Yahoo DFS Basketball: Saturday Picks

Yahoo DFS Basketball: Saturday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.

The NBA playoffs roll on Saturday with more four more games on the schedule. That also means we have another chance to win money on Yahoo. Here are some players to consider for your entry, as well as a few to potentially avoid.

GUARDS

LeBron James, LAL at POR ($51): The Lakers steamrolled the Blazers in Game 2, which meant that James only needed to play 27 minutes. Considering his limited time on the floor, his stat line of 10 points, six rebounds, seven assists and two steals wasn't all that bad. He had 66.4 Yahoo points in Game 1, so if the Blazers can keep this game close, James could once again produce a lofty stat line.

Tyler Herro, MIA vs. IND ($18): Herro might not start for the Heat, but he still plays starter-type minutes. He logged 34 minutes in Game 1 and followed that up by playing 34 minutes in Game 2, finishing with at least 25.6 Yahoo points in both contests. With the Heat winning both of those games, expect Herro to continue to see increased minutes in Game 3.

Guard to Avoid

Evan Fournier, ORL vs. MIL ($19): This series has not been kind to Fournier. Even with the Magic pulling off the upset in Game 1, he scored only nine points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field. Things weren't any better for him in Game 2 when he scored 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting. He's heavily reliant on the scoring column to provide value, so he could once again struggle in Game 3 considering the Bucks had the best defensive rating in the league this season.

FORWARDS

Anthony Davis, LAL at POR ($50): Davis was the driving force behind the Lakers' victory in Game 2, recording 31 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block across 29 minutes. The Lakers are only going to go as far as Davis and James can carry them, so Davis should have no shortage of opportunities to contribute as this series moves along. The Blazers had the fourth-worst defensive rating during the regular season, so expect Davis to have an extremely high floor in Game 3.

Eric Gordon, HOU at OKC ($16): Despite Russell Westbrook (quadriceps) missing both of the first two games, the Rockets have jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Gordon has helped to pick up some of the slack in Westbrook's absence, scoring 28.6 and 32 Yahoo points, respectively. Westbrook is not expected to play again Saturday, setting up Gordon to once again have an expanded role within the team's offense.

Forward to Avoid

Robert Covington, HOU at OKC ($26): It's been a quiet couple of games for Covington, who scored 18.5 and 22.9 Yahoo points, respectively. The Rockets really need him to defend multiple positions, so he doesn't always concentrate on his offensive game. Case in point, he's attempted a total of 13 shots in the series. Since his salary isn't much of a discount, it might be best to allocate your funds elsewhere.

CENTERS

Nikola Vucevic, ORL vs. MIL ($38): The Bucks once again had no answer for Vucevic, who followed up a strong performance in Game 1 by producing 32 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in Game 2. He's taken a whopping 47 shots during the series, 16 of which have come from behind the arc. With limited scoring options around him, Vucevic should once again be very busy in Game 3.

P.J. Tucker, HOU at OKC ($10): Tucker is one of the biggest reasons why the Rockets are able to play so many small lineups and still be successful. He's an excellent defender and is able to guard players who are significantly taller than him while also making them cover him around the three-point arc on the other end of the floor. He's scored at least 21.5 Yahoo points in both of the first two games, and while his ceiling isn't very high, he's still worth a look at the minimum salary.

Center to Avoid

Steven Adams, OKC vs. HOU ($21): Adams is a risky proposition in this series with how small the Rockets like to play. He can either dominate smaller players on the offensive end or become a defensive liability trying to guard them around the perimeter. He was successful with 33.4 Yahoo points in Game 1, but followed that up with only 24.7 Yahoo points in Game 2. With so many viable stars on the slate, taking a chance on Adams at this salary could be a hindrance to your budget while also leaving the potential for a poor stat line.

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. Mike Barner plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: mbarner, DraftKings: mbarner51.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Barner
Mike started covering fantasy sports in 2007, joining RotoWire in 2010. In 2018, he was a finalist for the FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Mike also won the 2022-23 FSGA NBA Experts Champions league. In addition to RotoWire, Mike has written for Sportsline, Sports Illustrated, DK Live, RealTime Fantasy Sports, Lineup Lab and KFFL.com.
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