LeBron James has a chance to win his fourth NBA championship when the Lakers take on the Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. Heat star Jimmy Butler isn't likely to go down without a lot of fight, though. That's why Butler captains our DraftKings Showdown lineup, which also includes James.
The big call here for Game 5 is fading Anthony Davis. The Heat have shown an increased ability to slow him down in the past two games, and with Bam Adebayo back and us captaining Butler, a high-priced fade had to be made. It certainly wasn't going to be James. We've taken all our depth pieces from the Lakers with the expectation that they likely close out the series in Game 5.
DraftKings Showdown Picks: Lakers vs. Heat Game 5
Captain (1.5x price, 1.5x points): Jimmy Butler, Heat ($16,200)
Despite a rough-shooting second half in Game 4, Butler still nearly put up another triple-double. The Heat are counting on him for everything, and that won't change with their season on the line. The Lakers can win while Butler still scores the most fantasy points in this game.
FLEX: LeBron James, Lakers ($12,400)
James has drawn criticism for heightened turnover numbers in his past two games, but that should only motivate the King to sharpen it up in trying to claim his fourth crown. James is as automatic a fantasy producer as the NBA has, and if this is the last game of this extra long season, we want James in our lineup.
FLEX: Bam Adebayo, Heat ($9,800)
Adebayo didn't show any ill effects from the neck injury that kept him out earlier in the series. His minutes were down slightly from earlier rounds of the playoffs, but with two days of rest between Game 4 and 5 and with Miami's season hanging in the balance, Adebayo will surely give the Heat everything he has Friday.
FLEX: Danny Green, Lakers ($4,400)
Green's shooting has been a point of jokes on NBA Twitter throughout the Finals, but at a price point this low, we're looking for the minutes that could lead to an increased output, like we saw from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 4. Green will be on the floor for his defense, and if he gets hot from deep can make a difference in our lineup.
FLEX: Markieff Morris, Lakers ($3,600)
Morris started the second half of Game 4 at center for the Lakers instead of Dwight Howard. It's obvious that Frank Vogel sees Morris as an important piece to close out this series, so whether he starts or comes off the bench again, Morris should see ample minutes (and likely shoot better than the two-for-seven from three he shot in Game 4).
FLEX: Alex Caruso, Lakers ($3,400)
Caruso, like Morris, found himself playing important minutes for the Lakers in Game 4. It's not new, but it's the reason we've consistently been comfortable using Caruso over players like KCP and Green — just because they start doesn't mean they finish. Caruso might as well steal the spotlight in a clinching game of the NBA Finals.