Daily Fantasy Basketball 2015: NBA DraftKings Ideal Lineup Picks for April 20
Daily fantasy basketball is in its home stretch for 2015, but it is a great time to cash at DraftKings. The variables are more manageable, particularly since the stars will get their minutes and perform up to value. We help you set your ideal NBA lineup with our April 20 picks.
There are two games on the NBA playoffs schedule Monday night: the Milwaukee Bucks at the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Golden State Warriors. Both home teams are heavy favorites, with the West Coast game promising to be higher scoring.
We will get a look at two of the most dynamic backcourts in basketball: the Warriors' dominant one and the burgeoning unit with the Bulls.
PG Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls ($6,700)
Here is the great thing about the NBA postseason: Guys like Rose don't have their minutes limited. It's go-time. Rose should make quick work of the Bucks' Michael Carter-Williams, scoring 20-plus points and adding close to 10 assists. Rose has to be considered a bargain at his price.
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors ($10,700)
- Michael Carter-Williams, Milwaukee Bucks ($6,800)
Note: If Tyreke Evans (knee) is ruled out, we would consider Norris Cole ($4,400) a bargain to slot with some stars at other positions.
SG Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks ($5,700)
While we love Jimmy Butler's ($7,400) potential with Rose, Middleton offers similar production at a much lower price. Both are more steady than spectacular, so save your money at the shooting guard spot. Klay Thompson ($7,500) is a bit one-dimensional and streaky, and the Pelicans should be able to contain him, having been the third-best team at DraftKings against shooting guards.
- Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls ($7,400)
- Eric Gordon, New Orleans Pelicans ($5,100)
SF Quincy Pondexter, New Orleans Pelicans ($4,800)
Pondexter was the DFS revelation in Game 1 for the Pelicans, defending Curry from hitting open threes and proving to be a go-to offensive threat with Evans (knee) banged up, as The Times-Picayune's John Reid writes. We will go back to the well here, particularly because the Pelicans need Pondexter on the floor as much as possible. You cannot expect the energy to stay that high on the offensive end, but the price is right, and the other options at the position are underwhelming.
- Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors ($4,700)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks ($6,200)
PF Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans ($10,900)
Davis is the big-ticket play of the night, particularly because the homestanding Warriors are going to keep the pace up and force the Pelicans to play catch up on the scoreboard. Davis is the No. 1 offensive threat on the board, and he is going to clean up the boards as well. We expect a 60-plus fantasy point night, regardless of how the flow of this game goes—and we expect it to be very fantasy-friendly.
- Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors ($7,700)
- Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls ($8,700)
C Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls ($5,800)
Noah might not have dominating on the stat sheet in Game 1, but he registered an important number for DFS bargain hunters: 35 minutes. Gasol is the Bulls' double-double machine, but Noah can sneak up for one here, especially if the Bulls keep Nikola Mirotic ($4,000) in the teens in minutes. Noah is a nice play, especially if you are going with the Pelicans' Davis or the Warriors' Curry in your lineup.
- Zaza Pachulia, Milwaukee Bucks ($5,300)
- Omer Asik, New Orleans Pelicans ($4,100)
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Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.
