The Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors will be facing off tonight in Game 2 of their Western Conference Semifinals series, an exciting matchup for DFS players with superstars taking the court on both sides.
The Lakers were able to defeat the Warriors in Game 1 with Anthony Davis leading the way, but the oddsmakers see Stephen Curry and the Warriors getting back on track tonight at home considering that they’re 6.5-point favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Let’s break down each team from a fantasy basketball perspective to see which players are worth rostering for tonight’s single-game Showdown Captain Mode DFS contests.
Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Davis and the Lakers delivered in Game 1, but Davis’ path to scoring will likely be tougher with the Warriors adjusting defensively. LeBron James could be forced to take on more of the scoring load as a result and would be the preferred Captain’s pick if we had to choose a Laker. Guards D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves have also stepped up as scorers in the postseason and offer excellent value as utility options, especially Reaves at $7,200. Post player Jarred Vanderbilt saw an increase in minutes due to his strong defense, but fellow power forward Rui Hachimura should see more minutes than he did in Game 1 as someone who can provide a scoring punch off the bench.
Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry has been extremely consistent so far during the Warriors’ playoff push, and he’s our ideal choice for the Captain’s spot over James and Davis since he’s in a position to deliver another elite performance at home in what has the feel of a must-win game for the Dubs. The Splash Brothers stack could be deadly, as Klay Thompson should also step up at home to complement Curry, and we’re going with him as a top utility option along with Warriors rebound machine Kevon Looney. There likely won’t be enough shots to go around for Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green to be strong fantasy plays, but Jordan Poole appears to offer value at $6,000, as he tends to shoot better at home and will be asked to shoulder a starters amount of minutes off the bench.
Bottom line
Tonight’s matchup should be fun to watch, but it could be tricky for fantasy depending on how the Warriors respond after a disappointing Game 1. We’re banking on them doing so, as they’re an unstoppable force at home when they’re at their best, which is why a Warrior-heavy lineup appears to be the ideal option for tonight. A Lakers build could be somewhat safer, but the goal of DFS is to try and swing for a lineup capable of placing near the top, so we’re riding with the upside of Curry and company.
Ideal lineup
Salaries based on DraftKings’ $50,000 cap
Captain (1.5x): Stephen Curry, Warriors PG ($16,800)
UTIL: Klay Thompson, Warriors SG ($8,200)
UTIL: Kevon Looney, Warriors C ($8,000)
UTIL: Austin Reaves, Lakers PG/SG ($7,200)
UTIL: Jordan Poole, Warriors PG/SG ($5,800)
UTIL: Rui Hachimura, Lakers PF ($3,800)
