This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday brings just one game in the NBA playoffs, so Yahoo will add in Friday's two-game schedule to create an interesting three-game slate in DFS. Here are some players to target and avoid while working your way through the options.
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. MIL ($40): It's no surprise that the Celtics lost by 21 points in Game 2 considering Irving shot 4-for-18 from the field. While they have a lot of depth, they are only going to advance as far as he can carry them. He was shooting 45.8 percent from the field across five playoff games heading into that contest, so look for him to have a productive rebound performance with this series shifting to Boston.
Terry Rozier, BOS vs. MIL ($15): When the Celtics are completely healthy, Rozier isn't left with a ton of minutes. However, the absence of Marcus Smart (oblique) has helped Rozier log at least 20 minutes in both of the first two games. He cashed in with 26.3 and 24.6 Yahoo points, respectively. His ceiling isn't very high, but he's priced cheap enough to make him a viable option if you need to save money at guard.
Guard to Avoid
Ben Simmons, PHI vs. TOR ($41): Simmons logged a whopping 44 minutes in Game 2, but he finished with just 26.9 Yahoo points, He hasn't shot much in this series, attempting eight and six shots, respectively, across the first two games. With so many weapons around him, it wouldn't be surprising to see Simmons continue to record muted scoring numbers. While his contributions in other areas can help make up for a lack of scoring, he's risky at such an expensive price.
FORWARDS
Kawhi Leonard, TOR at PHI ($42): Leonard is a safe bet to provide a valuable stat line. The Raptors have leaned on him to lead their offense, helping him score 68.2 and 54.4 Yahoo points, respectively in the first two games. He attempted at least 23 shots in both games after averaging 18.8 shots per game during the regular season. Don't worry about his expensive price tag, he has one of the highest floors of anyone in this slate.
Nikola Mirotic, MIL at BOS ($13): After being beaten soundly in Game 1, the Bucks decided to make a change by inserting Mirotic into the starting five for Game 2. While he was only 3-for-10 from the field, he had a productive overall line with nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. More importantly, he logged 25 minutes. Expect him to stick in the starting lineup for Game 3, making him an excellent cost-effective option.
Forward to Avid
Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. MIL ($24): The Bucks have shut down Tatum so far, holding him to 4-for-17 shooting from the field across the first two games. With those quiet outings, he's now scored 29.6 Yahoo points or fewer in four of the Celtic's six playoff games. His upside just isn't high enough to warrant this price tag.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN at POR ($46): Jokic had a quiet offensive performance by his standards in Game 2, scoring 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting from the field. However, his contributions in other areas still enabled him to score 44.3 Yahoo points. He hasn't scored fewer than 41.1 Yahoo points in any of the Nuggets' playoff games, making him a safe option worth paying up for.
Al Horford, BOS vs. MIL ($25): Horford wasn't terrible in Game 2 with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. However, he had five turnovers and didn't record a defensive stat, leaving him with only 24.1 Yahoo points. He averaged 0.9 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 turnovers per game during the regular season, so his performance was a bit of an anomaly. With the Celtics looking to rebound with a win at home, Horford is an excellent choice if you don't want to pay up for Jokic.
Center to Avoid
Marc Gasol, TOR at PHI ($20): Gasol has done his job in this series by locking down Joel Embiid on the defensive end. One of the premier offensive forces in the league, Embiid is averaging 14 points and shooting 28 percent from the field. The problem for Gasol is his lack of involvement in the Raptors' offense, which has left him to score a total of 13 points across the first two games. At this price, he doesn't receive enough scoring opportunities to be worth considering for your entry.
