This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thursday brings three playoff games in which each series is tied at 1-1. Maybe the most intriguing story line of the trio is how the Warriors will respond after blowing a huge lead against the Clippers in Game 2 and losing DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps) in the process. We also have another opportunity to win some cash on Yahoo, so here are some players to target and avoid for your entry.
GUARDS
Stephen Curry, GS at LAC ($43): Curry scored 29 points in Game 2, but he grabbed just one rebound after racking up 15 boards in Game 1. Considering he averaged 5.3 rebounds during the regular season, both games in this series appear to be outlier performances in that regard. He'll likely see even more shot attempts with Cousins out, leaving him with a tremendously high floor Thursday.
Gary Harris, DEN at SA ($13): Harris had a terrible regular season that was marred by injuries and inefficient shooting. A career 46 percent shooter, he finished the year with a 42.4 percent mark from the field. He finished on a high note by shooting 52.6 percent across his final three games and has carried over that success into the playoffs. After scoring at least 28.1 Yahoo points in both of the first two games of this series, Harris makes a lot of sense at this cheap price.
Guard to Avoid
J.J. Redick, PHI at BKN ($19): The good news is that Redick rebounded from scoring five points in Game 1 to score 17 points in Game 2. However, he only had two assists in that contest and didn't record a single rebound or defensive stat. He only averaged 2.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.4 steals during the regular season, so it's hard to justify paying this much for him based on his limited upside.
FORWARDS
DeMar DeRozan, SA vs. DEN ($35): While Kawhi Leonard has shined in the Raptors series against the Magic, DeRozan has done well in his own right while helping the Spurs steal a victory on the road versus the Nuggets. He scored at least 40.4 Yahoo points in both games on the strength of his stellar overall production. His ability to provide significant contributions in areas beyond the scoring column makes him a great target despite this matchup against a good defensive team.
Caris LeVert, BKN vs. PHI ($19): LeVert only logged 20 minutes in the Nets loss Monday, scoring 13 points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field. He had attempted 18 shots in Game 1, so his lack of involvement in Game 2 is a bit concerning. While he may be prone to the occasional quiet offensive showing, he's been much more potent at home this season by averaging 15.7 points per game there compared to 12.2 points per contest on the road. Since he won't destroy your budget, he might be a risk worth taking in tournament play.
Forward to Avoid
Rudy Gay, SA vs. DEN ($19): Gay couldn't find the bottom of the net Tuesday, shooting just 2-for-9 from the field on his way to 18.2 Yahoo points. Considering he doesn't provide much outside of points and rebounds, he can't afford to struggle with his shot. With the Nuggets defensive prowess, rostering Gay is not advisable.
CENTERS
Montrezl Harrell, LAC vs. GS ($24): Things are a little easier for Harrell in the middle now that Cousins is out for the rest of this series. Cousins isn't exactly a great defender, but now Harrell won't have to deal with trying to slow him down offensively. Ivica Zubac has been basically nonexistent through the first two games, which has resulted in Harrell logging 30 and 33 minutes, respectively. He's going to continue to receive the lion's share of the minutes at center, leaving him with plenty of upside at this reasonable price.
Kevon Looney, GS at LAC ($10): Andrew Bogut is expected to step into the starting center role with Cousins sidelined. However, he didn't even join the Warriors until March and logged at least 20 minutes in a game just two times. Looney should see an increase in playing time off the bench, which brings him into the discussion Thursday since he averaged 7.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and one block across 32 games in which he logged at least 20 minutes this season.
Center to Avoid
Mason Plumlee, DEN at SA ($12): It's been a quiet series for Plumlee, who scored 15.7 and 15 Yahoo points, respectively, in the first two games. He's an excellent backup to have on the roster, but he's not going to play a ton with the Nuggets leaning on Nikola Jokic. Looney and Boban Marjanovic ($11) have higher upsides at cheaper prices, making them the more advisable options if you want to save money at center.
