Main Slate Breakdown for NBA DFS 5/2:
Apr 30, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and guard Max Strus (31) during the third quarter of game one of the 2023 NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-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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Miami Heat @ New York Knicks
Vegas Total: 206.5
Vegas Spread: Nyk -6.5
We’ll start with the Eastern Conference where Miami will head into New York to try and steal a second game in this series. Jimmy Butler came down to Earth… kinda, he still played massive minutes and is averaging 58.2 DraftKings points per game over his last four games. He’s going to look like a top option on this slate, playoff Jimmy is no joke. Bam Adebayo struggled in game one, but I would have no issue going back to him in this one… the Knicks have been good against opposing centers this season, however. Gabe Vincent had a great game in game one but is a guy I’ll be underweight on here, I touched on it in my PrizePicks video, but I think the Knicks try and slow things down in this game especially if Randle is able to go on their end. We can kind of lump the group of Caleb Martin, Max Strus, and Kevin Love together… they’re all prolific three-point scorers but Martin is the only one who can play defense which is why he gets the edge for me, but that’s also baked into his price tag. All guys have the ability to get hot and gain more minutes, however. Duncan Robinson only saw 12 minutes, I would be underweight on him in this one. Then, Kyle Lowry had a massive game one and is someone I have no issue going back to in this one. From the Knicks, the big news we’re waiting on is Julius Randle, he missed game one but does sound like he’s progressing nicely, so I’m going to operate under the assumption that he’s good to go here but the Breaking News Feed will have you up to date when we get that news. He was really good in the game where he went down with an injury and is still dirt cheap, he’s a great option assuming he’s a go tonight. Jalen Brunson is also questionable, but I have a hard time thinking he’s going to miss with a sore right ankle, he’s a nice option in all formats here as well. He shot 0-7 from three-point land last time out and still dropped 40 fantasy points. RJ Barrett has found some consistency as of late but will take a hit if Randle is able to play, he’s a solid secondary play nonetheless, but would be a great play if Randle is out. Josh Hart is a fine option, he’s going to play all the minutes he can handle but isn’t exactly a score-first guy so has to rely on those ancillary stats quite a bit. Mitchell Robinson had a big first half last time out and has looked great over his last handful of games, he’s a guy I like in all formats, we know the upside is there as well with the block/steal potential. Then guys like Isaiah Hartenstein, Immanuel Quickley, and Quentin Grimes are all fine options as roster fillers at their respective price tags.
5-star play: Jimmy Butler, Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson
4-star play: Bam Adebayo, Gabe Vincent, Kyle Lowry, RJ Barrett, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson
Deeper Value: Isaiah Hartenstein, Quentin Grimes
GPP Sleeper: Caleb Martin, Max Strus, Kevin Love, Isaiah Hartenstein, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes
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Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors
Vegas Total: 228.0
Vegas Spread: Gsw -4.5
Starting with the Lakers, LeBron James has come down to Earth over his last two games in that Memphis series, but in a pace-up game against the Warriors, I have no issue going right back to him as a spend-up option. Anthony Davis is probably my preferred option on this team in this matchup, he has at least 63 DraftKings points in two of his last four games and obviously the floor/ceiling is there. D’Angelo Russell was great in the final two games of the Memphis series and is a guy I have no issue going right back to at a nice price tag. Austin Reaves has at least 34 DraftKings points in three straight games and is going to look good again in this one. Rui Hachimura has come crashing down to Earth over his last couple of games and the minutes are trending in the wrong direction as well… he’s overpriced right now. Then Jarred Vanderbilt is a solid value option who will play 20-25 minutes for his defense and I would imagine he gets the Steph assignment. I also don’t hate Dennis Schroder off of the bench at a nice price tag. From the Warriors, Draymond Green returned to the starting lineup as we thought he would last time out to close the Kings out. I would imagine he sticks in the starting lineup moving forward and makes plenty of sense at a nice price tag with multi-position eligibility. Steph Curry was THE guy in that game seven, he shot 38 field goal attempts on his way to 50 actual points. I have a feeling he comes out a little flat here, however, and is more of a secondary spend-up option, especially if the public is going to chase that last game. If we think Curry comes out flat then guys like Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins could be in for a bigger game and are both guys I like in the mid-range. Then Kevon Looney was a monster in the Kings series, but he’s going to meet another monster on the other end of this one in Anthony Davis, so I expect some regression for him moving forward.
5-star play: Anthony Davis, Steph Curry
4-star play: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney
Deeper Value: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dennis Schroder, Gary Payton
GPP Sleeper: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dennis Schroder, Gary Payton, Jordan Poole
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