lean on him more with Conley out. Maybe this is the time that he shines and produces like the Grizzlies expected.
SG: Nick Calathes
Calathes has averaged just 10 minutes per game in the series so far but he responded well when given an opportunity in Game 3. He scored 13 points with four rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes of action. Calathes is still too risky of a fantasy play heading in to Game 4 but with Conley sidelined and Udrih banged up too, he could get another look based on his strong play when called on in the last game. And he might end up getting a bunch of minutes regardless, which means his averages should all go up.
