NBA Grind Down: Friday, November 13th - Page Three
Brooklyn at Sacramento – 10:00 PM
- Vegas Line – Sacramento -6.5, 206 Over/Under
- Brooklyn Proj. Starters – Jack-Johnson-Hollis-Jefferson-Young-Lopez
- Sacramento Proj. Starters – Rondo-Anderson-Gay-Cauley-Stein-Cousins
| Brooklyn | Sacramento | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 206.0 |  | Vegas Total | 206.0 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 6.5 | Vegas Sprd | -6.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 99.8 | Team Proj. | 106.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.70 | Team Pace | 103.50 | |||||||||
| 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 | Jarrett Jack | Joe Johnson | Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | Thaddeus Young | Brook Lopez | Proj. Starter | Rajon Rondo | James Anderson | Rudy Gay | Willie Cauley-Stein | DeMarcus Cousins | |
| Opp. Season | 9 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 25 | Opp. Season | 15 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 18 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 7 | 24 | 26 | 16 | 25 | Opp. Last 7 | 12 | 26 | 20 | 2 | 24 | |
Brooklyn
The Nets picked up their first win of the season, so as predicted, they weren’t the last team to get a win. It was basically the easiest prediction I could make with how bad the Sixers have been. The Nets will look to make it two wins in a row tonight, as they head to Sacramento to take on the Kings.
- Sacramento Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 108.6 (28 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 105.0 (23 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 0.1 (14 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 209.8 (25 of 30)
The Kings have not been good defensively this season, but part of that was due to DeMarcus Cousins missing a few games. They will likely still be a bottom ten defense overall, but slightly better than their rankings are now. The Nets are projected to score 99.8 points tonight, which is in the lower half of implied team totals tonight.
If there were only four or five games on the schedule, it would be a different story. However, with so many options tonight, I will be avoiding the Nets. They have been a tough team to predict and Brook Lopez has really been the only standout fantasy option thus far. With a matchup against Cousins, he is an easy fade tonight.
Elite Plays
NONE
Secondary Plays
NONE
Sacramento
The Kings picked up a nice win against the Pistons the other night. Even with the win, this team is knee deep in turmoil. DeMarcus Cousins and coach George Karl could share blows at any point. It’s a situation that doesn’t have an easy solution, as Karl still has years left on his contract.
- Brooklyn Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 102.3 (17 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 105.4 (25 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 2.9 (8 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 202.6 (21 of 30)
Drama aside, the Kings find themselves in a favorable matchup tonight against the Nets, who are ranked below the league average in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and fantasy points allowed per game this season. The Kings have an implied team total of 106.3 points, which is the fourth highest on the schedule. Their team total is also four points higher than their season average for points scored per game.
Darren Collison has already been ruled out of tonight’s game. While that does give a major boost to Rajon Rondo, we should also monitor the status of Seth Curry. He is the third string point guard and he is listed as questionable tonight. If he is ruled out, Rondo could play the entire game once again. He has played 44, 48, and 48 minutes in the Kings’ last three games. DeMarcus Cousins is also an elite play. When his mind is right, he has as much upside as any player in the NBA.
Elite Plays
DeMarcus Cousins
FD: $10,200 — DK: $9,900
Min/Game: 29.6 — Turnover-Adjusted Usage: 30.7
FP/Game: 39.9 — FP/Min.: 1.35
Rajon Rondo
FD: $6,800 — DK: $7,600
Min/Game: 33.7 — Turnover-Adjusted Usage: 19.1
FP/Game: 33.6 — FP/Min.: 1.00
Secondary Plays
Rudy Gay
FD: $7,500 — DK: $6,800
Min/Game: 31.9 — Turnover-Adjusted Usage: 22.7
FP/Game: 29.5 — FP/Min.: 0.92
Marco Belinelli
FD: $3,800 — DK: $4,200
Min/Game: 27.8 — Turnover-Adjusted Usage: 16.9
FP/Game: 17.5 — FP/Min.: 0.63