This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday's four-game slate gets the NBA playoffs underway. The Warriors' stars will make popular picks as they open their title defense, but there are plenty of other strong plays to choose from. These guys make up the top value picks for Day 1 of the postseason.
GUARD
Deron Williams, DAL at OKC ($22): Williams averaged 36.0 fantasy points per game in his last five, outplaying his $22 salary by a wide margin down the stretch. The Mavericks usually make for a tough postseason out, but they're going to need a big series from the veteran point guard if they want to compete with the high-octane Thunder offense, especially with J.J. Barea limited by a groin injury.
Patrick Beverley, HOU at GS ($18): Beverley finished the regular season hot, topping 33.0 fantasy points five times in his last 10 appearances. The Rockets need him to make Stephen Curry work on the other end to have any chance, and the point guard has been handling the ball more as it is. At just $18, Beverley could convert at a poor rate and still outplay his price in what should be a fast-paced contest.
Guard to Avoid:
Klay Thompson, GS vs. HOU ($35): Thompson was held below 18.0 fantasy points twice in three meetings with the Rockets, which is understandable considering the taxing nature of guarding James Harden on the other end. The beauty of Golden State's roster construction is that they can win without getting major offensive contributions from each of their weapons every night, but unfortunately Thompson is the most likely man to sacrifice personal numbers for team success this series. His $35 price is a lot to swallow knowing the downside.
Others to Avoid: Monta Ellis ($22), Marcus Smart ($16)
FORWARD
Paul Millsap, ATL vs. BOS ($37): If Millsap's performance in the Hawks' last meeting with the Celtics is any indication, he's in for a huge series. The only NBA player to average more than 1.7 blocks and 1.7 steals per game, Millsap had five and two, respectively, en route to 68.2 fantasy against Boston on Apr. 9. His combination of size and speed represents a mismatch for a Celtics team that has to pick between the two at the power forward position, and Atlanta will look to exploit that mismatch early and often as it defends home court.
Enes Kanter, OKC vs. DAL ($18): Kanter averaged 27.8 fantasy points per game in Oklahoma City's last two meetings with the Mavericks, and he closed the regular season in good form with an average of 30.7 per game over his last five. The offensively gifted big man should find some room to operate against an old and depleted Dallas front court, plus there will be rebounding opportunities aplenty considering the Mavs ranked 26th in the NBA with a net minus-2.7 differential on the glass.
Forward to Avoid:
Michael Beasley, HOU at GS ($15): Beasley's $15 price is excessive for someone who's played fewer than 13 minutes in four of six April appearances. While it's important to try to get a leg up by finding under-the-radar options among the sea of familiar plays, Beasley doesn't represent a smart investment.
Others to Avoid: DeMar DeRozan ($35), Trevor Ariza ($21), Myles Turner($16)
CENTER
Dwight Howard, HOU at GS ($28): Howard always saves his best for the postseason - he averaged 16.4 points and 14.0 rebounds per game in 17 playoff appearances last season after managing just 15.8 and 10.5, respectively, during the regular season. He can't carry a team to the NBA Finals by himself like he did with Orlando in 2009 anymore, but the veteran could easily match last season's averages after putting up comparable regular season stats. If Howard can reach his second gear, he'll be a steal at $28.
Center to Avoid:
Jared Sullinger, BOS at ATL ($17): Sullinger's reduction in minutes down the stretch was performance-based and not rest-based since the Celtics were battling for home court advantage.They ultimately lost that battle, while Sullinger owners lost the war as they got just a putrid 15.3 fantasy points per game out of him after April Fools Day. Don't be surprised if defensive dynamo Al Horford stifles the struggling center in Game 1.
Others to Avoid: Bismack Biyombo ($13), Clint Capela ($12)
