NBA Grind Down: Monday, November 2nd - Page Two
Phoenix at L.A. Clippers – 10:30 PM
- Vegas Line – L.A. Clippers -9, 209.5 Over/Under
- Phoenix Proj. Starters – Bledsoe-Knight-Tucker-Morris-Chandler
- L.A. Clippers Proj. Starters – Paul-Redick-Stephenson-Griffin-Jordan
| Phoenix | L.A. Clippers | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 209.5 |  | Vegas Total | 209.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 9.0 | Vegas Sprd | -9.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 100.3 | Team Proj. | 109.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 104.10 | Team Pace | 104.80 | |||||||||
| 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 | Eric Bledsoe | Brandon Knight | P.J. Tucker | Markieff Morris | Tyson Chandler | Proj. Starter | Chris Paul | J.J. Redick | Lance Stephenson | Blake Griffin | DeAndre Jordan | |
| Opp. Season | 16 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 23 | Opp. Season | 20 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 2 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 16 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 23 | Opp. Last 7 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 2 | |
Phoenix
The Suns picked up their first two wins of the season after beating the Blazers in back-to-back games. They are a talented young team that will be fighting for one of the final spots in the Western Conference playoffs. One team that they will likely be chasing is the Clippers, who they will face tonight.
- L.A. Clippers Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.3 (15 of 32)
Defensive Efficiency: 94.8 (9 of 32)
Rebounding Differential: -5.7 (22 of 32)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 199.5 (14 of 32)
The Clippers have actually played good defense this season, ranking ninth in defensive efficiency. Their fast face of play – 104.8 possessions per game hurts their fantasy production allowed though, as teams typically see a boost in possessions when they face the Clippers. The Suns have an implied team total of 100.3 points, which is just below the average of the 14 teams in play tonight. The main concern here is a potential blowout, as the Clippers are listed as 9-point favorites.
Who doesn’t love a little revenge game narrative? Eric Bledsoe is coming off of a huge fantasy outing against the Blazers and now he gets to face his former team in his former arena. He makes a strong tournament play, but given his matchup against Chris Paul, it’s hard to use him in cash games. Brandon Knight has also played well this season, but he is a secondary option at the stacked point guard position.
Elite Plays
NONE
Secondary Plays
Eric Bledsoe
FD: $7,900 — DK: $7,500
Min/Game: 34.0 — Usage: 26.2
FP/Game: 36.4 — FP/Min: 1.07
Brandon Knight
FD: $7,000 — DK: $6,600
Min/Game: 34.0 — Usage: 23.1
FP/Game: 33.3 — FP/Min: 0.98
Tyson Chandler
FD: $6,100 — DK: $5,600
Min/Game: 25.0 — Usage: 14.8
FP/Game: 23.8 — FP/Min: 0.95
L.A. Clippers
The Clippers are off to a quick start this season, as they have won each of their first three games. They will look to stay undefeated tonight against the Suns in what is expected to be one of the fastest-paced games of the night.
- Phoenix Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.7 (10 of 32)
Defensive Efficiency: 96.3 (12 of 32)
Rebounding Differential: 7.0 (6 of 32)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 190.5 (9 of 32)
The Suns have played good defense in their first three games and a lot of that has to do with their acquisition of Tyson Chandler. He typically has a big impact on a team’s defense everywhere that he goes and it has shown so far, as the Suns have held their opponents to the tenth fewest points per game. Even with Chandler down low, the Clippers still have the highest implied team total on the board tonight at 109.3 points.
The big three of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan are all in play again tonight. Jordan has the worst matchup of the three, as Tyson Chandler and the Suns are ranked second against centers this season. Paul and Griffin are both elite options, but seeing as the Clippers are 9-point favorites, there is some risk of this turning into a blowout.
Elite Plays
Blake Griffin
FD: $10,300 — DK: $9,800
Min/Game: 34.0 — Usage: 33.7
FP/Game: 48.8 — FP/Min: 1.44
Chris Paul
FD: $9,300 — DK: $9,700
Min/Game: 33.0 — Usage: 21.1
FP/Game: 34.1 — FP/Min: 1.03
Secondary Plays
DeAndre Jordan
FD: $8,100 — DK: $8,000
Min/Game: 30.0 — Usage: 13.0
FP/Game: 39.3 — FP/Min: 1.31
Memphis at Golden State – 10:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Golden State -9.5, 202.5 Over/Under
- Memphis Proj. Starters – Conley-Lee-Allen-Randolph-Gasol
- Golden State Proj. Starters – Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Green-Ezeli
| Memphis | Golden State | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 202.5 |  | Vegas Total | 202.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 9.5 | Vegas Sprd | -9.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 96.5 | Team Proj. | 106.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.30 | Team Pace | 105.20 | |||||||||
| 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 | Mike Conley | Courtney Lee | Tony Allen | Zach Randolph | Marc Gasol | Proj. Starter | Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Harrison Barnes | Draymond Green | Festus Ezeli | |
| Opp. Season | 13 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 19 | Opp. Season | 7 | 14 | 25 | 12 | 9 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 13 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 19 | Opp. Last 7 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 12 | 9 | |
Memphis
The final game of the night is between two very good defensive teams. While they play at drastically different paces, these are two of the most efficient defenses in the NBA.
- Golden State Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 102.3 (18 of 32)
Defensive Efficiency: 96.3 (12 of 32)
Rebounding Differential: 3.7 (9 of 32)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 190.3 (8 of 32)
On paper, this may not look like the best matchup. However, this will be a pace-up game for the Grizzlies, as the Warriors have averaged nearly ten more possessions per game than Memphis this season. The increased pace should help make up for the fact that the Warriors have held their opponents to the eighth fewest fantasy points per game. The main issue here is the potential for a blowout. The Warriors are dominant at home and are listed as 9.5-point favorites tonight. There aren’t any plays that really stand out in this one.
Elite Plays
NONE
Secondary Plays
Marc Gasol
FD: $7,700 — DK: $8,000
Min/Game: 31.0 — Usage: 21.9
FP/Game: 23.6 — FP/Min: 0.76
Tony Allen
FD: $4,800 — DK: $4,300
Min/Game: 25.0 — Usage: 17.1
FP/Game: 22.4 — FP/Min: 0.90
Golden State
The Warriors have not had a championship hangover, as they have dominated right out of the gates. They are 3-0 on the season with an average margin of victory of 16.7 points. I know it’s early, but they look poised to make another championship run.
- Memphis Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.0 (14 of 32)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.2 (23 of 32)
Rebounding Differential: -3.7 (19 of 32)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 190.8 (10 of 32)
The Grizzlies may be ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency this season, but most of that was thanks to an awful performance in their opener against the Cavaliers. Memphis has been a dominant defense in recent seasons and we can expect more of the same this year. This is a difficult matchup for the Warriors, especially because the Grizzlies will try to slow the pace of the game down. Memphis has the second slowest pace of play of any team this season. Red-hot Stephen Curry is the top option here, but with the matchup and a potential blowout, I am going to list him as a secondary play tonight.
Elite Plays
NONE
Secondary Plays
Stephen Curry
FD: $11,000 — DK: $10,200
Min/Game: 33.0 — Usage: 35.1
FP/Game: 60.1 — FP/Min: 1.82