This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The Suns will attempt to put the series further out of reach in Game 3, but a tough crowd awaits them in the Staples Center . For a more in-depth look at various single-game strategies, read my recent article on the subject.
Before we dive into selections, let's take a look at a Game 2 winning lineup from a single-entry contest.
2x: Paul George 78.4
1.5x: Cameron Payne 83.55
1.2x: Deandre Ayton 56.76
UTIL: Ivica Zubac 29.2
UTIL: Reggie Jackson 36.5
With the impending arrival of Chris Paul, we already have a sense of how the top lineup will change. Cameron Payne will drop into the second unit, leaving many points out there for the taking. Conversely, the Clippers will probably stick to the same rotation. The team is now keenly aware that they need Ivica Zubac to fend off Deandre Ayton in the paint, so while we shouldn't expect the same production from the big man, it seems evident that Nicolas Batum won't reach his recent usage in this series.
MULTIPLIER SELECTIONS
Paul George, LAC ($15,000)
Chris Paul, PHO ($14,500)
Devin Booker, PHO ($14,500)
Deandre Ayton, PHO ($13,000)
Reggie Jackson, LAC ($12,500)
I'm not going to say that the slate plays itself, but based on these salary levels, I see two very appealing multiplier selections at the outset. Paul George is an obvious target for the top spot again, but taking Deandre Ayton for 13k looks like the best deal on the slate.
Although a lot of credit goes to Jae Crowder for the pass, Ayton's game-sealing alley-oop was one of the best plays of the season, and his contribution seems critical in pushing the Suns through to The Finals.
Beyond Ayton and George, things get a little muddier. We'll assume that Paul will play tonight without any minute restriction, but even with that assumption, $14.5k seems a little high in expectation of his return. If we look at Paul's recent performances and plug in the revenge matchup against his former team, there's merit for a high salary, but at only $500 below George, the Paul play looks like a bit of a DFS trap. His rostership will be very high, and by no means should he faded, but it's a better idea to go with Paul in cash and attempt some uniqueness in tournament play.
One of those unique options is Devin Booker. He carries an identical price to Paul, and while he hasn't exactly been a DFS darling recently, his ability to play the catch-and-shoot option is heightened with Paul on the floor. Payne performed admirably as the floor general, but Paul is the X-factor that will bring the Clippers' offense to another level. Booker will undoubtedly benefit from his presence.
Finally, we see Reggie Jackson at a very appealing $12.5k. Unless Kawhi Leonard returns, output will need to flow to playmakers like Jackson, who still emerges as the top guard options over Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo. Jackson struggled through a couple of challenging games against Utah, but over two games against the Clippers, his numbers have been virtually identical.
Aside from Payne, Jackson is the player from the Game 2 winning lineup who I'm least sure of, and a lot of that is due to how Paul's presence will affect LA's backcourt offense. Although a George/Ayton/Jackson build leaves us with an attractive $9,750 per player remaining for our utility spots, removing Jackson in favor of Booker or Paul still allows us to get to reasonable utility targets.
UTILITY OPTIONS
Marcus Morris, LAL ($10,500)
Mikal Bridges, PHO ($10,000)
Ivica Zubac, LAL ($9,000)
Cameron Johnson, PHO ($7,500)
Rajon Rondo, LAC ($7,500)
It's hard to get to Morris or Bridges without a Jackson inclusion in the multiplier, but I still think both players have value in a build that includes the lower-priced trio. Ivica Zubac should be the sweet spot for the utility position, although you can almost guarantee a high roster percentage from him.
A less-chalky option for a George-Ayton-Paul/Booker build would be to head lower with Cameron Johnson or Rajon Rondo, which allows for a spend-up with Bridges. It's sometimes a great call to leave money on the table in tournament builds, so you could do a lot worse than fielding Johnson and Rondo, but there's no need to do that in this slate. Things would be different if we had Kawhi Leonard to contend with, but going with Johnson AND Rondo does nothing for you in multiplier improvement.
Overall, I like the Zubac-Johnson/Rondo build best for cash and a Bridges-Johnson/Rondo build for tournaments. Alternatively, using Jackson as the last multiplier allows for a Bridges-Zubac combo, and that could be the best duo of the bunch.
ALTERNATIVE BUILDS
As always, unique builds usually involve using a different player in the valuable 2x MVP position. A lot of the public will take a flier on Paul with the expectation of a blow-up game. While it's certainly possible, I wouldn't rule Booker out for a huge game, either. Unless the nose injury gives him trouble, Booker's complete game emerges alongside Paul, and there's a clear avenue where he could top the box score tonight.
The other way to a unique build involves swapping out an elite for a lesser-owned player. For me, the most popular call for such a play is Mikal Bridges. He's been a bit of an afterthought in this series, but his usage gets a nice boost when Paul is on the floor. CP3 knows how to get everyone involved, and Bridges could be in for a bump in production if he can get open enough.
If you believe in continued production from Ivica Zubac, he would be my second-favorite candidate for a multiplier swap. Other options include players I haven't included, like Jae Crowder, Luke Kennard or Terance Mann, but I would keep my exposure to a minimum with that kind of volatility.
