This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Thanks to Cleveland's Game 6 win over the Celtics, Yahoo will once again field a two-game featured contest that begins with the Warriors-Rockets game on Saturday and concludes with the final Cavs-Celtics game on Sunday. Players will lock as games happen so you will be able to fiddle with Celtics and Cavs selections until Sunday.
Although the Warriors face elimination, the Rockets will be without Chris Paul for Game 6. This is great news for Golden State, but it would also be foolish to underestimate Eric Gordon's ability to inflict pain on opposing defenses. Houston's additional handicap is a return to Oakland, as Oralce Arena has been unkind to the Rockets thus far. In fact, no road team has come away with a victory yet in either conference final, so any deviation from that would certainly be an aberration.
As we look at our spend-up options on the slate, LeBron James ($59) is once again a very difficult player to fade despite the hefty price tag, He is my unquestioned anchor whenever he plays. James Harden ($51) will be faced with shouldering the load for the Rockets on Saturday, and we should also see a great stat line here as well. Kevin Durant ($49) and Steph Curry ($41) are excellent options, but I do have a slight fear that this game might get a bit out of hand if the Warriors can pull away early.
The good news is that if you choose to field two of the aforementioned elites, there's ample opportunity to find value in the $15-$20 range, which will be the average price you'll need to get under the salary cap. In fact, firing up James and Harden will leave you with a $15 average for the remaining slots, which is very doable.
With that in mind, I'll target two players at each position that can help you afford the higher-priced targets. I'll also pick one player to fade at each spot.
GUARD
Jaylen Brown ($22): I have a hard time believing that Brown is coming in at this price, but sure enough, there he is at $22. It's true that he's had a couple of sub-par games in Cleveland, but I look for him to light up the Garden on Sunday. He tangled with LeBron frequently on defense In Game 6, and with James eyeing an upset, that will be a gargantuan task for Brown, but it won't affect any of his offensive numbers.
Gerald Green, ($10): With the Rockets down one man in the backcourt, I think Green emerges as one of the best options at $10. His meager stat lines in the playoffs have been due to lack of usage, as he rarely sees more than 20 minutes. That's bound to change on Saturday with Paul on the bench. Eric Gordon ($25) will fare well but I think he'll also be grossly over-owned. Green is a nice tournament pivot.
Guard to Avoid:
George Hill ($15): Hill has certainly improved over the course of the playoffs, but he can't seem to get anything accomplished on the road. He's paired great showings at home with dreadful outings in the Garden. That will have to change if the Cavs hope to prevail. He could surprise us all, but I would rather avoid the potential risk.
FORWARD
P.J. Tucker ($14): Tucker and Trevor Ariza continue to trade bigger lines in the playoffs, but the Rockets simply look like a markedly better team with Tucker on the floor. Ariza certainly has the potential for an explosion, but for a dollar more I like taking a flier on Tucker, who snagged 16 rebounds in his last road game against the Warriors.
Jeff Green ($12): I think the Cavs will find a way to get Love on the floor in Game 6 despite his head injury, but this could be a great opportunity for Green to shine if Love needs to sit for a few more minutes. It's hard to trust Cleveland's supporting cast on a regular basis, but Green could surprise many with the game script shifting in his favor.
Other forward to consider: Kevon Looney ($10)
Forward to Avoid:
David West ($10) or Jordan Bell ($10): Despite Andre Iguodala's injury I don't think there's a need to go deep with the Warriors on Saturday. I think Looney remains the better option in that department and there will be little room for anyone else unless the game becomes a blowout for the Warriors. It's possible, but there are better low-cost ways to go on the slate.
CENTER
While I recommended to go with two of the top elites above, you will lose value if you don't go with Draymond Green ($33) or Clint Capela ($32) at center, unless you really think you can cull similar output further down the list. Here are two guys who could serve as lower-cost replacements.
Larry Nance Jr. ($15): With Love's status in flux, I think Nance will benefit more than Tristan Thompson, though both will be called upon to absorb some of the minutes that Love will probably yield on Sunday. Coach Tyronn Lue has opted to give Nance a lot more looks in recent games, and while I wouldn't expect anything spectacular, but 20 YFP is certainly possible.
Aron Baynes ($11): Baynes failed to score in Game 6, but he fares much better at home, where he's come through with decent stat lines in every game played in Boston over the course of this series. Some will be scared off by his most recent showing, but a closer look reveals a positive course correction for Baynes.
Center to Avoid:
Greg Monroe ($10): I still managed to cash on Friday despite taking a chance on Monroe, but I won't be burned again. After a decent night in Cleveland in Game 4 I really thought we'd see more of him, but it appears that was just a blip on the radar. Avoid Monroe and anyone else we failed to mention above.
