(Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)
There are four games Saturday as some teams will try to stave off a sweep.
The forward spot has a few shoo-ins. New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis, Chicago Bulls power forward Pau Gasol, teammate Jimmy Butler and Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green all need to be in fantasy lineups. The center position will force a tough decision with your salary cap, but there is plenty of value at guard.
Featured stud
C LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers vs. Grizzlies
$7,700 salary | 15.4% of cap
Using the aforementioned forwards will make it difficult to squeeze Aldridge under the salary cap. Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is $900 cheaper, but Aldridge's low game on FantasyScore was 53 points in this series while Gasol averaged 43. Aldridge is doing everything he can as the banged-up squad's lead option and needs to be in your lineup.
Start
G Derrick Rose, Bulls at Bucks
$5,800 salary | 10.8% of cap
Rose really made a statement in the double-overtime win in Game 3 with 56.8 fantasy points. He has looked great slashing to the hole and finding ways to score. He averaged 38.6 fantasy points in the first two games before that explosion. Rose is a no-brainer at this midrange price.
G Joe Johnson, Nets vs. Hawks
$4,400 salary | 8.8% of cap
Johnson quietly had two very good games to open the series, and he's producing more than just buckets. He averaged 18 points, 7.5 boards, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals in the first two games for 36.9 fantasy points per matchup. Conserve cap space for the stud forwards; Johnson is playing like he should cost nearly as much.
The fake hoops action continues on FantasyScore.
G Jarrett Jack, Nets vs. Hawks
$3,200 salary | 6.4% of cap
Jack had a meager 18-point showing on FantasyScore for Game 1, but he broke out a 33.8-point effort in Game 2. If he can meet somewhere in the middle, Jack is going to be an X-factor for your squad. His low price will help balance out budgets to load up elsewhere as Brooklyn heads home.
F John Henson, Bucks vs. Bulls
$3,200 salary | 6.4% of cap
Henson is another player worth a low-end flyer. He recorded 15 points, 14 boards and three blocks in the double-overtime loss in Game 3, good for 40 fantasy points. He posted around 20 in the first two games, which is an acceptable floor for the price.
Bench
G Damian Lillard, Blazers vs. Grizzlies
$6,800 salary | 13.6% of cap
After he was in the running for first-half MVP, Lillard's play has been really spotty. He is shooting just 27% in the series and dished out four assists in two contests, which translated into a weak 26 FantasyScore points per game. He needs to shoot much better before we're willing to play him.
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