This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA playoffs continue Monday with only one game on the schedule. As a result, FanDuel will only have their single game contest available. The format for this contest is a bit different with only five positions to fill: a guard, a forward/center, two utility spots and an "MVP" position. The MVP position gets 1.5 times the points, so this is a key opportunity to gain an advantage. Here are some players to consider as you craft what will hopefully be a winning entry.
MVP Candidates
Ben Simmons, PHI ($17,000): Simmons is the most expensive player on the night and for good reason. He was excellent in the first round against the Heat, scoring at least 49.8 FanDuel points in four of the five games. He doesn't usually put up huge scoring performances, but his ability to contribute in multiple categories gives him a high floor and plenty of upside. That's the type of player you want to target for this position.
Joel Embiid, PHI ($16,500): After missing the first two games in the first round, Embiid came back with a vengeance, scoring at least 39.9 FanDuel points in each of the final three games. He finished with a double-double in two of those contests and blocked nine total shots. His 33.5 percent usage rate during the regular season was third-highest in the league, so he has the potential to put up a lot of points every time he steps onto the floor. If you don't want to go with Simmons, Embiid is also a great option to gain the extra points.
Guards
Terry Rozier, BOS ($12,500): The Celtics survived the first round despite the absence of Kyrie Irving (knee). Rozier stepped up in a big way, scoring at least 31.1 FanDuel points in six of the seven games. He showed significant upside as well, scoring at least 44.6 FanDuel points twice. He's going to get plenty of playing time Monday with the Celtics lack of depth at point guard, making him a great option for your entry.
Marcus Smart, BOS ($8,000):Jaylen Brown (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Monday, so the Celtics could be dealing with the loss of yet another key part of their starting five. If he indeed can't play, expect Smart to take his place in the starting lineup. He played 32 minutes Saturday due to Brown's injury, finishing with 27.8 FanDuel points. He scored only five points in that game, but still provided value with six assists, three steals and one block. With a high minutes floor likely for this game, Smart makes a lot of sense at this price.
Forwards/Centers
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($10,000): Tatum's contributions sometimes don't show up in the box score, which doesn't always make him a reliable option in DFS. He scored 23 FanDuel points or fewer in two games during the first round, but scored at least 30.9 FanDuel points in each of the other five contests. With Brown doubtful for this game, the Celtics will likely have a significant hole to fill in their offense. Brown played only 16 minutes Saturday against the Bucks, which resulted in Tatum scoring 20 points on 17 shot attempts. Tatum is not overly expensive, making him a viable option Monday.
Marcus Morris, BOS ($8,500): Irving led the charge offensively for the Celtics during the regular season, but Morris finished with the third-highest usage rate (22.8%) on the team. He doesn't provide much outside of scoring and rebounds, but he did score at least 16.8 FanDuel points in six of seven games in the first round. He at least has secure playing time as well, which is significant for a player at this cheap price.
