Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets (-5.5)

Game Total: 217.5

Game 7 upon us with the Thunder and Rockets going at it to advance to round two. Heading into the year many figured the Thunder were in for a full rebuild after trading both Paul George and Russell Westbrook but the combination of Chris Paul , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder was able to carry them into the playoffs. In Game 6, Paul lead the Thunder with 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting. He was helped by Gallinari and his 25 points while SGA and Schroder both had off shooting nights. For the Rockets, Harden scored a game high 32 points while Westbrook and Covington chipped in a total of 35. Weatbrook remained on a minutes limit for Game 6 as he played just 27 in the teams' four point loss.

Rockets Players to Target

James Harden , SG HOU - Does much really need to be said here? It's a two-game slate and few have the upside that Harden has. This is a Game 7 elimination game and often times the biggest stars show up here to make sure their team does not go home. Harden has scored at least 30 points in five of the six games in this series while notching less than five assists or five rebounds just once.

Russell Westbrook , PG HOU - Westbrook stated his minutes are still to be limited in Game 7 but we did see him play 27 minutes in Game 6. I don't truly believe that if the Rockets are in danger of being eliminated that we see it happen with Westbrook on the bench. The price is high when given the production but we know he has the ability to pop. If looking to be contrarian today I think you take a stab with RWB and see if he can send his former team home.

Eric Gordon , SF HOU - Gordon has a role in this offense anyhow and the limited minutes of Westbrook is just going to lead to more oppurtunities to score. He may have struggled in Game 6, scoring just nine points but over the prior two games he scored 20 points in both. For those on FanDuel, Gordon's average of two steals per game over the last four is also a nice addition.

Danuel House , SF HOU - House has played at least 27 minutes in every game this series and in each of the last five games he has scored at least 20 FP. On a small slate you need to find some value and House is often the guy on this roster we go to.

Robert Covington , PF HOU - Covington has put up over 40 FP in two straight games and his presnce on the defensive end has been a big reason. In Game 6 he combined for a total of eight blocks and steals which is 16 points on DK and 24 points on FD. In Game 5 he added three more steals. Love him on FanDuel tonight given the way he is playing.

Thunder Players to Target

Chris Paul , PG OKC - Chris Paul has been the Thunder's best player in this series and if the team is to win Game 7 I suspect it will be due to the play here of CP3. Facing the team that traded him in the offseason, Paul has dropped 20+ point in four of the six games in this series while filling up the box score. We should expect to see Paul as a staple of manmy lineups for tonight's two game slate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , SG OKC - After being a major factor in Games 3 & 4, SGA has been a non-factor over the last two games, totaling just 14 points over the two games. The price tag here means we need to expect an improved performance. The talent is there and so is the GPP upside. I think ownership is actually low here given his recent play which makes him a nice contrarian option.

Dennis Schroder , SG OKC - We saw a few ceiling games and then a few mid-tier games out of Schroder in this series. He is actually priced pretty nicely and I have no problem making him a core play in my lineups for that reason. Safe floor with a very nice ceiling if he gets it all going.

Danilo Gallinari , SF OKC - I don't really know what Gallinari has struggled at times in this series as the style of play used by the Rockets should flow right into his wheelhouse. What we saw in Games 1, 3 and 6 is what I would hope to see again in Game 7. He has a size advantage on the opponent and stretches the floor. Another player with a fair price tag as well. 

Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks(-6)

Game Total: 221.5

 

We have seen this story before with the Bucks as they lost Game 1 against the Magic last series and even lost Game 1 against the Celtics last year in the playoffs before coming back and proving why they are the better team. Jimmy Butler dropped 40 in the Heat's Game 1 win while Giannis inexplicably only took 12 shots while going 4-for-12 from the free-throw line. Game 2 should be a different show and Vegas has the Bucks as a six-point favorite tonight.

Heat Players to Target

Jimmy Butler , SG MIA - Butler dropped 40 points in Game 1 and honestly that is in his bag so if he went out and dropped 40 points again I would not blink. His nickname is Jimmy Buckets after all. As long as he stays healthy I expect him to lead the team in shots and also fill out the stat sheet a little as well. The only player that could possibly check him on the Bucks would be Giannis but that would be an interesting size mismatch there with Butlers quickness vs Giannis and his reach.

Goran Dragic , PG MIA -  No shock to me that once the playoffs hit that Dragic has been the guy for the Heat. He has dropped at least 20 points in five straight games while scoring less than 34 FP just once during that stretch. He finished with 27 points, six boards and five assists in Game 1. If Eric Bledsoe misses Game 2 I think the Bucks will have another hard time against Dragic even with George Hill on the floor.

Tyler Herro /Duncan Robinson , SG MIA - Feels like an honest coin flip here. Both are going to play between 25-30 minutes. If I was picking one, I would go Herro as he feels like the volume shooter on the second unit but both have shown the have high ceilings and low floors. On DK I give Robinson the nod due to the three-point bonus.

Jae Crowder , SF MIA - I like him more on FD than on DK because his potential defensive stats get a bump here. Crowder finished Game 1 with nine points and nine rebounds while shooting 3-for-8 from the floor. He's not my favorite play at the small forward position on this slate but the minutes are going to be there.

Bam Adebayo . C MIA - Bam averaged 13 points with 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.3 blocks against the Bucks this season. He is definitely a match-up problem for Brook Lopez who doesn't play a lick of defense and hates to rebound. On this small slate I expect Bam to be among the highest owned players given the lack of options.

Bucks Players to Target

Giannis Antetokounmpo , SF MIL - Seeing just 12 shots next to Giannis name in Game 1 made little sense. His struggles at the line are also a problem. If this is how he is going to play in this series then the Bucks will be in trouble. That said, I highly doubt we see this type of game from him in Game 2. If he takes less than 20 shots tonight I would be absolutely stunned. I know Bam is a decent defender and all but I truly don't see a match-up on this Heat team that should give Giannis any trouble. He is my top spend up tonight.

Khris Middleton , SG MIL - The clear number two option on this roster. He is a knockdown shooter that is going to give you consistent fantasy points night-in-night-out. Expect another 20+ points with a share of rebounds and assists in Game 2. Should be a core play in your lineups tonight.

Eric Bledsoe /George Hill , PG MIL - With Bledsoe out we saw Hill start and play 36 minutes. In those 36 minutes Hill gave us just 11 fantasy points which is not what we are looking for. I will say that Hill has shown better upside this season and should he start and see similar playing time tonight I would project him to put on a better fantasy performance to match his price tag. If Bledsoe is active I would consider him also barring any news of him being limited. Bledsoe has the ability to be a nice upside player even if he is the third option on this team.

Brook Lopez, C MIL - Lopez has shown up in the playoffs and is making shots. The minutes are secure and the center position is pretty weak. If you are not paying up for Bam at center tonight then BroLo is where I am going. For those on FanDuel where Bam is a PF then for me at least Lopez is the top guy.