Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

After going down two games to none against the Thunder, the Lakers look to get back into it. In order to do that Kobe is going to have to go off and get help from a couple other guys.  My expectations for Kobe Bryant is that he will go off and have a monster game and I think he will be a top two fantasy player tonight, so my suggestion is to pick him up tonight, especially since he is at home.  Then you got guys like Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who have not been performing all that well, but I figure that Gasol will have to establish his jumper tonight to be effective which I think he will, so he is another guy to watch. Also Gasol may struggle to get rebounds with Perkins and Ibaka opposing him.  As for Bynum, I think he may continue to struggle a bit because he will have an extremely tough time scoring inside with the physical play of the Thunder and as mentioned before rebounds will be tough to come by.  Finally the Lakers have to have one of the other guys to show up especially at the point guard position.  I think that guy might be Sessions tonight, as long as he runs the offense and hits a good amount of his open looks, the Lakers should have a good shot to get a win and Sessions could be a factor in the fantasy games tonight.

Then you have the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been on a roll.  Obviously I recommend using Kevin Durant and/or Russell Westbrook as both these players should put up some pretty big fantasy points, but let’s look at the other guys that could have a big impact.  The big one is the sixth man of the year who seems to do everything well.  That man is James Harden who should get a good amount of assists, points and rebounds tonight.  Another guy to look at is Ibaka, who gets a good amount of rebounds and blocks, although he obviously has a tough matchup tonight in Bynum and Gasol, so I recommend looking at him last only if you have enough in your budget to fit him. Other than that there are not a lot of options, but if one of the starting bigs for the Thunder gets hurt, look for Nick Collison to come in and have a solid game.  If he gets enough minutes I think he could put up close to double-double numbers.

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics

Philadelphia looks to even up the series tonight, but the team isn’t exactly filled with fantasy studs.  In fact it seems to be a new guy every night. So if I am to suggest a couple of players, I would suggest Spencer Hawes and Evan Turner for this game tonight.  Many people may say Jrue Holiday, but I believe that he could struggle a bit with scoring and turnovers due to the fact that Rondo is an excellent defender and will likely give him fits.  That is where Evan Turner comes in because he will be relied on to run the offense if Jrue has a tough time with Rondo.  Also Turner is one of those players that is capable of putting up near triple double stats as he is a good rebounder for a guard and is a good facilitator.  Now Spencer Hawes also needs to step up in this game and get his jumper back on track.  He needs to spread the floor so Turner and Holiday can attack the basket.  One sleeper from this team to look for is Jodie Meeks, he may be counted on to provide them some three point scoring and is coming off a solid game of thirteen points in the last game.

Now with Boston, there are actually some big fantasy studs within their roster. One guy that has been on an absolute tear has been Kevin Garnett.  Now I would advise taking him until he cools down, but I also believe that Rondo or Pierce could definitely outshine him tonight.  Speaking of Rondo this is a tough series for him because it is a better defensive team and he will have a hard time getting steals because Philadelphia does not turn the ball over that much.  As for Pierce he could have a bit of an easier time than Rondo, but it won’t be much easier because he will likely have to go up against Igoudala who is a very good defender too. I’d advise maybe taking a hard look at Ray Allen, because I think the defense may be more focused on Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, so he could have a big scoring game.  As for sleepers in this game, look at Mickael Pietrus who has steadily improved is scoring in last two games and could see more minutes because of that tonight.

Here are my fantasy picks for Friday’s NBA playoff games.

Jrue Holiday vs. Boston Celtics

Salary: $11,875

The Sixers are going to need the offensive threat of Holiday if they want to continue their playoff run. Holiday has been exceptional in the second round series averaging 13 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. In Game 3 he put up great numbers (15pts., 9asts., 6rbs.) but his output was still not enough to overcome the Celtics. I really like his speed and determination when he has the ball. Whether the Sixers win or lose, expect Holiday to get his fantasy points on any given day. Very solid pick in all lineups considering his fair price on DraftDay.

Kevin Garnett vs. Philadelphia 76s 

Salary: $15,390

Kevin Garnett has been nothing but a godsend when it comes to fantasy points in the playoffs. He is averaging 35 FPPG in both series thus far and in his series against the Sixers he has increased that number to 38 FPPG. In Game 3 of the Sixers series he put up outstanding numbers (27pts., 4asts., and 13rbs.). The greatest part about Garnett is his shooting percentage which is right around 59 percent from the field in his past 5 games. His toughness and cocky attitude give him a huge competitive edge over his defenders. I expect to see Garnett put up somewhere between 35-45 fantasy points in Friday’s Game 4. Garnett is definitely worth his salary in Friday’s lineups.

James Harden vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Salary: $11,590

Harden has been consistent throughout the season and into the playoffs. He has had a few breakout games in the playoffs and I believe Friday’s Game 3 will be his next. He is averaging steady numbers and he is an outstanding free throw shooter. He finds away to draw fouls and plays with great intensity. In this series against the Lakers he has scored a total of 30 points, half of which have come off of free throws. If he continues to handle the ball and keep up a sizable amount of playing time expect Harden to have some big numbers in Game 3 of this Western Conference Semi-Final match-up.

As Always Good Luck and Have Fun on DraftDay!

So what now?

Here are my picks for Game 7….

Yes I am picking Ty Lawson, he has been nothing but a superstar all series and when the series is on the line he performs at a high level as we saw in Game 6. Averaging 18 points a game he is an offensive threat for the Nuggets. If his pinpoint accuracy continues into game seven we can see some sparks fly from behind the arc again.

I know I have been very biased towards the Nuggets thus far but here’s where I start to lean towards the Lakers. Kobe Bryant will be in my lineup. Period. You could argue that he is one of sports most clutch performers and it’s Game 7 in a Western Conference Semi Final showdown. This means that regardless of his price on DraftDay, I will be picking him up.

Finally, where is Pau Gasol? Nowhere in Game 6 that’s for sure. After going 1-10 from the field with a measly 3 rebounds he was pretty much useless. In light of his terrible performance, I am going to make a bold move and go with the Spaniard in Game 7. I think you guys should take a chance on him too.  In the first four games of the series he was playing up to his potential so I believe he will bounce back.

As Always Good Luck and Have Fun on DraftDay!

Is there anyone worthy of taking on Miami besides the Big Three?

I am not sure that I would take anyone else besides the big three in my opinion.  Sure maybe Mario Chalmers or Udonis Haslem can provide you some good fantasy points, but I think there are a lot better and cheaper options then the cheap options that Miami has.  However, look closely at Mike Miller and Shane Battier, if they can knock down three’s consistently maybe they could be an option, but I would stick with the big three and look elsewhere for bargains.

With Rose out, are there any Bulls players to take for your lineups?

Yes, especially Rip Hamilton, John Lucas and Joakim Noah.  Now Lucas and Hamilton are cheaper bargain options that at the very least should put up some points and maybe a couple of threes and assists.  As for Noah, his assists and points should go up with the Rose injury, because he is going to have to be one of the top facilitators on the team.  One guy to watch is Loul Deng, who has struggled down the stretch of the season.  His production might go up and for the Bulls playoff shots has to go up.  I would be cautious with taking him because he is a bit over the average salary and there are better options at the forward spot.  Korver is a wild card here because he will also have to take a bigger load of scoring.

Is there one reliable option on the Indiana Pacers?

Danny Granger and maybe Roy Hibbert, but other than that I would say no.  This is a team that seems to have different contributors every night.  It could be Paul George, Darren Collison, David West or George Hill.  All of those guys aren’t terrible options, but with the uncertainty I would be a little cautious picking those four.  Danny Granger on the other hand should consistently score twenty and get a fair amount of rebounds and assists.  As for Hibbert, he should be able to dominate in his series versus the Magic without Dwight, but after that it will be a big question mark if they get by the Magic.

Who is a better fantasy option for the Boston Celtics, Rajon Rondo or Paul Pierce?

I am going to go with the veteran here.  Paul Pierce came out and played a stellar game two and always seems to shine in the playoffs.  Paul Pierce will always score well and have solid rebounding games.  Rondo is less consistent then Pierce too mainly because he does have poor shooting nights.  However this is very, very close and it wouldn’t be stupid to go with Rondo over Pierce.  Rondo is more capable of getting a triple double and more steals then Pierce.

Other key players on seeds five through eight

Jeff Teague, Atlanta

Will have to step up for Atlanta to have a shot and had a very good playoff run last year.

Glenn Davis, Orlando

With the absence of Dwight Howard, Davis will have to take over in the post in terms of scoring and rebounding.  He has been red hot towards the end of the season and into the playoffs.

Landry Fields, New York

Is going to need help take the load off of Carmelo Anthony with Amare possibly knocking himself out of the series. 

Evan Turner, Philadelphia

With Rose out and Turner now being inserted into the starting lineup, look for him to be the facilitator on the team while putting up solid numbers across the board.

With three games scheduled for tonight, there are plenty of players to choose from on DraftDay. You should choose wisely though as these are the Playoffs, and like we’ve seen before, anything really is possible. The salary you’ve got to spend is also less than what it normally is, which makes choosing slightly more difficult.

PG: Tony Parker $12,495

This was a toss-up between him and CP3, but I’m going with Parker for a couple of reasons. One, the Spurs are the best in the West because of the floor general, and he’s got a whole lot of game. Two, Gregg Popovich (if you didn’t know already) is a pretty damn good coach.  And three, the game is at home for San Antonio as opposed to the Clippers having to play on the road. I’m not saying an upset isn’t possible, but as long as Parker leads the charge properly, the Spurs should cruise to 2-0 series lead.

SG: George Hill $10,165

This guy knows how to play. It’s really that simple. His numbers haven’t been great in the series so far, but he’s shown flashes of brilliance on both ends. Indiana let the first game get away from them in a series they know they can definitely win. They’ll need strong outings from Granger and Hill to get the advantage back however.

SF: Blake Griffin $14,275

Kind of weird calling this guy a small forward considering the number of big plays he makes. I have a feeling we haven’t seen his best acrobatics yet, and it’s possible we might not tonight either. What we need to see is at least a double-double, which is definitely possible. In what’s arguably the most entertaining series of the first round, the Blake Show is the X-factor in my opinion.

PF: Paul Millsap $13,370

Does anyone know if this guy has a nickname? I can think of plenty that would suit him, but I’ll save the praise (or embarrassment) for your comments. Point is, this guy is a stud. He has been for years, and if Utah has any chance of doing well in this series, he’s definitely the key player to making it happen. His first outing was strong with one rebound shy of a double-double. The few jitters he had going into the game should all be gone by now.

C: Roy Hibbert $11,685

It took a while for this guy to pan out, but he seems to be doing alright now. The absence of Dwight Howard should allow him to elevate his game either a little or a lot more. The choice is his, but he’s definitely my pick for tonight.

Now you’ve got two choices for any players you’d like. Surely you know who you want by now. I’m going with J.J. Redick and DeMarre Carroll because those are my guys.

Here’s my series superstars for the….

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

This is going to be my must watch series for the first round. I can definitely see this one going to seven based on the competitive nature of both teams.

Superstar for the Heat: LeBron James

James will be the key player in this one folks. His cocky attitude and enormous ego won’t let this series slip away. He is averaging outstanding numbers ( 27.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 7.9 RPG) and his numbers only get better in the playoffs as he comes closer to securing a NBA title. Expect to see last second daggers and big plays from the anticipated league MVP. Although his price on DraftDay is threw the roof, I think it is well worth his 40+ fantasy point games.

Game 1 Price: $20,640

Superstar for the Knicks: Amar’e Stoudemire

After receiving much criticism from sports annalists, I believe Stoudemire will return to his team with an increased determination. The Knicks need him even if they think they don’t. The truth is Stoudemire is still one of the elite power forwards in the league and his productivity can be huge when the game is on the line. Most people would say Carmelo Anthony is the key superstar in this match-up, but I disagree. Every team needs role players and I see STAT holding a crucial role in this series. Just watch.

Game 1 Price: $12,020

My Starting Lineup:

J.J. Redick v IND (G)

PG: Delonte West, Dallas

Delonte West has been red hot as of late averaging well over twenty fantasy points a game and over sixteen points per game. He has been getting a couple steals and rebounds in those games too and those could rise especially if the Bulls put a focus on him, which I kind of doubt. Bulls are a tough defensive team, so this could be the night he cools off. However, I advise playing him until he does cool down.

SG: Rip Hamilton, Chicago

He had a rough outing against the Miami Heat, but is still trying to get back from his injuries that have been nagging him all year.  Overall, he had a pretty good week this past week scoring over twenty points twice this week.  With Rose still hurting look for Rip to carry some of his load tonight.  I expect to see him score well and get a couple of steals, but Dallas is a tough team still looking to get a better seed in the playoffs, so Rip could have a tough night, but I think the focus will be on other players tonight.

SF: Chase Budinger, Houston

Has had a pretty good last five games and has a good chance to continue his success tonight. Now he has been pretty inconsistent this whole year, but I have a feeling that he will be in double digits in points tonight and should get five plus rebounds to go along with a couple of threes. The only concern I have about him is having a bad shooting night which is very possible.

PF: Jan Vesely, Washington

Jan has had a couple of twenty point fantasy games in his past five games mainly because he is pulling down a good chunk of rebounds.  However, I caution people on this pick.  He faces Miami tonight and that could equal a bad night for Jan.  Also you rely on him to get you defensive stats rather than offensive stats, which is very scary.  I think he will get a decent amount of boards tonight and he is very cheap. I recommend going other places, but if you want to add more superstars and want the cheapest option that will get you some points than Jan Vesely is your guy.

C: Drew Gooden, Milwaukee

Drew Gooden has put up some monster totals in his past five games score over thirty eight in two of the games albeit against the Wizards and Pistons.  However, he plays the Nets tonight so he should have another good night against a team that doesn’t have a lot of quality bigs.  Drew Gooden is not the most reliable player so his offense may be very average to below average due to his inconsistencies shooting, but I think he will get his share of rebounds and should get you at least twenty plus fantasy points tonight.

Tony Parker plays on one of them, and he should continue to be spectacular tonight. He’s having one of the best seasons of his career, and right now the Spurs are playing like the dynasty they were barely a decade ago. I just reminded myself how old I am.

Russell Westbrook is another one of those guys whose name we’ve heard all season. My guess is he’s not planning on slowing down anytime soon. He’ll probably actually turn things up a notch or two instead.

Paul George is in a slump right now, which is why I’m willing to put my money on him tonight. Minnesota is a good team, one that will provide a competitive matchup that will require George’s best effort.

Lou Williams was definitely featured on a lot highlight reels last month and all throughout the season. He’s been relatively quiet as of late, but in a possible playoff matchup against Orlando, I expect him to be back to his old ways.

Everyone’s least favorite player Kris Humphries actually isn’t half bad. The Nets have the Heat tonight, but that’s what Humphries has had all month long, with five double-doubles in six games during April.

And now some strategy. Usually what I do after I’ve picked my lineup is go through and identity the weakest and most expensive area(s). I then drop that player and use the remaining salary money to buy an even better player at the same position. I always end up with a better team afterward.

So here’s some advice for your DraftDay NHL lineups….

PICK PLAYERS FROM THESE TEAMS!

Claude Giroux

Giroux was phenomenal in Game 2 of the series (3G, 3A, 6P, +4) making him a great pick for Sunday’s Game 3 match-up. With the Penguins in crisis mode, Giroux must be at his best in order to keep the Flyers ahead of the high powered Pittsburgh offense. In the playoffs Giroux has always been very productive with 16 goals, 28 assists, and an overall +15 in a total of 42 playoff games. Based on his previous playoff history and the poor defense displayed by the Penguins in this series, Giroux is a must pick for all lineups.

Sidney Crosby

“Sid the Kid” is the life of the Pittsburgh Penguins and with his team down in this series, losing two straight home games, you better believe he is going to show up in Game 3. Crosby will be the guy to get the Penguins back into this series and that means great fantasy numbers for DraftDay fans. Crosby’s playoff numbers are among the best in the NHL: 32 goals, 54 assists, and an overall +23 in a total of 64 games. These numbers are outstanding and he has recorded both a goal and an assist in each game of this series thus far. He’s incredibly reliable which fortifies this pick in Sunday’s lineups.

Evgeni Malkin

Malkin lead the league this season in shots recording 339. This stat alone makes Malkin a great fantasy choice because he gives himself a lot of opportunities to put up stats and points on DraftDay. So far his stats in this series have been sub-par and he needs to carry more of the load in order to help his team climb back into this series. In Game 1 he put up goose eggs across the board as far as goals, assists, and points and contributed nothing to the box score. In Game 2 he improved, contributing two assists. I expect him to recuperate significantly in Game 3 as the urgency continues to increase.

Hopefully this helps you out with your lineups and lets hope for a high-scoring battle in Philadelphia come Sunday.

As Always, Good Luck and Have Fun on DraftDay! 

PG: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland

I know that Irving’s second half hasn’t been the greatest and he has had his rookie struggles, but he only costs you $8,000 in DraftDay lineups! Take him tonight, at the very least he will get a decent amount of points and allow you to get some more big time players.  Also note that he is playing an awful Washington Wizards team that doesn’t really play much defense.  I expect a relatively big night for Kyrie Irving.

SG: Avery Bradley, Boston

Avery Bradley is a big risk to take, even if you are getting a big time discount on him. I think tonight is about taking some of the cheaper post players, but if you like the bigger name post players, then Bradley is certainly one guy to take a look at.  He has had a couple twenty plus point fantasy games lately and he takes on New Jersey tonight.  He is very inconsistent, but if Boston annihilates the Nets like they should, then there should be plenty of minutes and opportunities for Avery Bradley to put up some decent points.

SF: Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio

Again like Bradley, be cautious of taking shooting guards and small forwards as bargains tonight.  Leonard has been consistently average to below average lately only averaging between twelve and fifteen fantasy points per game.  His point totals are going down, but he is still rebounding alright.  They play Phoenix tonight, which could bode well for him if they play up tempo.  However, Suns are a dangerous team as of late and it could be a rough night for Leonard fantasy wise.  Again I think it bears repeating that I think you should look at the post players rather than the guards tonight (besides Kyrie Irving).

PF: Kevin Seraphin, Washington

I know I picked him a couple weeks ago, but the man is one of the greatest bargains you will find right now.  He goes up against Cleveland tonight, who doesn’t have the greatest post defense in the world especially without Varejao.  He also is consistently averaging over twenty points a game lately and is scoring pretty well in those games. Rebounds will be an issue with him as he is a big inconsistent at that part of the game, but I think he gets a good amount of rebounds and points to put at or over twenty four fantasy points tonight.

C: Zach Randolph, Memphis

This is not a sleeper or a big time bargain, but he is under the average right now. He is averaging a double-double and over twenty fantasy points per game in his last five games. Now he scoring is down from what we have seen of Randolph in the past, but I expect those to go up very soon and should go up tonight.  Memphis has endured five straight playoff teams in a row, so playing Utah tonight should mean a better night for Randolph and his teammates.