This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
These split schedules are one of the most unique DFS styles of the industry, as it's all about balancing chalk with a few hidden gems. Some people may think it's beneficial to stay away from the stud players with such a high ownership, but it's actually imperative to get those players into your lineup so you don't fall behind the rest of the field. That's why it's key to get at least two of the following players into your lineup: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry or Isaiah Thomas. What's equally as important is to find one or two value plays that will separate yourself from the field, as it's impossible to win a tournament like this with all chalk.
Avery Bradley, BOS at CLE ($6,500): Bradley has shown huge upside throughout these playoffs and that alone makes him an enticing option. That's evident by the fact that he's scored at least 34 fantasy points in six of his last 13 games. That means you have a 50-50 shot at 6X value, which is hard to overlook from a guy with such a big role. In fact, Bradley has played at least 32 minutes in four-straight games, as he still manages to reach 32 minutes even in that 44-point blowout on Friday.
Marcus Smart, BOS at CLE ($5,100): With Isaiah Thomas' injury expected to hamper him, Smart becomes the de facto point guard at a reasonable price. What's really intriguing is the matchup, as Cleveland ranked 29th in defensive efficiency for the final 15 games of the season. They especially struggled against point guards, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points against them in the regular season as well. The fact that this is a must-win game for Boston should garner Smart close to 40 minutes of action, as he should play heavy minutes in the absence of Isaiah Thomas.
Danny Green, SAN vs. GS ($4,200): There are two super cheap shooting guards with high potential and it seems likely one of them will be in the top lineup of the day. Those players are Danny Green and J.R. Smith ($3,300), as we're going to rely on the more reliable Green to provide us with value. Not only has he scored at least 21 fantasy points in three of his last six games, Green is averaging over 30 minutes per game across his last seven games in total. He's had some success against Golden State this season too, averaging 22 fantasy points in just 25 minutes per game in the regular season.
LeBron James, CLE vs. BOS ($12,500): Using James doesn't need a whole lot of explanation, as he's easily the best fantasy option in the league right now. Not only has he scored at least 46 fantasy points in all 10 of his playoff games, he's surpassed 54 fantasy points in all but two of those fixtures. He's just obliterated the Celtics this season too, averaging 57 fantasy points per game in six meetings with Boston.
Kevin Love, CLE vs. BOS ($7,500): Love is thriving in this series and it comes as no surprise when looking at the matchup. Not only does Boston struggle rebounding, they haven't been able to slow down big men all season long. That's evident by the fact that they rank 28th in rebounding differential, while allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards. That shows in Love's numbers against Boston too, as he's averaging 42 fantasy points per game in five games against the Celtics.
Jonathon Simmons, SAN vs. GS ($4,300): Simmons has been filling-in for Kawhi Leonard and playing the best ball of his career. Not only has he scored at least 15 fantasy points in seven-straight games, he's scored at least 24 fantasy points in four of his last five games. It's his usage that's really climbed in that stretch, as he's posting a 22.2 usage rate, while averaging 29 minutes per game in his last four games. All that comes at an incredible value, as $4,300 is more indicative of the Simmons who barely played in the regular season.
Al Horford, BOS at CLE ($8,000): Horford is easily the best center left in these playoffs and he makes for a safe option if you save at other positions. His consistency has been incredible, with Horford scoring at least 29 fantasy points in 13 of his 15 playoff games. It's a great matchup for Horford as well, with Cleveland ranking as one of the worst defenses in the league in the regular season.
Tristan Thompson, CLE vs. BOS ($5,100): Thompson has destroyed the Celtics all season and it's no surprise when considering the matchup. Boston currently sit dead-last in rebounding differential in the playoffs, which isn't far off of their 28th rebounding differential for the regular season. That's just the sort of style that Thompson thrives off of and he excels when facing an undersized team like the one Boston possesses. That shows by the fact that Thompson is averaging over 30 fantasy points per game in his five matchups with the Celtics this season.
