Happy Tuesday May 6th, we have one series kicking off with the Minnesota Timberwolves playing host to the Golden State Warriors and a Game 2 between the beat up and bruised Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers.

The stars are out as Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, and Tyrese Haliburton are taking the floor in their most meaningful games of the year.

 

 

Before actually diving into the meat and potatoes, welcome to the NBA DFS season. If this is your first time reading our column on NBA DFS picks, I just want to welcome you and give you a few tips and tricks on what you should be looking for each night.

  • News outlets: reliable sources that give us injury news & starting lineups
  • Pace of play: who's playing fast vs. who's playing slow. Which teams get a pace-up spot (more possessions) vs. pace-down (fewer possessions)
  • Usage rates: is a percentage of how many plays that player is being used in
  • NBA DFS Projections
  • Lineup Generator
  • NBA Ownership
 

 

Pre/Post-Lock Update

This section will be used for anything that changes from the morning until right up to roster lock. 

Injury updates, players we’re higher on than we were in the morning and so much more.

All status updates after contest roster lock will be made in the Fantasy Alarm Discord: https://discord.gg/2yATJxXe8G

 

NBA Injuries, News & Updates Today, 5/6

 

 

NBA DFS Slate & Game Overviews

In the section below, I’m listing the most notable things we need to look at in Las Vegas, including notable O/U and spreads. Not every game is listed, but every game listed has the pace and defensive numbers listed.

Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Total: 229.5
  • Spread: CLE -9

Pacers NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 5th
  • Pace (Playoffs): 3rd

The Pacers opened up their second-round series by playing a 11-man rotation. Despite that many players taking the court, four of five starters played at least 33 minutes and we don't know if all five would've played that much if Aaron Nesmith could've stayed out of foul trouble.

Tyrese Haliburton looks great as he continues to be unstoppable this postseason. Andrew Nembhard was arguably the best player on the floor in Game 1 but is still pretty cheap for how good he's been. He's put up 30+ DKP in five of six postseason games. T.J. McConnell is always a cheap GPP play because he's so good on a per minute basis.

Will Aaron Nesmith stay out of foul trouble in Game 2? He was awesome while on the floor in Game 1, but he's guarding Donovan Mitchell. If he can't stay out of foul trouble, Bennedict Mathurin is going to play more like he did last game.

Life would be much easier for Pascal Siakam if Evan Mobley isn't available

Cavaliers NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 2nd
  • Pace (Playoffs): 15th

Ohhhhhh boy. The Cavaliers are in a weird spot because Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De'Andre Hunter are all listed as questionable and head coach Kenny Atkinson told the media that Hunter and Mobley are closer to doubtful.

So if Garland returns, the first concern is if there are any limitations. If he doesn't, Ty Jerome and Donovan Mitchell will carry a MASSIVE load offensively. They'd be as close to a lock as possible. It's a similar situation for Max Strus if De'Andre Hunter is ruled out. I don't love any one of Sam Merrill, Dean Wade, or Isaac Okoro unless all three of the Cavs questionable players are ruled out.

If Evan Mobley plays, he looks great. If he doesn't, Jarrett Allen is a lock-and-load type play. Don't overthink it. We'd probably get some Tristan Thompson minutes as well but it's not enough to play in DFS.

Golden State Warriors vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Total: 210.5
  • Spread: MIN -6.5

Warriors NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 11th
  • Pace (Playoffs): 11th

It seems like the Warriors have settled on a starting lineup and it is Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. All five are in play and have a case to be core options because Golden State has really not played many bench players many minutes. Moses Moody and Gary Payton (if he plays) are the two guards/wings that are viable and I believe Kevon Looney has overthrown Quentin Post as the primary backup big as well. RIP Jonathan Kuminga minutes. They were awful in Game 7.

Timberwolves NBA DFS Breakdown

  • DRtg (Playoffs): 1st
  • Pace (Playoffs): 1st

There are only eight Timberwolves that are going to play here. We know their rotation.

Starters: Mike Conley, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert

Bench: Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Naz Reid

We're going to see low-to-mid 20 minutes out of Mike Conley as he's largely in the low end of the split with Donte DiVincenzo. I prefer DiVincenzo's upside, but I like Conley's price quite a bit. We saw Conley extended when McDaniels was in foul trouble. Anthony Edwards is as good as it gets on this slate, but what happens with everyone else?

Julius Randle was incredible against the Lakers and he's very solid here. Jaden McDaniels' ceiling last series was awesome, but his floor is horrible if he's in foul trouble. One of Naz Reid and Rudy Gobert get extended here, but which is it is a game-by-game process. This could be a tough series for Gobert if Draymond Green makes shots.

NBA DFS Core Player Pool & Lineup Picks

High

Mid

Value