NBA Grind Down: Sunday, April 12th - Page Two
Atlanta at Washington – 6:00 PM EST
- Vegas Line – No Lines Set for This Game Yet
- Atlanta Proj. Starters – Teague-Korver-Carroll-Muscala-Horford
- Washington Proj. Starters – Sessions-Beal-Pierce-Hilario-Gortat
| Atlanta | Washington | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total |  | Vegas Total | |||||||||
| Vegas Sprd | Vegas Sprd | |||||||||||
| Team Proj. | Team Proj. | |||||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.12 | Team Pace | 96.04 | |||||||||
| 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 | Jeff Teague | Kyle Korver | DeMarre Carroll | Mike Muscala | Al Horford | Proj Starter | Ramon Sessions | Bradley Beal | Paul Pierce | Nene Hilario | Marcin Gortat | |
| Opp. Season | 15 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Opp. Season | 13 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 9 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 18 | 19 | 1 | 22 | 18 | Opp. Last 7 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 6 | |
Atlanta
Atlanta travels to Washington for what could eventually be a playoff matchup between the two Eastern Conference teams. The Hawks have already locked up the top spot so they may, like the Cavs, not play their starters full minutes. With that said, they have a tough matchup against the Wizards who only allow 97.6 points per game. Check back on news, but Millsap looks to be out and they may rest some other players.
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Mike Muscala (FD: $4300, DK: $4300) – While the starters are playing around 25-28 minutes, the one guy that should be able to reach value tonight is Muscala who is priced low across the industry. He does not have the greatest matchup against the Wizards, but I do expect him to at least hit value.
Washington
While Atlanta has basically nothing to play for, the Wizards could still get home court advantage for the playoffs. They may or may not have to do this with John Wall, who may sit again. This should be a defensive matchup between these two teams and while the total is not out yet, I expect it to be one of the lower totals of the slate.
Elite Plays
Check back on the news as if John Wall sits, Ramon Sessions becomes one of the top value plays on the slate and Bradley Beal makes a very solid option as well.
Secondary Plays
None
New Orleans at Houston – 7:00 PM EST
- Vegas Line – Houston -4.5, 200 Over/Under
- New Orleans Proj. Starters – Evans-Gordon-Pondexter-Davis-Asik
- Houston Proj. Starters – Terry-Harden-Ariza-Jones-Howard
| New Orleans | Houston | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 200 |  | Vegas Total | 200 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 4.5 | Vegas Sprd | -4.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 97.8 | Team Proj. | 102.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 93.74 | Team Pace | 99.17 | |||||||||
| 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 | Tyreke Evans | Eric Gordon | Quincy Pondexter | Anthony Davis | Omer Asik | Proj Starter | Jason Terry | James Harden | Trevor Ariza | Terrence Jones | Dwight Howard | |
| Opp. Season | 3 | 20 | 21 | 28 | 21 | Opp. Season | 14 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 20 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 21 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 16 | Opp. Last 7 | 15 | 8 | 18 | 21 | 28 | |
New Orleans
This should be a very entertaining game between two teams that are fighting for playoff positioning and one for a playoff spot. The Pelicans are looking to make that push for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and are coming off a win against the Suns in order to do it. Tonight’s matchup is a bit tougher as they will travel to Houston for a game against the Beard and the Rockets. This should be a pace up game for the Pelicans as Houston allows 100.6 points per game.
Elite Plays
Anthony Davis (FD: $11700, DK: $11000) – Like Westbrook, Davis makes us pay heavily for a huge price tag that has not paid it off recently. This is due to blowing the Suns out and getting blown out by the Grizzlies, which has dropped his salary a bit. He had 54 fantasy points against this Rockets squad about three weeks ago and should come close in a must-win game.
Secondary Plays
With Jrue Holiday back into the lineup, he is going to take a bit of value away from guys like Evans and Gordon, which take them out of consideration a bit for me tonight.
Houston
While the Rockets are looking to bounce back from a couple tough losses, they will also look to play spoiler to the Pelicans playoff chances tonight. This should be a very solid game to watch tonight as the Rockets are only 5-point favorites with a total of 200.
Elite Plays
James Harden (FD: $11100, DK: $10600) – If I had to pick one of the studs today, I would most likely go with Anthony Davis tonight, but that is not to say that Harden doesn’t dominate as well. He has a tough matchup against the Pelicans who are ranked first in the league at defending the shooting guard position over the last three weeks, but he is the Beard and we have seen him go off in the toughest of matchups this year.
Secondary Plays
I like Trevor Ariza as well as Dwight Howard tonight. Ariza is more consistent and will get you close to 30 fantasy points while playing a ton of minutes. Howard is seeing his minutes increase each game and had a 35 fantasy point performance last time out. If he does play, Howard could see close to 30 minutes and could produce value during that time and makes a decent tournament play where he is cheap.
Phoenix at San Antonio – 7:00 PM EST
- Vegas Line – San Antonio -15.5, 202.5 Over/Under
- Phoenix Proj. Starters – Bledsoe-Tucker-Morris-Morris-Wright
- San Antonio Proj. Starters – Parker-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Baynes
| Phoenix | San Antonio | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 202 |  | Vegas Total | 202 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 15.5 | Vegas Sprd | -15.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 93.5 | Team Proj. | 109.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 99.08 | 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 | Eric Bledsoe | P.J. Tucker | Marcus Morris | Markieff Morris | Brandan Wright | Proj Starter | Tony Parker | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Aron Baynes | |
| Opp. Season | 9 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 13 | Opp. Season | 18 | 19 | 22 | 11 | 19 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 19 | Opp. Last 7 | ||||||
Phoenix
The Suns have been bad, really bad of late. They have lost eight of their last nine games and may make it a few more losses as they play the Spurs and the Clippers in their last three games. As gigantic underdogs on this slate, it may be best to avoid the Suns overall.
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Brandan Wright and Marcus Morris are still cheap and will still see the court for a lot of minutes. The blowout really worries me with these guys, but they could reach value if this game stays close, but that is a big IF.
San Antonio
The Spurs are in the thick of getting one of the top spots in the Western Conference once again. They have a solid chance to improve their positioning tonight against a struggling Suns squad. The Spurs are the biggest favorites of the night at -15, which does not make the best time to play many of these San Antonio players.
Elite Plays
Kawhi Leonard (FD: $8500, DK: $8200) – The one guy we can trust game in and game out to play well for the Spurs is Leonard. He has emerged as probably the best player (at this stage of their careers) on the floor for the Spurs and is putting up solid games. He has played 39 and 35 minutes in his last two games and even if he only plays three quarters, should put up enough stats to come close to value.
Secondary Plays
None
Dallas at L.A. Lakers – 9:30 PM EST
- Vegas Line – Dallas -8, 204 Over/Under
- Dallas Proj. Starters – Rondo-Ellis-Jefferson-Nowitzki-Chandler
- L.A. Lakers Proj. Starters – Clarkson-Brown-Johnson-Kelly-Black
| Dallas | L.A. Lakers | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 204 |  | Vegas Total | 204 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -8.0 | Vegas Sprd | 8.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 106.0 | Team Proj. | 98.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 97.08 | Team Pace | 96.32 | |||||||||
| 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 | Monta Ellis | Richard Jefferson | Dirk Nowitzki | Tyson Chandler | Proj Starter | Jordan Clarkson | Jabari Brown | Wesley Johnson | Ryan Kelly | Tarik Black | |
| Opp. Season | 30 | 26 | 20 | 15 | 23 | Opp. Season | 19 | 13 | 25 | 17 | 17 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 24 | 23 | 14 | 28 | 3 | Opp. Last 7 | 7 | 17 | 27 | 10 | 29 | |
Dallas
Coming off that double overtime game against the Nuggets, I would be very surprised to see the normal starting lineup tonight for the Mavs, or at least surprised to see a normal allotment of minutes out of who does play. Dallas has the seventh seed in the playoffs regardless of outcomes. Check the news tonight to see who is playing as I can see some great value plays opening up depending on who plays as they have a great matchup against the Lakers.
Elite Plays
Check Back
Secondary Plays
Check Back
L.A. Lakers
The Lakers’ terrible season is coming to a close, but some of the younger guys have actually stepped their game up a bit. Vegas believes that a lot of Mavericks may sit tonight as the Lakers are only 4-point underdogs with a total of 204.
Elite Plays
Jordan Clarkson (FD: $8000, DK: $7000) – He has had a price jump across the industry, but that is due to some monster games. He has scored at least 30 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games and has scored over 40 in four of those matchups. He is the focal point of this offense down the stretch and should put up another solid effort tonight.
Ryan Kelly (FD: $4800, DK: $4600) – Kelly is simply getting too many minutes and producing too well lately to not be in play. He is coming off his best game of the season after playing 38 minutes and putting up 21 points. He has gained some confidence going forward and is one of the top value plays.
Secondary Plays
None