3 Daily Fantasy Basketball Value Plays for 4/22/17

Maurice Harkless, SF, Portland Trail Blazers

FanDuel Price: $4,900
Projected FanDuel Points: 19.8
Projected FanDuel Value: 4.04

It appears the Portland Trail Blazers have finally figured out the best way to cope with life without Jusuf Nurkic. They've utilized more small-ball lineups in this series, which as led to more minutes inside for Maurice Harkless. Traditionally a small forward, Harkless has spent 70.9% of his 32 minutes per game at the power forward position and 29.1% at center through the first two games, per NBAWowy.com.

The increase in minutes for Harkless is great and all, but does it really matter where he is getting those minutes? Well, for this matchup, it certainly does. The Golden State Warriors have been much worse this season against power forwards than small forwards from a fantasy perspective, allowing the ninth-most FanDuel points to power forwards but the fifth-fewest to opposing small forwards.

The Dubs have also struggled to keep opponents off the offensive glass, ranking 29th in defensive rebounding rate. Harkless is one of Portland's best offensive rebounders, having posted the second-highest offensive rebounding rate among players who will be in uniform for the Blazers tonight. Four of his eight boards in Game 2 were of the offensive variety.

One final plus -- Harkless thrives in uptempo matchups, ranking first for Portland in both points per possession and field goal percentage in transition this season. The Warriors are the fourth-fastest-paced team in the league, and Harkless should continue to benefit from the additional transition possessions.

If he sees the expanded role he has occupied through the first two games of the series, Harkless should have no problem exceeding value once again. He is a viable play in all formats.