This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Saturday brings seven games in the NBA, six of which will make up the main slate on Yahoo. The evening will certainly he heavy on star power with the Lakers, Rockets, Celtics and Thunder all in action. Let's examine players at both ends of the price scale and highlight some to target and avoid as you work your way through the options.
GUARDS
Kemba Walker, CHA vs. LAL ($41): Walker had a rough shooting performance against the Knicks on Friday, going 6-for-20 from the field and 4-for-13 from behind the arc. That was actually his third straight game with at least 11 three-point attempts. Luckily he helped salvage his line with seven rebounds and 10 assists. Expect him to be plenty busy again Saturday against a Lakers team that plays at the fourth-fastest pace (103.5 possessions per game) in the league.
Andrew Wiggins, MIN at PHO ($19): Wiggins cold shooting stretch appears to finally be over. He's 41-for-78 (52.6 percent) from the field across his last five games, helping him score at least 30.9 Yahoo points four times during that stretch. While it will be hard for him to maintain that high of a shooting percentage, there's also no way that he's going to shoot 34.4 percent like he did in the month of November, either. The Suns allow the seventh-most points per game (113.2), leaving Wiggins as a viable option at this reasonable price.
Guard to Avoid
James Harden, HOU at MEM ($54): Harden destroyed the Lakers for 78.5 Yahoo points in his last game Thursday. The Lakers play at a fast pace and allow a lot of points, but Harden will be facing a very different kind of opponent Saturday. Not only do the Grizzlies allow the second-fewest points per game (102), but they also play at the slowest pace (96.2). In fact, the Grizzlies and Rockets are the two slowest teams in the league in terms of pace of play. To top it all off, the Grizzlies allow the fewest Yahoo points per game to opposing shooting guards (32). This might not be the night to pay up for Harden.
FORWARDS
Kyle Kuzma, LAL at CHA ($31): There has been no slowing down Kuzma lately, resulting in him scoring at least 36.4 Yahoo points in seven straight games. He's averaging 32 minutes per game for the season, but he logged at least 34 minutes in six of those seven contests. The absence of Brandon Ingram (ankle) should continue to open up a few more shots and minutes for Kuzma, which is great news for his upside considering both the Lakers and Hornets are in the top-12 in pace of play.
Dario Saric, MIN at PHO ($11): Saric is only averaging 23 minutes a game since being traded to the Timberwolves, resulting in him scoring 24.6 Yahoo points or fewer in seven of his last eight contests. He's stuck coming off the bench behind Taj Gibson (personal), who is a favorite of coach Tom Thibodeau. However, Gibson has already been ruled out against the Suns, setting up Saric with the potential for a significant increase in minutes. At near the minimum price, he could provide tremendous value.
Forward to Avoid
Bobby Portis, CHI at SA ($23): Portis logged 22 minutes Thursday against the Magic, which was an increase of three minutes compared to his first game back from injury Monday. The Bulls will likely continue to ease him back into action, but his minute's ceiling isn't that high even when he is healthy. With Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Robin Lopez all vying for minutes at power forward and center with Portis, he isn't a very appealing option at this price.
CENTERS
Steven Adams, OKC vs. LAC ($26): The Thunder couldn't pull out a win against the Nuggets on Friday, but Adams was dominant with 26 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. He's continued to be an extremely reliable source of production, scoring at least 33.6 Yahoo points in seven straight games. The Thunder and Clippers have already met twice this season and Adams came away with at least 41.6 Yahoo points in both of those contests. Considering the Clippers allow the second-most Yahoo points per game (53.6) to opposing centers, look for Adams to thrive again Saturday.
Richaun Holmes, PHO vs. MIN ($11): Holmes continues to serve as the primary backup center to Deandre Ayton, a role he has played very well in since the Suns moved on from Tyson Chandler. His upside might not be all that high, but Holmes has scored at least 22.4 Yahoo points in 10 of his last 13 games. If you want to go really cheap at center, Holmes is at least worth considering in tournament play.
Center to Avoid
JaVale McGee, LAL at CHA ($16): While the departure of Chandler from the Suns has provided a boost for Holmes, his arrival in Los Angeles with the Lakers has dealt a blow to McGee's fantasy value. McGee continues to start, but he's logged 22 minutes or fewer in seven of his last nine games. Although McGee isn't overly expensive, it still might not be a good idea to add him to your entry based on his new role.
