This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Friday brings two more pivotal Game 3s in the NBA playoffs. The Celtics will be looking to get back on track after losing Game 2 against the Bucks, while the Blazers hope to gain the series edge against the Nuggets on their home floor. We also have the opportunity for some DFS fun on Yahoo, so here are some players to target and avoid for your entry.
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BOS vs. MIL ($40): It's no surprise that the Celtics lost by 21 points in Game 2 considering Irving shot 4-for-18 from the field. While they have a lot of depth, they are only going to advance as far as he can carry them. He was shooting 45.8 percent from the field across five playoff games heading into that contest, so look for him to have a productive rebound performance with this series shifting to Boston.
Terry Rozier, BOS vs. MIL ($15): When the Celtics are completely healthy, Rozier isn't left with a ton of minutes. However, the absence of Marcus Smart (oblique) has helped Rozier log at least 20 minutes in both of the first two games. He cashed in with 26.3 and 24.6 Yahoo points, respectively. His ceiling isn't very high, but he's priced cheap enough to make him a viable option if you need to save money at guard.
Guard to Avoid
Eric Bledsoe, MIL at BOS ($30): Bledsoe bounced back from a poor performance in Game 1 to score 34.1 Yahoo points Tuesday. The key was that he attempted 12 shots in Game 2 after only registering five shot attempts the previous contest. The problem is that his upside isn't all that high with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge for the Bucks. If you're looking for a guard in this price range, C.J. McCollum ($32) might be the wiser choice based on his significant offensive role.
FORWARDS
Paul Millsap, DEN at POR ($19): Millsap had a rough first round series against the Spurs, averaging just 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds. However, he's turned things around against the Blazers, scoring 31.7 and 37.2 Yahoo points, respectively, across the first two games. His success isn't all that surprising considering he averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and two assists across three meetings with the Blazers during the regular season.
Nikola Mirotic, MIL at BOS ($13): After being beaten soundly in Game 1, the Bucks decided to make a change by inserting Mirotic into the starting five for Game 2. While he was only 3-for-10 from the field, he had a productive overall line with nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. More importantly, he logged 25 minutes. Expect him to stick in the starting lineup for Game 3, making him an excellent cost-effective option.
Forward to Avoid
Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. MIL ($24): The Bucks have shut down Tatum so far, holding him to 4-for-17 shooting from the field across the first two games. With those quiet outings, he's now scored 29.6 Yahoo points or fewer in four of the Celtic's six playoff games. His upside just isn't high enough to warrant this price tag.
CENTERS
Nikola Jokic, DEN at POR ($46): Jokic had a quiet offensive performance by his standards in Game 2, scoring 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting from the field. However, his contributions in other areas still enabled him to score 44.3 Yahoo points. He hasn't scored fewer than 41.1 Yahoo points in any of the Nuggets' playoff games, making him a safe option worth paying up for.
Al Horford, BOS vs. MIL ($25): Horford wasn't terrible in Game 2 with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. However, he had five turnovers and didn't record a defensive stat, leaving him with only 24.1 Yahoo points. He averaged 0.9 steals, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 turnovers per game during the regular season, so his performance was a bit of an anomaly. With the Celtics looking to rebound with a win at home, Horford is an excellent choice if you don't want to pay up for Jokic.
Center to Avoid
Brook Lopez, MIL at BOS ($21): The Celtics have Lopez's number. During the regular season, they held him to averages of five points and six rebounds over three games. Nothing has changed during this series with him scoring 8.6 and 16.3 Yahoo points, respectively. With Horford's significantly higher floor, there's no sense in taking a chance on Lopez to save just four dollars.
