NBA DFS picks September 4: Can the Rockets hang with the Lakers?

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 02: Khris Middleton #22 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the third quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 02, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

NBA DFS forward plays:

Giannis had a solid game in Game 2, but he still came in short of 5x value for the price. Khris Middleton continues to be a much better point per dollar play, but Giannis still has immense upside.

However, if you’re not feeling it, there are better options tonight if you choose to fade. Both LeBron and Anthony Davis are strong plays against Houston. P.J. Tucker guarding Davis? Yeah, I’ll have some of that! These two are even more of a reason to fade Giannis, especially given their lower prices.

Robert Covington was an absolute monster in the last three games of the Thunder series. The Rockets need this Covington to have any chance of beating the Lakers. I’m riding the hot hand here, but the fact that he may draw the defense of Anthony Davis is preventing me from going all-in on RoCo.

To me it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to pay up at center on FanDuel. You can pay for AD on DraftKings, but I prefer to drop down to Brook Lopez on both sites. Bam is a solid option, but the Heat are too balanced for him to have consistently big games.

Jae Crowder had his best game of the playoffs in Game 2, but I don’t know that we can count on him to get 13 shots again. Still, Crowder is a solid value play. I just don’t think he has 30+ fantasy point upside in every game. He’s probably best left for cash games.

Jeff Green is almost an afterthought right now. Play P.J. Tucker if you want a Rockets center. Or you can play roulette with JaVale and D12. Both are decent plays, but they completely destroy the upside of each other.

There is almost no value at forward on either site, especially DraftKings. Derrick Jones is an interesting punt if Iguodala or Olynyk end up missing this game. Otherwise, I don’t think I would go any lower than Crowder.

Next. College Football picks against the spread Week 1. dark

This feels like a night to pay for Lakers or go balanced. You can get a really strong lineup if you have the stones to punt all of LeBron, Brow, Giannis, and Harden. Can you do that? I’m not sure I can.