This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
Each week, RotoWire will provide value plays for your daily fantasy basketball lineups on FantasyDraft. You have a salary cap of $100,000 to select a lineup comprised of eight players. Of those eight players, you must select three guards, three forwards/centers and two utility players. The scoring is as follows:
Points Scored – 1.0 point for each point scored
3-Point Basket – 0.5 bonus points for each three-pointer made
Assist – 1.5 points for each assist
Rebound – 1.25 points for each rebound
Steal – 2.0 points for each steal
Block – 2.0 points for each blocked shot
Turnover – minus 0.5 points for each turnover
Double-Double – 1.5 bonus points for double-double
Triple-Double – 3.0 bonus points triple-double
FantasyDraft is running contests in beta stage, but full capabilities for their users are available. There are 50/50s, guaranteed tournaments, and more available options in the lobby, so be sure to check it out.
The target for each player to reach value is 2.5x the player's salary. If a player costs $10,000 against the cap, expected value is 25 fantasy points.
It's the end of the second round in the NBA Playoffs, and FantasyDraft is still offering NBA contests. The rundown below will help you get ready for the upcoming slate of games. Be sure to play now, because after this round, daily fantasy basketball is likely ending.
With just a two-game slate on Thursday, there aren't many options to choose from, but fear not, RotoWire is here to help.
Players to Target
Chris Paul, G, LAC, $16,900 – Paul's minutes limit has been removed, allowing him to play 40 minutes or more for the Clippers, if needed. His price had decreased with the minutes limit, so be sure to take advantage of the market inefficiency on a lower-priced star.
Paul's price would need a return of just over 40 fantasy points, which is easily attainable given his ability and volume of production. Before his minutes limit, Paul was averaging close to 50 fantasy points per game, and he had outings of 56, 52.25, and 53.75 fantasy points, respectively.
Against the Rockets, Paul is averaging nearly 1.5 fantasy points per minute, which will translate very well to a larger workload. This makes Paul a top-tier play for Thursday's games, so be sure to get him into your lineups as the Clippers try to punch their ticket to the Western Conference finals.
Pau Gasol, F/C, CHI, $14,700 – Gasol (hamstring) is probable for Thursday's game against the Cavaliers. The Bulls will need their power forward to add some offense in hopes of staving off elimination by way of the Cavaliers.
Prior to Gasol's injury, he was averaging north of 17 points and 13 rebounds per game, putting him at 40 or more fantasy points on FantasyDraft. His current price is set at under $15,000, which means anything over 37 fantasy points is above value.
The Bulls offense has struggled without Gasol, as he is one of the better passing big men in basketball. Expect Chicago to run a lot of plays through Gasol with the Cavaliers being thin at big man, giving him a chance to score a lot of fantasy points.
Gasol will be playing injured, but at the discount his price offers, it is worth taking a risk on him in a short slate, especially with his upside being close to 50 fantasy points.
Players to Avoid
Joakim Noah, F/C, CHI, $11,600 – Noah has struggled mightily on the offensive side of the floor in Round 2, shooting just above 32 percent from the floor. Over 89 percent of Noah's shot attempts have come from inside the paint, which should boost his field-goal percentage, but even the bunnies aren't going in for the Bulls big man this postseason.
Noah has contributed on the defensive side of the floor, though. He has averaged 10 rebounds and two combined blocks/steals per game. With Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic demanding minutes and the expected return of Gasol, Noah could be the odd-man out in offensive situations.
And when Noah is on the floor, he will have to compete with Gasol for rebounds, further diminishing his fantasy value.
Terrence Jones, F/C, HOU, $8,700 – Jones has been benched in favor of Josh Smith, depleting Jones' already-low fantasy value. Jones' minutes have decreased throughout the playoffs, as his struggles have been more evident.
Jones is averaging just 9.6 points and 4.8 rebounds this series. His price warrants a return of at least 21.75 fantasy points – a plateau he's eclipsed just once this postseason – meaning he is not a factor on FantasyDraft.
Notes
John Wall (wrist) returned to the lineup Wednesday. Stay away from Ramon Sessions. Bradley Beal's value decreases slightly as well.
Paul (hamstring) has reportedly been given the go to play without a minutes limit. Austin Rivers' value decreases, as does Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick's.
Mike Conley has struggled due to Klay Thompson's defense. Keep this in mind when selecting your lineups.
Dwight Howard continues to be the most dominant center in the NBA playoffs, so be sure to keep him in your lineups as he's one of the top scorers each night.
Here are the current round matchups:
Western Conference
(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies (Golden State leads 3-2)
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Los Angeles Clippers (Los Angeles leads 3-2)
Eastern Conference
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Washington Wizards (Atlanta leads 3-2)
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (3) Chicago Bulls (Cleveland leads 3-2)
The NBA playoff schedule is structured, so there will be two games per day in the second round, and the number will decrease as teams are eliminated.
Good luck, and don't forget to join the fun at FantasyDraft. Sign up now.
