The regular season has concluded but the NBA DFS season continues at DraftKings. Saturday’s four-game playoff slate starts early at 1 p.m. ET. Let’s dig into the NBA DFS research and make some fantasy basketball picks, as we gear up for a full day of playoff basketball.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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Guard
Studs
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $9,200 (6 p.m. ET) — This is his team. This is his time. There are legendary NBA names on this slate. Brunson is a star, but he’s not a household name yet. Brunson has the ability to lead the Knicks back to the Finals. New York is the Mecca of basketball. The city is desperate to regain prominence. Brunson could become the King of New York. He knows this. He’s known this. This slate is about chasing upside. Which star will take over and lead? Brunson is on the shortlist.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Phoenix Suns, $9,000 (3:30 p.m. ET) — The Timberwolves are the Western Conference darkhorse. They play great defense, but their offense is underrated. Their offense is middle-of-the-road in terms of Offensive Efficiency Rating. Their lower output is largely due to their slower pace. That doesn’t mean they cannot score. Edwards is the catalyst of this offense.
Value
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers, $4,700 (1 p.m. ET) — The Magic had to scrap and fight down the stretch. They finally received a reprise on the final day of the season with a matchup against a half-speed Bucks team. The Magic won a blowout and Suggs took it easy. Saturday will be a fight. During the Magic’s stretch run, Suggs averaged 30 minutes and around a 20% usage rate with the second unit. He scored over 29 DKFP in six of those nine games.
Forward
Studs
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets, $9,400 (8:30 p.m. ET) — Is this the last hoorah? How many more years does James have left? How many of those seasons will be competitive? Beating the defending champs is a tall order. The matchup is tough, but that’s desired. James must step up. Days of deference are over. The regular season version is gone. King James must return. If the Lakers advance, it’s because James maxes minutes and maxes usage.
Value
Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves, $5,300 (3:30 p.m. ET) — Movies need stars, but a supporting cast creates entertainment. The NBA is full of stars, and they need support to win championships. Allen is more than a character actor. He logged a career-high in minutes in his first season with the Suns. His 3-point percentage increased to 46.1% — the best in the NBA. This step forward began in last season’s playoffs (48.3% three-point percentage). Minnesota has the best defense in the NBA. It’s all hands on deck. Allen has stepped up in the playoffs before, and will be called on to do so again.
Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers, $4,000 (1 p.m. ET) — This is the moment for the small-slate legend. On small slates, the bar lowers for value. NBA DFS value picks are in short supply. Minute and fantasy point expectations are lowered. Isaac was routinely a featured player in the weekend NBA DFS article for the smaller slates. Isaac is a microwave. He quickly cooks in a short period of time. During the regular season, the injury-prone big man was always restricted. The leash came off in the Magic’s final two games, and he finished the season with 32 DKFP against the Bucks. If Isaac gets 25 minutes, he’ll easily be the best NBA DFS value pick on the slate.
Center
Studs
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, $11,600 (8:30 p.m. ET) — The Joker gives max effort during the regular season. His NBA DFS output maximizes in regular season blowouts. There’s no such thing as maxed out for a player that often hits 80 DKFP and sometimes touches the century mark. Playoff matches are maxed-out DFS days for superstars. Jokic is rested and likely wants to send a message in Game 1. The Nuggets’ goal is to crush the Lakers’ soul. The Joker is a spirit crusher.
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks, $10,600 (6 p.m. ET) — This isn’t a great matchup, but this is the regular season. Forget about great matchups. It won’t be easy for Embiid, but it’s Embiid. The 76ers’ championship hopes sit solely on his shoulders. PG Tyrese Maxey ($8.100) won’t carry Philadelphia through every round. Embiid will rarely see the bench and his usage rate will need to be close to 40%. Efficiency is debatable. Volume is not.
Value
Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, $5,100 (6 p.m. ET) — The Knicks need Hartenstein to be the heart and soul of their frontcourt. He stepped up this season. With Julius Randle on the court and off, Hartenstein has been one of the best centers in the East. Heading into the playoffs, he scored over 30 DKFP in five of six games. He averaged 30 MPG over that span. In the playoffs, Thibodeau will likely push him closer to 40 minutes per game.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is greenflagradio2) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
