NBA Grind Down: Friday, April 10th
Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down Article. Each day, we’ll break down all of the matchups with a focus on defense vs. position stats. The Grind Down shows you Vegas lines, defense stats and projected starting lineups for each and every game.
The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. Use this article to help you gain a better understanding of the matchups for the coming week and build from there. We have everything you could possibly need on our Daily Research console for you to be a successful daily fantasy player!
Note: Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s NBA Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review.
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Toronto at Orlando – 7:00 PM
- Vegas Line – Toronto -6, 201 Over/Under
- Toronto Proj. Starters – Vasquez-DeRozan-Ross-Hansbrough-Valanciunas
- Orlando Proj. Starters – Payton-Oladipo-Harris-Dedmon-Vucevic
| Toronto | Orlando | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 201 |  | Vegas Total | 201 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -6.0 | Vegas Sprd | 6.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 103.5 | Team Proj. | 97.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.46 | Team Pace | 95.92 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj Starter | Greivis Vasquez | DeMar DeRozan | Terrence Ross | Amir Johnson | Jonas Valanciunas | Proj Starter | Elfrid Payton | Victor Oladipo | Tobias Harris | Dewayne Dedmon | Nikola Vucevic | |
| Opp. Season | 23 | 9 | 30 | 23 | 21 | Opp. Season | 21 | 11 | 27 | 8 | 12 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 20 | 14 | Opp. Last 7 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 21 | |
Toronto
The Raptors are still fighting for playoff positioning, so we can expect the starters to see their usual allotment of minutes tonight against the Magic. Kyle Lowry has been upgraded to questionable for this game. If he is able to suit up, that would cut into the production of Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams. Amir Johnson has already been ruled out, which gives a boost to both Tyler Hansbrough and Patrick Patterson.
Opponent Breakdown (Orlando)
Record: 25-53
Points Allowed Per Game: 101.7 (Rank: 23)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 26
Rebounding Differential Rank: 23
Elite Plays
DeMar DeRozan (FD: $8600, DK: $8100 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 28.5)
Even if Kyle Lowry plays tonight, he will likely see limited action. That means that we will see at least one more game where DeRozan is the first, second, and third option offensively. He has scored at least 35 fantasy points in four of his last five games and he draws a tremendous matchup against the Magic, who are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA this season.
Secondary Plays
Jonas Valanciunas (FD: $6200, DK: $6000 / MPG: 27 / Usage Rate: 19.3)
Patrick Patterson (FD: $4500, DK: $4000 / MPG: 27 / Usage Rate: 13)
Orlando
The Magic have nothing to play for at this point of the season, so it’s all about developing chemistry between their young players. The team draws a favorable matchup against a Raptors’ defense that has allowed the 12th-most points per game this season. Expect 35+ minutes for Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Tobias Harris, and Nikola Vucevic. All four are viable fantasy options tonight.
Opponent Breakdown (Toronto)
Record: 46-32
Points Allowed Per Game: 101.2 (Rank: 19)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 25
Rebounding Differential Rank: 20
Elite Plays
Elfrid Payton (FD: $8000, DK: $7500 / MPG: 30 / Usage Rate: 18.5)
Payton is a stat-stuffing machine. He has really played well over the last few weeks and that strong play should continue tonight against the Raptors, who are ranked 21st against point guards this season. Payton has a high floor and a high ceiling in this matchup, making him a strong target in all league formats.
Secondary Plays
Nikola Vucevic (FD: $8600, DK: $7700 / MPG: 34 / Usage Rate: 25.9)
Victor Oladipo (FD: $8000, DK: $7200 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 24.9)
Tobias Harris (FD: $6500, DK: $6600 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 22.6)
Charlotte at Atlanta – 7:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Atlanta -9.5, 194.5 Over/Under
- Charlotte Proj. Starters – Walker-Henderson-Taylor-Williams-Biyombo
- Atlanta Proj. Starters – Teague-Korver-Carroll-Muscala-Horford
| Charlotte | Atlanta | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 194 |  | Vegas Total | 194 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 9.5 | Vegas Sprd | -9.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 92.5 | Team Proj. | 102.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.46 | Team Pace | 96.16 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj Starter | Kemba Walker | Gerald Henderson | Jeffery Taylor | Marvin Williams | Bismack Biyombo | Proj Starter | Jeff Teague | Kyle Korver | DeMarre Carroll | Mike Muscala | Al Horford | |
| Opp. Season | 13 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 9 | Opp. Season | 16 | 8 | 3 | 18 | 6 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 9 | Opp. Last 7 | 25 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 12 | |
Charlotte
The Hornets will be without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Al Jefferson, Cody Zeller, and Lance Stephenson tonight, as they head to Atlanta to take on the Hawks. This is a tough matchup for fantasy production and with the Hornets being so short-handed, this game could easily turn into a blowout. The Hawks are 9.5-point favorites with their team total set at only 92.5 points.
Opponent Breakdown (Atlanta)
Record: 59-19
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.1 (Rank: 6)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 9
Rebounding Differential Rank: 27
Elite Plays
Bismack Biyombo (FD: $4500, DK: $5000 / MPG: 18 / Usage Rate: 11.9)
Biyombo will continue to see all of the minutes that he can handle with Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller out. Biyombo has scored at least 20 fantasy points in each of his last five games. I see that as his floor tonight against the Hawks, with a ceiling that is much, much higher. Dollar for dollar, he may be the best option at center tonight.
Secondary Plays
Marvin Williams (FD: $5000, DK: $5400 / MPG: 26 / Usage Rate: 13.3)
Atlanta
The Hawks have nothing to play for at this point of the season. They are locked into the one-seed in the Eastern Conference. At this point, all of their star players are risky fantasy options, as they will likely be limited the rest of the way. Paul Millsap is expected to miss tonight’s game with his shoulder injury, which means Mike Muscala and Mike Scott will both see a fantasy boost.
Elite Plays
Mike Muscala (FD: $4200, DK: $4100 / MPG: 11 / Usage Rate: 17.4)
Muscala will draw another start for Paul Millsap tonight, who is still nursing an injured shoulder. He has been a great source of cheap fantasy production recently and that should continue tonight against the Hornets, who are ranked 19th against power forwards this season.
Secondary Plays
DeMarre Carroll (FD: $6100, DK: $5700 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 16.6)
Boston at Cleveland – 7:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Cleveland -3, 204 Over/Under
- Boston Proj. Starters – Smart-Bradley-Turner-Bass-Zeller
- Cleveland Proj. Starters – Irving-Smith-James-Love-Mozgov
| Boston | Cleveland | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 204 |  | Vegas Total | 204 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 3.0 | Vegas Sprd | -3.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 100.5 | Team Proj. | 103.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 98.35 | Team Pace | 94.75 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj Starter | Marcus Smart | Avery Bradley | Evan Turner | Brandon Bass | Tyler Zeller | Proj Starter | Kyrie Irving | J.R. Smith | LeBron James | Kevin Love | Timofey Mozgov | |
| Opp. Season | 12 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 14 | Opp. Season | 20 | 5 | 15 | 21 | 24 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 15 | 13 | 21 | 1 | 16 | Opp. Last 7 | 11 | 23 | 17 | 11 | 19 | |
Boston
The Celtics are in a must-win situation, as they are still fighting for one of the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. They have a tough matchup tonight against the Cavaliers, but they may get the benefit of facing them without LeBron James. The Celtics have a deep and inconsistent rotation, which makes predicting individual fantasy production difficult. Evan Turner and Isaiah Thomas are in play, but they are better tournament plays than cash game targets.
Opponent Breakdown (Cleveland)
Record: 51-27
Points Allowed Per Game: 98.3 (Rank: 12)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 19
Rebounding Differential Rank: 8
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Evan Turner (FD: $6700, DK: $6000 / MPG: 28 / Usage Rate: 19.5)
Isaiah Thomas (FD: $6900, DK: $5900 / MPG: 26 / Usage Rate: 27.5)
Cleveland
The Cavaliers may be without LeBron James tonight, as they host the Celtics. James hinted that he may rest the next two games, both of which are against the Celtics. If that’s the case, give a fantasy boost to Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, and Iman Shumpert. It’s worth noting that the Cavaliers have nothing to play for though, so the starters could see limited action tonight against Boston.
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Kyrie Irving (FD: $8300, DK: $7900 / MPG: 37 / Usage Rate: 26.1)
Kevin Love (FD: $7400, DK: $6900 / MPG: 34 / Usage Rate: 21.6)
Iman Shumpert (FD: $4200, DK: $3800 / MPG: 25 / Usage Rate: 17.2)
Indiana at Detroit – 7:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Indiana -5.5, 198 Over/Under
- Indiana Proj. Starters – Hill-Miles-Hill-West-Hibbert
- Detroit Proj. Starters – Jackson-Caldwell-Pope-Butler-Monroe-Drummond
| Indiana | Detroit | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 198 |  | Vegas Total | 198 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -5.5 | Vegas Sprd | 5.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 101.8 | Team Proj. | 96.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.67 | Team Pace | 95.26 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj Starter | George Hill | C.J. Miles | Solomon Hill | David West | Roy Hibbert | Proj Starter | Reggie Jackson | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Caron Butler | Greg Monroe | Andre Drummond | |
| Opp. Season | 4 | 15 | 16 | 29 | 29 | Opp. Season | 8 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 8 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 28 | 18 | Opp. Last 7 | 1 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 3 | |
Indiana
The Pacers are still fighting for their playoff lives, so they are in a must-win situation tonight against the Pistons. On paper, this is a mediocre matchup, but the Pistons aren’t a team that we need to avoid taking players against. The Pacers are projected to score 102 points tonight, which is markedly higher than their average on the season.
Opponent Breakdown (Detroit)
Record: 30-48
Points Allowed Per Game: 99.7 (Rank: 15)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 21
Rebounding Differential Rank: 11
Elite Plays
David West (FD: $5500, DK: $5500 / MPG: 29 / Usage Rate: 21.3)
West is a solid cash game play tonight against the Pistons, who are ranked 29th against power forwards this season. West’s minutes still aren’t where we want them to be, but he has scored at least 20 fantasy points in eight of his last nine games. He should find success against a Pistons’ team that has not defended the paint well this season.
Secondary Plays
George Hill (FD: $7600, DK: $7200 / MPG: 28 / Usage Rate: 24.8)
Roy Hibbert (FD: $5100, DK: $4900 / MPG: 25 / Usage Rate: 22)
Detroit
The Pistons draw a very tough matchup against the Pacers, who are ranked 7th or better in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential this season. The Pacers also have a lot to play for, while the Pistons are counting down the days until they can go on vacation. On a night with a full slate of games, I will only be using the Pistons as tournament plays.
Opponent Breakdown (Indiana)
Record: 35-43
Points Allowed Per Game: 96.9 (Rank: 4)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 9
Rebounding Differential Rank: 7
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Andre Drummond (FD: $9300, DK: $8500 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 21.6)
Reggie Jackson (FD: $8600, DK: $8500 / MPG: 29 / Usage Rate: 24.7)
Washington at Brooklyn – 7:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Brooklyn -4.5, 199.5 Over/Under
- Washington Proj. Starters – Sessions-Beal-Pierce-Hilario-Gortat
- Brooklyn Proj. Starters – Williams-Brown-Johnson-Young-Lopez
| Washington | Brooklyn | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 199 |  | Vegas Total | 199 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 4.5 | Vegas Sprd | -4.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 97.5 | Team Proj. | 102.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.98 | Team Pace | 94.96 | |||||||||
| Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | Matchup – Opponent DvP Ranks and Projected Starters | |||||||||||
| DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | DvP Rks | PG | SG | SF | PF | C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proj Starter | Ramon Sessions | Bradley Beal | Paul Pierce | Nene Hilario | Marcin Gortat | Proj Starter | Deron Williams | Markel Brown | Joe Johnson | Thaddeus Young | Brook Lopez | |
| Opp. Season | 17 | 25 | 9 | 28 | 18 | Opp. Season | 14 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 26 | 22 | 26 | 17 | 17 | Opp. Last 7 | 3 | 15 | 2 | 13 | 5 | |
Washington
The Wizards will rest John Wall again tonight, but Nene Hilario is expected to return to the lineup. The Wizards don’t have anything to play for at this point of the season, but they can play the role of spoiler by beating the Nets in Brooklyn. This is a mediocre matchup at best, as it’s difficult to predict the minute distribution of a team that is gearing up for the playoffs.
Opponent Breakdown (Brooklyn)
Record: 36-42
Points Allowed Per Game: 101.2 (Rank: 19)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 23
Rebounding Differential Rank: 24
Elite Plays
Ramon Sessions (FD: $4900, DK: $3600 / MPG: 18 / Usage Rate: 19.3)
John Wall has already been ruled out of tonight’s game, which means Sessions will draw another start at point guard. He played very well on Wednesday night, finishing with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. His price has come up on FanDuel, but he’s still very much in play on DraftKings. He draws a favorable matchup against the Nets, who have been giving up a lot of points to their opponents in recent weeks.
Secondary Plays
Bradley Beal (FD: $6400, DK: $6300 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 22.2)
Brooklyn
The Nets are in a must-win situation, as they need a victory to stay in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. They are 4.5-point favorites tonight against the Wizards and we can expect the Nets’ starters to all log heavy minutes (with the possible exception of Markel Brown). We are getting to the point where it pays off to target players that have something to play for.
Opponent Breakdown (Washington)
Record: 45-33
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.3 (Rank: 7)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 4
Rebounding Differential Rank: 4
Elite Plays
Deron Williams (FD: $6900, DK: $7000 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 22.4)
With the Nets in a must-win situation tonight, I expect a big game from their point guard, Deron Williams. He has scored at least 45 fantasy points in three of his last five games and he draws a favorable matchup against the Wizards, who will be without their starting point guard, John Wall. Williams offers great upside for the price.
Secondary Plays
Brook Lopez (FD: $9000, DK: $8400 / MPG: 29 / Usage Rate: 26.5)
Thaddeus Young (FD: $6300, DK: $6100 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 21.4)
Joe Johnson (FD: $6100, DK: $5900 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 20.9)