Pau Gasol averaged 16.0 ppg and 10.8 rpg in three games vs. Denver this season.
For the Lakers, we all know where it starts. SG Kobe Bryant ($171K) is the big scorer, but he is actually not the highest salary player on the roster. That honor belongs to PF/C Pau Gasol ($183K). The three-headed monster of Kobe, Pau and C Andrew Bynum ($161K) will be hard to stop, especially since the Nuggets have a mish-mash in the middle. The Lakers should dominate down low.
For Kobe, he averaged 17.7 points per game (ppg), 7.3 assists per game (apg), 6.0 rebounds per game (rpg) and 1.3 steals per game (spg) in three meetings with Denver this season. Gasol managed 16.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 3.0 apg and 1.5 blocks per game (bpg) in the four games against Denver, so really they are about on the same level in terms of value.
SF Matt Barnes (ankle) is dealing with an ankle issue, and he is not quite at 100 percent. However, he is expected to gut it out. However, he might not be a great fantasy option at $104K early in the series. However, G Ramon Sessions (shoulder) reported that he is over his injury, and at $77K he might be a tremendous bargain going forward.
Also, remember to avoid F Metta World Peace ($108K), as he is suspended for six games into the playoffs for his elbow against Oklahoma City’s Jame Harden.
For the Nuggets, PF/C Al Harrington ($92K) is a bargain at this price level. Sure, he was dealing with a knee issue down the stretch, but he is over it and he should get off to a decent start. Harrington averaged 18.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 1.5 spg in four meetings against the Lakers. That scoring average was his highest against any opponent he faced at least twice this season.
Denver is certainly not just a one-man show, though. PG Ty Lawson ($165K) was insane down the stretch, posting 27 or more points in each of his final seven regular season games. He was locked in, his made more than half of his field goal attempts in each of his final six games, and he each had four or more rebounds in those last six outings. Lawson averaged 12.3 ppg, 7.5 apg and 3.0 rpg in four meetings with the Lakers.
If you’re sifting through the bargain bin, don’t discard PG Andre Miller ($74K). He posted 10 or more fantasy points in each of his final eight regular season games, and he posted 30 fantasy points in the final meeting against the Lakers back on April 13.
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