This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
On a two-game slate, it's increasingly difficult to avoid suggesting some of the more obvious selections. However, we try to mix and match as best as possible, giving you some options to provide the all-important differentiation that becomes even more essential when dealing with such a small player pool.
Without further ado, here's our look at Tuesday Yahoo Daily Fantasy Basketball:
GUARD
Damian Lillard, POR at GS ($43) - I have no choice but to go with the obvious at the guard position, starting with Lillard. While his shot has been considerably off more often than not over the last few weeks, we know he's going to chuck it plenty, particularly with the Blazers already behind the eight ball after one game. Lillard put up 30 shots in Game 1, and it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see him approximate that number in Game 2. He had respective fantasy point totals of 47.5 and 46.5 in the final game of the Clippers series and the first game against the Warriors, and he should be in line for a similar stat line, even against the tough defense of Shaun Livingston.
Klay Thompson, GS vs. POR ($39) - Thompson is the top option at the position, as both Dwyane Wade ($34) and C.J. McCollum ($32) are in much tougher matchups against DeMar DeRozan and Thompson himself, respectively. Thompson had no trouble with McCollum in front of him in Game 1, scoring 56.0 fantasy points on the strength of a 37-point, five-rebound, five-assist effort. Thompson figures to be one of the centerpieces of the offense again in Game 2, with Stephen Curry already ruled out.
Guard to Avoid:
Goran Dragic, MIA at TOR ($28) - Dragic's 39.7 fantasy points from Game 7 against the Hornets on Sunday are likely to draw him some attention from the masses, but I see him as an avoid candidate. He provided modest production in the other six games of the series, scoring 18.1 to 29.9 fantasy points. He'll also draw one of the NBA's toughest point-guard assignments in iKyle Lowry, who helped the Raptors give up the fewest fantasy points per game in the regular season to the position (39.67).
FORWARD
Harrison Barnes, GS vs. POR ($19) - Small forward is tough on the two-game slate, as even DeMar DeRozan ($37) could have trouble paying off his price with Dwyane Wade in front of him. We'll roll with Barnes, who has a tough matchup in his own right against Al-Farouq Aminu, but who also had a solid 25.9 fantasy points against him in Game 1 on the strength of a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double. Barnes played 38 minutes as well, another encouraging sign. While he's highly unlikely to provide any explosive output, a similar performance to the one he generated in Game 1 would represent a solid return on $19.
Luol Deng, MIA at TOR ($26) - For those who've got the cash to spend, Draymond Green ($46) gives you plenty of reasons to look his way following a triple-double Game 1 performance. If you're in need of some savings however, Deng could offer a nice return, as he's continued to serve as a pivotal piece of the Heat attack in the postseason. He scored 26.4 to 43.9 fantasy points over the seven games versus the Hornets, and has the ability to contribute across the stat sheet. While the Raptors' defense is stingy all around, Deng should see sufficient minutes to provide a solid return.
Forward to Avoid:
DeMarre Carroll, TOR vs. MIA ($15) - Carroll's price won't break your bank, but his lack of production could certainly help sink your lineup. While the Raptors benefit from his veteran presence and steady defense, he's struggled to score consistently, and is typically the fourth option offensively. While he did manage to score 21.2 to 26.5 fantasy points in three of the games against the Pacers, he also had games in which he tallied 3.9, 8.9, 12.6, and 16.8.
CENTER
Andrew Bogut, GS vs. POR ($11) - Bogut sets up as the best potential value play at center. He scored 33.4 fantasy points in Game 1 on the strength of a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double, and he could be in line for another similarly productive outing with Stephen Curry already ruled out for Game 2. The Trail Blazers were also the second-most generous team against centers in the regular season in terms of fantasy points allowed (50.81), and they surrendered four double-doubles to DeAndre Jordan in the first round.
Center to Avoid:
Festus Ezeli, GS vs. POR ($10) - Ezeli didn't even see the floor in Game 1 due to coach Steve Kerr's decision, and it's anyone's guess if the scenario will repeat itself in Game 2. Anderson Varejao and Marreese Speights handled the reserve center minutes, and Ezeli's playing time therefore figures to be limited even if he does make it onto the court in Game 2. He never topped 14 minutes during a first-round series against the Rockets, with his playing time in the single digits for three of those five games.
