This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There will be no shortage of action in the NBA on Friday with 10 games on the schedule. Among them is a great matchup between the Clippers and Bucks, two teams who could meet again in the Finals. We have a bevy of options to choose from on Yahoo, so let's highlight some of the better players to target, as well as a few to avoid.
GUARDS
LeBron James, LAL at POR ($51): Not many players can provide the type of floor that James can by averaging 51.9 Yahoo points a game. He hasn't scored fewer than 41.7 Yahoo points in 14 straight, in large part due to how often he has the ball in his hands as the Lakers' point guard. The Blazers have allowed the seventh-most points per game in the league, leaving James with the opportunity to feast.
Tomas Satoransky, CHI vs. GS ($16): If there is something to be excited about with the Bulls, it's that Satoransky appears to have turned a corner. It was a rough start to his career with the team, but he's settled in to average 12.5 points, four rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.8 steals across his last eight games. One of those contests came against the Warriors, when he finished with 39.9 Yahoo points. Since the Warriors have struggled mightily on the defensive end, Satoransky could once again provide value given his cheap price.
Guard to Avoid
Dejounte Murray, SA vs. SAC ($18): The Spurs needed to do something after getting off to such a slow start. They decided to remove Murray from the starting five and deploy Derrick White in his place. Murray has not provided much production in his new role off the bench, scoring 25.6 Yahoo points or fewer in five straight games. Satoransky promises a much more stable role and is only one dollar more, so it's difficult to justify adding Murray to your entry.
FORWARDS
Jimmy Butler, MIA vs. WAS ($38): With the Wizards playing at the fastest pace and allowing the most points per game in the league, they are a team to attack in DFS. Butler is coming off of a monster 37-point performance against the tough Celtics' defense, so the sky's the limit here. Not only has he provided an excellent source for points, but he's also averaged six rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.4 steals while taking on a leading role for the Heat.
Duncan Robinson, MIA vs. WAS ($10): The Heat will be shorthanded for this game with Goran Dragic (groin) out. Justise Winslow (back) is listed as questionable, so things could get even worse if he sits out. Robinson has already worked his way into a prominent role, which has helped him score at least 22 Yahoo points in three straight games. He's largely dependent on his ability to score to provide fantasy value, but that might not be a problem given the Wizards' lack of defense.
Forward to Avoid
Paul Millsap, DEN at BOS ($18): This game has the potential to be a defensive slugfest, so there aren't a lot of appealing players to target. Millsap already claims a limited role for the Nuggets, which has resulted in him scoring 25.7 Yahoo points or fewer in three of his last four games. With his limited upside, it might be best to look elsewhere if you want to save some money at power forward.
CENTERS
Jarrett Allen, BKN at CHA ($29): Rolling with Allen is always a bit dicey with DeAndre Jordan waiting in the wings. However, he's got the hot hand right now and has posted at least 32.7 Yahoo points in five of his last six games. The Hornets have allowed the fourth-most Yahoo points per game to opposing centers, which is part of the reason why Allen hung 46.4 Yahoo points on them earlier in the season.
Moritz Wagner, WAS at MIA ($10): With Thomas Bryant (foot) out, the Wizards badly needed Wagner to return from an ankle injury to play Thursday against the Sixers. He did just that, making the best of a bad matchup by scoring 22.7 Yahoo points. The key was that he logged 26 minutes compared to his season average of 20 minutes a night. Even though the Heat provide another difficult matchup, Wagner's increased playing time makes him a viable target at the minimum price.
Center to Avoid
Willie Cauley-Stein, GS at CHI ($17): Kevon Looney isn't exactly logging a ton of minutes since coming back from injury, but he has cut into Cauley-Stein's playing time. Cauley-Stein hasn't played more than 19 minutes in either of the two game since Looney's return, leaving him to score 19.8 and 24.4 Yahoo points, respectively. The Bulls represent a favorable matchup, but Cauley-Stein might not play enough to be able to take advantage of it.
