James Harden is ready for revenge against Metta World Peace and the Lakers.
Kobe was fairly average against the Thunder in three meetings this season, averaging 24.3 points per game (ppg) and 4.3 assists per game (apg). Both were below his season averages, although he was able to snare 7.0 rebounds per game (rpg) which was well above. If you plan to spend the $182K on Kobe, it is never an unwise investment, especially in the playoffs.
It will also be interesting to see how F Metta World Peace ($121K) is received in OKC. His reception will be chilly, at best, after his ugly elbowing incident with SG James Harden ($136K) April 22. He served a seven-game suspension for the incident, but it is not one the fans will soon forget. As luck has it, World and the Lakers face the Thunder. It’s one of many interesting storylines to watch in this exciting series. As for fantasy production, MWP averaged 10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.3 apg with 1.7 steals per game (spg) in three meetings with the Thunder. Playing with a chip on his shoulder, at least in his mind, he should be a solid fantasy target if you don’t take character into consideration.
Charles Barkley and the TNT crew might not consider Lakers C Andrew Bynum ($178K) a franchise players, and it is possibly they might be right. However, he is a tremendous fantasy talent who has averaged 16.3 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 3.7 blocks per game (bpg) in three meetings with OKC this season. It would be foolish to overlook him in the second round when solid fantasy options among big men is at a premium.
PF/C Pau Gasol ($157K) is a fairly inexpensive target for his pedigree, as his salary is held down a bit from a 1-for-10 shooting performance which netted Gasol just 11 fantasy points in Game 6 against Denver. He rebounded in the pivotal Game 7, exploding for 55 fantasy points. Expect somewhere in between against OKC, as he is generally good for about 28-34 fantasy points per game. He had 48 fantasy points in the last meeting with OKC April 22, just missing a triple-double by one assist.
If you’re looking for a deep sleeper in this series, PG Steve Blake ($80K) might be your guy. He had 23 fantasy points in the final meeting with OKC April 22, and he averaged 19 fantasy points per contest in Games 4 through 7 against Denver in the first round.
For the Thunder, it all starts with Durant ($200K). He is a player that is easy to cheer for, as it seems like he has high character, and he did not try to hold the small-market Thunder hostage by demanding to go to one of the ‘hot’ markets. He is in OKC to finish what he started, and the Thunder certainly are on track to be a power for many years to come. Durant averaged 29.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 4.7 apg in three meetings with the Lakers this season. He was even better in the first round against Dallas, averaging 39.5 fantasy points per game in that sweep. He’ll cost a pretty penny, but you’ll get your investment back and then some. He had 43 fantasy points in his last meeting with the Lakers April 22.
Harden ($136K) is a must-have, as he is coming off a 45-point fantasy game against Dallas last time out, and he should be playing with revenge on his mind. As long as he doesn’t try to do too much and force his shot, trying to beat the Lakers by himself, he’ll be a great add. He averaged 31.3 fantasy points per contest in the four-game sweep of Dallas, and showed no ill-effects of the concussion given by World Peace April 22.
When talking about the Thunder, Durant usually grabs most of the headlines, but PG Russell Westbrook ($186K) has just as much star power. He has 25 or more fantasy points in each of his past nine games, including the regular season, and he averaged 32.3 fantasy points per game in Round 1 against Dallas. Last time out against the Lakers, he misfired on 19 of his 22 field goal attempts, so he’ll be looking to atone for that. He averaged 23.0 ppg and 7.0 apg in three meetings with Los Angeles this season.
Last, but certainly not least, PF Serge Ibaka ($120K) will be looking to clog up the middle and give the Lakers fits. In three games with the Lake Show, he posted 12.3 ppg, 12.0 rpg and 4.3 bpg. The scoring average was second-most against any team he faced at least twice this season.
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