DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy basketball lineup – April 24, 2018
Heat-Sixers (Sixers Lead 3-1)
I alluded to it earlier, but I’m very high on Philadelphia in Game 5. They survived everything Miami threw at them in Game 4 and return home for Joel Embiid’s first playoff game in Philly. That might seem like a big deal, but it is. He’s the leader of The Process and the crowd is going to be even more jacked than they were in Game 1. Philadelphia will feed off that energy and I would not be shocked if they run Miami out of the building.
Embiid at his salary feels like a steal. There’s little chance he’s a bust and a good chance he gives you 50-plus fantasy points. Of course, Ben Simmons is the more reliable player given how he’s performed in this series, but he’ll cost you more.
Expect Dario Saric to bounce back after a rough Game 4. He’s been too good against Miami all season to think Game 4 was anything more than an off-night. J.J. Redick and Marco Belinelli still make for a great guard duo. Ersan Ilyasova might be worth the pick up at his salary, even though Embiid has obviously cut into his value.
The potential absence of Josh Richardson changes things significantly for Miami. If he doesn’t play, Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, and Justise Winslow all see value boosts. James Johnson and Hassan Whiteside were the top two frontcourt options in Game 4. It looks like Johnson is going to get the consistent playing time, but I’m not high on him at his current salary. Whiteside still comes with the risk of not getting enough playing time, a risk Kelly Olynyk now has as well.
Can Miami live off Wade once again? I’d say no, but I’ve given up on doubting Wade.
Even in a blowout, Dragic and Winslow should be good for value. Unless Richardson plays, then only Dragic