RADIO
We have a small two-gamer on the docket tonight with Game 1 of the Western Conference semis between Denver and Phoenix tipping off. First, we have to see if Brooklyn taking down Milwaukee in Game 1 basically without the services of His Beardness was a fluke or not. Game 2 will be played without Harden.
The injury news is straightforward tonight. There are no questionable tags on players that are part of the regular rotation. The players are either in or out. It's no surprise that Harden was ruled out and that Will Barton and Jamal Murray are still out for Denver. P.J. Dozier, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jeff Green will also be missing these tilts as well.
This article will supply you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for the DraftKings on 6/7/21. You can also check out today’s FanDuel lineup picks. It’s also important to monitor injury news as a result of COVID-19 as the slate can completely change before line-up lock. Without further ado, let’s dive into the picks!
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Devin Booker - SG, vs. Denver ($8,500)
Booker had the kind of game that can define careers to eliminate the Lakers last week. He played 46 minutes and put up 71.25 DraftKings points including 47 actual points in the clincher on Thursday. Booker had two solid games against Denver this year, but he didn't get this depleted version of them either. Booker's first playoff series was a really good one. He put up 274.75 DraftKings points in the six games against the Lakers. The Nuggets don't defend as well as the Lakers, even at full strength. We could see another strong series from Booker here.
Jrue Holiday - PG/SG, vs. Atlanta($7,800)
Holiday put up another strong all-around stat line in Game 1 against the Nets. The 17 points are right around his season average, but he hauled in nine rebounds and dished out six assists. That makes Holiday's floor pretty high with that kind of peripheral stats. Middleton and Giannis are doing the scoring. That leaves Holiday to facilitate and play defense. It's guys like Holiday who will determine if the Bucks can take that next step.
Monte Morris - PG/SG, at Phoenix ($5,400)
I understand that Chris Paul is still a very good defender, but this price is just wrong. Morris closed out the Blazers with 90.75 DraftKings points in the last two games of that series while playing 74 minutes. Morris is not Jamal Murray, but he's proving that he can be pretty damn close. 22 points, four rebounds, nine assists, and three steals in the clincher on Thursday is pretty close to the kind of line you would see from Murray at a small fraction of the price. Lock in Morris. He's a free space tonight.
Bonus Guards: Kyrie Irving ($9,200), Khris Middleton ($8,100), Chris Paul ($6,500), Cameron Payne ($5,100)
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DraftKings DFS Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo - PF/C, at Brooklyn ($11,000)
Giannis outscored everyone in Game 1 and it's not out of line to expect him to do it again. Even with Harden out, Brooklyn used a few different pieces to pick up the slack. The Bucks don't. Giannis had a strong showing with 57.75 DraftKings points in the opener, and it's reasonable to expect more than four assists out of him too. He's not going to hang a ceiling game on the Nets, but his 64.4 DraftKings points per game average on the Nets this season points to Giannis as the safest play on the slate in any format.
Michael Porter Jr. - SF/PF, at Phoenix ($7,100)
Dammit, he's sucking me in again. I swore off MPJ after a dreadful Game 4 effort in which he finished in single digits in DraftKings points. Porter then proceeded to put up 93.75 DraftKings points in the final two games, both Denver wins. Porter is by far the most volatile of the DFS plays tonight, but the kind of ceiling he has at this price makes him the perfect GPP play.
Blake Griffin - PF/C, vs. Milwaukee ($4,100)
I will admit that Blake Griffin was pretty far down the list of players that I would have expected to pick up the slack in the absence of James Harden. In Game 1, Blake turned back the clock to 2013 with a double-double and 46 DraftKings points before fouling out. It looks like Griffin will be the substitute piece for Harden in the Big Three for the Nets again tonight. Milwaukee will likely adjust some to Blake, so I don't see a huge score like in Game 1. However, even if Blake only gets half that output, he still clears 5x value. That's a hell of a value play!
Bonus Forwards: Kevin Durant ($10,300), Aaron Gordon ($5,500), Jae Crowder ($5,000), Bruce Brown ($3,800)
DraftKings DFS Centers
Nikola Jokic - C, at Phoenix ($10,800)
The Suns couldn't handle Jokic during the regular season. He put up 177.25 DraftKings points on them in 111 minutes over the three games. Jokic has an even larger role on offense now and the peripheral numbers aren't taking much of a hit. Jokic might have the highest upside of any player tonight and his floor is every bit as good as that of Giannis. And yes, position scarcity should enter your mind on a two-game slate. There are only four starting centers tonight. There are a couple of suitable options behind Giannis. I'm not sure about behind Jokic.
Brook Lopez - C, at Brooklyn ($4,900)
Centers against Brooklyn aren't the lock job they were earlier in the season and all of last year, but it's still a good spot. BroLo put up a respectable 26.25 DraftKings points in Game 1 with his usual efficient shooting and work on the glass. Lopez doesn't have the upside to win a slate for you, but he's not going to lose you one either. He has a nice floor for this price range.
Bonus Centers: Deandre Ayton ($7,300), Bobby Portis ($3,900)
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