Yahoo Sports Fantasy Basketball

  • Evan Mobley records 16 boards, five blocked shots
    Evan Mobley accounted for 11 points (5-of-8 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), 16 rebounds, one assist, and five blocked shots in 41 minutes in Sunday’s 106-94 win over the Magic.

    Advice: Cleveland is headed to the second round, with their series against Boston beginning on Tuesday. While Mobley struggled with turnovers in Sunday’s Game 7, committing six, he was excellent as a rebounder and defender. He rejected five shots, moving his total to 12 in the series’ final three games. And those were games the Cavaliers played without Jarrett Allen, who is dealing with a rib injury. Both teams could be without an essential big man for Tuesday’s Game 1 in Boston, as the Celtics will not have Kristaps Porzingis (calf). If Allen cannot play, Mobley will continue to take on more responsibilities as the Cavaliers’ defensive anchor. Rotoworld 3 minutes ago
     
  • Caris LeVert chips in with 15 bench points Sunday
    Caris LeVert accumulated 15 points (5-of-9 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in 29 minutes in Sunday’s Game 7 victory over Orlando.

    Advice: Cleveland went into the halftime break trailing by ten (53-43), with LeVert and Donovan Mitchell being why the home team remained within striking distance. LeVert scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half, taking a back seat to Max Strus and Darius Garland (and Mitchell, of course) in the second. While he did score 15 points in Games 3 and 7, LeVert was responsible for 22 total in the other five games. The Cavaliers will need more consistent production in the second round against Boston, with Game 1 of that series set for Tuesday night. Rotoworld 9 minutes ago
     
  • Max Strus scores 11 second-half points in Game 7
    Max Strus finished Sunday’s Game 7 victory over the Magic with 13 points (5-of-9 FGs), three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and three 3-pointers in 31 minutes.

    Advice: After scoring seven points or less in the series’ first four games, Strus hit double figures in the final three. He was critical during the second half of Game 7, scoring 11 of his 13 points to (along with Darius Garland) give Donovan Mitchell the offensive assistance Cleveland’s star guard desperately needed. Garland had a rough Sunday overall, shooting 3-of-13 from the field and finishing with 12 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one 3-pointer. While he and Strus did what was required to get past Orlando, both must be better in Cleveland’s second-round series against Boston. Game 1 is on Tuesday night. Rotoworld 15 minutes ago
     
  • Paolo Banchero records 38/16/2/3/1 line in Game 7
    Paolo Banchero logged 41 minutes in Sunday’s 106-94 loss to Cleveland, amassing 38 points (10-of-28 FGs, 15-of-18 FTs), 16 rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block, and three 3-pointers.

    Advice: Between the field goal percentage and his five turnovers, Banchero did not have the most efficient Sunday afternoon. However, his overall play was the primary reason why Orlando had a chance to win Game 7. The lack of consistent help from others factored into Banchero’s efficiency issues. Still, he gained a significant amount of respect from mainstream followers of the NBA with his play throughout the series. Orlando lost all four games its standout forward committed at least five turnovers. And that category significantly impacted his fantasy value during the regular season. While a top 100 player in 8-cat formats, Banchero finished the regular season outside the top 150 in 9-cat. How Orlando handles its needs on the perimeter (consistent shooting and playmaking) will impact whether Banchero comes off in the fifth round of most drafts (as he did last fall) or slightly higher. Rotoworld 24 minutes ago
     
  • Donovan Mitchell dominates, scores 39 in Game 7
    Donovan Mitchell shot 11-of-27 from the field and 15-of-17 from the foul line in Sunday’s 106-94 win over Orlando, scoring 39 points with nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in 44 minutes.

    Advice: Mitchell did what players with playoff experience are supposed to do in a game the magnitude of Sunday’s Game 7. While the Cavaliers struggled collectively, Spida shouldered most of the load until others stepped up. He scored 89 points in Games 6 and 7, the second-most in the sixth and seventh games of an NBA playoff series (Allen Iverson scored 90 in Games 6 and 7 of the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals vs. Milwaukee). The reward for Mitchell and the Cavaliers is a matchup with Boston in a series that will begin on Tuesday. Rotoworld 34 minutes ago
     
  • Practices Sunday
    Coach Jason Kidd said Hardaway (ankle) returned to practice Sunday, Grant Afseth of SI.com reports.

    Advice: Hardaway sprained his right ankle during Game 2 of the opening-round series against the Clippers and missed the final four contests. His return to practice is an encouraging sign, but Hardaway's official status for Tuesday's Game 1 against the Thunder likely won't be known until Monday afternoon. Rotowire.com Today, 11:41 am
     
  • Won't start Game 7
    Isaac won't start Sunday's Game 7 against the Cavaliers, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports.

    Advice: With Gary Harris (hamstring) returning to the starting lineup after missing Game 6, Isaac will revert to a reserve role. Across three appearances off the bench during the opening-round series, Isaac has averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 19.3 minutes per game. Rotowire.com Today, 9:39 am
     
  • Back to bench
    Morris won't start Sunday's Game 7 against the Magic, Serena Winters of Bally Sports Cleveland reports.

    Advice: With Jarrett Allen (hip) sidelined, Morris got a chance in the starting unit during Game 6 but finished with just two points (1-7 FG) and eight rebounds in 27 minutes during a disappointing loss. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has reinserted Isaac Okoro into the starting lineup in place of Morris for the decisive Game 7. In Game 5, Morris came off the bench and posted 12 points (4-9 FG) in 26 minutes. Rotowire.com Today, 9:36 am
     
  • Back in starting lineup
    Okoro will start Sunday's Game 7 against the Magic, Serena Winters of Bally Sports Cleveland reports.

    Advice: With Jarrett Allen (hip) out, Okoro started Cleveland's Game 5 win and posted eight points (2-10 FG), four rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes. Okoro was replaced in the starting lineup by Marcus Morris for Game 6, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff has flipped them again ahead of Game 7. As a starter this season (43 games), Okoro has averaged 10.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals-plus-blocks in 30.1 minutes per game. Rotowire.com Today, 9:33 am