This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
At the start of the season, the playoff matchup many people were looking forward to in the Western Conference at the end of the season was the Warriors against the Rockets. The series finally begins Monday and it should be a great one. While there will already be plenty of excitement for the evening, let's try to add to it with a winning DraftKings entry.
Expensive
Draymond Green, GS ($12,300):Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant may have the biggest star power on the Warriors, but Green may be just as important for the team to be successful. He had an excellent series against the Pelicans, scoring at least 44.3 DraftKings points in four of the five games. He played very well during three regular season games against the Rockets as well, averaging 15.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists. His ability to contribute in multiple categories gives him a high floor, making him a great option for your entry.
Chris Paul, HOU ($11,800): The Rockets advanced to the Western Conference Finals with relative ease, beating both the Timberwolves and the Jazz in five games. Paul wasn't always needed to play big minutes due to the blowout nature of some of those games, but has shown his excellent upside by scoring at least 51.8 DraftKings points four times in the playoffs. He should get plenty of playing time with this likely to be a tight series, so don't hesitate to add him to your lineup.
Middle-priced
Klay Thompson, GS ($8,900): Thompson has had some duds in these playoffs, scoring 26.8 DraftKings points or fewer four times. Since most of his value comes from his ability to score, he can sometimes be an inconsistent option. However, he has attempted at least 20 shots in five of the last six games and can put up big numbers when he is hot. He's not that expensive, so he does have some upside.
Eric Gordon, HOU ($6,600): Gordon didn't have a great series against the Jazz, scoring 18.3 DraftKings points or fewer in three of the five games. He was extremely productive when he started in place of injured players during the regular season, but his value is limited now coming off the bench. The good news is this should be a series with a lot of scoring and small lineups, leaving him as a viable candidate in tournament play.
Discount
P.J. Tucker, HOU ($5,000): Tucker has become a key part of the Rockets rotation, logging at least 33 minutes in five of his last six games. He's clearly not one of their main scoring options, but he was still able to produce enough across the board to score at least 23.8 DraftKings points in all five of those contests. With cheap options who have value hard to come by, Tucker and his secure playing time make him one of the best cost-effective players available Monday.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute ($2,900): Mbah a Moute missed the entire first round with a shoulder injury, but played in each game of the Rockets series against the Jazz. He wasn't overly productive, but he did score at least 11 DraftKings points four times. He logged at least 20 minutes in a game three times in that series and should be one of the Rockets main players off the bench as long as he stays healthy. His upside isn't great, but the salary relief he provides could be the key to a successful entry.
