NBA Grind Down: Friday, February 6th - Page Three
Utah at Phoenix – 9:00 PM EST
- Vegas Line – Phoenix -6, 203.5 Over/Under
- Utah Proj. Starters – Exum-Ingles-Hayward-Favors-Kanter
- Phoenix Proj. Starters – Bledsoe-Dragic-Tucker-Morris-Plumlee
| Utah | Phoenix | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 203 |  | Vegas Total | 203 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 6.0 | Vegas Sprd | -6.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 98.75 | Team Proj. | 104.75 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 92.84 | Team Pace | 99.23 | |||||||||
| 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 | Dante Exum | Joe Ingles | Gordon Hayward | Derrick Favors | Enes Kanter | Proj Starter | Eric Bledsoe | Goran Dragic | P.J. Tucker | Markieff Morris | Miles Plumlee | |
| Opp. Season | 11 | 19 | 27 | 8 | 23 | Opp. Season | 15 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 2 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 23 | 13 | 26 | 14 | 22 | Opp. Last 7 | 28 | 3 | 22 | 22 | 6 | |
Utah
The Jazz have lost six of their last ten games, but they’ve remained competitive in recent weeks. Vegas has the Jazz listed as 6-point underdogs in a game that features a total of 203.5 points. They draw a favorable matchup against the Suns, who are ranked 28th in points allowed per game and 24th in rebounding differential this season.
Opponent Breakdown (Phoenix)
Record: 28-22
Points Allowed Per Game: 104.9 (Rank: 28)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 17
Rebounding Differential Rank: 24
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Gordon Hayward (FD: $8100, DK: $7800 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 25)
Small forward is always a thin position, especially on FanDuel where we have to roster two of them. Hayward finds himself in a great spot tonight against the Suns, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to small forwards this season. If the Jazz are going to keep this game as close as the oddsmakers expect, it will likely be on the back of the Butler alum.
Phoenix
The Suns have lost three games in a row and are quickly losing ground in the Western Conference playoff picture. Tonight they host a slow-paced Jazz team, that has held their opponents to an average of 98.6 points per game. Alex Len will not play tonight. His minutes will be soaked up by Miles Plumlee, Markieff Morris, and Brandan Wright.
Opponent Breakdown (Utah)
Record: 17-32
Points Allowed Per Game: 98.6 (Rank: 11)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 27
Rebounding Differential Rank: 2
Elite Plays
Markieff Morris (FD: $6400, DK: $5900 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 22.9)
Morris is one of the best values at power forward tonight, especially on DraftKings. Len’s absence should bolster Morris’ fantasy appeal. He has been terrific over his last five outings, averaging 29 fantasy points per game. He deserves the elite play tag tonight against the Jazz.
Secondary Plays
Eric Bledsoe (FD: $8600, DK: $8000) and Goran Dragic (FD: $6300, DK: $6100) are both in play as secondary options tonight against the Jazz.
Miami at San Antonio – 9:30 PM EST
- Vegas Line – San Antonio -12.5, 186.5 Over/Under
- Miami Proj. Starters – Napier-Chalmers-Deng-Bosh-Andersen
- San Antonio Proj. Starters – Parker-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Baynes
| Miami | San Antonio | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 186.5 |  | Vegas Total | 186.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 12.5 | Vegas Sprd | -12.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 87.0 | Team Proj. | 99.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 91.8 | Team Pace | 95.57 | |||||||||
| 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 | Shabazz Napier | Mario Chalmers | Luol Deng | Chris Bosh | Chris Andersen | Proj Starter | Tony Parker | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Aron Baynes | |
| Opp. Season | 10 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 19 | Opp. Season | 17 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 8 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 25 | 5 | 27 | 30 | 29 | Opp. Last 7 | 24 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 11 | |
Miami
The Hassan Whiteside hype train was moving at light-speed until the unfortunate update at approximately 12:55 P.M. E.T. Whiteside is doubtful for tonight’s game against the Spurs. At least it spares us the tough decision of whether to fade him against the Spurs. Without Whiteside, the Heat are 12.5-point favorites against the Spurs, who own a top ten defense. We can safely ignore the Heat tonight in a potential blowout.
Opponent Breakdown (San Antonio)
Record: 31-18
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.4 (Rank: 7)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 5
Rebounding Differential Rank: 10
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
San Antonio
The Spurs are one of my least favorite teams to see on the schedule, especially when they are double-digit favorites. Coach Popovich plays his veterans the absolute minimum necessary to pick up the win. With 11 other games on the schedule, we can avoid all of the Spurs tonight in a potential blowout.
Opponent Breakdown (Miami)
Record: 21-28
Points Allowed Per Game: 96.3 (Rank: 2)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 19
Rebounding Differential Rank: 24
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None