There are two games on Saturday’s NBA slate as the second round of the playoffs continues.
This article was written on Friday night. Any changes will be updated. Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
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Guard
Stud
James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons ($8,200)
I went with Harden for Game 2 and all he did was shoot 3-for-13 and finish with 22 FPTS. I’m going right back to the well! I am not a smart man. The ownership is going to be low for Harden due to recency bias and the narrative that Harden stinks in the playoffs, but I think he can score in the same range as Cade Cunningham and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Detroit is fantastic at defending the paint, so the guards will have to get busy. And busy I think they get, especially Harden, both scoring and playmaking.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($11,100), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($10,300), Ajay Mitchell ($6,200)
Value
Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers ($4,100)
Wallace is the master of none, but contributor in all, providing a little something something in every statistical category. He’s put up 20.5 and 25.5 FPTS in the two games this series while playing 19 and 31 minutes. He will more than likely receive playing time in the low-20s but a blowout is always in play. I think most will go down to Jared McCain at $1,000 cheaper, but he provides nothing outside of points and I have doubts that he shoots 4-of-5 from downtown again.
Other Options: Marcus Smart ($5,700), Duncan Robinson ($4,700), Max Strus ($4,600), Daniss Jenkins ($4,400), Jared McCain ($3,100)
Forward
Stud
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers ($7,900)
Speaking of stuffing the stat sheet, Holmgren has been Wallace on steroids. While Wallace has been contributing a little something something in every statistical category, Holmgren has been producing a lot of everything everything. In the first two games of this series, Holmgren has gone for 51 and 50.25 FPTS. I’m expecting 40 FPTS, but another 50-burger is a viable outcome for sure. The Lakers just don’t have an answer for him at both ends of the court.
Other Options: LeBron James ($9,400), Tobias Harris ($7,300)
Value
Rui Hachimura, Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder ($5,100)
Hachimura has played 37 and 39 minutes in the first two games of this series. He has good size at 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, also shooting 7-for-13 from beyond the arc. During the regular season, Hachimura converted 44% of his attempts from downtown. Playing alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves, Hachimura is going to get plenty of good looks because defenses converge on those two players. The contributions in the peripheral categories are minimal, so a ceiling game is unlikely, but there’s a good chance he makes good on the salary expectation.
Other Options: Marcus Smart ($5,700), Max Strus ($4,600), Cason Wallace ($4,100)
Center
Stud
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers ($7,200)
I do not like the options at center up top, but if I had to choose one, it would be Duren. A ringing endorsement! Duren only put up 21 FPTS in Game 2, but he went for 37 FPTS in the series opener and had good success against Cleveland during the regular season.
Other Options: NA
Value
Isaiah Hartenstein, Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers ($5,300)
Hartenstein won’t play 30 minutes, but he’s productive when on the court. In the first two games of the series, Hartenstein put up 29.25 and 30.25 FPTS in 25 and 27 minutes. He’s an excellent rebounder and passer while contributing in the defensive categories. The floor is relatively high, especially considering the salary, but that doesn’t mean Hartenstein is devoid of ceiling access. During the regular season, he put up over 40 FPTS five times with a high of 69.8 FPTS.
Other Options: Jarrett Allen ($5,600), Deandre Ayton ($5,400)
