Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics -2 Total Points:198.5
Boston Celtics
Al Horford- Horford looked like a “Max” player in Game 1 as he scored 24 points with 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals over 44 minutes. He had some of his best games of the season against the Bucks this year who ranked dead last in team rebounding and allowed some of the most fantasy points to opposing centers this season. Without Kyrie Irving on the floor the Celtics rely on Horford to fill the stat sheet and play elite level defense which at times he did while drawing the toughest matchup on the floor in Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Terry Rozier- Rozier got off to a slow start in Game 1 but by the end he may have been the best player on the floor as he finished with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal while going 4-for-9 from three-point range. Rozier hit a step-back three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left on the clock to put Boston up three in what many figured was the game winning shot before Khris Middleton’s miracle shot sent the game into overtime. The Bucks play tough defense with Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon but Rozier has really elevated his game since Irving went down and will continue to be a major factor in the offense in Game 2.
Marcus Morris- Morris may start the game on the bench but he will play 35+ minutes in this one because of his scoring and defensive ability. Morris kept Boston in this game after the Celtics fell behind in the second and third quarters and he finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. He a great value play on this small slate at just $5,800 on DK and $5,500 on FD.
Jayson Tatum- The Celtics hinted that if they were unable to trade the No.1 pick in this past year’s draft that they would have taken Jayson Tatum No.1 overall. Fortunately for them they were able to find a trade partner in the 76ers and were able to land their man at No.3 anyway. Tatum’s first playoff game could not have gone any better as the rookie scored 19 points with 10 rebounds, four assists, one block and three steals. He did have five turnovers so if you are playing on FD that is a little tougher to swallow than on DK but he is going to play 35+ minutes and take plenty of shots while providing the defensive prowess to fill up the stat sheet.
Jaylen Brown- The future is certainly bright in Boston with the way Brown and Tatum played in Game 1. Tatum had the double-double but Brown was no slouch himself as he scored 20 points with four rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. Brown has a tough matchup with Khris Middleton playing strong defense but Brown is much quicker and can really get to the rim at will against this Bucks team . All of the Celtics are very reasonably priced and have 35-40+ fantasy point upside.
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo- The Greak Freak was just that in Game 1 as he scored 35 points with 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Al Horford actually played strong defense against Giannis but ultimately Boston has nobody that can really shut him down, not that anybody else in the league does either. The Celtics are OK with Giannis getting his as long as they can play shutdown defense on Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. If I pay up for anybody tonight it is going to be Antetkounmpo.
Khris Middleton- Middleton torched Boston in Game 1, scoring 31 points with eight rebounds, six assists, one block and two steals. Middleton went 5-for-7 from three-point range and shot 60-percent from the field. The Celtics play some of the tightest defense in the NBA and whether it was Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown guarding Middleton it did not seem to matter. Middleton also hit the buzzer beating three that sent this game to overtime after Terry Rozier knocked down a three of his own to put the Celtics up with 0.5 seconds left on the clock. The Celtics focus their defense on stopping Giannis which will leave Middleton open at times for shots which he is very capable of knocking down.
Eric Bledsoe- Bledsoe struggled mightily in Game 1, scoring just nine points with four rebounds and four assists before fouling out. If Bledsoe was able to match his seasonal numbers the Bucks would have won this game walking away. I expect a motivated Bledsoe to show up in Game 2 and look to make up for his Game 1 disappearing act.
Malcolm Brogdon- Brogdon say extended minutes after Bledsoe fouled out but he will also see time on the floor with the starting unit. He is a solid defender and has had success against the Celtics in the past. He is capable of knocking down the open shot and is a decent value option tonight.
Washington Wizards @ Toronto Raptors -7 Total: 214
Washington Wizards
John Wall- Wall came into the playoffs firing on cylinders and in Game 1 he was great from a DFS perspective as he scored 23 points with three rebounds, 15 assists, two blocks and four steals for 62 fantasy points. Wall did shoot just 30-percent from the field so that is somewhat a cause to be weary as another poor shooting night could result in a lesser performance in Game 2. He also draws a tough matchup against Kyle Lowry who is a pretty physical guard.
Bradley Beal- Beal was very average in Game 1 and that was likely the reason the Wizards are down 0-1 in the series as he scored just 19 points with two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Beal did shoot 47-percent from the field and I understand DeMar DeRozan is a decent defender, but we know how good he can be and at his price tag he has very nice GPP upside.
Markieff Morris- Morris came to play in Game 1, scoring 22 points with 11 rebounds and six assists over 38 minutes. If this is the type of production we can expect from him then he is a must place at his price tag across the industry. The Raptors will play small and allow for Morris to really thrive if he stays aggressive and can shoot 60-percent from the field again.
Otto Porter Jr.- Porter struggled in Game 1, scoring just nine points with five rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. He took just seven shots which needs to change in Game 2 if the Wizards hope to compete in this series as Porter as the length and skill set to cause matchup problems for opposing teams.
Toronto Raptors
Kyle Lowry- Wall’s quickness and length will cause a problem for most opposing guards who lack the foot speed to get by him. Lowry has struggled against the Wizards this season, averaging just 28.7 fantasy points in five games this season.
DeMar DeRozan- DeRozan scored 17 points with two rebounds and six assists in Game 1 which is far from what he is capable of from an upside standpoint and thus makes him a risky DFS play if you are paying his price tag. In five games against the Wizards this season however, DeRozan is averaging 41 fantasy points so maybe Game 1 was just a minor blip in the road.
Serge Ibaka- Ibaka was the best player on the Raptors in Game 1, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and two blocks. The Raptors will play small and move Ibaka to the center spot which should give him plenty of rebound attempts and a favorable matchup against the Wizards.
Delon Wright- Wright has had a really solid season and that continued in Game 1 as he came off the bench to score 18 points with one rebound, four assists, one block and three steals. It’s unlikely that he shoots 70-percent from the floor in Game 2 but at his price tag he is definitely worth the value play considerations.
New Orleans Pelicans @ Portland Trail Bllazers -6 Total: 214
New Orleans Pelicans
Anthony Davis- This slate starts with Anthony Davis who dominated the Blazers in a Game 1 victory, scoring 35 points with 14 rebounds, one assist, four blocks and two steals. Portland has zero answer for Davis and would be best suited trying to stop the Pelican’s secondary players if they hope to win Game 2. In four games this season against the Blazers Davis is averaging 50 fantasy points in just 31 minutes.
Rajon Rondo- Primetime Rondo showed up in Game 1 of the playoffs as he finished with six points, eight rebounds and 17 assists. Rondo is triple-double threat whenever he is on the floor and is maybe the top point guard option on the slate given his price tag.
Jrue Holiday- Holiday had a solid scoring night in Game 1 but ultimately was a bit of a letdown in DFS as he scored 21 points with seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal for 37.75 DK points. Holiday has 50+ fantasy point upside when he gets going and in five games this season against Portland this season he is averaging 42 fantasy points so there is room for upside in Game 2.
Nikola Mirotic- To a lesser extend Mirotic can cause the same problems for Portland that Anthony Davis does as his size and ability to stretch the floor is too much for the Blazers to handle. Mirotic scored 16 points with 11 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals in Game 1 while going 4-for-10 from three-point range. Makes you wonder how dominant this team would have been if DeMarcus Cousins stayed healthy.
Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard- The Pelicans allowed the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season and Lillard did put up 43 fantasy points in Game 1 but his line of 18-7-7 certainly falls short of what we know Lillard is capable of. I look Lillard to really show up in Game 2 in an effort to even this series, especially since he averaged 47.5 fantasy points in five games against the Pelicans this season.
CJ McCollum- Like Lillard, McCollum fell up short in Game 1 as he scored just 19 points with two rebounds, two assists and three steals. As I said, the Pelicans allowed the most fantasy points to opposing guards this season so McCollum will need to step up in Game 2 if the Blazers hope to even this series.
Jusuf Nurkic- When on the floor Nurkic can really rack up the fantasy points but he is not able to handle Anthony Davis outside of the paint and therefore the Blazers will go with a more athletic lineup with Ed Davis and Aminu in the front court. I can’t pay the price tag knowing he will struggle to play 30 minutes.