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We're set for an Eastern Conference two-game play-in tournament game slate Wednesday night, narrowing our player pool significantly and making it particularly important to hit on both the right high-end plays and the value options that will allow you to fit the pricier options in your lineup. Fortunately, we do have some previous matchup history to go on for each player, and minutes and rotations are also much more predictable during the postseason.
The key to being successful in NBA DFS comes down to making adjustments during the day as injury information becomes available. But it's always really important to have a game plan and the best players and spots circled first before making those adjustments. To keep up with all the latest developments and get access to updated projections, grab an NBA season pass and also gain access to our RotoBaller Premium Discord where @chiefjustice6 is talking about the slate up until lineups lock!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 4/17/24. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome NBA injuries report tool, as the slate can completely change before lineups lock at 7:00 p.m. EDT on FanDuel and DraftKings.
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As just alluded to, while the postseason certainly narrows our choices, it also gives us a certain measure of safety when it comes to star players and their playing time.
As such, we should have zero hesitation clicking on Joel Embiid's name if he plays through his questionable tag as is fully expected. The big man has some extra rest as well, having sat out the regular-season finale Sunday and therefore last having taken the floor Friday. The Heat's strong numbers against centers notwithstanding, Embiid, who scored over 60 and over 70 fantasy points in each of his last two regular-season contests, could be worth every dollar of his salaries in the high-stakes matchup.
DeMar DeRozan finished the regular season on a tear, averaging over 45 fantasy points per contest in his last 11 games on the strength of 29.5 points, 5.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. DeRozan also shot 49.1 percent against the Hawks in three games this season while averaging over 40 fantasy points per contest, and Atlanta allowed an Eastern Conference-high offensive efficiency rating to power forwards (30.0).
Nikola Vucevic is another member of the Bulls in a very good positional matchup Tuesday, as the Hawks finished the regular season allowing the fifth-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (35.6). Vucevic also eclipsed 40 fantasy points in five of his last nine regular-season games alone, and he averaged 36.9 DK points in two games versus Atlanta this season.
- Joel Embiid, PHI vs. MIA – C ($11.1K DK; $11.9K FD)
- DeMar DeRozan, CHI vs. ATL– SF/PF ($8.4K DK; $9.2K FD)
- Nikola Vucevic, CHI vs. ATL – C ($7.8K DK; $8.5K FD)
Don’t let this truly historic season from Joel Embiid get lost in the shuffle
34.7 pts
11.0 rebs
5.6 asts
1.7 blks
1.2 stls
52.9% FG%
38.8% 3P%First player since Wilt to score more points than minutes in a season. Most dominant two-way player every time he’s on the floor pic.twitter.com/NPHpn0vLsv
— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) April 15, 2024
Today's NBA DFS Value Picks
Tobias Harris could potentially deliver some of the best fantasy-point-per-dollar value on the slate, considering he finished the regular season averaging 17.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per contest while shooting 42.2 percent from behind the arc. The veteran forward has plenty of postseason experience and also racked up 47.8 DK/45.4 FD points in his one game versus the Heat this season.
Alex Caruso took a big step forward during the latter portion of the season and finished the campaign averaging 36 DK/37.3 FD points in his last three games while shooting 52.4 percent, including 53.8 percent from three-point range. The veteran wing also averaged 28 DK points in two games against the Hawks and finished ranked No. 24 in offensive efficiency allowed to small forwards (24.0).
Duncan Robinson might be best suited for tournament play given his volatility, but his ceiling is excellent for his current salaries. The long-range marksman hasn't played since April 7 due to a back injury, so there is a risk of rustiness. However, he shot 47.6 percent from distance in four games against the 76ers this season, and with Terry Rozier (neck) out for Miami, Robinson could see some extra run.
Top Value Plays:
- Tobias Harris, PHI vs. MIA - SF/PF ($6.2K DK; $7.6K FD)
- Alex Caruso, CHI vs. ATL - SF/SF ($5.8K DK; $6.4K FD)
- Duncan Robinson, MIA at PHI - SG/SF ($5.5K DK; $5K FD)
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Today's NBA DFS Picks: Point Guard
Given the high stakes of the Hawks-Bulls game, there's really no way to not at least consider Trae Young, even though he didn't necessarily thrive against Chicago this season and the Bulls were excellent against point guards. Young shot only 29.0 percent in two games versus the Bulls, but he still averaged over 45 fantasy points per contest and was actually a more productive player on the road this season while averaging over 50 fantasy points per contest.
Tyrese Maxey had some big performances against the Heat this season (over 50 fantasy points per game over four contests), and although Embiid's availability obviously knocks the talented guard's usage down a bit, he also could obviously face less defensive attention. Maxey also wrapped up the regular season by averaging over 40 fantasy points in his last four games.
Coby White sports very appealing salaries for his upside, and he finished the regular season with more than 30 fantasy points in each of his last four games. Atlanta also finished the regular season ranked No. 27 in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to point guards (29.6) and allowing 39.4 percent three-point shooting to the position.
Top PG Options:
- Trae Young, ATL at CHI - PG ($9.2K DK; $9.3K FD)
- Tyrese Maxey, PHI vs. MIA - PG ($8.5K DK; $9.1K FD)
- Coby White, CHI vs. ATL - PG ($7K DK; $7.3K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Shooting Guard
Dejounte Murray and Tyler Herro are also higher-end players that have to be considered on such a small slate, given both their upside and importance to their teams. Moreover, Murray's matchup is much more palatable on paper than Young's, as the Bulls finished the regular season ranked No. 25 in offensive efficiency allowed to shooting guards (24.7).
Meanwhile, Herro will have primary ball-handling responsibilities with Rozier out. Although the 76ers are hardly an ideal matchup for point guards, the sharpshooter checks in having averaged over 30 fantasy points per contest in the last six games of the regular season.
Top SG Options:
- Dejounte Murray, ATL at CHI ($8.8K DK; $8.2K FD)
- Tyler Herro, MIA at PHI – ($7.5K DK; $7.7K FD)
- Alex Caruso, CHI vs. ATL - ($5.8K DK; $6.4K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Small Forward
Much like some of the other higher-end players already mentioned, Jimmy Butler has to be considered by default, even though he finished the regular season averaging just 25.5 FD points in his last three games. Nevertheless, he has clear 50+ fantasy-point upside and shot an impressive 48.9 percent on the road this season.
The appeal of Harris and Robinson were already discussed earlier in the value section.
Top SF Options:
- Jimmy Butler, MIA at PHI -SF/PF ($8.7K DK; $9K FD)
- Tobias Harris, PHI vs. MIA SF/PF ($6.2K DK; $7.6K FD)
- Duncan Robinson, MIA at PHI -SF/SG ($5.5K DK; $5K FD)
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Power Forward
DeRozan was covered earlier in the Core Plays section, while De'Andre Hunter makes for a very interesting play at his salaries in his current starting power forward role. Hunter is best served for tournament play due to the sometimes surprising fluctuations in production, but the veteran does have a good matchup against a Bulls team that allowed 49.5 percent shooting, including 39.0 percent from three-point range, to power forwards.
Finally, Caleb Martin is also a bit of a volatile player at times, but he has a very favorable postseason body of work dating back to last season and scored over 25 fantasy points on both sites in three of his last five games of the season.
Top PF Options:
- DeMar DeRozan, CHI vs. ATL -PF/SF ($8.4K DK; $9.2K FD)
- De'Andre Hunter, ATL at CHI -PF/SF ($5.9K DK; $5.3K FD)
- Caleb Martin, MIA at PHI -PF/SF ($4.8K DK; $5.1K FD)
Deebo is cooking.@NBCSChicago | @DeMar_DeRozan pic.twitter.com/TPESMIigWC
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 12, 2024
Today's NBA DFS Picks: Center
Center has solid options tonight, but it isn't very deep. Pick whichever starter fits your build/budget the best and don't worry about getting cute.
Top C Options:
- Joel Embiid, PHI vs. MIA – C ($11.1K DK; $11.9K FD)
- Bam Adebayo, MIA at PHI - C ($8.4K DK; $8.7K FD)
- Nikola Vucevic, CHI vs. ATL – C ($7.8K DK; $8.5K FD)
We've already discussed Embiid and Vucevic in the Core Plays section, while Bam Adebayo is always a solid play at his current salaries. The big man averaged 47.1 DK points in four games against the 76ers this season, although the matchup against Embiid will be much more difficult than some of the ones against Paul Reed he's capitalized on previously.
Today's Top NBA DFS Game Stacks
- Hawks at Bulls (222.0 total)
- Heat at 76ers (208.0 total)
Today's Top NBA DFS Avoids
- On such a small slate, there aren't any clear avoid candidates for me, although if any late injury concerns pop up, those would be something to monitor.
My Favorite NBA DFS Picks for Today
Here is where I leave you with some of my favorites.
- My favorite overall play on the slate: Joel Embiid
- My favorite CASH play on the slate: DeMar DeRozan
- My favorite GPP play on the slate: Dejounte Murray
- My favorite value play: Tobias Harris
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