Fantasy basketball advice: NBA FanDuel sleepers/busts for Thursday, Friday of 2015 NBA playoffs

First off, a quick introduction. If you don't know what FanDuel is, well, you're missing out. FanDuel is a site that offers daily fantasy sports games. Participants get a chance every day to select new players, fill out a lineup and, most importantly, win some cash. If you choose poorly Monday, you can come back Tuesday and try again. Easy as that. Click here to enter a $2 FanDuel contest that offers a $10,000 prize today.

As for what we're doing in this space: The goal here will be to direct your attention toward some players who you might not otherwise consider. If you're here and reading this, then you already know that LeBron James is really good. But when filling out a roster you can't just pick out stars. You'll blow your cap and get stuck praying to the basketball gods that a guy like Kosta Koufos gets into the game. No, if you want to win, you have to take advantage of certain matchups -- and in order to do that you have to know where to look. That's what we're here for. Also, this space is going to be used to give you advice for the games on Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1. So, with that, let's get started.

Blake Griffin, PF, Clippers: Griffin is going to cost you an arm and a leg, and possibly a nose, too (he's going for $11,600 in FanDuel for Thursday night), but it's worth it. The Spurs have had no answer for him this series. Griffin is doing everything -- scoring, rebounding, passing. Oh, and he's barely coming off the floor. He's averaging 23.8 points, 13.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks while playing 41.3 minutes per game. The concern would be that he eventually wears down, but we're still in the first round, so fatigue shouldn't be a problem yet.

DeMarre Carroll, SF, Hawks: Carroll, quietly, has had a monster series against the Nets (funny how that often happens right before a player hits the free agent market). He's averaging 15.3 points, 7.8 and 3.3 assists, and had 24 points in Game 5 on Wednesday. Carroll is one of the best defensive players in the league, but his consistent outside shooting this series -- 43 percent from deep -- has allowed him to stay on the court. He won't be an expensive play on Friday, which makes him a good one.

Al Horford, PF, Hawks: Horford had been really struggling against the Nets -- he was shooting just 43 percent from the field in the series' first five games. Then, in Game 6, he exploded, scoring 20 points, pulling down 15 rebounds and dishing out five assists. He hit 10-of-17 field goal attempts as the Hawks put the ball in his hands and ran their offense through him. Look for Atlanta to keep with that strategy in Game 6 on Friday.

Deron Williams, PG, Nets: Every now and then this column gets something right. Earlier in the week you were advised to stay away from Deron Williams, that his 35-point Game 4 explosion was just a fluke, the type he has every couple of months. Well, in Game 5 Williams followed up that brilliant performance with a clunker. He had five points and six assists. Taking out that 35-point effort, Williams is averaging 5.5 points this series. Even if he were to double that output, well, suffice to say you want nothing to do with him.

Joakim Noah, C, Bulls: Another former all-star really struggling so far in the playoffs. Noah is averaging just seven points per game this series, though he is averaging nine assists and five rebounds. The secondary numbers are good, but the scoring total is just not high enough, especially considering how much Noah is going to cost. You're better off going with a cheaper center and spending the money somewhere else.

Tony Parker, PG, Spurs: Parker finally looked a little better in Game 5, but his numbers still aren't there. He's averaging just 9.6 points and 2.8 assist this series, while Patty Mills (more on him below) continues to shoot the ball well from deep. The Spurs need Parker on the court to break down the Clippers' defense, but it's clear he's not going to be exploding at all in any game this series.

The Bucks have had no answer for Jimmy Butler so far this series. He's averaging a ridiculous 26.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals against them. He's another player worth spending on. Patty Mills is mentioned above -- he's going for just $3,800 on Thursday. That's great value and a player who can then allow you to go with a guy like Griffin. Khris Middleton has been really solid against the Bulls and is an excellent mid-cost play. He's averaging 15.5 points, 4.0 assists and and 3.5 steals.