This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA playoffs start off the week with Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Monday, which is a contest that could see the Warriors complete a series sweep. The Raptors will then try to even up the Eastern Conference Finals with another win at home Tuesday. These two games make up the Monday-Tuesday DFS contest on Yahoo, so let's discuss some players to target and avoid for your entry.
GUARDS
Stephen Curry, GS at POR ($42): Curry put on another offensive show in Game 3, hitting six three-pointers on his way to 36 points. He's scored at least that many points in all three games while also averaging 6.7 rebounds and six assists. Expect him to continue to have one of the highest upsides at any position with Kevin Durant (calf) still sidelined.
Malcolm Brogdon, MIL at TOR ($16): With Game 3 going to double-overtime, Brogdon logged 37 minutes despite not starting again. He cashed in the added playing time by scoring 20 points on his way to 31.5 Yahoo points. The heavy workload is encouraging after his lengthy injury absence. Whether he starts or comes off the bench in Game 4, he has a large enough role to warrant considering at this price.
Guard to Avoid
Eric Bledsoe, MIL at TOR ($27): After shooting an abysmal 3-for-16 from the field Sunday, Bledsoe is now 9-for-38 (23.7 percent) in this series. He's had a rough go of it in the playoffs, in general, scoring 27.3 Yahoo points or fewer in seven of his last eight games. The Raptors are a tough defensive team, so taking a risk on this being the game that Bledsoe breaks out of his shooting slump is risky, to say the least.
FORWARDS
Kawhi Leonard, TOR vs. MIL ($46): It should come as no surprise that Leonard was the driving force for the Raptors in their first win of the series. Not only did he score 36 points, but he took advantage of the overtime sessions to finish with nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block, as well. His usage rate should continue to be off the charts throughout this series, leaving him with an extremely high floor.
Norman Powell, TOR vs. MIL ($10): The Raptors depth could be their downfall in this series. One player on their team who shined in Game 2 was Powell, who scored 14 points in 25 minutes. Considering how well he played, it was a wise move for the Raptors to play him 30 minutes in Game 3. He rewarded their faith in him by scoring 19 points on his way to 29.3 Yahoo points. Expect him to continue to have an expanded role in Game 4, making him a prime target at the minimum price.
Forward to Avoid
Khris Middleton, MIL at TOR ($27): Middleton was equally as bad as Bledsoe was in Game 3, shooting 3-for-16 from the field. He hasn't scored more than 12 points in any of the first three games, which has contributed to him scoring 29.2 Yahoo points or fewer in each contest. He also struggled against the Raptors during the regular season, so spend elsewhere.
CENTERS
Kevon Looney, GS at POR ($12): In an odd turn of events, the Warriors decided to start Damian Jones in Game 3. He picked up a quick three fouls in three minutes and never returned to the game. Looney continued to see an expanded role off the bench, scoring 15.1 Yahoo points across 27 minutes. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Looney is likely going to see enough playing time in Game 4 to remain DFS relevant.
Meyers Leonard, POR vs. GS ($11): An adjustment that the Blazers made for Game 3 was to start Leonard at center. Even though they still didn't win, Leonard played well on his way to 25.6 Yahoo points. He even logged 31 minutes, which was third-most on the team. If he remains a starter for Game 4, he's a great option at this price.
Center to Avoid
Enes Kanter, POR vs. GS ($20): With Leonard starting, that meant Kanter was left to come off the bench. He ended up playing just seven minutes in what has continued to be a tough series for him. His defensive deficiencies will likely lead to a reduced role again Monday, making him way too risky when you consider Looney and Leonard are both considerably cheaper.
