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NBA Grind Down: Saturday, January 14th

by Chirag Hira (INSPYR) Last Updated 2017-01-15 01:37:56

Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.e

Vegas lines are broken down to show projected team totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extrare possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.

We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.

If you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use promo code “GRINDERS” to receive the best perks in the industry.

Click here to follow INSPYR on Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers – 3:30 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Clippers
lalakersnba Vegas Total 216.0 laclippersnba Vegas Total 216.0
Vegas Spread 11.0 Vegas Spread -11.0
Team Total 102.5 Team Total 113.5
Pace +/- 0.0 Pace +/- 1.8
Proj. Starter D’Angelo Russell Nick Young Luol Deng Julius Randle Timofey Mozgov Proj. Starter Chris Paul Austin Rivers J.J. Redick Luc Richard Mbah a Moute DeAndre Jordan
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
DvP 7 3 24 7 11 DvP 26 26 27 29 27
DRPM 3.51 -2.50 -1.73 2.71 2.55 DRPM -0.63 -1.88 0.80 0.31 -0.19

Los Angeles Lakers

Hello, Grinders! Can you believe we’re already two weeks into the new year? Time is flying, but at least we’re having fun. The first game on the board is an “away” game for the Lakers as they take on the Clippers. This is the first time in Staples Center history that the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings (NHL) will all play on the same day. The Lakers are large underdogs after getting smoked by the Spurs on Thursday. Julius Randle is looking like the only player really worth mentioning because he’s really the only consistent player on Luke Walton’s team. He did put up a dud against Portland a few nights ago in a blowout, but he has been averaging 36.42 FanDuel points in the 10 games since his two-game absence due to the birth of his child. There’s not much profit left to be had on his salary, but he did randomly drop a triple-double on Memphis, and he could dominate in his matchup against Luc Mbah a Moute, who is severely undersized against him.

D’Angelo Russell was playing well before the game against the Spurs but will have a tough matchup with Chris Paul. CP3 has been exploited a few times by other PGs this season, but it’s too risky to really feel comfortable using him, even on a short slate. Jordan Clarkson is the main guard off the bench if you’re looking for a guy who might get some extra burn due to the implied blowout. Brandon Ingram minutes have been trending in the right direction, but he’s a low-end option with Luol Deng healthy. Tarik Black and Thomas Robinson have also been playing well off the bench and are minimum-salaried punt plays. No one is really considered “safe” on the Lakers, and they can be mostly avoided, but I did list some options for those who want to dive a bit further. Timofey Mozgov might get a few extra minutes dealing against DeAndre Jordan, but there’s no real fantasy upside to his game.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
D’Angelo Russell $6,200 $6,000 1.00 27.4 1.8 27.5 3.3 29.6% -5.4% 7 3.51
Nick Young $3,800 $3,700 0.73 26.5 -6.1 19.2 -10.5 18.8% -1.1% 3 -2.50
Luol Deng $4,300 $3,800 0.71 27.6 -0.8 19.7 -4.3 15.0% 1.0% 24 -1.73
Julius Randle $6,700 $7,100 1.01 29.4 2.0 29.8 3.0 23.7% -1.2% 7 2.71
Timofey Mozgov $3,500 $3,000 0.73 21.6 -1.4 15.7 -0.2 16.5% -0.4% 11 2.55
Lou Williams $4,500 $3,800 1.05 24.2 -7.0 25.3 -12.8 30.6% 2.5% 3 N/A

Elite Plays – N/A

Secondary Plays – Julius Randle

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers on the other hand, should not be avoided. Chris Paul has proven time and again that he can exceed salary-based expectations even when he plays under 30 minutes; just last Sunday, CP3 scored 59 FanDuel points in about 29 minutes against the Heat. He has one of the highest floors at the point guard position and is the main engine with Blake Griffin on the shelf. DeAndre Jordan also benefits with Blake Griffin out of the lineup but is not cash game viable given his lack of scoring. J.J. Redick is averaging 21.4 actual points in his last five games, but his salary has crept up too much for my liking. Austin Rivers has been starting more at SF with Redick at SG, and the Lakers rank 27th in SF DvP. Rivers will likely play about 30 minutes and is cheaper than Redick, making him the preferred play of the two.

Jamal Crawford’s salary ($4,000 at FD, $4,100 at DK) has slid back down to a point that makes him worth considering. He’s been off the last couple games, and that’ll likely keep ownership off of him. He’s definitely worth a look in tournaments, but due to his recent slump could underperform salary-based expectations. Marreese Speights scored 23.3 FanDuel points against the Lakers on Christmas and is worth a tournament look, as well. Just know that both Mo Speights and Crawford are just as likely to hurt your lineup as help it, and they’re more last-in type options than core plays.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
Chris Paul $9,500 $9,800 1.31 31.4 -0.4 41.2 4.3 28.7% -1.4% 26 -0.63
Austin Rivers $4,300 $4,900 0.66 26.0 8.3 17.1 8.2 19.7% -0.2% 26 -1.88
J.J. Redick $4,800 $5,900 0.73 27.7 6.2 20.1 12.7 21.5% 1.5% 27 0.80
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute $3,500 $3,000 0.54 23.5 1.1 12.6 -1.7 11.4% 3.7% 29 0.31
DeAndre Jordan $7,900 $7,500 1.02 31.9 2.3 32.7 4.7 14.5% -1.7% 27 -0.19
Jamal Crawford $3,800 $4,100 0.67 26.5 2.8 17.8 -4.9 23.4% -2.3% 26 N/A

Elite Plays – Chris Paul, Austin Rivers

Secondary Plays – DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford

New Orleans Pelicans at Chicago Bulls – 5:00 PM ET

New Orleans Pelicans Chicago Bulls
neworleansnba Vegas Total 205.0 chicagonba Vegas Total 205.0
Vegas Spread 2.0 Vegas Spread -2.0
Team Total 101.5 Team Total 103.5
Pace +/- -1.7 Pace +/- 1.1
Proj. Starter Jrue Holiday Buddy Hield Solomon Hill Dante Cunningham Anthony Davis Proj. Starter Michael Carter-Williams Dwyane Wade Jimmy Butler Taj Gibson Robin Lopez
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
DvP 15 20 14 18 8 DvP 28 11 21 27 21
DRPM -0.25 -0.06 1.42 1.40 -0.12 DRPM 0.93 -2.59 0.68 1.46 2.98

New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis is hopeful to play against the Bulls tonight, but at time of writing, he is officially listed as questionable. I would expect him to play in his hometown, and if he does, he should be considered one of the top plays on the slate. There is a chance that he gets injured again, but the slate is lacking anyone else over $10k, which makes him more enticing; I’ll definitely be making some Brow tournament lineups. I’m not sure if he is cash game viable, but I don’t hate it for this odd five-game slate. Terrence Jones went bonkers in place of AD, but he’s far too expensive if Davis is in the lineup and he’s relegated to coming off the bench. If the Pels do choose to start him at PF, he’s still a low-end GPP play. Tyreke Evans had his best game of the season in his last game, when he played nearly 28 minutes against the Nets. Evans will likely still see under 30 minutes, and if Davis plays, he’ll see a reduced usage. His salary has been bumped up, as well. All of this adds up to his being simply a GPP option. He’s a better play on DraftKings due to his multi-position eligibility and salary sitting at $5.1k.

Buddy Hield disappeared against the Nets but is still seeing 24+ minutes per contest. It’ll take some time for him to get used to playing with Evans on the court since Evans is such a ball-dominant player. Jrue Holiday has also seen his production dip slightly with the return of Evans, so he’s simply a GPP play in a nice matchup. Simply put, the only really appealing play on this team is Davis, but the rest of the guys are tournament plays since the Bulls are not an elite defensive team.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
Jrue Holiday $6,800 $7,300 0.98 30.9 -2.2 30.2 -2.9 26.6% 0.5% 15 -0.25
Buddy Hield $4,100 $4,300 0.72 20.3 5.0 14.7 3.1 21.0% -5.9% 20 -0.06
Solomon Hill $4,200 $3,600 0.52 27.1 -2.7 14.1 4.5 10.9% 2.7% 14 1.42
Dante Cunningham $3,500 $3,300 0.54 25.1 0.2 13.6 -2.6 10.6% -0.4% 18 1.40
Anthony Davis $11,500 $11,400 1.41 37.1 -3.5 52.3 12.0 31.2% 3.5% 8 -0.12
Tyreke Evans $5,600 $5,100 1.02 15.8 7.1 16.2 11.7 29.0% -1.7% 20 N/A
Terrence Jones $5,100 $6,600 0.89 23.7 -1.2 21.1 0.8 19.7% 2.5% 18 N/A

Elite Plays – Anthony Davis

Secondary Plays – Tyreke Evans (GPP), Jrue Holiday (GPP)

Chicago Bulls

Nikola Mirotic has already been ruled out of this game, and Jimmy Butler is currently being listed as questionable. Michael Carter-Williams is still the starting point guard, and Rajon Rondo is the sixth man. This team is really a mess, but on a slate like this, we want in on some of this action. I’m inclined to believe that Jimmy Butler will play since this game is at home and he’s had the last two games off. He tried to play against the Thunder, but since the game got out of hand, he was not needed to save the day. At time of writing, there is no line on this game, but the line in this one could determine a lot, and it’s worth paying attention to throughout the day. If Jimmy Butler plays, we’ll want him in our tournament lineups and want to get off of Wade. If you’re playing the early slate and can stomach a zero, Butler is worth a GPP play because of immense upside and hopefully low ownership due to his questionable tag. I’m not sure we get a status update before the game in Los Angeles locks.

If Butler misses the game, Dwyane Wade would be an elite option in all formats. If Butler plays, he’s simply a GPP play who could still reach his salary-based expectations. Taj Gibson did not play much against the Knicks, and his minutes are sporadic. With Mirotic out of the lineup, Gibson is worth a GPP look. Bobby Portis has played about 18 minutes in the last two games that Mirotic has missed, but since he’s playing under 20 minutes, he’s simply a tournament flier who could single-handedly ruin your lineup. His upside is not immense in a limited role, but if Gibson were to get into foul trouble, he could really exceed value. Christian Felicio is also another low-end GPP option, but I prefer Robin Lopez since Lopez has the size to bang with Davis. With the center position not being exactly deep today, Lopez is worth a look against his former team. Doug McDermott has been struggling over his last three games but could break out against the Pelicans. The minutes are not secure so can’t go there in cash. MCW, Rondo, and Jerian Grant are all sharing point guard minutes, which really caps each of their ceilings.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
Michael Carter-Williams $4,600 $4,600 0.80 21.7 1.4 17.4 1.1 23.7% 4.1% 28 0.93
Dwyane Wade $7,200 $7,100 1.03 30.4 -0.2 31.3 2.1 30.4% 4.6% 11 -2.59
Jimmy Butler $9,600 $9,000 1.14 36.6 -7.8 41.8 -28.9 29.8% -13.9% 21 0.68
Taj Gibson $4,800 $5,500 0.86 27.6 -2.8 23.8 -0.4 19.0% 0.8% 27 1.46
Robin Lopez $4,100 $4,200 0.75 28.1 -0.5 21.2 -2.7 15.7% 1.2% 21 2.98
Rajon Rondo $4,300 $4,800 0.87 30.1 -5.0 26.2 -2.6 21.9% 5.7% 28 N/A

Elite Plays – Jimmy Butler (if he plays)

Secondary Plays – Dwyane Wade (elite if Butler is out), Robin Lopez, Rajon Rondo (if Butler is out), Michael Carter-Williams (if Butler is out)

San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns – 6:00 PM ET

San Antonio Spurs Phoenix Suns
sanantonionba Vegas Total 214.5 phoenixnba Vegas Total 214.5
Vegas Spread -12.5 Vegas Spread 12.5
Team Total 113.5 Team Total 101.0
Pace +/- 3.9 Pace +/- -2.8
Proj. Starter Tony Parker Danny Green Kawhi Leonard LaMarcus Aldridge Pau Gasol Proj. Starter Eric Bledsoe Devin Booker T.J. Warren Marquese Chriss Tyson Chandler
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
DvP 24 24 19 23 22 DvP 3 22 1 2 1
DRPM -0.39 -1.99 -0.75 -0.54 1.95 DRPM -0.99 1.10 1.00 1.19 1.98

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs just recently destroyed the Suns without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. I’d expect them to demolish Phoenix again tonight in Mexico City. Kawhi Leonard is in play against the Suns. He put up 40 fantasy points against the Lakers in 26 minutes earlier in the week, so the production will still likely be there even if he’s pulled early; in such a scenario, though, his upside is not elite. Pau Gasol got his revenge against the Lakers and scored 41.8 FanDuel points. He’ll be a low-end GPP option against Tyson Chandler tonight. LaMarcus Aldridge mailed it in against the Lakers and will likely have lower ownership in a 23rd-ranked DvP matchup. He always seems to burn us in great spots, so if you’re making a single lineup, LMA is not your guy.

Tony Parker played 29 minutes against the Suns when Leonard was out and exceeded value, but since Leonard is expected to play, and since Parker’s salary has increased since that game, he’ll be a low-end option for this one. Patty Mills has not been seeing heavy minutes and only played 17 minutes in a blowout win over the Lakers. As much as I want to play him in this game, it’s simply too risky since he only played 15 minutes against the Suns with Leonard out. If we’re looking for a GPP punt, Jonathon Simmons looks to be fitting the bill. He’s the minimum salary on FanDuel and has a shot at playing 20 minutes. He’s not going to dominate in his time on the court, but if you’re looking for a minimum-priced forward, Simmons is someone you should look further into.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
Tony Parker $4,800 $4,700 0.79 25.7 0.5 20.3 0.4 24.5% -1.0% 24 -0.39
Danny Green $3,700 $3,500 0.62 25.8 -2.3 16.1 2.0 13.1% 2.6% 24 -1.99
Kawhi Leonard $8,700 $8,500 1.17 33.3 -1.6 39.0 0.6 29.1% -0.9% 19 -0.75
LaMarcus Aldridge $7,300 $6,900 0.98 32.4 -3.4 31.6 -4.4 23.5% -4.8% 23 -0.54
Pau Gasol $6,600 $6,000 1.03 26.6 -2.0 27.5 1.2 21.0% -1.2% 22 1.95
Patty Mills $3,500 $3,200 0.81 22.1 -4.9 18.0 -5.9 21.8% 5.4% 24 N/A

Elite Plays – Kawhi Leonard

Secondary Plays – LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony Parker

Phoenix Suns

Points Per Game: 105.9 (11 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 101.0 (8 of 10)
Projected Point Differential: -4.9 (9 of 10)
Pace of Play: 102.5 (3 of 30)
Projected Pace Differential: -2.8 (9 of 10)

The Suns will continue playing in Mexico City after losing to the Mavs on Thursday night. Devin Booker looks to have found his stroke and tied a season-high with 39 actual points against the Mavs. Danny Green can give him some trouble but is not exactly a defensive stopper. Still, since DraftKings lowered his salary a bit due to matchup, he’s a viable GPP play over there. FanDuel actually bumped his salary due to his last two games and is not as strong of a play. Tyson Chandler continues to get the job done and played 37 minutes against his former team. That’s three games over 30 minutes in his last four. His salary is also slightly inflated now, but he’s not exactly expensive either. Pau Gasol is not a strong rebounder, and Chandler will be in there since the Spurs are a big team in the frontcourt. You can look Brandon Knight if you’re looking for a tournament garbage time play, but it’s better to focus on the good plays on a short slate. Eric Bledsoe has played under 30 minutes in both games against the Spurs this season.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
Eric Bledsoe $7,700 $6,500 1.10 32.6 -0.4 35.9 0.8 29.8% -3.0% 3 -0.99
Devin Booker $6,300 $5,800 0.81 33.6 5.8 27.1 7.6 27.3% 0.5% 22 1.10
T.J. Warren $4,600 $4,000 0.79 29.1 -2.8 23.1 -4.1 21.0% -4.1% 1 1.00
Marquese Chriss $3,900 $3,400 0.73 17.8 7.1 13.1 5.0 19.2% -4.3% 2 1.19
Tyson Chandler $5,400 $4,900 0.84 27.5 5.2 23.0 8.6 10.6% -0.3% 1 1.98
P.J. Tucker $3,800 $3,600 0.62 27.3 2.1 16.9 -0.3 11.2% -0.2% 1 N/A

Elite Plays – N/A

Secondary Plays – Devin Booker (DK), Brandon Knight (DK)

Philadelphia 76ers at Washington Wizards – 8:00 PM ET

Philadelphia 76ers Washington Wizards
philadelphianba Vegas Total 207.5 washingtonnba Vegas Total 207.5
Vegas Spread 9.5 Vegas Spread -9.5
Team Total 99.0 Team Total 108.5
Pace +/- 0.5 Pace +/- 0.8
Proj. Starter T.J. McConnell Nik Stauskas Robert Covington Ersan Ilyasova Nerlens Noel Proj. Starter John Wall Bradley Beal Otto Porter Markieff Morris Marcin Gortat
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
DvP 3 15 9 24 8 DvP 17 16 23 14 25
DRPM -0.40 -0.63 1.34 1.18 1.39 DRPM -0.01 -1.48 2.55 0.23 1.05

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are playing on the second night of a back-to-back and their third game in four nights. They’ve won three in a row, but Joel Embiid will sit out tonight, meaning Jahlil Okafor will get a chance to get back into the rotation. Okafor has not played over the last four games, and DK still bumped up his salary $400 since he is expected to play tonight. If we look at our CourtIQ tool, Gerald Henderson, Robert Covington, and Ersan Ilyasova all see usage rate bumps of around two percent with Embiid and Bayless off the court this season. Ilyasova looks like a lock for 30 minutes and actually scores about four more fantasy points on the road than he does at home. Ilyasova leads the team in usage at 25.5 percent with Embiid and Bayless of, with Okafor right behind him at 25.2 percent. Nerlens Noel has yet to play over 25 minutes in a game this year, but he’s also worth a GPP look with Embiid out of the lineup. Noel is the projected starter, but at time of writing, the Sixers have not officially named a starter. Dario Saric has been slightly more consistent, averaging 23.1 DraftKings points over his last eight games. Still, he’s not playing over 30 minutes but will get a slight bump in minutes with Embiid out.

Even with Sergio Rodriguez around, T.J. McConnell is a lock for 30+ minutes, and he deserves consideration tonight. His salary has spiked considerably due to his new role, and he’s barely making salary-based expectations over his last three games. Still, Embiid was in the lineup, and we can expect that McConnell should be able make value against the Wizards. Robert Covington has improved his consistency recently, and he’s a strong play with Embiid out. Gerald Henderson is still playing off the bench behind Nik Stauskas, and both players are too risky with better options available on the team.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
T.J. McConnell $5,400 $5,600 0.80 22.0 13.6 17.5 13.7 19.0% -3.8% 3 -0.40
Nik Stauskas $3,600 $3,900 0.59 26.3 -0.5 15.5 0.1 16.4% -1.7% 15 -0.63
Robert Covington $5,500 $6,200 0.76 30.2 4.9 22.8 5.6 17.8% -2.3% 9 1.34
Ersan Ilyasova $5,900 $6,700 0.89 27.4 1.8 24.5 4.1 21.7% 8.3% 24 1.18
Nerlens Noel $4,700 $5,500 1.08 14.7 8.6 15.9 10.8 18.9% -1.4% 8 1.39

Elite Plays – Ersan Ilyasova, Robert Covington, T.J. McConnell

Secondary Plays – Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Dario Saric

Washington Wizards

John Wall is dealing with a pinkie and wrist injury, but the Wizards are optimistic he plays tonight. We’ll likely get another update after shootaround, but I’m not sure I can spend this much on a guy who is struggling with his shot, even in a nice matchup. I’d rather play Chris Paul against the Lakers or take a shot at Jimmy Butler against the Pelicans. With Wall likely limited, we’ll have to go to the Bradley Beal well. Beal took 26 shots against the Celtics on Wednesday and scored 35 actual points. He’s played 37 minutes in consecutive games, so it’s safe to assume his ankle injury is behind him. Beal is an elite play at shooting guard today even if Wall plays. If Wall does not play, Beal will be mandatory. According to CourtIQ, Markieff Morris sees a 5.5 percent usage rate increase with Wall off the court. Morris is coming in hot, averaging 33.36 FanDuel points over his last three games. Morris has let us down multiple times in prime spots, so proceed with caution. Still, if Wall misses, he’ll need to be in your lineups.

Jahlil Okafor is not an elite defender, but Nerlens Noel is pretty stout defensively. Therefore, if Okafor starts, Marcin Gortat will be an extremely strong tournament option and an elite cash game play. If Noel starts, it knocks him down just a tick. Otto Porter is also another player to consider if Wall is off. He sees a 3.6 percent usage rate increase with Wall off the court this season. If Wall does play, Porter will have to deal with Covington and his 2.55 DPRM. It’s not ideal, but the minutes will be there for Porter. If Wall misses, Trey Burke could start in his place. Burke has had one really good game all season, and that was against the lowly Nets. I’d rather focus on the main guys for the Wizards if Wall ends up sitting.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
John Wall $9,700 $9,500 1.23 36.6 2.0 45.1 -5.1 34.3% -3.3% 17 -0.01
Bradley Beal $7,000 $7,000 0.92 34.5 2.3 31.9 2.3 26.6% 2.5% 16 -1.48
Otto Porter $6,200 $6,600 0.83 34.0 2.4 28.4 4.7 15.1% -1.6% 23 2.55
Markieff Morris $5,700 $6,000 0.78 31.3 1.2 24.6 8.9 20.1% 4.3% 14 0.23
Marcin Gortat $6,100 $6,400 0.82 35.9 1.0 29.4 -6.5 14.0% -2.1% 25 1.05

Elite Plays – Bradley Beal, Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat

Secondary Plays – Otto Porter, Trey Burke (only if Wall and Satoransky are out)

Orlando Magic at Utah Jazz – 9:00 PM ET

Orlando Magic Utah Jazz
orlandonba Vegas Total 196.0 utahnba Vegas Total 196.0
Vegas Spread 11.5 Vegas Spread -11.5
Team Total 92.3 Team Total 103.8
Pace +/- -5.5 Pace +/- -0.9
Proj. Starter Elfrid Payton Evan Fournier Aaron Gordon Serge Ibaka Nikola Vucevic Proj. Starter George Hill Rodney Hood Gordon Hayward Derrick Favors Rudy Gobert
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
DvP 2 1 1 1 4 DvP 25 10 15 8 23
DRPM 1.10 0.51 0.14 1.71 4.97 DRPM -0.46 -1.07 -1.43 0.48 1.51

Orlando Magic

The Magic will be traveling to the Utah on the second night of a back-to-back and are playing their third game in four nights. Nikola Vucevic dominated last night against the Blazers, but what’s new? The Blazers have been getting crushed by opposing big men all season long. I would not chase Vucevic tonight against the Jazz. Serge Ibaka returned from a one-game absence and slightly underperformed salary based expectations in 28.5 minutes. He needs over 32 fantasy points to really make me happy, and I’m not sure he gets there against the Jazz. Aaron Gordon is playing heavy minutes, but he also is a low-end option here. Elfrid Payton had a strong game against the Blazers, but we’ve also been targeting point guards against Portland all season long. I won’t be using the Elf against George Hill. No one really has immense upside in this matchup, and on a short slate, it’s better to just focus on the elite plays we can lock in. This game does not have a line at time of writing, so things could change.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
Elfrid Payton $4,800 $4,900 0.92 28.4 -6.1 26.0 -8.5 24.8% 4.9% 2 1.10
Evan Fournier $5,300 $5,300 0.79 33.1 -1.6 26.1 -4.7 24.1% 0.3% 1 0.51
Aaron Gordon $5,000 $5,400 0.79 26.7 6.3 21.1 5.1 20.3% 0.2% 1 0.14
Serge Ibaka $6,500 $5,700 0.95 30.7 4.9 29.1 3.4 20.6% 1.7% 1 1.71
Nikola Vucevic $6,700 $6,100 1.13 28.0 0.7 31.8 2.3 25.2% 4.1% 4 4.97
Bismack Biyombo $3,900 $3,800 0.76 25.4 -4.7 19.3 -3.6 12.7% 0.4% 4 N/A

Elite Plays – N/A

Secondary Plays – Aaron Gordon

Utah Jazz

Holy smokes, the Jazz are actually finally healthy. It took them half the season, but they finally got there. George Hill only played 27 minutes last night in the blowout victory over the Pistons. As I mentioned above, the line has yet to come out, but I’m getting you guys the content as early as possible since we have an early game and early main slate lock on our hands. Hill has averaged 27.92 FanDuel points in his last four games since returning from a concussion. It is an elite spot for him to capitalize on due to the 25th-ranked DvP matchup. Rudy Gobert has been struggling now that Derrick Favors has been picking up steam. Gobert actually lost his franchise-record double-double streak and is a better play on DraftKings since his salary is under $7k. With the position lacking a ton of depth, he’s cash game viable on this slate on DK. Gordon Hayward has been making salary-based expectations on DK over his last three games and only played 26 minutes last night. He’s a bit cheaper on DK than he is on FD and the only thing I’m concerned about is another blowout.

Derrick Favors is starting to put some consistent numbers up and is still under $5k on both sites. He’s could easily disappear or be rested on the second night of a back-to-back against an inferior opponent, which makes him too risky for cash. Rodney Hood FINALLY put together two strong games for the first time in over a month, and he’ll be an elite option against the Magic. Evan Fournier (-1.07 DPRM) is not an elite defender, and luckily for us, his salary did not jump since the Jazz are on the second night of a back-to-back. He’ll likely be chased by everyone on a short slate and is cash game viable. I’m not sure the tournament viability since the ownership will be high, but he’s too cheap to ignore.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L3 +/- FP/Game L3 +/- True Usage L3 +/- DvP DRPM
George Hill $6,100 $6,300 0.99 31.1 2.9 30.7 -2.5 24.3% -0.9% 25 -0.46
Rodney Hood $4,200 $4,400 0.73 29.2 -0.3 21.3 -2.5 23.1% -2.0% 10 -1.07
Gordon Hayward $7,600 $7,200 1.00 35.1 -0.6 35.2 -2.5 27.6% -2.2% 15 -1.43
Derrick Favors $4,700 $4,800 0.88 22.5 5.6 19.8 2.2 20.3% -2.0% 8 0.48
Rudy Gobert $7,500 $6,600 0.99 33.3 1.3 33.1 -0.6 14.9% 0.1% 23 1.51

Elite Plays – George Hill, Rodney Hood

Secondary Plays – Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert (elite DK), Derrick Favors

About the Author

INSPYR
Chirag Hira (INSPYR)

Chirag Hira, DFS alias “INSPYR”, has been playing fantasy basketball since 2001. He picked up DFS during the 2015 playoffs and has never looked back. In charge of DFS Alerts for the NBA, Chirag takes it as a daily challenge to break news before anyone else in the industry. He graduated with a degree in sports journalism and his career highlights include interviewing Kobe Bryant and Joe Torre. You can find Chirag on Twitter at C_Hira24.