DraftKings NBA Picks May 5: Will LeBron dominate again in Game 3?

NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 21: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans speaks with Rajon Rondo #9 during the second half of Game Four of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Smoothie King Center on April 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 131-123 to sweep the series 4-0. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

DraftKings NBA Picks May 5: Will LeBron dominate yet again?

Get used to these unbalanced slates now that the playoffs are here. Tonight we have both Game 3’s of the Eastern conference semis. This is the same slate as on Thursday. Will the same players come through?

Point Guards:

Best Bet:

Terry Rozier ($8,500): Rozier just missed 50 DraftKings points in Game 2, but one thing is certain: If Boston is going to win this series, Rozier is going to be a huge part of it. That’s three straight games of 48 or more DraftKings points for Rozier. Play him with confidence, even with the huge price increase.

Honorable Mention:

Kyle Lowry ($7,700): Lowry turned in another game of 5x value or better in Game 2, his seventh straight. There is no reason not to play Lowry here, and there is no way that I’m touching Ben Simmons. Simmons has been locked up by the Celtics. Lowry is easily the best play if you can’t quite afford Rozier.

Dark Horses:

Fred VanVleet ($3,900): It was VanVleet who was the most played guard of the bench, not Delon Wright. I was afraid this would be the trend, so I avoided this situation in Game 1. Now that we kind of know who this is going to go, I’m all for using VanVleet tonight. VanVleet played half of Game 2 and turned in 22 DraftKings points. That makes him a solid play at this price.

George Hill ($3,700): Hill played 35 minutes in Game 2, putting up a modest 19.75 DraftKings points in this one. There is potential here with the amount of minutes, but VanVleet is probably worth paying the extra money for. Hill’s production is too volatile to rely on here.

My pick: VanVleet(PG)

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 20: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Toronto Raptors walks off the court during the first half against the Washington Wizards during Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Shooting Guards:

Best Bet:

DeMar DeRozan ($7,800): DeRozan is about as inconsistent as they come. However, he came up big in Game 1 with 45.25 DraftKings points. That was quickly forgotten in Game 2 with DeRozan contributing only three assists besides his customary scoring. We need some decent all around numbers or DeRozan will come up short of what we need again.

Honorable Mention:

Marcus Smart ($5,900): It really doesn’t matter what the rest of the Boston rotation is right now. Smart is going to be a huge part of the game plan because of his outstanding defense. Smart has increased his output in every game since his return. He may not go over the 36.25 that he turned in in Game 2, but Smart should be right in that area.

J.J. Redick ($5,800): After the horrid Game 5 in Miami, Redick has righted the ship again, racking up at least 5x value in each of the four games since. His shooting is one of the few things keeping Philly in this series with Ben Simmons being turnover prone and unable to score. Redick doesn’t have huge upside, but he is a sure thing for 28-35 DraftKings points. that makes him at worst a 5x value play.

Dark Horse:

J.R. Smith ($4,400): Smith is pretty much all or nothing in the playoffs. He is still running with the starters for now, but he is pretty much only a scorer. There is risk here, but Smith is a nice GPP target because he is capable of going way above value tonight. Or he could get you 3x. Much like George Hill, Smith plays so many minutes that the upside is there. However, Smith is a natural shooter. Hill has always been a defense first guard.

My pick: Smith(SG), Smart(G), Redick(F)

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter of Game One of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs during at TD Garden on April 15, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Small Forwards:

Best Bet:

LeBron James ($12,100): The King unleashed the fury on the Cavs, putting up a playoff high 77.5 DraftKings points on them in Game 2. If you’re keeping track at home, that’s 147.25 DraftKings points in two games in this series. Fade him if you want. I’m not.

Honorable Mention:

Jayson Tatum ($6,600): Tatum turned in his four straight game of 30+ DraftKings points, but his price is in such a spot that that wont even get him value. Smart and Brown stole some of his thunder in Game 2. That said, this slate is full of inconsistency from one game to the next. Something can be said for Tatum’s consistency lately.

Robert Covington ($5,700): The Sixers desperately needed his offense with Simmons being a non-factor in that facet of the game. That makes Simmons a disaster for DFS purposes, but you could argue that Philly looked better without Simmons looking to score. I think that trend holds, so Covington should be a solid mid-range play again tonight.

Dark Horses:

Kyle Korver ($4,300): Korver is about as inconsistent as you can get. The Cavs are rotating a lot of wings in to shoot and even running LeBron at the point sometimes. This offense found its rhythm in Game 2. What this is going to mean going forward is inconsistent value for Smith, Hill, Korver, Hood, and Jordan Clarkson. That makes all of them hard to use, but any of them could come up big on any given night.

C.J. Miles ($3,300): Miles was a big scorer off the bench in the Washington series and in Game 1, but since Miles wont play more than half the game, he is always a risk and has very little upside. Still, there are very few viable options for under $5,000. Miles could come in handy if you need to go really cheap.

My pick: James(SF), Miles(UTIL)

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 30: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter of Game One of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Power Forwards:

Best Bets:

Al Horford ($7,500): It has been vintage Horford lately. He is hitting a large percentage of his shots, rebounding, and making some plays with the ball in his hands as well. Philly has had a hard time with Horford’s all around ability here in the series, but he has yet to parlay that into a huge game. I don’t really think that’s coming, but Horford has at least 5x value in five of the last six. You want this kind of stability in your lineup.

Kevin Love ($6,800): Sure, the time I don’t play Love, he finally breaks out of his extended funk. Love was a monster in Game 2, putting up 53.75 DraftKings points. He and LeBron were pretty much unstoppable in Game 2. Now the series heads to Cleveland. Love could be in for another big game tonight.

Honorable Mention:

Dario Saric ($6,000): Saric finished Game 2 with his fourth straight game under 30 DraftKings points. However, with his price down to this point, Saric no longer remains a huge risk. He has been just under 30 in both games of this series. He should get very close to 5x value, but with Love only $800 more, it’s tough to justify Saric unless you are using both or going for the contrarian play.

Dark Horse:

Marcus Morris ($5,000): Morris put up 26 DraftKings points in Game 2, his highest total since Game 2 against the Bucks. Morris is going to be playing second fiddle to Tatum, Brown, and to some extent, Aron Baynes. However, he hits buckets when the team is depending on him to, so there is some value here.

My pick: Morris(PF)

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the first quarter of Game One of Round Two of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Center

Best Bet:

Joel Embiid ($9,500): Embiid is dominating Boston on the interior, but his teammates aren’t helping him out a whole lot. Embiid has racked up 107.75 DraftKings points in the first two games of this series. He is a huge mismatch for the Celtics here, but Boston is getting the last laugh. They are up 2-0 in the series.

Honorable Mention:

Jonas Valanciunas ($7,300): Valanciunas ate Cleveland alive in Game 1, racking up 52.25 DraftKings points in that game. He was equally solid in Game 2, putting up 37 DraftKings points. Now the price on Valanciunas is up to the point where he is no long a must-play option. I could see him hitting 50 again, but high 30’s is more likely. That still makes Valancuinas a solid value pick.

Dark Horses:

Aron Baynes ($3,500): Baynes is starting, but that has only meant a combined 50 minutes in the first two games of the series. With Love playing well in Game 2, Tristan Thompson netted single digit DraftKings points, so center behind Jonas is a barren wasteland. You have to spend at least for Love tonight, which makes the lineup build somewhat difficult.

My pick: Embiid(C)

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