This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
After a wild second round of the NBA playoffs, the Conference Finals will tip off Tuesday. Now that we are down to the final four teams, each series will be playing every other day. That leaves the next DFS contest on Yahoo to stretch from Tuesday through Wednesday to encompass both Game 1's. Let's highlight some players to target and avoid while creating your entry.
GUARDS
Klay Thompson, GS vs. POR ($26): The Warriors pulling off a win in Game 6 against the Rockets on the road without Kevin Durant (calf) was about as impressive as it gets. With Stephen Curry battling early foul trouble, Thompson helped carry their offense in the first half. He ended up with 27 points on 10-for-20 shooting from the field, which included shooting 7-for-13 from behind the arc. With Durant's return date still in doubt, Thompson should continue to see plenty of shot attempts moving forward.
Andre Iguodala, GS vs. POR ($14): Another beneficiary of Durant's absence was Iguodala, who attempted 11 shots in Game 6. That tied for his most in a game during the Warriors' playoff run. He made the most of his opportunity by scoring 35.9 Yahoo points and should be considered one of the top cheap options at any position.
Guard to Avoid
Kyle Lowry, TOR at MIL ($28): The Raptors were able to advance with a win in Game 7 against the Sixers despite Lowry shooting a dreadful 4-for-13 from the field. He didn't have a horrible series from a fantasy perspective, but he also didn't score more than 36.7 Yahoo points in any of the seven contests. The Bucks were tied for the fourth-fewest Yahoo points allowed per game (39.3) to opposing point guards during the regular season, making Lowry a risky option.
FORWARDS
Kawhi Leonard, TOR at MIL ($44): Talk about a player putting his team on his back. With their season on the line Sunday, Leonard exploded for 41 points, including the game-winning shot at the buzzer. He attempted a staggering 39 shots in that game, finishing with an average of 23.4 shot attempts per contest in the series. With his massive usage rate, he's a safe option despite his lofty price tag.
Nikola Mirotic, MIL vs. TOR ($15): After getting blown out in Game 1 against the Celtics, the Bucks decided to insert Mirotic into the starting five. Four games later, they had advanced to the Conference Finals without suffering another defeat. While his number weren't off the charts, Mirotic did step up his production by averaging 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals during that four-game stretch. The return of Malcolm Brogdon could eat into his playing time, but he still might be worth the risk at this price.
Forward to Avoid
Khris Middleton, MIL vs. TOR ($31): Middleton had a strong series against the Celtics, scoring at least 35 Yahoo points four times. However, he didn't top 37.1 Yahoo points in any of those contests and doesn't have an extremely high ceiling. The Raptors are a good defensive team who limited him to averages of 14 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists across four games during the regular season, so it might be best to allocate your funds elsewhere.
CENTERS
Zach Collins, POR at GS ($12): After having Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid at our disposal in the second round, there is now a huge void of talent at center for the Conference Finals. With so many great guards and forwards to pick from, it might be best to pay more at those positions. As far as cheap centers go, Collins is very appealing after scoring at least 25.5 Yahoo points in three straight games.
Kevon Looney, GS vs. POR ($10): With Durant out, the Warriors decided to insert Andrew Bogut into their starting lineup. However, he was mostly ineffective over his 12 minutes. Looney, on the other hand, scored 26.5 Yahoo points across 20 minutes. That came on the heels of him scoring 23.8 Yahoo points in Game 5, so he is someone to target at the minimum price.
Center to Avoid
Brook Lopez, MIL vs. TOR ($18): The Celtics didn't do much right in their series against the Bucks, but they did shut down Lopez in a big way. He was held scoreless in Game 5 and ended the series with averages of 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. Things won't get any easier for him facing Marc Gasol, so don't even think about adding him to your entry.
