Fantasy Spin May 2, 2015

Many of you are very much alive in “daily” contests that closed at 8:00 on Friday and conclude tonight. That two-day span will be fairly common as the NBA playoffs continue.

Game Seven of the fantastic series between the Spurs and Clippers goes at 8:00 Eastern and could be the highlight one of the most interesting sports days in a long time.

DFS contests that close tonight will be decided on Sunday afternoon, when Game One between Memphis and Golden State tips off at 3:30. The well-rested Warriors swept the first round, while the Grizzlies prevailed in a hard-fought five games with Portland. Mike Conley $5300 (facial surgery) is with the team but unlikely to play. This makes Stephen Curry $10800 even more of a standout.

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It will be quite a battle down low between Marc Gasol $9000 and Andrew Bogut $6500 (which makes me prefer DeAndre Jordan $8000 at C) and at PF, Draymond Green $8400 is well worth the difference in salary over Zach Randolph $6500. My guess is that Klay Thompson $7600 will be covered by Tony Allen $4700, which might limit his offense, but don’t expect Courtney Lee $4600 to keep scoring 20 per game if Klay is on him. The Memphis wings both provide decent value at affordable prices.

Nobody knows what to expect tonight. It really is too bad one of these teams will be knocked out. Chris Paul $10000 is much quicker than a hobbled Tony Parker $5200 (Achilles) and Blake Griffin $10200 has been absolutely great the last three games. Jordan is a huge presence at both ends of the floor, though Tiago Splitter $3000 was finally a factor in Game Six and can be considered if you punt that position. See my sample lineup (left). Tim Duncan $8200 rises to these occasions and Kawhi Leonard $8600 must snap out of a two-game, 8-for-31 shooting slump.

J.J. Redick $4800 and Matt Barnes $3900 are playable and only Jamal Crawford $4500 matters off the Clippers’ bench. San Antonio is famously deep and harder to predict. Boris Diaw $5300 has quietly had a great series, Marco Belinelli $2900 scored 23 in Game Six and Patty Mills $3000 can be a factor. At least one of Manu Ginobili $4500 and Danny Green $4100 needs to step up.

I’m giving the slightest edge to Curry over CP3 and seriously considered using both. Instead, I’m loading up at PF and compromising everywhere else. Even with only two games to choose from, there are many paths to profit. Remember, you can make unlimited roster changes until 8:00 tonight, and still alter your lineup by swapping out Warriors and Grizzlies until 3:30 tomorrow.

Apologies for my absence the last two days; an unfortunate family emergency. In the ring, I predict a controversial finish that will make a rematch necessary. Why settle for one enormous payday? On the track, Bob Baffert has the two best horses. American Pharoah is a freak who may not be caught, but unbeaten stablemate Dortmund has a great chance. Huge, experienced and determined, he’s got tactical speed and stamina. Carpe Diem, Firing Line, Frosted and Upstart are all nice colts; it’s a stellar field. Materiality and Mubtaahij are also very talented but have taken such unusual paths to get to the Derby that I’m tossing them out.

Pos	Premium	Midrange	Bargain
PG	Stephen Curry $10800	Chris Paul $10000	Nick Calathes $3800
SG	Klay Thompson $7600	Courtney Lee $4500	Marco Belinelli $2900
SF	Kawhi Leonard $8600	Tony Allen $4700	Matt Barnes $3900
PF	Blake Griffin $10200	Draymond Green $8400	Boris Diaw $5300
C	Marc Gasol $9000	DeAndre Jordan $8000	Tiago Splitter $3000