:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67606110/1278895817.jpg.0.jpg)
Ladies and Gentlemen, this could very well be the final NBA DFS slate of the season. It’s been a pleasure sharing the field of battle with all of you. I’d say something classy and inspirational but that just wouldn’t be our style. We will not go quietly into the night! Okay, can I cram any more movie quote cliches into this article? You bet your ass I can! I’ll spare you for now. Let’s take a look at what could be the last NBA DFS slate until January, the DraftKings Showdown contest for Game 5 on Friday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Set your DraftKings lineup here.
Lakers vs. Heat Game 5 lineup strategy
So my thinking in this game is that we are going to get a lot of pushback from the Heat. I’m not entirely sure if it will matter in the end. What I do know is that there are likely three options at Captain unless you want to go off the board. LeBron James ($18,600), Anthony Davis ($17,700) and Jimmy Butler ($16,200) are the three highest-priced captains for good reason. We’ve seen all three go off at times during the series. This is where we’ll want to start our lineups.
Butler, to me, makes the most sense. We can get some salary relief and try and fit in LeBron and AD with Butler at Captain. We could also just take the two triple-double upside guys in Butler and James, leaving Davis out because we know that’s Miami’s path to winning — shutting down AD. Butler and LeBron are more conviction plays. One of on the brink of elimination and the other is on the brink of a championship. One, or both, registering a triple-double wouldn’t surprise me at all.
If you want to get creative, Tyler Herro ($13,500) is the other Captain I’d think about. He bounced back a bit with 21 points in Game 4. He’s still seeing big minutes, he’s still getting a ton of shot volume and usage. We just haven’t seen Herro get hot like he did a round ago. If the heat check game happens, Herro could be a huge play.
Value Plays
Bam Adebayo ($9,800) returned to the lineup in Game 4 and played 33 minutes, putting up 15 points and 7 rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor. Now that Adebayo has had a few days to get the shoulder/neck to 100%, I think we’ll see him play more minutes in Game 5. If that’s the case, he’s an interesting play at Captain and UTIL. I’d lean UTIL slot for Bam because Butler, AD and LeBron just have more upside. If we want to cram in 3 of those 4, we’d probably need to save a lot of salary.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($5,600) feels like the safest of the value plays. KCP is playing big minutes because of his defense and he’s attempting 7 outside shots per game. He’s had at least 22 DKFP in three of four contests. Rajon Rondo ($6,200) is a GPP consideration given his nickname and that this is an elimination game. We could see more run from Rondo if he plays well early on. He’s the only player outside of LeBron, Butler and maybe Bam who has triple-double upside.
If we’re looking at really cheap options, Markieff Morris ($3,600) has played a combined 55 minutes over the past two games. He’s nailed at least 2 outside shots in every game this series. Morris has good upside and is really the only viable value option since Kelly Olynyk ($3,000) got banished to the end of the bench with Bam back.