Fantasy Spin April 25, 2015

It’s a Saturday TV quadruple-header for NBA fans. Two afternoon games in the East, two evening games in the West.

Game 4 could be the end for the Pelicans after losing in overtime on Thursday. Anthony Davis $11200 and Tyreke Evans $7600 never quit, while Ryan Anderson $3600 broke out of a long slump with 26 points. It’s possible that the Warriors will drop one game before wrapping up the series at home. Or, Stephen Curry $10600 and Klay Thompson $7800 will continue to rain 3-pointers while Draymond Green $8100 battles Davis, and the sweep will seem inevitable. Andrew Bogut $6800 and Omer Asik $4400 didn’t play much in Game 3 as both teams went small; Norris Cole $4500 and Shaun Livingston $2600 were prominent in the fourth, which ended tied at 108.

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It was a heartbreaking Game 3 loss in double-OT for Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo $6200, Khris Middleton $6000, John Henson $4100 and Michael Carter-Williams $6700 are the four Bucks you want to own if you imagine them winning a game. If you think the Bulls will sweep them away, Derrick Rose $7700 is a great price, along with Jimmy Butler $8200 and Pau Gasol $9000. Off the bench, Tony Snell $2700 got hot last game but Taj Gibson $3900 is more consistent.

Early-Only and All-Day contests close at 3:00 as the Nets host top-seeded Atlanta in a must-win. Al Horford $7500 (finger) and Paul Millsap $7400 (shoulder) were better than expected in Game 2, DeMarre Carroll $6600 was worse and Kyle Korver $6100 stayed hot. Jeff Teague $7000 has outplayed Deron Williams $6700 so far. Brook Lopez $8000 and Joe Johnson $6500 led Brooklyn, while Jarrett Jack $4500 and Alan Anderson $3100 sparked a Game 2 comeback bid.

LaMarcus Aldridge $9700 and Damian Lillard $7900 at home, season on the line? Sign me up. Arron Afflalo $4000 (shoulder) is expected to return, Robin Lopez $4300 will battle Marc Gasol $8500 and Nicolas Batum $6300 contributes in multiple categories when an assortment of injuries doesn’t slow him down. C.J. McCollum $4400 and Meyers Leonard $4000 comprise the short bench. I underestimated Mike Conley $5700 (foot) and his pain tolerance in Game 2, overpaid for Beno Udrih $4500, guessed right on Courtney Lee $4100 and was wrong on Jeff Green $5500. LMA should win the PF battle with Zach Randolph $7500 and get the Blazers back into this series.

My first five picks in an open draft would be Davis, Aldridge, the Splash Brothers and Rose. Paying retail for three of them means salary compromises at five spots. Henson, Barnes and Lopez are all decent value but the SG and G positions in today’s sample lineup are not too inspiring. Eric Gordon $5300 hit nine 3-pointers in Games 1 and 2 but was off-target in Game 3; he’s affordable and a candidate to bounce back.

“Late” contests close at 5:30, spanning the final three games. “Later” contests close at 8:00 on just two games. Although DK has lowered the salary floor from $3000 to $2000, there aren’t any standouts in that ultra-cheap range.

Pos	Premium	Midrange	Bargain
PG	Stephen Curry $10600	Derrick Rose $7700	Jarrett Jack $4500
SG	Jimmy Butler $8200	Klay Thompson $7800	Courtney Lee $4100
SF	Nicolas Batum $6300	G. Antetokounmpo $6200	Harrison Barnes $4700
PF	Anthony Davis $11200	L. Aldridge $9700	John Henson $4100
C	Marc Gasol $8500	Brook Lopez $8000	Robin Lopez $4300