NBA Grind Down: Friday, April 25th
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: Any 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
Click ‘Stat Chart’ Buttons Below for Pop-Ups of Essential Game-Specific Statistics including Defense vs. Position and Pace
Toronto at Brooklyn
- Vegas Line – Brooklyn -5, 191 Over/Under
- Toronto Proj. Starters – Lowry-Derozan-Ross-Johnson-Valanciunas
- Brooklyn Proj. Starters – Williams-Livingston-Johnson-Pierce-Garnett
Toronto
This is turning out to be a terrific series. Both Game 1 and Game 2 came down to the wire. We’ve seen Paul Pierce score clutch baskets in Game 1 and then saw the same from DeMar DeRozan in Game 2. Game 3 will head to Brooklyn and the Nets will be favored by 5 points. This series has been a pretty good one to target in terms of fantasy production. Jonas Valanciunas has been very impressive down low averaging 35 FP’s per game this series. He is in play again here. DeMar DeRozan is also in play at SG, but the Nets are a tough team defensively and I could see him struggling now that the series shifts to Brooklyn.
- Kyle Lowry – Lowry is at his best when his team is struggling and he needs to take over offensively. I think we see that here in Game 3. Lowry has been terrific on the road all season long and is averaging 35 FP’s per game this series. If you can afford him, get him in your lineups.
- Amir Johnson – I was a bit concerned about Johnson’s minutes heading into Game 2, but after putting up 16 points and 9 rebounds in 32 minutes of playing time, I think we can expect him to see 30+ minutes from here on out. His price is depressed across the industry and he is probably the top value play on the board tonight.
Brooklyn
The Nets picked up a split in Toronto and will now head home to try to take these two games and head into Game 5 up 3-1. The Raptors have been very solid defensively this season, but the Nets are all fairly priced because they have such a team effort in every game. All five starters are in play in Game 3. Kevin Garnett is extremely cheap and has been productive in his limited minutes. Shaun Livingston is averaging 21 FP’s per game in this series. Deron Williams makes a nice GPP play, but he has a very tough matchup against the pesky Kyle Lowry.
- Joe Johnson – The two players that I will be targeting in cash games are the two clutch players of the Nets. Johnson is averaging 32 FP’s per game this series and is still affordable across the industry. Look for the Nets to go to him early and often as both Ross and DeRozan have struggled to keep him in check.
- Paul Pierce – Pierce has not shot the ball well in this series, yet he is still averaging 27 FP’s per game. As soon as his shot starts to fall, he is going to pay off big time. His price is very affordable at SF and I think he breaks out with a monster Game 3.
Chicago at Washington
- Vegas Line – Washington -3, 182 Over/Under
- Chicago Proj. Starters – Hinrich-Butler-Dunleavy-Boozer-Noah
- Washington Proj. Starters – Wall-Beal-Ariza-Hilario-Gortat
Chicago
Both of the first two games of the series have come down to the wire, unfortunately for the Bulls they were on the wrong end of those close games. The Bulls are down 2-0 and desperately need a win in Game 3 to get back into the series. This is a tough Bulls team and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them shock everyone and pick up two road victories.
As far as fantasy options, I will be avoiding Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer as they have both struggled to get it going in this series. Jimmy Butler makes a very safe cash game play at SG as he will continue to see 40+ minutes of playing time. I also like D.J. Augustin off the bench as a value play. He put up 39 FP’s in Game 2 and should see around 35 minutes of playing time once again.
- Taj Gibson – It appears that Coach Thib has a lot more faith in Taj than he does in Boozer. While Taj doesn’t start, he see the majority of minutes at the PF spot. He has been very good in this series averaging 31 FP’s per game. This may be the last time to target him before his price goes way up.
Washington
The Wizards have surprised a lot of people (including myself) with their wins in Games 1 and 2. I thought this experienced Bulls team would have the edge over the younger Wizards, but here we are heading into Game 3 with the Wizards up 2-0. I expect this Bulls’ defense to turn up the pressure in this game, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any fantasy options. John Wall and Bradley Beal have been the dominant backcourt in this series and I expect more of the same in Game 3. Marcin Gortat makes a decent play at Center, but he does have limited upside against Noah.
- Nene Hilario – After saying that he wanted to be on a minutes limit, Nene has come out in Games 1 and 2 and played an average of 37 minutes per game. He has been terrific in this series averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. His price has yet to reflect his recent level of production and you should target him in all leagues.
Houston at Portland
- Vegas Line – Portland -3, 216 Over/Under
- Houston Proj. Starters – Beverley-Harden-Parsons-Jones-Howard
- Portland Proj. Starters – Lillard-Matthews-Batum-Aldridge-Lopez
Houston
The Rockets were expected to contend this season and here they are down 0-2 to the Blazers after losing the first two games of the series at home. Game 3 is going to be very telling and we will see the true character of these Rockets’ players. The biggest story here is the continued struggles of James Harden who is now only 14/47 from the field in this series. Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum have really made it tough on Harden. I think he bounces back in Game 3, but I see him as more of a GPP play than a cash game play. Patrick Beverley and Chandler Parsons both make solid cash game plays here.
- Dwight Howard – As expected, Dwight dominated Lopez down low once again. Dwight is now averaging 54 FP’s per game in this series. He should be the first player that you build your team around tonight. Get him in all of your lineups and watch him put up another big performance in Game 3.
Portland
Last, but certainly not least, we have the Portland Trailblazers who have taken not one, but two games on the road to claim a 2-0 lead in this series over the Rockets. While it has been an excellent team effort, you have to give credit to both LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Both have been huge for the Blazers in the first two games and as you can see below, they are my favorite targets for Game 3. In addition to those two, I also like Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez. Both are in play depending on their price points on the site that you are playing on.
- LaMarcus Aldridge – Aldridge has been a man among boys in this series. If he continues at this pace, this will be one of the best series that we have seen from a player in a very long time. Granted, this Rockets defense is awful, but Aldridge is averaging 44 points and 13 rebounds in this series. The Rockets just don’t have an answer for him.
- Damian Lillard – Lillard is not playing like a guy making his first ever appearance in the playoffs, but I guess you could say that about Lillard’s career thus far. Lillard is averaging 44 FP’s per game in this series and the pesky defender Patrick Beverley has had no impact on Lillard in this series.