NBA Grind Down Monday, December 15th - Page Two
All stat chart buttons below open in an in-screen popup window and include stat tables for all games on the given page of the Grind Down Article
Milwaukee at Phoenix
- Vegas Line – Phoenix -5, 212 Over/Under
- Milwaukee Proj. Starters – Knight-Mayo-Antetokounmpo-Parker-Sanders
- Phoenix Proj. Starters – Bledsoe-Green-Tucker-Morris-Plumlee
| Milwaukee | Phoenix | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 212.0 |  | Vegas Total | 212.0 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 5.0 | Vegas Sprd | -5.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 103.50 | Team Proj. | 108.50 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.38 | Team Pace | 99 | |||||||||
| 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 | Brandon Knight | O.J. Mayo | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Jabari Parker | Larry Sanders | Proj Starter | Eric Bledsoe | Gerald Green | P.J. Tucker | Markieff Morris | Miles Plumlee | |
| Opp. Season | 11 | 22 | 4 | 16 | 25 | Opp. Season | 13 | 21 | 29 | 4 | 26 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 22 | 29 | Opp. Last 7 | 22 | 11 | 30 | 12 | 13 | |
Milwaukee
The Bucks head to Phoenix to take on the Suns in a game that features the highest total of the night. They are only 5-point underdogs so Vegas does expect this game to be competitive. Fantasy-wise, this is a favorable matchup. The Suns are one of the fastest-paced teams in the league. They are also ranked 16th in defensive efficiency, giving up an average of 104.2 points per game to their opponents this season. The issue here is that they are the Bucks, whose rotations are as inconsistent as Geno Smith (well, I suppose Geno is consistently terrible, but you get the idea).
Elite Plays
Brandon Knight (FD: $7200, DK: $6700 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 25)
Knight continues to fly under the fantasy radar, despite averaging over 31 fantasy points per game this season. He offers better value on DK than he does on FD, but even at $7,200, he is in play tonight against the Suns. On the season, the Suns are right around the league average in fantasy points allowed to opposing point guards. Knight can fill up all areas of the stat sheet and should play well in what is expected to be the highest scoring game of the evening.
Secondary Plays
Giannis Antetokounmpo (FD: $5900, DK: $5800 / MPG: 27 / Usage Rate: 21.3)
It appears that Giannis is back in the good graces of head coach Jason Kidd. He has played at least 26 minutes and has scored at least 25 fantasy points in each of his last four games. There is still some concern that the bench will come in and play well which could limit his minutes, but he offers great upside for the price. Giannis also draws a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Suns, who have not defended opposing shooting guards well this season (Giannis spends time at SG and SF).
Phoenix
The Suns have lost five straight games and are barely clinging on to that 8th seed in the Western Conference. They have been surprisingly average at home this season with a 6-6 record. Tonight they will look to get back to .500 overall on the season with a win over the Bucks. While the Bucks are ranked 10th in defensive efficiency, they have given up an average of 99.3 points per game to their opponents. The Suns have the highest team total of the night at 108 points.
Injury Note: Goran Dragic is questionable for tonight’s game after missing last night’s game with a sore back.
Elite Plays
Eric Bledsoe (FD: $8200, DK: $8500 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 23.6)
Even though Isaiah Thomas is back in the lineup, Bledsoe may still see some extended playing time with Goran Dragic’s injury. Dragic missed last night’s game and is currently listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Bucks. Bledsoe has really played well recently, averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists over his last seven games. He has a high usage rate and he plays the point often, which is a nice bonus considering the fact that he is listed as a shooting guard. Check the injury news throughout the day and bump Bledsoe up if Dragic is ruled out again tonight.
Secondary Plays
Markieff Morris (FD: $7000, DK: $6700 / MPG: 30 / Usage Rate: 22.6)
Morris is still only averaging 30 minutes per game, but when he is playing well, he can see upwards of 40 minutes. He may be a little too inconsistent to use in cash games, but he offers great upside for a player at his price point. Target him as a tournament play tonight against the Bucks.
San Antonio at Portland
- Vegas Line – Portland -5, 195.5 Over/Under
- San Antonio Proj. Starters – Joseph-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Splitter
- Portland Proj. Starters – Lillard-Matthews-Batum-Aldridge-Lopez
| San Antonio | Portland | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 195.5 |  | Vegas Total | 195.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 5.0 | Vegas Sprd | -5.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 95.3 | Team Proj. | 100.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.66 | Team Pace | 96.29 | |||||||||
| 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 | Cory Joseph | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Tiago Splitter | Proj Starter | Damian Lillard | Wesley Matthews | Nicolas Batum | LaMarcus Aldridge | Robin Lopez | |
| Opp. Season | 19 | 2 | 24 | 5 | 20 | Opp. Season | 5 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 4 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 27 | 3 | Opp. Last 7 | 4 | 29 | 2 | 21 | 15 | |
San Antonio
Editor’s Note: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter are all OUT for tonight’s game. Adjust your lineups accordingly.
We have to be on full “Pop” alert tonight. The Spurs are playing their third game in four nights. Tim Duncan played 40 and 32 minutes over the last two games, while Manu Ginobili played 31 and 24 minutes. I would not be surprised to see both of them get the night off against the Blazers. Tony Parker missed last night’s game and is questionable for tonight’s game. It’s hard to break down this game without knowing the starters. Cory Joseph, Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green could all make excellent plays if Pop decides to rest his veterans tonight.
Elite Plays / Secondary Plays
TBD
Portland
Much like the Spurs, it’s hard to break down the Blazers’ fantasy options tonight without knowing who will start for the Spurs. If Pop decides to rest his starters, this game could easily turn into a blowout. Even if the Spurs are at full-strength, this is a less than appealing matchup. The Spurs are ranked 3rd in defensive efficiency this season, holding opponents to an average of only 94.9 points per game this season. With seven other games on the schedule tonight, it may not be a bad idea to avoid this game altogether.
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
Detroit at L.A. Clippers
- Vegas Line – L.A. Clippers -13, 203.5 Over/Under
- Detroit Proj. Starters – Jennings-Caldwell-Pope-Singler-Smith-Drummond
- L.A. Clippers Proj. Starters – Paul-Redick-Barnes-Griffin-Jordan
| Detroit | L.A. Clippers | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 203.5 |  | Vegas Total | 203.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 13 | Vegas Sprd | -13 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 95.25 | Team Proj. | 108.25 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 94.76 | Team Pace | 96.25 | |||||||||
| 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 | Brandon Jennings | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | Kyle Singler | Josh Smith | Andre Drummond | Proj Starter | Chris Paul | J.J. Redick | Matt Barnes | Blake Griffin | DeAndre Jordan | |
| Opp. Season | 1 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 23 | Opp. Season | 12 | 18 | 9 | 26 | 24 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 16 | 28 | 7 | 23 | 24 | Opp. Last 7 | 23 | 2 | 16 | 19 | 10 | |
Detroit
The Pistons have won two in a row! They have figured it out and will now be a threat in the East! Unfortunately for Pistons fans, that’s not the case. While they have won two games in a row, I would not be surprised to see them lose the next five. They don’t play well as a team and have been awful defensively. The Pistons are 13-point underdogs tonight against the Clippers, in a game that could easily turn into a blowout. It’s hard to trust any of the Pistons players even in a favorable matchup, let alone in a potential blowout.
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
L.A. Clippers
The Clippers have lost two straight, but that streak should come to an end tonight, as they host the very disappointing Pistons. This is a fantasy-friendly matchup, but it does come with trepidation, as this one could easily be over by halftime. That said, the Pistons are ranked 18th in defensive efficiency, 18th in rebounding differential, and they have given up an average of 99.3 points per game to their opponents this season.
Elite Plays
Blake Griffin (FD: $9700, DK: $10600 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 30.2)
Is it just me or does Griffin always have a terrific first quarter and then he sort of coasts through the rest of the game. It seems like he has 15+ fantasy points after every first quarter. Now he just has to figure out how to keep that level of production going for the rest of the game. Griffin has 50 fantasy-point upside tonight, in a great matchup against the Pistons. Even though the Pistons have a big front-court, they are ranked dead last in fantasy points allowed per 48 minutes to opposing power forwards.
Secondary Plays
DeAndre Jordan (FD: $7400, DK: $7500 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 10.2)
Over his last seven games, Jordan has averaged 10 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game. He has recorded double-digit rebounds in nine of his last ten games and has finally become that consistent fantasy option that we got used to seeing from him last season. He’s a candidate to post a monster double-double tonight against the Pistons, who have not defended opposing centers well this season. Plus, Andre Drummond never strays far away from the basket, which could be good news for Jordan’s rebound and block totals tonight.