Yahoo DFS Basketball: Friday Picks

Written by

Updated on April 29, 2016 2:06PM EST

The NBA has three games on tap Friday night, likely the largest one-day slate for the rest of the playoffs. There is enough variation with three games for there to be opportunity to create a bit of separation from opposing squads.

GUARD

George Hill, IND vs TOR ($18) - Hill has quietly been solid in these playoffs, at a low price. He's playing more than 30 minutes per game, and in the last two he has averaged 18.5 points, 3.0 assists, 3.0 boards, and 3.0 treys per game.

Jamal Crawford, LAC at POR ($23) - Crawford is arguably the biggest beneficiary of the injuries to starters Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. He moved into the starting lineup Wednesday, led the team in minutes played and took 23 shots. Look for him to continue firing in an elimination game Friday.

Guards to Avoid:

Kyle Lowry, TOR at IND ($40) - Lowry hasn't been himself since his late-season injury and has generally been below par these playoffs. He has failed to reach 30 fantasy points in three of the five games in this series, a far-cry from the type of production needed to support his $40 price.

Monta Ellis, IND vs TOR ($25) - Ellis has not scored in double-digits in three straight games, shooting just 34.6 percent from the field over that span. This has translated to three straight games of less than 20 fantasy points.

FORWARD

Al-Farouq Aminu, POR vs LAC ($20) - Aminu has scored at least 20 fantasy pints in every game in the playoffs, with three games of at least 28 fantasy points, including his 54.5 fantasy points explosion Monday. Not bad for $20.

Jeff Green, LAC at POR ($18) - Green is the other big beneficiary of the Chris Paul and Blake Griffin injuries. He played almost 37 minutes Wednesday, scoring 17 points with six boards, three steals and two assists. He likely will be leaned on again Friday.

Forward to Avoid:

Nicolas Batum, CHA vs MIA ($27) - Batum returned from an ankle injury Wednesday but came off the bench and only managed 16.1 fantasy points in 25 minutes. He is expected to come off the bench again Friday, making him a risky pick for his $27 price.

Luol Deng, MIA at CHA ($28) - No power forward is truly worth avoiding, outside of the injured ones. The others are relative values, with some low-priced upside. Deng is an OK pick as well, but he falls into this category by dint of being the highest-priced option on the board by a solid margin, and with no guarantee that he outproduces lower-priced options like Jeff Green, Marvin Williams, Myles Turner and/or Mo Harkless.

CENTER

Mason Plumlee, POR vs LAC ($19) - Plumlee has been a rock in the playoffs, averaging 15 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 8.8 points over the last four games. The Trail Blazers are running their offense through him more and more, which has led to the shocking assist totals.

Center to Avoid:

Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at IND ($26) - Valanciunas has been OK in the playoffs, but he has failed to score more than 26 fantasy points in any of his last three games. That limits his value when there are several other centers producing at a higher level.

Get a FREE RotoWire 10-day trial (no credit card required) at RotoWire.com

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.