This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Playing Yahoo Daily NBA in the postseason is much different that the regular season. Teams really tighten up their rotations and stars play through nagging injuries. The latter takes away the option of finding a player priced at minimum value who would have the potential to produce relatively high. Ahead, we will try to find the players who have the best opportunity to exploit their matchups, as well as other players in unfavorable situations.
GUARD
Chris Paul, LAC vs POR ($46) - Sometimes the easiest answer is the one staring right back at you. Paul is the most expensive guard on the table Wednesday, but he is also the safest play and likely to be among the fantasy scoring leaders for the night. The Clippers' offense usually runs through Paul, but that dependence is multiplied in the playoffs. Paul did not disappoint in Game 1 by posting an impressive 28 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, two steals, and two triples in only 33 minutes. If the Trail Blazers can keep this contest competitive Paul should see even more minutes. LeBron James and Damian Lillard are tempting options as the other two top-tier priced players.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DET at CLE ($18) - Unless you are going to go the more expensive route at shooting guard with Dwyane Wade or C.J. McCollum, it is all about finding a reasonably priced shooting guard who will provide the best bang for your buck. Jamal Crawford, J.R. Smith and J.J. Redick have the capabilities of getting hot, but Caldwell-Pope is likely the safest play. Both Crawford and Redick will continue to see slightly less usage while the offense runs even more through Paul than usual as previously mentioned. Smith is risky as he can easily strike out, so I am avoiding him. Caldwell-Pope played a pretty efficient Game 1, posting 29.9 fantasy points 38 minutes. He contributed 21 points, two rebounds, three assists and four triples in the process, and the Pistons are going to need him to keep hitting from the outside if they want to compete in the series.
Guard to Avoid:
C.J. McCollum, POR at LAC ($31) - If you go with one of the Trail Blazer's sharp shooting guards it may be wise to veer toward Damian Lillard as opposed to McCollum. The Clippers quietly shut down shooting guards this season by giving up the fewest fantasy points per game to that position. The stingy defense was on display in Game 1 when McCollum only managed 14.4 fantasy points while putting up just nine points, two rebounds, three assists and one triple in 37 minutes. McCollum has nowhere to go but up after that performance, but he is still a risky play given his relatively hefty price compared to other shooting guard candidates.
FORWARD
Luol Deng, MIA vs CHA ($22) - Deng was the star of Game 1 for the Heat. He posted 31 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and four triples in 33 minutes. Some may avoid him Wednesday as they expect him to regress toward the mean, but based on the matchups he should have the opportunity for another big game. Marvin Williams really struggled keeping up with him, and the Hornets do not really have any quicker options in their frontcourt to defend him. They could potentially go small with Nicolas Batum at the four spot, though they usually didn't go that route this season. Given Deng's price and potential output, it will be hard keeping him out of your lineup.
Kevin Love, CLE vs DET ($30) - When LeBron James and the Cavaliers make a conscious effort to get Love involved in the offense they seem to be at their best. That was the case offensively in Game 1, as early on James noticeably drove and kicked often to Love who took advantage of the opportunity. Love played one of his better games of the season by posting 28 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, one steal and four triples in 38 minutes. That production was good enough for 47.1 fantasy points. The Cavaliers know they need their big three clicking if they are going to make a run, and Love is the ingredient they have had the hardest time involving. However, if Game 1 is any indication, they may be figuring things out at the right time.
Forward to Avoid:
Marvin Williams, CHA at MIA ($18) - Not only did Williams struggle defensively, he had one of his poorest offensive outings of the season in Game 1. He contributed just two points, three rebounds, one assist and one block in 26 minutes, resulting in 9.1 fantasy points. The matchup simply does not favor him, and the Hornets may have to look elsewhere if he struggles again. He certainly has the tools to have a good night, but until he shows it in this series, look elsewhere.
CENTER
Hassan Whiteside, MIA vs CHA ($37) - This pick belongs in the same category as the Paul pick, because sometimes the right answer is the easiest one. Whiteside always has the potential to explode statistically, and barring foul trouble, he should be a lock to produce one of the better lines of the evening. He started the series off strong by putting up 21 points, 11 boards, two steals and three blocks in just 26 minutes. If the Hornets can keep this game more competitive Whiteside could easily out do his Game 1 performance. It may be tempting to go with Andre Drummond for DeAndre Jordan at a slightly cheaper price, but Whiteside is the safest play with the highest ceiling.
Center to Avoid
Andre Drummond, DET at CLE ($31) - This was the hardest category to choose, but Drummond is likely the riskiest pick among the top three centers Wednesday. He matches up against a stingy Cleveland frontcourt that gave up the second-fewest fantasy points to centers during the regular season. They held him to just 28.2 fantasy points in Game 1, which was a little more than 10 fantasy points less than his season average. He always has the potential for a big outing, but he is certainly a risky option in this matchup.
