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Another two game slate and another chance to cash out big-time. Honestly, I think the NBA needs to give LeBron James another day of rest. They might lose a team when James knocks the Raptors out of the playoffs but tonight, it should be all about DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and James. I'll say this probably every time these two teams play. THERE IS NO REASON THE RAPTORS SHOULDN'T WIN THIS GAME, BUT they also have no one to guard to James so there's that too. If I was going to make a bet now on this series, give me Cavaliers in six. I know that's bold since they just took the Pacers to seven, but I think teams tend to shift narratives the further they advance. Jordan Clarkson, Rodney Hood, and Larry Nance will find their groove, but if they don't, assume James will shoulder the workload.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings on 5/1/18. These DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on DraftKings.
You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. Find me in the Hoops Chat Room, playing Fornite on Xbox or regrettably on Twitter @HalfCourtJester.
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DraftKings DFS Guards
Rajon Rondo - PG, @ GSW ($7,300)
Jrue Holiday has stolen the limelight of the Pelicans backcourt, but Rajon Rondo is still flirting with nightly triple-doubles and that +3 is valuable on nights like tonight. Chances are you'll be tying for some place or another, but the limited lineup options open up the door for accuracy. If you can manage to strike gold with a few lower-owned players, you'll cash out with no problem. Rajon Rondo might be a notable play tonight, but there are few guards around the same price range and Rondo has the lowest "surprise factor" out of all of them. By surprise factor I mean how likely it is for that player to go off. Jrue Holiday going off is ideal for DFS because of the amount of points he scores. Rondo going off is a fat triple-double, but is ultimately limited to 20 points or so. All in all, he's worth it, but he doesn't have the same excite factor Holiday retains.
Klay Thompson - PG/SG, vs. NOP ($6,600)
Although his price is right where it should be, Klay Thompson being a point-dependent option means he needs to explode tonight. It's hard for Thompson to exceed his projected with scoring, but he does have a bit of upside seeing how he snagged six rebounds last game. That's two more than his season average and he should be good for another four or five rebounds tonight. His shooting has gotten dramatically better the longer Steph Curry is out, but beware a Curry return might alter the momentum of Thompson. It's happened in the past, but the long-term effects are usually better for the team anyway. Thompson has upside even when Curry returns, but it definitely hinders the probability of Thompson having a big night.
DraftKings DFS Forwards
J.R. Smith - SG/SF, at TOR ($4,000)
it's funny when you write from down to up because I just talked about Kevin Love and how the Cavaliers are going to either shoot themselves into or out of this game. It starts with J.R. Smith, the worst-best shooter in the game. There is no indicator that Smith will have a good game, or a bad game, or is trending, or is anything for that matter. He is what he is and he shoots well some nights, atrociously bad the other. It's just what you get by playing Smith but clearly my intentions somewhere around the "he'll exceed value tonight" range.
Kevin Love - PF/C, vs. PHI ($6,400)
LeBron James' superhuman-like effort shouldn't be overshadowed by Kevin Love, but tonight it will be. James needs help and Love is his best option. If Love and the Cavaliers can manage to get back to their rebounding ways, which they most likely won't seeing how they don't have the rotation consistency to run anything other than small-ball. I've had a growing suspicion that the Cavaliers are only as good as the team they are playing will let them. If you give the Cavaliers space, they will eventually bury you. If you go big but down have the defense to guard other bigs, they will beat you. If you actually decide to let LeBron James be the one to beat you, then you will lose in royal fashion. Expect the Raptors to let the Cavaliers shoot themselves in or out of this one. I'm going with in and Love dropping around 23 points.
DraftKings DFS Centers
David West - C, vs. NOP ($3,500)
In game one, David West did a little bit of everything, today we'll need him to do a bit more. Luckily, West just needs minute and the right role to produce, which he'll have both of tonight. He contributed in just about every statistical category and that should be a trend going forward. When West is on the court, there's a matter of consistency that the Warriors can rely on given bad shooting. I am not saying the Warriors will have a bad shooting night, but it's always possible and seeing how well Draymond Green shot in game one, I assume he spreads the shooting around a bit more game two.
