Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Near double-double in Game 5 win
    Horford registered nine points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two steals across 32 minutes during Monday's 106-88 victory over Dallas in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Horford was terrific in this year's NBA playoffs for the Celtics, averaging 9.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks across 30.3 minutes in 19 games. The 17-year veteran stepped up in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, who dealt with lower leg and calf injuries throughout the playoffs. These injuries led to Horford starting in all five NBA Finals matchups, averaging 7.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting a stellar 47.1 percent from beyond the arc. Rotowire.com 13 minutes ago
     
  • Takes home NBA Finals MVP
    Brown had 21 points (7-23 FG, 2-9 3Pt, 5-6 FT), eight rebounds, six assists and two steals across 44 minutes during Monday's 106-88 victory over Dallas in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Brown won the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award after averaging a well-rounded 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks across five NBA Finals games. The three-time All-Star helped to lead the team to Banner No. 18 after a dominant season, when the Celtics boasted the best record in the league. Brown was a force in the 2023-24 playoffs, averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting an extremely efficient 51.6 percent across 19 games. The Celtics will look to run it back next season with Brown and Jayson Tatum at the helm. Rotowire.com 17 minutes ago
     
  • Daniel Gafford limited to 11 minutes in Game 5
    Daniel Gafford recorded a stat line of six points (3-of-5 FGs) and three rebounds in 11 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 loss to the Celtics.

    Advice: Gafford struggled in the NBA Finals, as this was not the best matchup for his skill set. He only surpassed 20 minutes once in five games, playing 10 and 11 minutes in Games 4 and 5. To say this was a rough conclusion to the season for him would be an understatement. Gafford’s season took a turn for the better at the trade deadline as the Mavericks acquired him from the Wizards. While participating in a timeshare with rookie Dereck Lively II meant fewer minutes for Gafford, it did not negatively impact his fantasy value. Despite averaging 21.5 minutes per game, DG was a 6th-round player in 9-cat formats after joining the Mavericks. Gafford will still have solid fantasy value in 2024-25, but Lively may offer a higher fantasy ceiling, especially if he can add a perimeter shot to his toolbox. Rotoworld 19 minutes ago
     
  • Does it all in Game 5 victory
    Tatum had 31 points (11-24 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 8-8 FT), 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals across 45 minutes during Monday's 106-88 win over the Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

    Advice: Tatum had an all-time classic of a game to deliver Boston Banner No. 18 on Monday. The five-time All-Star was the first Celtics player since Larry Bird in 1986 with 20-plus points, 10-plus assists and 5-plus rebounds in an NBA Finals game. The 26-year-old averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks across five games in the Finals. Overall, Tatum was spectacular in the 2023-24 playoffs, averaging 25.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks while shooting 42.7 percent from the field. The Celtics will look to repeat their success next season, as Tatum and Jaylen Brown will attempt to lead the team to Banner No. 19. Rotowire.com 19 minutes ago
     
  • PJ Washington struggles mightily in Game 5 loss
    PJ Washington played 34 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 loss to the Celtics, tallying four points (2-of-7 FGs), six rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots.

    Advice: Washington had a brutal Monday in Boston, as he missed all five of his 3-point attempts and finished with as many turnovers as points (four). It’s an unfortunate end to the season for him, as his arrival at the trade deadline was one reason why Dallas made a run to the NBA Finals. Washington began the season in Charlotte, and despite being in a position to start for the then-suspended Miles Bridges, his fantasy ADP remained relatively low (128.1). Sure enough, that’s how things played out, with being traded to Dallas only giving Washington’s fantasy value a modest boost. From February 14 through the end of the regular season, PJ was a 10th-round per-game player in 9-cat formats. The issue for Washington was percentages, as he shot 41.6% from the field and 63.8% from the foul line. Playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the hope was that Washington would be a more efficient player, but that didn’t happen. An entire training camp to strengthen the on-court chemistry should help Washington, but he’ll remain a late-round option in most leagues. Rotoworld 25 minutes ago
     
  • Derrick Jones Jr. scores 10 PTS in Finals finale
    Derrick Jones Jr. shot 4-of-8 from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line in Monday’s 106-88 loss to Boston, amassing 10 points, one blocked shot, and one 3-pointer in 22 minutes.

    Advice: Despite hitting double figures for the second time in the series, Jones’ performance on Monday was not impactful. Besides the points, he only supplied one blocked shot and failed to grab a rebound in Game 5. Jones entered the season competing for a place in the Mavericks starting lineup but remained off the radar in most fantasy drafts. While “Airplane Mode” started 66 of the 76 regular season games he appeared in, he did not offer consistent fantasy value. Jones finished the year ranked well outside the top 200 in 8- and 9-cat formats, which surprised no one. He’ll be a free agent this summer, and regardless of where he lands, Jones is likely to be more valuable to his team than to fantasy managers. Rotoworld 36 minutes ago
     
  • Kristaps Porzingis plays 16 minutes in Game 5 win
    Kristaps Porzingis tallied five points (2-of-4 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs) and one rebound in 16 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas.

    Advice: Having picked up a DNP-CD in Game 4 despite being cleared to play, Porzingis logged 16 minutes off the bench on Monday. He wasn’t under any specific restrictions, but it was clear that the Celtics wouldn’t push him too far. The result was Boston’s 18th title in franchise history and the first for the “Unicorn.” After a stellar 2022-23 season in Washington, Porzingis being traded to Boston may have led to his being undervalued in fantasy basketball. Boasting a Yahoo ADP of 43.1, he provided top-15 per-game value in 9-cat formats and top-25 in 8-cat. The lone negative was availability. Porzingis only appeared in 57 games due to injury, with his absence boosting backup Al Horford’s fantasy value. Injuries were also an issue for Porzingis during the Celtics’ run through the playoffs, and he’s only appeared in at least 60 regular season games once (2022-23) since the 2016-17 campaign. KP is immensely valuable to fantasy managers when healthy, but that’s why his ADP is likely to take a hit. Rotoworld 52 minutes ago
     
  • Al Horford posts 9/9/2/1 line in Game 5 victory
    Al Horford finished Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas with nine points (3-of-6 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes.

    Advice: In his 17th NBA season, Horford finally has his elusive championship. The veteran big man remained in the starting lineup despite Kristaps Porzingis’ return, and he gave the Celtics solid minutes throughout the series. The title was a fitting reward for Horford, who sacrificed by volunteering to come off the bench before the season began. Horford had a Yahoo ADP of 128.4, and the veteran center exceeded that number despite the arrival of Kristaps Porzingis. Appearing in 65 games, Horford offered 10th-round per-game value in 8-cat formats while cracking the top 100 in 8-cat. Selecting him with a top 100 pick in drafts ahead of the 2024-25 season would be a fool’s errand, as his workload will likely be managed again. Horford did not play both ends of back-to-backs this season, and that’s unlikely to change with his turning 38 years old earlier this month. Rotoworld 57 minutes ago
     
  • Jaylen Brown scores 21 points, wins NBA Finals MVP
    Jaylen Brown played 44 minutes in Monday’s 106-88 win over Dallas, accounting for 21 points (7-of-23 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two 3-pointers.

    Advice: Brown didn’t have his best night shooting the basketball, but he was influential in other areas as the Celtics wrapped up their 18th title. After winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, he stood out again in the NBA Finals and was named series MVP. Brown wasn’t projected to be the Celtics player whose fantasy value would be impacted the most by the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, based on his Yahoo ADP of 35.8. However, decreased production in the points, rebounds, and free-throw percentage categories led to JB finishing the regular season ranked outside the top 75 in 9-cat formats and just inside the top 60 in 8-cat. Brown averaged 23.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 70.3% from the foul line this season. In 2022-23, he was responsible for 26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, shooting 76.5% from the line. The scoring and rebounding could remain “low” by Brown’s standards, but getting back into the mid-70s from the charity stripe next season would give his value a welcome boost in category leagues. Rotoworld Today, 8:16 pm