FanDuel Daily Fantasy Basketball Helper: Saturday 5/6/23

If you're new to daily fantasy basketball -- maybe you started your DFS journey during the MLB or NFL seasons, or maybe basketball is your sport and this will be your first year giving it a shot -- you're in for a treat. The NBA scene changes on a week-to-week, day-to-day, and -- depending on injury news -- even a minute-to-minute basis, making every slate a unique one that requires an ever-changing approach.

With so much changing so quickly, we're here with plenty of tools to help you out. We have daily projections, a matchup heat map, a lineup optimizer, and a bunch of other great resources to help give you an edge.

Daily fantasy basketball is very reliant on a player's opportunity, so you'll need to make sure that you're up-to-date with key injuries. Our projections update up until tip-off to reflect current news, we have player news updates, and the FanDuel Scout app will send push notifications for pressing updates regarding your players.

We'll also be coming at you with this primer every day, breaking down a few of the day's top plays at each position.

Let's break down today's main slate on FanDuel.

Guards

Stephen Curry ($9,900): At his lowest salary point this series, Curry is ranked fourth overall with 48.3 expected FanDuel points versus a Lakers' team allowing the most fantasy production (51.2 FanDuel points) among playoff teams to points guards. In four meetings against Los Angeles this season, the Warriors' superstar is averaging 45.1 FanDuel points per game.

Jalen Brunson ($8,900): After a 44 fantasy point performance in Game 2, Brunson's salary has moved up to his highest point this postseason. In 267 playoff minutes, the Knicks' point guard is first among his team in fantasy production (1.08 FanDuel points per minute) and second in usage (29.5%).

RJ Barrett ($7,000): Since April 23rd, Barrett has scored at least 21 real-life points per game while averaging 0.92 FanDuel points per minute and a 28.4% usage rate. At his median salary this series, the 22-year old is ranked ninth among guards in value with a 4.29 rating and a 30.0 fantasy projection.

D'Angelo Russell ($6,900): In 246 playoff minutes, Russell is third among Los Angeles' starting unit in fantasy production (0.99 FanDuel points per minute) and usage rate (23.3%).

Klay Thompson ($6,700): Despite a 4.6% salary increase, Golden State's Splash Brother is fourth among guards in value with a 4.76 rating and a 31.9 fantasy expectation. Thompson is producing 0.83 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.0% usage percentage in 319 playoff minutes.

Josh Hart ($6,000): Since Hart was named a starter on April 23rd, the versatile veteran has accounted for 0.79 FanDuel points per minute while logging 40.2 minutes per game. Even at his second highest salary this postseason, Hart offers underrated production with a 4.44 potential return and a 26.6 fantasy projection.

Gabe Vincent ($5,900): In his last three appearances, Miami's point guard has quietly played a huge offensive role, averaging 21 real-life points per appearance and 0.82 FanDuel points per minute.

Jordan Poole ($5,800): Despite inconsistent playing time, Golden State's sixth man is recording 1.03 FanDuel points per minute and a 24.0% usage rate. In six contests against the Lakers this season, Poole is averaging 28.1 FanDuel points per game.

Austin Reaves ($5,500): Since the start of the Lakers' series versus the Warriors, Reaves' salary has decreased by 19.1% to his lowest point this postseason. The 24-year old is first overall in value with a 5.05 rating and a 27.8 fantasy projection.

Kyle Lowry ($5,300): Even in a second unit role, Miami's veteran is ranked fourth overall in value with a 4.91 rating and a 26.0 fantasy projection. Lowry has seen consistent minutes this series, averaging 30.5 minutes per game and an efficient 1.16 FanDuel points per minute.

Dennis Schroder ($4,600): In 182 playoff minutes, Schroder is producing 0.69 FanDuel points per minute and a 13.7% usage rate while his salary has dropped by 11.5% after Game 2.

Forwards

Anthony Davis ($11,600): After a lackluster performance in Game 2, Davis' salary has moved down to his median point against a Warriors' defense allowing the second most points in the paint (48.2) among current playoff teams. "The Brow" is ranked first overall with 50.6 expected FanDuel points.

Jimmy Butler ($10,200): After missing Game 2 with an ankle injury, Butler is planning to return on Saturday despite being listed as questionable. At his second highest playoff salary, Miami's superstar is third overall with 48.5 expected FanDuel points.

LeBron James ($10,100): Since May 2nd, James' salary has moved down 3.8% to his lowest point during the playoffs while recording 1.25 FanDuel points per minute and a 29.6% usage rate. James is ranked second overall with a 50.0 fantasy point projection and third in value with a 4.95 rating.

Julius Randle ($8,600): Despite a 16.2% salary jump, Randle is fifth among forwards in value with a 4.75 rating and a 40.8 fantasy projection. In 180 playoff minutes, New York's power forward is second among his team in fantasy output (1.00 FanDuel point per minute) and first in usage (30.8%).

Draymond Green ($7,100): Golden State's versatile big man is producing 1.11 FanDuel points per minute and a 14.6% usage rate in 253 playoff minutes. At his median salary this series, Green is fifth among forwards with 33.2 expected FanDuel points.

Andrew Wiggins ($6,300): At his second lowest salary during the playoffs, Wiggins is second overall in value with a 4.99 rating and a 31.4 fantasy projection. Golden State's small forward has accounted for 0.92 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.7% usage in 311 playoff minutes.

Kevin Love ($4,900): Since Love was named a starter on April 22nd, the veteran has recorded 1.04 FanDuel points per minute while logging 22.8 minutes per game.

Rui Hachimura ($4,400): In 186 playoff minutes, the Lakers' forward is averaging 0.92 FanDuel points per minute and a 20.4% usage rate.

Isaiah Hartenstein ($4,200): Even in a second unit role, New York's veteran big man is seventh among forwards in value with a 4.46 rating and a 18.7 fantasy projection.

JaMychal Green ($3,700): The veteran has accounted for 0.96 FanDuel points per minute and a 23.0% usage rate this postseason.

Centers

Bam Adebayo ($8,000): After a 5.8% salary drop, Miami's center is sixth overall in value with a 4.84 rating and a 38.7 fantasy projection. In six contests against New York this season, Adebayo is averaging 35.5 FanDuel points per game.

Kevon Looney ($7,500): Among his team's starting unit, Looney is second in fantasy production (1.12 FanDuel points per minute) despite recording a 10.6% usage rate.