This article is part of our Daily Games Cheat Sheet series.
Wednesday is my loving mother's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!
TEAM ANALYSIS
Defenses to Avoid
Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies: Despite averaging 104 points over their past two games, this Trail Blazers' offense does not instill much confidence. They have the second lowest average points this postseason, and they disappear for stretches of every game. In each of the first four games of this series, the Trail Blazers had at least one quarter in which they scored fewer than 20 points. That ineptitude is only matched by the inexperienced (and now eliminated) Pelicans. During the regular season, the Grizzlies were the best per-possession defense of the four teams playing Wednesday.
Offenses to Use
Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets: The well-balanced Hawks provide a plethora of workable daily fantasy options, and sticking with Hawks and Nets keeps gamers away from a potential Grizzlies-Blazers morass. The Hawks and the Nets both rank in the top three for per-game scoring during these playoffs, while the Grizzlies and the Trail Blazers both rank in the bottom half. The Hawks get the nod in this section because they have a few more players sporting attractive salaries, but my own Wednesday lineups will pull significantly from both squads.
Teams on a Back-to-Back Set
First game of a back-to-back: None
Second game of a back-to-back: None
DraftKings.com DAILY PLAYER RECOMMENDATIONS
Point Guard
Damian Lillard, POR (at MEM), PG, ($8,000): In Games 1 and 2, facing off against a healthy Mike Conley (face), Lillard averaged 16 points and 26.3 fantasy points per game. In Game 3, which Conley left early with the injury, Lillard scored 22 points and totaled 39.5 fantasy points. With Conley out in Game 4, Lillard upped his production to 32 points and 46.5 fantasy points. Assuming Conley remains out for Game 5, Lillard benefits from a significantly easier matchup.
Nick Calathes, MEM (vs POR), PF, ($3,100): Calathes has been the biggest beneficiary of Conley's absence, playing 51 combined minutes in Games 3 and 4 after seeing only four minutes in Games 1 and 2. In this expanded role, his production has greatly exceeded his near-minimum salary. As long as Conley remains out, Calathes borders on "must-have" territory.
Other suggestions: Deron Williams, BKN (at ATL), PG, ($6,300)
Shooting Guard
Alan Anderson, BKN (at ATL), SG, ($2,800): If you're looking for a cheap gamble, try rolling with Anderson. He's been hot-and-cold this series, alternating between double-digit points, 20+ fantasy point outings, and single-digit scoring for 9.8 fantasy points. The price - and, therefore, the risk - is low, with significant opportunity for profit. Anderson's price is so low, in fact, that it would not even have been permitted this time last week. Before this past weekend, DraftKings used a salary minimum of $3,000.
Other suggestions: Kyle Korver, ATL (vs BKN), SG, ($6,100); Bojan Bogdanovic, BKN (at ATL), SG, ($4,900)
Small Forward
DeMarre Carroll, ATL (vs BKN), SF, ($6,500): Fortunately for daily gamers, Carroll laid an egg in Game 2, scoring only two points on 1-of-8 shooting. That performance is fortunate because the well-timed bad game is keeping Carroll's salary low, perhaps by several hundred dollars. In Games 1, 3, and 4, Carroll combined to shoot 22-of-39 from the field, 19.7 points per game, and 35.3 fantasy points per game. Carroll's production and his progress this season leads me to believe that Game 2 is the outlier here.
Other suggestions: Nicolas Batum, POR (at MEM), SF, ($7,000)
Power Forward
Paul Millsap, ATL (vs BKN), PF, ($8,100): During the playoffs, I like to ride the hot hand, especially if that hand is an All-Star leading a team with home-court advantage. Millsap is riding back-to-back double-doubles and has sunk seven three-pointers in his last three games.
Other suggestions: LaMarcus Aldridge, POR (at MEM), PF, ($9,600)
Center
Brook Lopez, BKN (at ATL), C, ($8,300): One could make a compelling argument that Lopez has been the Nets' most consistent player this postseason. He's scored between 17-26 points in every game, and grabbed between 7-14 rebounds. After failing to block a shot in Game 1, Lopez has recorded nine blocks in the three games since. He's averaging 43.4 DK points this postseason, leading Wednesday's crop of centers.
Other suggestions: Pero Antic, ATL (vs BKN), C, ($2,100)
INJURY REPORT
Out
Mike Conley (face)
Dorell Wright (hand)
Game-Time Decision
Chris Kaman (ankle) is probable, after being a CD-DNP in Monday's game.
