This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The top seeds in both conferences will not only be in action Monday, but they will also be looking to take 3-1 leads in their respective series on the road. It should make for an exciting evening, which is punctuated by another opportunity to play Yahoo DFS. Here are some players to target and avoid while creating your entry.
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. MIL ($40): What's one way to get past shooting struggles? Get to the free throw line, of course. After failing to attempt a single free-throw over the first two games of this series against the Bucks, Irving was 11-for-12 from the charity stripe in Game 3. He scored 46.6 Yahoo points and should again be heavily involved with the Celtics trying to avoid going down 3-1 with the series shifting back to Milwaukee for Game 5.
Andre Iguodala, GS at HOU ($14): Iguodala hit some big shots down the stretch in Game 3, scoring 38.5 Yahoo points in the Warriors overtime loss. He's moved into the starting five for this series, which has enabled him to log at least 32 minutes in each contest. With that kind of playing time, he should be locked into your lineup at this cheap price.
Guard to Avoid
Stephen Curry, GS at HOU ($39): It's rare to see Curry struggle from the field, but he's shooting just 35.3 percent in this series. Whether it's the injury to a finger on his left hand or just the Rockets tough defense, he just hasn't found a way to get things going. With Irving priced just one dollar more, taking a chance on this being the night that Curry turns things around might not be a wise idea.
FORWARDS
Kevin Durant, GS at HOU ($43): Simply put, Durant is locked in right now. He scored 46 points in Game 3 and is now averaging 39.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game since DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps) went down. His usage rate has been off the charts with him attempting at least 21 shots in each contest. Don't let his price tag scare you away. He has one of the highest floors of anyone at any position in these two games.
P.J. Tucker, HOU vs. GS ($15): Iguodala should be locked in as your cheap guard and Tucker should be locked in as your cheap forward. Even though he doesn't receive a ton of scoring opportunities, he's still scored at least 30.9 Yahoo points in three of his last four games. His high minute's floor leaves him with enough opportunities to provide value in multiple categories.
Forward to Avoid
Gordon Hayward, BOS vs. MIL ($18): Hayward is already having a quiet series having scored 29.3 Yahoo points or fewer in all three games. He didn't attempt more than eight shots in any contest and shot just 38.1 percent, overall. If Marcus Smart (oblique) returns, Hayward might see a few less minutes Monday, making him even riskier than he already has been. Stay away from him when crafting your entry.
CENTERS
Al Horford, BOS vs. MIL ($25): After averaging 0.9 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 turnovers during the regular season, it's been odd to see Horford turn the ball over eight times while failing to record a defense stat over his last two contests. The good news is that he still had at least 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in both games. The Celtics will need to rely heavily on him up front if they are going to even this series, so expect him to provide another valuable all-around stat line.
Clint Capela, HOU vs. GS ($25): It's not worth considering any of the cheap options at center, so go with Capela if you don't want to deploy Horford. After a terrible performance in Game 1, Capela has bounced back to score 34 and 33.7 Yahoo points, respectively, over the last two games. He's a double-double threat whenever he takes the floor.
Center to Avoid
Brook Lopez, MIL at BOS ($21): While Lopez turned out to be a crucial addition for the Bucks, the Celtics have had his number all year. He averaged just five points and six rebounds across three games versus them in the regular season and he's failed to score more than 21.7 Yahoo points in any of the three games in this series. Even if you're looking for a contrarian option in tournament play, Lopez is someone to stay far away from.
