NBA Grind Down: Friday, March 6th - Page Three
Denver at San Antonio – 8:30 PM EST
- Vegas Line – San Antonio -12, 205 Over/Under
- Denver Proj. Starters – Lawson-Foye-Gallinari-Chandler-Faried
- San Antonio Proj. Starters – Parker-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Splitter
| Denver | San Antonio | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 205 |  | Vegas Total | 205 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 12.0 | Vegas Sprd | -12.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 96.50 | Team Proj. | 108.50 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 98.34 | Team Pace | 95.81 | |||||||||
| 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 | Ty Lawson | Randy Foye | Danilo Gallinari | Wilson Chandler | Kenneth Faried | Proj Starter | Tony Parker | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Tiago Splitter | |
| Opp. Season | 11 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 17 | Opp. Season | 17 | 28 | 25 | 30 | 22 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 1 | Opp. Last 7 | 8 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 8 | |
Denver
The Nuggets have won their last two games since firing Brian Shaw. While it’s sad to see the players quit on their coach like that, it’s good news for the team’s fantasy appeal moving forward. They will have a tough time extending their winning streak tonight against the Spurs, as they are listed as 12-point underdogs. This is not a great matchup, but there is one tournament play that has caught my attention.
Opponent Breakdown (San Antonio)
Record: 37-23
Points Allowed Per Game: 96.9 (Rank: 8)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 3
Rebounding Differential Rank: 10
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Kenneth Faried (FD: $6100, DK: $5800 / MPG: 27 / Usage Rate: 19.4)
The firing of Brian Shaw may be just what Faried needed to unleash the “Manimal.” He has scored 34 and 43 fantasy points in his last two games. He draws a much tougher matchup tonight against the Spurs, but I love him as a tournament play. He has huge upside and he is still cheap across the industry.
San Antonio
The Spurs are in a similar position as the Grizzlies. They are in a fantastic matchup, but they are double-digit favorites at home. Given the history of Popovich and the Spurs, it’s smart to avoid the veterans here. You never know when Pop is going to go all Pop on us. If you are targeting anyone here, target the younger players.
Opponent Breakdown (Denver)
Record: 22-39
Points Allowed Per Game: 103.7 (Rank: 26)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 25
Rebounding Differential Rank: 15
Elite Plays
Kawhi Leonard (FD: $7300, DK: $7400 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 22.5)
The Nuggets have been awful defensively this season, allowing the fifth-most points per game this season. Even with the potential for a blowout present, the matchup for Leonard is too good to ignore. The Nuggets have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season. Given the lack of options at small forward, Leonard is an elite play tonight.
Secondary Plays
None
Dallas at Golden State – 10:30 PM EST
- Vegas Line – Golden State -10.5, 208.5 Over/Under
- Dallas Proj. Starters – Rondo-Ellis-Jefferson-Nowitzki-Chandler
- Golden State Proj. Starters – Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Green-Bogut
| Dallas | Golden State | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 208.5 |  | Vegas Total | 208.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 10.50 | Vegas Sprd | -10.50 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 99 | Team Proj. | 109.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.57 | Team Pace | 100.93 | |||||||||
| 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 | Rajon Rondo | Monta Ellis | Richard Jefferson | Dirk Nowitzki | Tyson Chandler | Proj Starter | Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Harrison Barnes | Draymond Green | Andrew Bogut | |
| Opp. Season | 6 | 5 | 14 | 16 | 19 | Opp. Season | 23 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 13 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 11 | 23 | Opp. Last 7 | 10 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 5 | |
Dallas
The Mavericks are playing in the second half of a back-to-back, after getting trounced by the Blazers in Portland last night. They are likely in for a similar fate tonight against the Warriors, who own the best record in the NBA. With the way that the Mavericks are playing right now, they can safely be avoided in all contests tonight.
Opponent Breakdown (Golden State)
Record: 47-12
Points Allowed Per Game: 99.9 (Rank: 18)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 1
Rebounding Differential Rank: 15
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
Golden State
The Warriors will look to improve on their impressive home record of 25-2 tonight, as they host the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks present a favorable matchup, as they are ranked 20th in points allowed and 29th in rebounding differential this season. The big risk here is the potential for a blowout.
Opponent Breakdown (Dallas)
Record: 40-23
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.4 (Rank: 20)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 14
Rebounding Differential Rank: 29
Elite Plays
Stephen Curry (FD: $10100, DK: $9500 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 28.4)
Curry may be a little too expensive on FanDuel, but it’s hard to pass up the $9,500 price tag on DraftKings. He draws a tremendous matchup against the Mavericks, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season. He is more than capable of putting up 50+ fantasy points against Rajon Rondo and company.
Secondary Plays
None