Sunday provides the two best words in sports: Game 7. The Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks play for their playoff lives, while Atlanta and Philadelphia start their second -ound series. The two-game slate locks at 1 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at what’s in the cards.
Point Guard
Stud
Ben Simmons is the top rated player today according to the FantasyLabs NBA Model. He has the top overall rating in part because of expected workload with Joel Embiid questionable with a torn right meniscus. Simmons is also the cheapest point guard between him, Luka Dončić, and Trae Young. Look for Simmons to get his on defense as well; he collected six steals and four blocks in Philly’s five-game series against Washington.
Value
Reggie Jackson has topped projections in five straight games, topping 20 percent usage, double digit shot attempts, and 28 minutes played in each game. He has slightly more value on FanDuel due to limited player eligibility and cost. Jackson is $5,400 on FanDuel and DraftKings.
Fastbreak
Dončić leads all point guards in Pro Trends and projected ownership on both platforms. He is also the only point guard with a usage projection over 30 percent and 40-plus minute projection. He is the most expensive player and still rates as a top two point guard.
Trae Young has the most difficult matchup on FanDuel using Opponent Plus/Minus. He also has the lowest Projected Plus/Minus, fantasy point projection, and Points Per Salary among the trio of top point guards. As the sandwich-priced player of the three, this leads him to have the lowest projected ownership on DraftKings despite Hawks-76ers having the highest projected game total by 10.5 points.
Tyrese Maxey is in line to play more if the 76ers go smaller more than normal sans Embiid. He played 20-plus minutes the past two games and topped 20 fantasy points in both contests. He lines up to be popular as a salary-saving option.
Monitor the latest injury news and notes as you construct rosters with the Labs NBA Insiders tool.
Shooting Guard
Stud
Paul George has been a treat to watch this series and is the top shooting guard on both sites. He dominates in projections and only Bogdan Bogdanovic on DraftKings is projected within 20 fantasy points of George at shooting guard.
Value
Seth Curry’s 30 burger in Game 5 against Washington will garner a lot of attention. His 17 field goal attempts were the most by Curry dating back to the beginning of May. Curry averaged almost six three-point attempts per game against Washington and will be asked to do the same if Embiid is out.
Fastbreak
Tim Hardaway Jr. has 48 points on 38 field goal attempts in his past two games. He is only shooting 33% from three the past two games and has sacrificed collecting other stats for points. His ceiling is limited if he continues to shoot first and ask questions later.
Tyrese Maxey is shooting guard eligible on both sites.
Bogdanovic is a top three option at shooting guard, as well as a top two player at small forward on FanDuel. He is priced below $7,000 on both platforms and is only one of three shooting guards on DraftKings with a Points Per Salary projection of five or higher.
Small Forward
Stud
Kawhi Leonard was not going out of the playoffs without a fight. He has scored 40-plus points in two games this series and has the best Projected Plus/Minus at the position on FanDuel. He also has a 95% Bargain Rating on DraftKings.
Value
Danny Green and Nicolas Batum are priced within $200 of each other on both sites and have near identical projections. Batum’s minutes have been more consistent and higher, but Green’s role on offense increases without Embiid, and his defense keeps him on the floor.
Fastbreak
Marcus Morris projects ahead of Batum and Green and is $100 more but has only topped 20 fantasy points three times this series on DraftKings, and twice on FanDuel. He is power forward eligible on FanDuel.
I like Dorian Finney-Smith as an overlooked small forward because he is priced above Green, Batum, and Morris. DFS has scored at least 28.4 FanDuel points the past two games and is arguably the best defensive player on Dallas.
Power Forward
Stud
If Embiid is out, Tobias Harris will be in 100% of my lineups. He is the top rated power forward on both platforms and has small forward eligibility on DraftKings. Harris is the only power forward with a fantasy point projection over 30.
Value
Danilo Gallinari is listed at power forward on DraftKings and right behind Batum and Morris in projections and is $700 cheaper.
Fastbreak
John Collins and Kristaps Porzingis have topped projections once each during the playoffs. Even if Embiid is out Collins gets no reprieve matched up against Tobias Harris and with Dwight Howard guarding the rim. Collins has the better Leverage score on FanDuel, while Porzingis is tied with Harris on DraftKings for top Leverage score at power forward.
Center
Stud
Clint Capela may be the chalk, but Dwight Howard is the top-rated center on FanDuel and DraftKings. Howard’s role is locked in even if Embiid plays because it is unknown how effective Embiid will be.
Value
Boban Marjanovic has 18-plus FanDuel points in three straight games but has not topped 20 minutes played in any of those contests. Expect higher ownership as well.
Teammate Dwight Powell has more boom/bust potential than Boban and is $200 cheaper on FanDuel and $700 cheaper on DraftKings.
Fastbreak
Capela is tied for the most Pro Trends on DraftKings and is alone at the top on FanDuel. He had three double-doubles against the Knicks but topped projections once. If he could continue to score and rebound in the mid-teens with multiple blocks, then he has value as the top priced center. Capela had multiple blocks in four of five games last series.
