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NBA Grind Down: Saturday, January 16 - Page Two

by Andy Smith (a25smith) Last Updated 2016-01-17 01:04:39

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New York at Memphis – 08:00 PM

New York Memphis
newyorknba Vegas Total memphisnba Vegas Total
Vegas Sprd Vegas Sprd
Team Proj. Team Proj.
Team Pace 96.25 Team Pace 95.83
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 Jose Calderon Arron Afflalo Lance Thomas Kristaps Porzingis Robin Lopez Proj Starter Mike Conley Courtney Lee Tony Allen Zach Randolph Marc Gasol
Opp. Season 10 4 21 11 4 Opp. Season 8 13 7 9 16
Opp. Last 7 17 15 5 16 7 Opp. Season 20 4 10 20 22

New York

Record: 20-21 — Road: 9-13 — Last 10: 6-4

This game is one of the least appealing games on the slate as both teams are solid defensively and play at a slow pace. The Knicks will be without Carmelo Anthony so there will extra usage to around. Lance Thomas should draw the start in his place, but the biggest boost should go to Arron Afflalo and Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis will have a height advantage over Jeff Green if the Grizzlies go small, and if the Grizzlies go big with Zach Randolph then he should get open jump shots. The matchup isn’t ideal for Afflalo but he’s played very well when Carmelo has been out and is affordable around the industry. Derrick Williams exploded for a monster game with Carmelo out last game and has been playing well recently. He’s still coming off the bench and his minutes aren’t fully secure so he’s more of a tournament option.

Elite Plays – Kristaps Porzingis

Secondary Plays – Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams

Memphis

Record: 22-19 – Home: 14-7 — Last 10: 6-4

Mike Conley is doubtful for tonight’s contest so Mario Chalmers should draw another start. He’s played monster minutes with Conley sidelined and is a prime mid-range target on sites like Fanduel where his price hasn’t risen. In terms of efficiency the Knicks aren’t a great defense, but they play at a slow pace and haven’t yielded much fantasy production this year so guys like Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Tony Allen are secondary options.

Elite Plays – Mario Chalmers

Secondary Plays – Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen

L.A. Lakers at Utah – 09:00 PM

L.A. Lakers Utah
lalakersnba Vegas Total utahnba Vegas Total
Vegas Sprd Vegas Sprd
Team Proj. Team Proj.
Team Pace 98.69 Team Pace 93.47
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 Jordan Clarkson Louis Williams Anthony Brown Larry Nance Roy Hibbert Proj Starter Raulzinho Neto Rodney Hood Gordon Hayward Trey Lyles Rudy Gobert
Opp. Season 9 7 6 4 5 Opp. Season 30 26 24 21 28
Opp. Last 7 7 21 8 14 16 Opp. Season 12 26 15 3 19

L.A. Lakers Record: 9-32 – Road: 4-20 — Last 10:4-6

The Lakers draw a very tough assignment tonight as they’ll face a slow paced Utah team that has Rudy Gobert back anchoring their defense. As a result there’s not much to like here but Lou Williams has been playing very well recently. Utah hasn’t been great against SG recently, and Kobe Bryant is questionable so he could continue to pick up extra usage.

Elite Plays – NONE

Secondary Plays – Lou Williams

Utah

Record: 17-22 – Home: 11-9 — Last 10:4-6

While the Lakers have a tough matchup, the Jazz are on the opposite as they have an elite matchup with a very bad Lakers’ defense. The Lakers are at the bottom of every defensive category so this is a nice spot to target Utah. Derrick Favors is expected to miss another game so Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood should continue to shoulder the offensive burden and are elite options. Rudy Gobert is a tournament option as his price is down and he played 30 minutes last game. He gets very little offensive usage, but he could be in for a big day on the glass. Finally, Trey Lyles and Trey Burke are both tournament punt options due to the elite matchup, but would be very risky cash game options.

Elite Plays – Gordon Hayward, Rodney Hood

Secondary Plays – Rudy Gobert

Sacramento at L.A. Clippers – 10:30 PM

Sacramento L.A. Clippers
sacramentonba Vegas Total laclippersnba Vegas Total
Vegas Sprd Vegas Sprd
Team Proj. Team Proj.
Team Pace 101.97 Team Pace 98.4
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 Ben McLemore Rudy Gay Quincy Acy DeMarcus Cousins Proj Starter Chris Paul J.J. Redick Wesley Johnson Luc Richard Mbah a Moute DeAndre Jordan
Opp. Season 7 12 14 5 20 Opp. Season 25 29 23 28 24
Opp. Last 7 6 22 1 1 23 Opp. Season 27 18 19 26 5

Sacramento

Record: 16-23 – Road: 6-12 — Last 10:4-6

This game is the late night hammer as it should see a ton of fantasy production. The Vegas total is set at 215 points, with the Kings projected total at 104.8 points. The Kings starting lineup has been in flux as Willie Cauley Stein stepped in for Quincy Acy last game. Omri Casspi is back from injury and with the Clippers starting a small PF, we could also see Omri step back into the starting lineup. Regardless of who starts at PF, Demarcus Cousins is the elite option. He put up 58 FD points against Rudy Gobert last game and the Clippers have struggled against centers all season. Rajon Rondo draws a tough matchup with Chris Paul, who is a very good defender, but this is also the type of matchup that Rondo loves to get up for. The fast paced game should also suit his game. Omri Casspi is in play if he draws the start, while Rudy Gay is a solid secondary option.

Elite Plays – DeMarcus Cousins

Secondary Plays – Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay, Omri Casspi (if he starts)

L.A. Clippers

Record: 26-13 – Home: 14-6 — Last 10:10-0

Along with the Jazz, the Clippers draw the top matchup on the board. The Kings play at a very fast pace and are terrible across the board defensively. The Clips are also surprisingly playing great basketball right now and are 10-0 over their last ten game, despite being without Blake Griffn. The primary reason for that is the play of Chris Paul, who has been great. He’s one of, if not the, elite option at PG today. J. J. Redick has been tough to trust, but the Kings are terrible against SG and this looks like a game where he pours in 20+ real points. DeAndre Jordan missed the last game with the flu and is questionable for tonight. If he suits up then he’s a rock solid option center and if he sits then Cole Aldrich becomes a viable punt option. Jamal Crawford, Paul Pierce and Wesley Johnson have been ok at times but are tough to trust. Of that group, I prefer Crawford due to the King’s poor SG defense and he’s topped 20 FD points in three straight.

Elite Plays – Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan / Cole Aldrich

Secondary Plays J.J. Redick, Jamal Crawford

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About the Author

a25smith
Andy Smith (a25smith)