This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There is nothing quite like the excitement of NBA action on Christmas. We have a star-studded five-game slate, which will make for some difficult decisions in DFS. Here are some players to consider when building your lineups, as well as a few to potentially avoid.
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BKN at BOS ($40): Irving couldn't have played much better in his season debut against the Warriors, scoring 26 points across 25 minutes. He shot 10-for-16 from the field, including 4-for-7 from behind the arc. On top of that, he contributed four rebounds and four assists. Defenses can't solely focus their efforts on stopping him with Kevin Durant in the fold and his usage rate is going to remain extremely high, which makes him an appealing option at this somewhat reasonable salary that won't destroy your budget.
Dennis Schroder, LAL vs. DAL ($18): If Tuesday was any indication, Schroder is poised for a big season with his new team. He played 28 minutes in a starting role, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists against an excellent defensive team in the Clippers. He took a lot of pressure off of LeBron James when it came to facilitating the Lakers' offense and he was a defensive presence when he was on the floor. Expect him to be an important part of the team moving forward, leaving him as a potential bargain at this salary.
Guard to Avoid
Andrew Wiggins, GS at MIL ($27): With their limited depth, the Warriors are going to be in trouble if Wiggins can't score. He shot an abysmal 4-for-16 from the field against the Nets, so it's no surprise that they were blown out. The troubling part is that he had only two rebounds and one assist despite playing 31 minutes. Wiggins is very inconsistent and doesn't seem to be worth the risk here, especially with Paul George available for a salary of just $29.
FORWARDS
Kevin Durant, BKN at BOS ($39): Durant wasn't his efficient self in his first game back from injury, shooting 7-for-16 from the field. Still, he didn't look rusty by any means when he finished with 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block over just 25 minutes. If the game hadn't been such a blowout, his numbers would have looked even better with more minutes. The Celtics should be a more competitive foe, so take advantage of Durant's salary being under $40 while you still can.
Josh Richardson, DAL at LAL ($18): Richardson was busy in the Mavericks' season-opener against the Suns, logging 36 minutes in a close loss. His overall line wasn't exactly off the charts, though, since he finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. Still, he's going to play a lot on a nightly basis, and evident by his seven three-point attempts in the opener, he will be one of their key contributors from behind the arc. That's enough to at least put him on your radar when it comes to considering lesser-salary forwards.
Forward to Avoid
Eric Paschall, GS at MIL ($18): Paschall received a start Tuesday with Draymond Green (foot) out, but it did not go well. He shot just 2-for-6 from the field on his way to six points and one rebound across 22 minutes. Although Green will again be sidelined for this contest, it might be best to avoid Paschall after that showing.
CENTERS
Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. NO ($31): Adebayo picked right up where he finished last season, recording 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a block Wednesday against the Magic. Outside of his seven turnovers, you couldn't ask for much more from him. With his ability to contribute in multiple categories, he's one of the safest centers on this slate.
Montrezl Harrell, LAL vs. DAL ($15): Marc Gasol was in foul trouble early Tuesday and he wasn't effective when he was on the floor. He will likely just be a token starter this season with Harrell seeing heavy minutes off the bench. Across 32 minutes against the Clippers, Harrell cashed in with 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block. This may be one of the last opportunities to add him to your entry for such a cheap salary.
Center to Avoid
Marquese Chriss, GS at MIL ($24): This salary for Chriss is baffling. He only played 12 minutes despite Green being out Tuesday, although he was productive with nine points and eight rebounds. Best-case-scenario, Chriss might play around 20 minutes on a nightly basis. That's not enough for the third-highest salaried center on the slate.
