RADIO
For what it's worth, the wife of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich passed away after battling an illness for some time. While I didn't know either, take the time to spend time with loved ones and understand what the Popovich family is going through. The game is bigger than basketball and the best thing to do as an outsider is to try and spread happiness and bring awareness to the subject.
Unlike the rest of the world, the NBA playoffs haven't been disappointing this season and most of the series have already exceeded expectations. Tonight, we have three games, two of which should actually should be good games. The Heat are playing at home and have the chance to go up a game against their higher seeded foe, not to mention the Pelicans can drive a stake through the heart of Portland with a win tonight. Stack the Pelicans and look for Damian Lillard to put up an increased effort as the Trail Blazers backs get slightly closer to the wall.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for FanDuel on 4/19/18. 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, DraftKings and even other sports too. Find me either in the Hoops Chat Room or on Twitter @HalfCourtJester.
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FanDuel DFS Guards
Quinn Cook - PG, at SAS ($4,400)
While Stephen Curry remains out, you have to roster the Warriors point guard, even if he isn't starting. The Warriors offense relies on ball movement and Cook will have the ball in his hands. The Spurs defense continues to have their weakness exposed by point guards and it won't magically change tonight. In his previous two games, Cook has ended with minimal production but his stats have still be well-rounded. His minutes took a slight dip, but he just needs to start hitting shots to get extra minutes. Cook eventually needs to get some type of offense going and the Warriors should continue to dominate the Spurs. Cook should have upside whether its a blowout or a close game.
J.J. Redick - SG, at MIA ($5,200)
For as streaky of a shooter J.J. Redick is, he’s somewhat predictable. You know he’s going to get his shots, so on nights like tonight, it’s hard not to take Redick especially when it’s an away game. Redick seems unaffected by the venue and a lot of that comes from experience. Look for Redick and the other veterans to rebound after the loss with solid shooting.
FanDuel DFS Forwards
Kyle Anderson - SF, vs GSW ($4,000)
This is always tough because it’s usually between Kyle Anderson and Rudy Gay. While Gay is the more proven scorer and player, Anderson get the job done and does it well. While Gay is more point and rebound reliant, Anderson contributes in all the little ways that you might not realize. He can rack up steals and defensive stats easily, but his shooting inconsistency limits his upside. The Spurs absolutely need to try and steal a game and Anderson needs to be contributing if they want it to happen.
Nikola Mirotic - vs POR ($7,000)
Assuming Nikola Mirotic recovers from his ankle injury, there’s no reason not to play him. The Trail Blazers are struggling defensively and a big part of that is Mirotic. He is giving excellent spacing and allowing every player to get to their spots and use Mirotic as a relief valve. He scored over 15 points into consecutive games and that should be an easy spot for him to reach on a nightly basis. His price is rising every game, but he has upside and the matchup to produce like an $8,000 option.
DraftKings DFS Centers
Amir Johnson - C, at MIA ($3,700)
Amir Johnson hasn't been bad in the center role for the 76ers, there are just plenty of things working in his favor. The Heat frontcourt outside of playoff Kelly Olynyk has been one grade above mud-water, and Amir is getting extra minutes while Joel Embiid is out. If Hassan Whiteside and Bam Adebayo start to play with more intensity, Johnson SHOULD fade into oblivion. BUT, because it seems decently clear after two games that Whiteside and Adebayo lack the confidence to produce or even defend for that matter in the playoffs, you have to take the best role player in the game. Nobody plays to their strengths better than Johnson and I expect a decent number of players to ride Johnson in multiple lineups tonight.
