Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 4/25:
May 4, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts during the first half in game two of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Welcome to another year of the DFS Army NBA Full Court Press! Members had a ton of success using the Full Court Press along with various articles and tools that DFS Army provides last season, so we are glad to be back with another year of the all-inclusive article. You have to start your research somewhere, and oftentimes going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Mike aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article. But, you’ll mostly find me in our VIP coaching forums where I provide detailed lineup maneuvers and answer all lineup questions. With that said, let’s get it started!
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Atlanta Hawks @ Boston Celtics
Vegas Total: 228.5
Vegas Spread: Bos -13.0
We’ll start with the Eastern Conference where the Hawks will look to avoid elimination as they head back into Boston. The big news here is that they’ll be without Dejounte Murray who was suspended for bumping a ref after their loss last time out. Murray being out will open up about 40 minutes in that backcourt, I would expect we see Bogdan Bogdanovic slide into the starting lineup in his place, but keep an eye on the Breaking News Feed for updates on their starting lineup. Below is how this team operates with Murray off of the court this season:
- Trae Young – 38.1% usage rate; 1.51 fpm
- Bogdan Bogdanovic – 21.3% usage rate; 0.93 fpm
- De’Andre Hunter – 20.8% usage rate; 0.84 fpm
- John Collins – 17.3% usage rate; 0.87 fpm
- Clint Capela – 15.9% usage rate; 1.21 fpm
We can make a case for Saddiq Bey off of the bench as well who will see a boost in minutes. Young kept it rolling last time out and they’re going to need him to carry them again in this one, he’s still too cheap. I had De’Andre Hunter as a core play in our cheat sheets last time out and he didn’t disappoint, they’re going to need his defense out there so the minutes will be there. Then I’ve gotten a lot of Onyeka Okongwu the last couple of slates due to his price tag, he’s gotten into foul trouble in his last couple of games but he’s a great per-minute producer when he’s out there. From the Celtics, Jayson Tatum kept it rolling last time out and has at least 52 DraftKings points in three straight games, he’s going to look like a top raw option on the slate. I’m never a huge Jaylen Brown guy due to the scoring dependency he brings, but he’s too cheap as well and the matchup is elite. Derrick White has had a bad few games compared to where he was in the first two games of this series, but I have no problem going back to him in this price range. I’ve been playing Malcolm Brogdon a good amount especially when they were in Atlanta, but he’s going to be hurt by a blowout if that’s the case, so I will be underweight on him in a game with a 13-point spread. Marcus Smart has been consistent all series long and makes sense in all formats. Then Al Horford and Robert Williams are both solid secondary pieces at their respective price tags, Williams had a massive game last time out.
5-star play: Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jayson Tatum
4-star play: De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, Clint Capela, Saddiq Bey, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Derrick White, Robert Williams
Deeper Value: None
GPP Sleeper: Onyeka Okongwu, John Collins, Malcolm Brogdon, Al Horford
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Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets
Vegas Total: 220.0
Vegas Spread: Den -9.5
Starting with the Wolves, Anthony Edwards has at least 60 DraftKings points in three straight games and is playing absolutely massive minutes, if they want to avoid elimination here he’s going to have to do it all again. I’ve been playing a ton of Karl-Anthony Towns but we just haven’t seen that consistent ceiling from him and he did get into some foul trouble last time out… that said, he’s still probably too cheap. Kyle Anderson is going to miss this game so I would expect more minutes for the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Taurean Prince, and even a guy like Austin Rivers. Rudy Gobert is too cheap as well and they’ll need his size against Gobert down low, he’ll need to navigate some foul issues, but is going to play as many minutes as he can handle. Mike Conley will be the catalyst of setting the offense up and had a nice bounce-back game last time out. From the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic is going to look like a top raw option in all formats if we can find the salary to get up to him, he’s averaging 58.1 DraftKings points per game in seven games against the Wolves this season. Jamal Murray has been great in this series as well, the Wolves are a bottom-five defense against opposing point guards on the season. Michael Porter Jr and Aaron Gordon feel like similar options in their price ranges, both have nice upsides but can be volatile. Then guys like Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all make sense as MME flyers to round out the team.
5-star play: Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic
4-star play: Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon
Deeper Value: Taurean Prince, Austin Rivers, Jeff Green
GPP Sleeper: Taurean Prince, Austin Rivers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jeff Green, Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Los Angeles Clippers @ Phoenix Suns
Vegas Total: 224.0
Vegas Spread: Pho -12.5
Starting with the Clippers, they’ll be without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George again in this one, we saw Norman Powell move into the starting lineup last time out and would expect more of the same in this one. Below is how this team has operated with these guys off of the court since the trade deadline:
- Russell Westbrook – 29.5% usage rate; 1.44 fpm
- Eric Gordon – 17.4% usage rate; 0.90 fpm
- Norman Powell – 31.6% usage rate; 1.20 fpm
- Nic Batum – 11.9% usage rate; 0.77 fpm
- Ivica Zubac – 16.3% usage rate; 1.06 fpm
Westbrook and Powell had massive games last time out and would be my favorite options again in this one. I have no problem with Terance Mann and/or Bones Hyland off of the bench either as they will pick up more minutes with George and Kawhi out. They’ve been closing games with a five-guard lineup to try and beat the Suns down the court, so the minutes will be there for these guys. From the Suns, Kevin Durant bounced back nicely last time out and is playing absolutely massive minutes right now, he’s up there as a top raw option on this slate. Devin Booker has at least 52 FanDuel points in three straight games and is going to look like a great option yet again in this one. Torrey Craig continues to knock down open threes with a combined eight three-pointers made over his last two games and makes sense in the mid-range. Chris Paul dropped a 50-burger last time out and is someone I have no issue going back to in the mid-range here. Then Deandre Ayton is going to look good as well, the ceiling probably isn’t what it was pre-Durant, but the floor is there and he’s going to play 30+ minutes in a nice matchup
5-star play: Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker
4-star play: Eric Gordon, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac, Terance Mann, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton
Deeper Value: Josh Okogie
GPP Sleeper: Bones Hyland, Josh Okogie, Torrey Craig
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