Sixers-Heat (Series Tied 1-1)
Despite winning Game 2, Miami didn’t exactly slowdown the Philadelphia offense in fantasy terms. Redick didn’t play well, but Simmons, Saric, and Ilyasova were over value while Covington and Belinelli were just slightly under. Those six guys are going to the bulk of the minutes moving forward and all remain strong plays. Saric and Simmons are the two guys I’m most comfortable recommending as they are the driving forces behind the Sixers offense and their two best players.
As for Miami, expecting Wade to turn back the clock again seems ambitious. But also doubting Wade seems like a mistake. So, who knows? James Johnson had the bounce back performance that I expected in Game 2, but I don’t trust his inconsistent play moving into Game 3. Dragic is a guy who might be able to turn things around at home, but he hasn’t performed well against the Sixers all season. The guys I like most on Miami are Olynyk and Richardson, with a cautious approach to Wade.
Here’s a bit “human element” to the game: The Sixers are a young team with a lot of guys playing their first road playoff game. And they’ve had a couple of days in Miami. I’m not saying they’ve been out partying these last couple of days, but the temptation is there.
If you’re looking for a low cost role player on Miami to step up, Wayne Ellington might be that guy. He’s always a threat to get hot from three and since role players typically player better at home, he might be able to pitch in with 20 fantasy points.