This article is part of our FantasyAces NBA series.
With the NBA regular season completed, some may think it is the end of daily fantasy basketball. The truth is, it is a new beginning. Playoff fantasy basketball on FantasyAces is just as fun as the regular season, and in some cases it's even more enjoyable.
With the playoffs comes less frustration on injuries, rested players, etc., which means the rotations are more predicable.
RotoWire aims to help you win on FantasyAces, as we will break down a few value plays, some players who are currently trending up and others who are trending down for the given slate.
There is value to be had on FantasyAces, and identifying that value will allow you to spend on top-tier players to round out your lineup.
Without further ado, here is our breakdown for this week's NBA Playoff contests on FantasyAces.
Value Plays
Beno Udrih, G, MEM, $3,800 – With Mike Conley (face) out for the foreseeable future, Udrih will step into the starting lineup for the Grizzlies. This is huge news for daily fantasy basketball players, as Udrih becomes an immediate value play. His production and low place will allow you to spend on top-tier players like Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge for the remainder of the first round.
In a dozen games as the starting point guard this season, Udrih averaged over 11 points, three rebounds and three assists per contest. His average of 20 fantasy points per game as a starter is slightly below expected return at his current price, but he'll be matched up against Damian Lillard, who is among the worst defenders at the point guard position. In the first game of the series, Udrih totaled 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for 39.25 fantasy points while playing extended minutes. Expect another value-reaching performance from the Grizzlies' veteran guard Monday.
Mike Dunleavy, F, CHI, $3,900 – Dunleavy has quietly been one of the better cheap plays during the playoffs. On FantasyAces, value is seen as six times a player's salary, which would be 23.4 fantasy points for the veteran swing man. Dunleavy has scored 21.25 or more fantasy points in all four games. He has eclipsed expected value twice, but his floor of over 21 fantasy points is a safe-haven for players on FantasyAces. It is hard to find cheap players in the playoffs who post consistent production, which Dunleavy has been able to do. Even if he misses value by a point or two, his cap-relief makes up for it.
John Henson, C, MIL, $4,000 – Like Dunleavy, Henson has been an excellent cheap option on FantasyAces. He wasn't expected to have a large role in the playoffs, but his defensive prowess has allowed Bucks head coach Jason Kidd to expand Henson's minutes. Henson has scored over 21.25 fantasy points in each outing, including a 39.5-point outburst in the third game of the series. Given his ability to rebound (eight per game in the playoffs) he has a high floor on FantasyAces, which is tough to find in the playoffs.
Henson has seen 25 minutes or more in every game, making him a safe bet for 20 fantasy points.
Trending Up
J.J. Barea, G, DAL – With Rajon Rondo (back) likely out for the remainder of the series, Barea will continue to man the point for the Mavericks. Barea was an incredible value Sunday night, scoring 17 points while notching 13 assists in 36 minutes of work. In the game prior, he scored 11 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out nine assists in 26 minutes.
Barea's price will be close to $4,000 on FantasyAces, meaning he'll need just 24 fantasy points to return expected value. Barea is averaging well over a fantasy point per minute, and he will likely to play well over 24 minutes for the remainder of the series.
Given his production in the past two games and the inevitable increase in minutes, he makes for one of the hottest plays in daily fantasy basketball.
Monta Ellis, G, DAL – Ellis took over in Sunday's win over the Rockets, scoring 31 points on 21 field-goal attempts while adding six rebounds, three assists, and a steal. This was the second straight game where Ellis scored 30 or more points. Look for that trend to continue, as he will be the go-to option of the Mavericks offense.
In the last two games, Ellis has taken 46 shots, and he has been the primary ball-handler in the Mavericks' half-court offense. This gives him an incredible chance to reach value each night since his usage is sky-high.
With Ellis' scoring ability and usage, he is worth over $6,500 on FantasyAces, so be sure to get him into your lineups at a discount when the Mavericks take the court.
Trending Down
Tiago Splitter and Aron Baynes, F/C, SAS – The Spurs' big men have seen their minutes and value eradicated against the Clippers. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has changed the rotation, deploying Boris Diaw as the primary big man next to Tim Duncan to match the athleticism of the Clippers frontcourt. Splitter has played a total of 64 minutes in four games, and Baynes has seen just eight minutes since the series opener.
Should the Spurs move on, Splitter and Baynes could see a boost in value, but keep away from the pair through the remainder of the first.
With the first round coming to a close soon, this article will mark the final of the season. Good luck and be sure to enjoy playoff daily fantasy basketball on FantasyAces for this week's contests.
