The Memphis Grizzlies would have been hard pressed to compete with the Golden State Warriors even if they had Mike Conley in the lineup for Game 1. But after facial fractures kept him out of the lineup, it was the team’s guard play that was once again its biggest issue in a 101-86 loss to open the series.
The Grizzlies will now try to bounce back with a better effort in Game 2 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Hawks also look to even their series after losing Game 1. The Hawks are dealing with an injury concern of their own worth keeping a close eye on as All-Star point guard Jeff Teague continues to deal with a nagging ankle injury. With that in mind, here’s our optimal lineup for Tuesday’s DraftKings NBA Daily Fantasy Leagues.
PG: Stephen Curry, Golden State
Salary: $10,000
Golden State improved to 42-2 at home with their Game 1 win and Stephen Curry was named NBA MVP shortly thereafter, but perhaps most interesting was head coach Steve Kerr’s comments after the victory. Kerr talked about how his team was able to get the job done but that they still didn’t play their best basketball. Any rust they carried over following a long layoff will be out of the picture when they take the floor for Game 2 and that should mean another monster game for their All-Star point guard. Curry scored a game-high 22 points with seven assists, four steals, two rebounds and four three-point shots. The prospect of him topping those numbers makes him worth building around.
SG: Kyle Korver, Atlanta
Salary: $5,900
Fantasy GMs are still waiting for Korver to find his shot in the playoffs they way he showed all year for Atlanta. While he has struggled so far in the playoffs, Game 2 feels like it could be the perfect opportunity for a breakout performance. Korver had plenty of open looks in Game 1 and he finished with 13 points on five-of-15 shooting while collecting five rebounds, one block and three three-point shots. If he makes even half of those misses in Game 2, he could end up registering the best fantasy stat line among all guards for Tuesday night’s NBA action.
SF: DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta
Salary: $5,600
Carroll has been outstanding this postseason and he continued his excellent run in Game 1 versus the Wizards with a team-high 24 points to go with three rebounds and five three-point shots. Carroll is the first Hawks player to score 20 or more points in five consecutive playoff games since Dominique Wilkins and his 63% shooting mark from the field over the last five games is a testament to how consistent he has been.
PF: Paul Millsap, Atlanta
Salary: $8,800
It really should be no surprise that we are turning back to the Hawks again here as they face the prospect of falling behind 0-2 at home. They should play with the type of urgency we would expect from a team in that situation. Millsap has been an absolute beast in terms of his fantasy production throughout the playoffs as a player that does everything and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for Game 2 after he finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, two blocks and one three-point shot in Game 1.
C: Al Horford, Atlanta
Salary: $6,600
Horford would probably be the best option here regardless of whether or not the Hawks were facing a potential 0-2 hole at home as a player that is very reasonably priced for his potential production at the position. Horford recorded 17 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists, a steal, a block and a three-point shot in Game 1. If he can match those totals, he will be a steal at a salary under $7,000.
G: Nick Calathes, Memphis
Salary: $3,000
With Conley likely still out and Beno Udrih dealing with a nagging injury that once again limited him in Game 1, it appears the Grizzlies will have no choice but to go back to Calathes as their starting point guard for Game 2 despite that he was held without a point in the series opener. Calathes went 0-for-4 from the field and 0-for-2 from the free throw line but he still managed to collect two assists, three steals and one rebound. If he could find his shooting rhythm early in this game, he should bounce back with a fantasy stat line that exceeds what some might expect based on his salary and Game 1 performance.
F: Otto Porter Jr., Washington
Salary: $3,000
Injuries mean opportunities and while Bradley Beal could very well play in Game 2 after X-rays on his injured ankle came back negative following Game 1, it is more likely that he is either hampered or plays limited minutes. That will mean an increased workload for Porter, who has averaged 9.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 three-point shots and 1.0 steals per game in limited minutes this postseason. The Wizards will lean even more on Porter if Beal is restricted or can’t go and that should mean bigger numbers at a minimum salary cost.
FLEX: Draymond Green, Golden State
Salary: $6,200
The money we saved banking on smaller contracts with Calathes and Porter opened the door for the opportunity to spend a little more money on an excellent FLEX play in Green. That could be the difference between a win and a loss in Daily Fantasy Leagues. Green has been outstanding for the Warriors throughout these playoffs and that was the case again in Game 1 against Memphis when he scored 16 points with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and four three-point shots. The potential is there for an even higher point total in Game 2 and considering his consistently filling out so many other categories across the board it is an absolute luxury to be able to fit him in under the salary cap.
