This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA resumes Thursday with a three-game slate featuring three of the league's top four defensive teams. Opponents of the Spurs, Jazz and Cavaliers may have trouble putting up points on the whole, but it's important not to ignore their players with so few available alternatives. While it will most likely be a low-scoring night, the players listed below will make you feel like you're still watching the All-Star game with their individual stat lines.
GUARD
Kyrie Irving, CLE vs. CHI ($34) - The knock on Irving has always been his inability to stay healthy, but he finally looked back in peak form heading into the All-Star break. An extra week away from the daily NBA grind could only have done more good for a player who already managed to outperform his $34 price in seven of his last eight appearances after failing to do so in all but three prior games due to injury-related limitations. Factor in that the Chicago team Irving faces in his return is missing elite perimeter defender Jimmy Butler on top of being an uncharacteristically below-average defensive team as it is, and all factors point to the point guard picking up right where he left off.
E'Twaun Moore, CHI at CLE ($12) - Moore has seen a spike in minutes due to Butler's absence, averaging 33 per game in the four February contests Butler has missed. While he hasn't come close to matching the star shooting guard's production, Moore's 29.7 fantasy points per game in those four appearances have pleasantly surprised those who opted to use him on the cheap. The price is still right, so the fill-in should continue to keep DFS players happy as long as they keep their expectations reasonable.
Guard to Avoid:
J.J. Redick, LAC vs. SA ($21) - Redick's value stems almost exclusively from his three-point shooting, as his 1.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.0 blocks per game are hardly worth writing home about. The Spurs excel in all facets of defense, but their ability to limit three-point shooting is their calling card on that end. San Antonio allows just 6.1 made threes per game while nobody else in the league gives up fewer than 7.1, making them far and away the worst possible matchup for a sniper like Redick.
Others to Avoid: Chris Paul ($49), Garrett Temple ($12)
FORWARD
Wesley Johnson, LAC vs. SA ($11) - Johnson has become an integral member of the Clippers' small-ball approach in the absence of Blake Griffin (hand), topping 20.0 fantasy points in each of his last five appearances despite averaging just 8.2 points per game over that span. His ability to contribute across the board and not rely predominantly on points for his production should enable Johnson to succeed in what should be a low-scoring game against the Spurs. Locking in 20.0 fantasy points at just $1 above the minimum price is too good a value to pass up in most scenarios, but doubly so on a night with few enticing alternatives.
Derrick Favors, UTA at WAS ($33) - Favors initially struggled upon his return from back spasms, but finally seemed to be finding a rhythm after outplaying his price in four of five games heading into the All-Star break. The Wizards defense Favors faces is the only bottom-10 unit in action Thursday, meaning he and his Jazz teammates are in the best position to produce. With fellow scoring forward Gordon Hayward struggling recently, Favors is the logical choice to take advantage of Washington's ineptitude with a big game.
Forward to Avoid:
Mike Dunleavy, CHI at CLE ($16) - Dunleavy may seem like an appealing option with Jimmy Butler out, but injury issues of his own will put a significant cap on his minutes. He has averaged just 7.8 fantasy points per game in three appearances since returning Feb. 6, and that production has to be considered par for the course until Dunleavy proves otherwise. Investing anything over the minimum price for the small forward in his current state is a waste, as most of the playing time vacated by Butler's absence has been going to E'Twaun Moore instead.
Others to Avoid: Otto Porter ($22), Tim Duncan ($18), Jamal Crawford ($16)
CENTER
Rudy Gobert, UTA at WAS ($27) - Gobert has been a dominant presence down low over the past month, averaging a double-double of 13.2 points and 11.5 rebounds along with 2.2 blocks per game in his last 13. Washington ranks last in the NBA in rebounding differential, so Gobert should have a field day on the glass against them while simultaneously exploiting their porous defense en route to yet another double-double. With so many of his contemporaries facing tougher opposition Thursday, the reasonably-priced Stifle Tower is the logical choice at his position.
Center to Avoid:
Marcin Gortat, WAS vs. UTA ($27) - Gortat's price matches that of Jazz counterpart Rudy Gobert, but he makes for a far less appealing option. While his production against mediocre opposition has been fine, the last elite team (Golden State) and last top-10 defense he faced (Toronto) both limited Gortat to exactly nine points and eight rebounds. Utah's interior defense is more intimidating than that of the two aforementioned teams, meaning Gortat could be in for a rough time against one of the league's premier shutdown frontcourts.
Others to Avoid: Tristan Thompson ($18), Bobby Portis ($11)
