Jayson Tatum leads Boston into Golden State for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
These single-game slates have been fun to break down, and I’m glad that we’re finally doing some Yahoo articles! I’ve been playing at Yahoo for years, and it’s one of my favorite DFS sites. The pricing is friendlier, and it’s much easier to construct your lineups. We’ve been burying the lead because this is Game 1 of the NBA Finals. We have Golden State and Boston doing battle, and it’s tough to know what to expect. With that in mind, let’s get into this Game 1!
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Injury Report
- James Wiseman (knee) Questionable
- Gary Payton (elbow) Questionable
- Otto Porter (foot) Questionable
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Core Plays
Jayson Tatum (SF/PF – BOS): $40
Tatum has been one of the best players in these playoffs, and it’s clear he’s taken his game to another level. The All-Star forward has at least 40 Yahoo points in 10 of his last 11 games, posting a 47-point average in that span. He’s been even more ridiculous recently, scoring at least 46 fantasy points in each of his last four games. You might be worried about a matchup with the Warriors, but JT is averaging 31 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in their last four meetings.
Cash Game Considerations
Stephen Curry (PG/SG – GSW): $37
It’s wild that Chef Curry is just $37. He’s the favorite for Finals MVP, and he’s quite simply the best player in this series. He’s been showing that form recently, scoring at least 37 Y! points in 14 of his last 15 games. He’s also got a 44-point average in that span and should be the most expensive player on this slate. Curry has bludgeoned Boston over recent years, averaging 57 fantasy points per game in their last three matchups.
GPP Targets
Klay has been inconsistent at times in these playoffs, but he can go off on any given night. His floor has been great recently, scoring at least 25 Yahoo points in 18 of his last 19 games. He’s also got a 33-point average over his last five fixtures, and it looks like he’s getting hot at the right time. That’s all you can ask for from a $25 player, especially since Klay has a legitimate 50-point upside if he gets hot from deep.
It makes no sense why OPJ is sitting at the minimum on Yahoo. This guy has been a $20 player at times in the past and has shown that upside in these playoffs. He’s scored at least 19 Y! points in the last seven games he’s finished, and it sounds like he’ll be fully healthy heading into this series. Getting 19 fantasy points from a $10 player is plenty, mainly since he’s posting a 23-point average in that span. If you want to squeeze in Curry, Klay, and JT, Porter is the best compliment to those studs!
Value Plays
If you’re looking for a more well-rounded lineup, these next two guys will be the best plays on the board. It’s strange to see Smart at just $24 because he’s been playing at a $30 level for weeks. In fact, Marcus is averaging 35 Yahoo points per game across 38 minutes a night across his last nine games. As long as this guy is playing 35-40 minutes, Smart should be a $30 player. He’s killed the Warriors over recent years, too, scoring at least 36 fantasy points in each of their last four meetings.
Draymond Green (PF – GSW): $23
Green and Smart play different positions, but these two are very similar players. The Golden State big man is having a bounce-back season, averaging 31 fantasy points per game. That alone makes him a heck of a value at just $23, particularly since he has at least 30 Y! points in five of his last six games. His stat-stuffing ways make him a more reliable option against this stingy Boston defense, and it makes it hard to understand why he’s below $25.
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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.
