This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Only six NBA teams are in action Thursday, but there's no lack of intrigue or star power with the Clippers playing host to the Warriors, and LeBron's Cavaliers also in action against the Bucks. The fantasy-friendly nature of the teams playing will allow for more lineup flexibility than most three-game slates, but it's still tough to construct a winning lineup without shelling out the cash for at least one superstar. For that reason, pinpointing strong value plays to fill out the rest of your roster is key to gaining the upper hand on the opposition.
GUARD
Austin Rivers, LAC vs. GSW ($10) - Rivers will see significant playing time if either Chris Paul (groin) or J.J. Redick (back) is forced to miss the game. Both are game-time decisions, and head coach/president of basketball operations/caring father Doc Rivers has already said he would hold the two backcourt starters out unless they're fully healthy to mitigate the risk of either suffering a setback. Handing his son some extra playing time would be a nice added perk for Doc if he decides to hold Paul and/or Redick out, and doing so would allow anyone who drafts Austin to nab a starter in a potentially high-scoring game for the minimum price.
Jerryd Bayless, MIL at CLE ($16) - Bayless entered Milwaukee's starting lineup in place of the injured Jabari Parker against Washington on Tuesday and continued his strong recent play. The veteran guard averaged 30.7 fantasy points per game over his last five appearances, including a 27.4-point effort against these same Cavaliers on Saturday. As long as he keeps getting north of 30 minutes per game, his fantasy production will far exceed his price.
Guard to Avoid:
Rajon Rondo, SAC at MIA ($29) - Rondo's recent streak of double-digit assists has raised his value dramatically, but Darren Collison's return from a hamstring injury is expected to put a damper on Rondo's production and playing time. If that red flag isn't enough, Rondo also has to deal with an elite defensive Heat team that allows a meager 91.5 points per game. The veteran point guard should be useful in better matchups once his price drops a bit, but don't overpay due to your enamoration with his results in Collison's absence.
Others to Avoid: Goran Dragic ($24), Darren Collison ($21), J.R. Smith ($18), Matthew Dellavedova ($16)
FORWARD
Jamal Crawford, LAC vs. GSW ($14) - The Warriors topped the Clippers, 112-108, when they met at Oracle Arena on Nov. 4, and there should once again be plenty of fantasy production to go around as these two teams are expected to approach similar numbers in their rematch at Staples Center. And Crawford should be primed to take a decent slice of this game's fantasy pie. The veteran is coming off a season-high 37-point, six-rebound and eight-assist effort against Detroit in his last game, and he will continue to have a very high usage rate as long as Chris Paul and J.J. Redick remain out.
Chris Bosh, MIA vs. SAC ($32) - Prior to Tuesday's dud against the Timberwolves, Bosh had eclipsed 38 fantasy points in four straight games -- for comparison's sake, the equally priced Rudy Gay has failed to reach that mark all season. While covering Sacramento counterpart DeMarcus Cousins won't be easy, Bosh has never been one to bury his head in the sand when the going gets tough. It wouldn't be surprising to see the savvy veteran put up a comparable line to Cousins, as he will be working against a shoddy Kings defense while Cousins must deal with an elite Heat unit.
Forward to Avoid:
Tristan Thompson, CLE vs. MIL ($20) - Thompson does most of his damage against small-ball lineups, but he simply doesn't see the floor much against teams that play two traditional big men. The Bucks have chosen to go big against the Cavaliers in the past, and Thompson's season-low fantasy output against them Saturday should serve as a harbinger of his potential struggles Thursday. Even with a limited number of alternatives available, there are plenty of smarter options out there.
Others to Avoid: DeMarcus Cousins ($48), Draymond Green ($34), Rudy Gay ($32), Andre Iguodala ($23)
CENTER
John Henson, MIL at CLE ($13) - Henson could see increased playing time in Milwaukee's frontcourt Thursday as Jabari Parker may miss the game with a foot injury. The fourth-year man out of UNC produced his second-best fantasy output of the season when he posted 21.7 fantasy points in 21 minutes against the Cavs on Saturday. Coach Jason Kidd opted to use Henson alongside Greg Monroe for stretches of that game, and he may have no choice but to revert back to that lineup in the rematch. The circumstances make Henson a good bet to outplay his modest price tag.
Center to Avoid:
Festus Ezeli, GSW at LAC ($16) - Ezeli was able to shine against Toronto in his return to a bench role because starter Andrew Bogut was in foul trouble for much of the night, but counting on lightning to strike twice is a risky proposition. While the third-year center is very active on the glass, it's going to be hard to justify paying $16 for Ezeli if he sees his playing time slashed anywhere below his 20-minute average.
Others to Avoid: Andrew Bogut ($17), Timofey Mozgov ($16)
