This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
With all eight NBA playoff series now underway, Monday brings a quiet night with only a pair of games. There is still plenty of money to be won on FanDuel though, so let's look at some players who might be able to help you create a winning lineup.
Guards
Goran Dragic, MIA at PHI ($6,300): Dragic did not have a good offensive performance in Game 1, finishing 4-for-14 from the field on his way to only 23 FanDuel points. The Heat are not a great offensive team and can ill afford another performance like that from Dragic if they want to have any hopes of winning Game 2. The good news is Dragic still chipped in five rebounds and four assists and is going to get plenty of playing time again Monday. There aren't a lot of great point guard options, but Dragic might have the highest upside of the bunch.
J.J. Redick, PHI vs. MIA ($6,200): The veteran leadership that Redick provided during the regular season was crucial to the Sixers' success and he carried that into Game 1, scoring 28 points and hitting four three-pointers. He's not going to provide much in the way of rebounds or assists, but his ability to create spacing is key and he should see a few extra shot attempts Monday with Joel Embiid (eye) still out. At this mid-tier price, he's an excellent option to consider.
Dwyane Wade, MIA at PHI ($4,500): Wade played only 19 minutes in a blowout loss in Game 1, but still managed to score 20.8 FanDuel points. After posting just a 24.3% usage rate in his brief stint with the Cavaliers, Wade recorded a 30.7% usage rate after rejoining the Heat. If the Heat can keep Game 2 close and Wade plays closer to 25 minutes, he could provide significant value at this price.
Forwards
Ben Simmons, PHI vs. MIA ($10,500): Simmons shot just 5-for-13 from the field in his first career playoff appearance in Game 1, but also fell just one rebound shy of a triple-double. He finished with 49.8 FanDuel points and can continue to put up lofty numbers even if his shot isn't fall in Game 2. He's the main man with Embiid out, so expect another big performance Monday.
Robert Covington, PHI vs. MIA ($7,900): Covington had some great games down the stretch during the regular season, scoring at least 42.2 FanDuel points in three of the last six games that he played normal minutes. He showed he doesn't need to score a lot to provide value in Game 1, scoring 32.4 FanDuel points despite finishing with just nine points. He recorded three blocks in that contest and has averaged 3.3 steals and 2.4 blocks in his last seven games. Small forward is very thin outside of Kevin Durant on Monday, making Covington an excellent secondary option.
Kelly Olynyk, MIA at PHI ($6,400): In a regular season trend that continued into the playoffs, Olynyk played a significant role in Game 1 while Hassan Whiteside logged just 12 minutes. Whiteside is better suited to do battle with Embiid, but expect Olynyk to play more minutes again in Game 2 since Embiid will still be sidelined. It will be tough for him to match the 38.4 FanDuel points that he scored in Game 1, but Olynyk can still provide value at this price.
Centers
Hassan Whiteside, MIA at PHI ($6,800): There's no easy way to put it, the center options Monday are horrible. Whiteside has the highest ceiling of the bunch, but that's only if he plays. Logging just 12 minutes in Game 1 is a major disappointment, but if he plays at least 20 minutes Monday, he could be productive. That's a big risk to take though at this price.
JaVale McGee, GS vs. SA ($4,500): McGee started Game 1 and was productive, scoring 28.8 FanDuel points in only 16 minutes. Don't expect him to play much more than that in Game 2, but that's still enough time for him to provide limited value. It's crazy to think this would have been possible at the start of the season, but McGee might be the best option to go with at center on a night of playoff action. At least he helps your budget.
