This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
What should be a pair of intriguing conference finals series tips off Sunday with the Celtics and Cavaliers, while the Warriors and Rockets play Monday night. The latter series boasts some serious star power in the likes of James Harden ($58), Kevin Durant ($48) and Stephen Curry ($39). Naturally, LeBron James ($58) casts a massive presence over in the Eastern Conference series, especially considering the caliber of postseason he's in the midst of.
For the purposes of this article, we'll establish that any of the aforementioned superstars are excellent options for either cash or tournaments if you can afford them. That said, we'll focus on some alternate selections for those who need some savings or want to go in a different direction.
Without further ado, let's look at two options at each position at opposite ends of the salary spectrum (as well as other options to consider, when applicable), along with one player to avoid.
GUARD
Chris Paul, HOU vs. GS ($35): Paul took his play to another level in the series against the Jazz, scoring 35.4 to 67.4 fantasy points in the five games versus Utah. The perennial All-Star shot an impressive 48.4 percent, including 44.1 percent on his 6.8 tries from distance. Paul encouragingly put up more than 20 shots in each of the last two games, as well, and he boasts a 27.4 percent usage rate overall in the playoffs. Paul also averaged a solid 21.7 points (on 44.0 percent shooting), 8.7 rebounds, 8.7 assists and 1.7 steals across 34.7 minutes over three regular-season games against the Warriors, while Golden State's third-fastest pace of play on the road (104.0 possessions per game) should also work in his favor.
Marcus Smart, BOS vs. CLE ($20): Smart also stepped up his play across the board in the semifinal round, averaging 13.0 points (on an increased 11.2 attempts per game), 4.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals over the five-game series against the Sixers. Those marks led to impressive totals of 28.1 to 37.2 fantasy points in four games, including three instances when he exceeded 30 fantasy points. He also was solid in two regular-season games against the Cavaliers, averaging 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block in 31.0 minutes. The fact the Cavs allowed the fourth-most fantasy points (42.3) to two-guards during the regular season only serves to further the versatile Smart's case at a reasonable price.
Others to consider: Kyle Korver, CLE at BOS ($11)
Guard to Avoid:
Rodney Hood, CLE at BOS ($10): Hood could be left out of the rotation altogether, especially considering his refusal to enter Game 4 against the Raptors. However, even if he were to take the court, he's done nothing to suggest he'd offer any type of meaningful production. After starting the postseason in the starting five, Hood's profile has dropped considerably, as he's averaging just 4.6 points on 39.6 percent shooting over 11 playoff games. He saw no more than 16 minutes in the three games he did play versus Toronto, and with no guarantee he'll take the court, he doesn't appear to even be worth a GPP flyer going into Game 1 against the Celtics.
FORWARD
Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. CLE ($26): Tatum checks in underpriced for a player who's scored more than 30 fantasy points in seven consecutive postseason contests, and in 10 of 12 playoff games overall. The rookie has clearly taken his game to another level during the Celtics' second season, and his red-hot 52.6 percent shooting in the five-game series against the Sixers was pivotal to Boston making relatively quick work of a talented Philadelphia squad. Tatum has upped his numbers across the board during the postseason, and one of the most notable boosts has occurred in his shot attempts, which have jumped from a regular-season figure of 10.4 to 14.2. Tatum should be able to win his share of battles against J.R. Smith at small forward, and his usage rate should continue to equal or exceed its 24.7 percent postseason figure.
P.J. Tucker, HOU vs. GS ($12): Tucker was impressive against the Jazz's normally stingy frontcourt in the semifinal round, averaging 11.8 points (on 57.9 percent shooting, including 52.0 percent from three-point range), 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 blocks across 32.8 minutes while putting up 7.6 shot attempts per contest. While he's clearly the fourth option behind the trio of James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela on offense, he's been notably more productive than Trevor Ariza in the majority of games recent. He's also proven highly capable of spacing the floor (5.0 three-point attempts per game during semifinal round) and has been steady in other categories, particularly rebounds. Moreover, Tucker put together a solid body of work versus the Warriors over three regular-season meetings, averaging 10.7 points (on 50.0 percent shooting), 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal across 26.0 minutes, and it's at least worth noting that Golden State allowed the most fantasy points to power forwards (54.0) over the last 10 games of the regular season.
Others to consider: J.R. Smith, CLE at BOS ($11); Kevon Looney, GS at HOU ($10)
Forward to Avoid:
Trevor Ariza, HOU vs. GS ($12): Ariza is notorious for his inconsistency, especially offensively, and that once again reared its head during the second-round series versus the Pelicans. The veteran wing scored 10.8 to 12.8 fantasy points in four of the five games versus New Orleans, averaging just 6.0 shot attempts per game. He also drained an unsightly 23.5 percent of his shots against the Warriors in two regular-season meetings on his way to averages of just 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals over 36.5 minutes.
CENTER
Draymond Green, GS at HOU ($35): Green thrived against the Rockets in three regular-season games, averaging 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.3 steals across 34.0 minutes while shooting a blistering 58.3 percent in the process. He fully exploited a vulnerable Pelicans frontcourt during the semifinal round, as well, scoring 47.3 to 62.5 fantasy points in four of the five games, surpassing 60 fantasy points twice. His usage remained elevated even after Stephen Curry returned in Game 2, as Green still put up double-digit shot attempts in that game and one other subsequent contest. He'll now be primed to take advantage of a Houston squad that yielded the third-most points in the paint (48.0) during the regular season – including the most at home (48.8) – along with the highest shooting percentage (50.0) to power forwards.
Aron Baynes, BOS vs. CLE ($10): Baynes has been a revelation in both of the Celtics' postseason series. He scored 19.3 to 28.5 fantasy points in the last three games of the semifinal round against the Sixers, and a solid 16.7 in Game 1 of the series as well. Meanwhile, he exceeded 20 fantasy points on four occasions during the seven-game, first-round battle with the Bucks, with all of those instances representing excellent returns on his bargain price. Baynes has been particularly steady on the boards, and he should be able to win his fair share of battles against Kevin Love down low Sunday. Additionally, Cleveland was weak protecting the paint all season, and they allowed 52.0 points per game in that area of the floor over the last three games versus the Raptors in the semifinal round. It's also worth noting that Baynes' sneaky floor-spacing ability (47.4 percent shooting from three-point range in the postseason) could come into play against the Cavaliers' 31.4 percent of scoring allowed from three-pointers, sixth-most in the league.
Center to Avoid:
Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee, GS at HOU ($10): Neither player was even remotely a factor in the second-round series against the Pelicans, with McGee seeing his minutes in the single digits in the only three games he touched the floor, and Pachulia logging a combined 8:25 in the pair of contests he saw any action. The Warriors appear content with a starting five that features Green at center and Durant in Green's usual power forward spot, leaving both McGee and Pachulia out in the cold. Additionally, considering neither player sees minutes beyond the teens when they do take the court, they both remain stay-away candidates.
