This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has five games on tap for New Year's evening, with four starting 7 to 8 EST and finishing with the 76ers against the Lakers at 10:30. The selection is relatively sparse, which means there will be a lot of player overlap, so you will need to hit on a low-priced value pick or two to set your team apart.
GUARD
Ish Smith, PHI at LAL ($20) - Smith has absolutely found a home in Philadelphia and is quickly becoming an impact player. He is averaging 20 points, 10 assists, three boards, two steals and even a blocked shot the last two games and has led the 76ers to two wins in his first three games. The Lakers are one of the worst defenses in the NBA, and they are friendly to opposing point guards.
Evan Fournier, ORL at WAS ($22) - Fournier was one of the hot bargain plays the first month of the season, then he tailed off for a few weeks before recovering his form to end the year. In his last six games, Fournier has scored 30 to 32.9 fantasy points in five of them and his "bad" game was still 26.7 fantasy points against a tough Heat defense. The Wizards are weak defending opposing wings, giving Fournier a good matchup Friday.
J.J. Barea, DAL at MIA ($12) - This is a bonus pick, assuming that Deron Williams sits again Friday. If Williams plays, Barea is not as interesting. But in Williams' four-game absence, Barea is averaging 22.3 points, 6.8 assists and 4.5 three-pointers per game. Miami is a solid defense against opposing point guards, but if Williams sits then Barea's still worth it as a potential impact player for near the minimum.
Guards to Avoid:
Deron Williams, DAL at MIA ($28) - Williams is battling an ankle injury that may keep him out Friday. But if he does play, he'll be working his way back into game shape against the third-best defense against point guards. At his price, there are better options.
Victor Oladipo, ORL at WAS ($26) - Oladipo's production has really diminished. He hasn't scored more than 23 fantasy points in his last six games and has only exceeded 20 fantasy points once. He just isn't playing anywhere near his $26 price.
FORWARD
Jerami Grant, PHI at LAL ($16) - The 76ers have been experimenting with their front line lately, deciding how to maximize both Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor. Okafor's knee has been bothering him, so Wednesday the 76ers brought him off the bench with Grant moving into the starting lineup. Grant exploded for 16 points, 11 boards, five blocks, two assists, two steals and two three-pointers in 34 minutes in a win over the Kings. The lineup for Friday's game hasn't been announced yet, but since Wednesday's lineup led to a road victory for the 76ers, Grant could get the nod again. If so, he's worth a look.
Nerlens Noel, PHI at LAL ($24) - Noel is playing well, especially with Jahlil Okafor having to miss some time with a sore knee and then coming off the bench Wednesday. Noel has averaged 17.3 points, 8.7 boards, 3.0 steals and 2.3 blocks over his last three games, and if Okafor comes off the bench again then Noel would make an excellent play against a Lakers defense that struggles to defend opposing centers.
Forwards to Avoid:
DeMarre Carrol, TOR vs CHA ($21) - Carroll has played three games since returning from his knee injury, but he has not re-gained his form yet. In those three games he has averaged only 8.0 points, 4.3 boards and not much else in 23 minutes per game. This is far below his price, plus Friday he has a tough matchup against a Hornets defense that is second in the NBA at limiting production to small forwards.
Robert Covington, PHI at LAL ($23) - Covington has slowed way down lately. After a blistering start to his season, Covington has now gone seven consecutive games without scoring more than 23 fantasy points, a stretch in which he has only two games with more than 20 FPts and also has two single-digit fantasy point efforts. He is underperforming his price.
CENTER
Bobby Portis, CHI vs NY ($10) - Portis has earned more playing time recently, which has translated to good numbers. With Joakim Noah out nursing his shoulder, Portis has had three games with more than 20 minutes played in his last six outings (including his last two in a row). In those three games, Portis has managed 20 points and 11 boards in 23 minutes, 12 points and nine boards in 27 minutes, and 16 points with seven boards in 26 minutes. His most recent two games have translated to 23.8 and 25.4 fantasy points, respectively, which is excellent value for the league minimum.
ZaZa Pachulia, DAL at MIA ($22) - Another bonus pick, Pachulia has averaged 16 points and 11.7 rebounds over his last three games for an average of almost 33 FPts/G that outperforms his price.
Center to Avoid:
Jahlil Okafor, PHI at LAL ($26) - Okafor is in this space only under the assumption that he doesn't start and/or that his knee is still bothering him. If he's perfectly healthy and starting then he'd actually be a great start against a terrible Lakers frontline, but if he's limping and/or coming off the bench, as he's been this week, his ceiling is limited and his $26 price would be too high.
Snellings is a two-time winner of the Fantasy Basketball Writer of the Year award from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.
Follow @professordrz on Twitter.
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