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NBA Grind Down: Sunday, April 2nd

by Justin Van Zuiden (stlcardinals84) Last Updated 2017-04-04 12:58:09

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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.

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 extra 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.

Legend & FAQ

Boston Celtics at New York Knicks – 11:00 AM ET

Boston Celtics New York Knicks
bostonnba Vegas Total 211.0 newyorknba Vegas Total 211.0
Vegas Spread -6.5 Vegas Spread 6.5
Team Total 108.8 Team Total 102.3
Pace +/- 0.3 Pace +/- 0.4
Proj. Starter Isaiah Thomas Jaylen Brown Jae Crowder Amir Johnson Al Horford Proj. Starter Ron Baker Courtney Lee Mindaugas Kuzminskas Kristaps Porzingis Willy Hernangomez
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 13 19 22 19 28 Adj. DvP 17 13 12 23 21
DRPM -0.27 -1.02 -1.03 2.01 0.68 DRPM -4.25 0.02 1.14 3.54 1.58

Boston Celtics

Avery Bradley – Out (Illness)
Amir Johnson – Questionable (Ankle)

Greetings, everyone! I am going to try to fill in for the almighty Notorious today, so take it easy on me. This is the first NBA Grind Down I have written all year, and of course it comes on a day with a hefty 12-game slate. I can’t remember a Sunday slate all year that has been even remotely this large. As such, my descriptions here might be a little on the lighter side. If you have a question on a player that I don’t touch on, feel free to ask in the comments. I’ll try to respond if there is time.

As for this game, we have a battle between two old school NBA teams. The Knicks have basically given up on the 2016-2017 season, making this a fine matchup for the Celtics. New York allows a lot of points and a lot of fantasy points, as they rank near the bottom of the league in many defensive categories. There will be additional minutes and usage to go around for Boston with Avery Bradley ruled out again today. That puts Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart on the punt radar, while it enhances the value for Isaiah Thomas. Thomas should thrive regardless of whether he is matched up against Derrick Rose or Ron Baker.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Isaiah Thomas $8,500 1.19 34.1 0.3 40.5 -2.1 34.9% -0.4% 13 -0.27
Jaylen Brown $3,800 0.69 16.9 0.9 11.7 1.8 17.3% -2.5% 19 -1.02
Jae Crowder $5,900 0.79 32.5 2.3 25.6 2.3 16.8% 2.6% 22 -1.03
Amir Johnson $4,000 0.81 20.2 3.7 16.4 3.2 14.4% 1.1% 19 2.01
Al Horford $7,100 1.00 32.6 -0.2 32.7 2.9 21.7% -2.7% 28 0.68
Marcus Smart $5,900 0.79 30.4 -3.5 23.9 -2.2 21.0% 3.8% 19 N/A

Elite Plays – Isaiah Thomas

Secondary Plays – Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart

New York Knicks

Carmelo Anthony – Questionable (Back)
Derrick Rose – Questionable (Knee)

The Knicks are a bit of an unknown at this point. As of the time I am writing this, both Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony are listed as questionable. The good news is that this game is the first game of the day at 1:00 PM EST, so we should know the status of those two players in advance of roster lock. Point guards are always good to target against Boston, as Isaiah Thomas has some of the worst defense in the NBA. If Rose plays, he’s a super sneaky GPP option. If he sits, the low upside Ron Baker would enter the punt play discussion in cash games, as he has been playing huge minutes lately. Sasha Vujecic played 36 minutes in the last game, but I’m not going there. Kristaps Porzingis would benefit once again from a potential Carmelo Anthony absence. You’re going to have to monitor the news on this one.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Ron Baker $3,500 0.60 14.0 8.9 8.3 3.4 17.0% -1.6% 17 -4.25
Courtney Lee $4,600 0.61 32.1 3.9 19.7 2.7 14.6% -0.5% 13 0.02
Mindaugas Kuzminskas $3,500 0.70 14.6 7.1 10.3 3.7 18.8% -2.3% 12 1.14
Kristaps Porzingis $7,200 1.00 32.8 0.8 32.7 2.6 23.8% 0.9% 23 3.54
Willy Hernangomez $5,100 1.05 17.6 7.0 18.5 10.3 20.3% 2.1% 21 1.58

Elite Plays – Kristaps Porzingis (if Anthony is out)

Secondary Plays – Kristaps Porzingis (if Anthony plays), Derrick Rose (if active and starting), Ron Baker (if Rose is out), Guillermo Hernangomez (GPP)

Charlotte Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder – 3:00 PM ET

Charlotte Hornets Oklahoma City Thunder
charlottenba Vegas Total 215.0 oklahomacitynba Vegas Total 215.0
Vegas Spread 5.0 Vegas Spread -5.0
Team Total 105.0 Team Total 110.0
Pace +/- 1.9 Pace +/- -0.7
Proj. Starter Kemba Walker Nicolas Batum Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Marvin Williams Cody Zeller Proj. Starter Russell Westbrook Victor Oladipo Andre Roberson Taj Gibson Steven Adams
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 10 15 11 14 15 Adj. DvP 15 27 20 17 16
DRPM -0.19 0.93 2.16 1.56 1.34 DRPM -0.94 -0.37 2.21 0.28 3.08

Charlotte Hornets

None

This is one of the sneaky good games to target today, as we have a healthy Vegas total of 215 points in this game along with a very reasonable five-point spread. The Hornets are still technically in the playoff race, as they sit two games behind the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. That gives them something to play for, which has value at this stage of the season. Kemba Walker is coming off a 31-point game on Friday and should relish a matchup with Russell Westbrook. With all the big men healthy, it’s tough to predict who to target among Frank Kaminsky, Cody Zeller, Marvin Williams, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The first two are the higher-upside targets, which means you can consider them as risk/reward options in tournaments. Nicolas Batum is in play as a secondary option, but he has been relatively quiet of late.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Kemba Walker $7,600 $8,000 1.05 34.6 1.0 36.5 1.2 30.3% 1.1% 10 -0.19
Nicolas Batum $6,300 $6,800 0.93 34.3 -3.7 32.0 -6.0 24.2% 2.1% 15 0.93
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist $4,600 $4,800 0.79 29.1 -2.3 22.9 -4.5 14.2% -0.5% 11 2.16
Marvin Williams $6,400 $6,000 0.78 30.5 4.2 23.7 4.2 16.1% -3.0% 14 1.56
Cody Zeller $4,900 $5,000 0.84 27.7 2.3 23.3 2.3 15.8% -2.5% 15 1.34
Frank Kaminsky $5,400 $5,100 0.82 26.2 0.9 21.6 -0.5 21.5% -0.5% 14 N/A

Elite Plays – Kemba Walker

Secondary Plays – Nicolas Batum, Cody Zeller (GPP), Frank Kaminsky (GPP)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Taj Gibson – Questionable (Illness)

It’s Russell Westbrook’s world, and we are just living in it. He has now logged FIVE straight triple-doubles, and he just happened to put up a 33/15/8 line the first time these two teams played. If you can find enough value to fit Westbrook in your lineups, do it. The rest of the team isn’t very exciting for fantasy purposes, outside of Victor Oladipo. He has trouble co-existing with Westbrook at times, and he tends to disappear. I’ll probably look elsewhere on a full Sunday slate. The big men aren’t as appealing with both Enes Kanter and Steven Adams healthy.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Russell Westbrook $13,600 $13,300 1.69 34.8 -0.4 58.9 2.2 45.8% -1.1% 15 -0.94
Victor Oladipo $5,900 $5,700 0.80 33.4 1.5 26.6 0.8 21.4% 0.1% 27 -0.37
Andre Roberson $4,100 $3,900 0.59 30.4 0.1 18.0 2.4 10.3% 0.6% 20 2.21
Taj Gibson $4,000 $3,800 0.82 26.0 -6.0 21.3 -5.1 18.4% 1.1% 17 0.28
Steven Adams $4,800 $4,400 0.82 30.1 -4.1 24.8 -7.5 16.2% -1.4% 16 3.08
Enes Kanter $5,700 $4,800 1.15 21.5 -0.3 24.7 1.8 26.3% 1.9% 17 N/A

Elite Plays – Russell Westbrook

Secondary Plays – Victor Oladipo

Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers – 1:30 PM ET

Memphis Grizzlies Los Angeles Lakers
memphisnba Vegas Total 208.0 lalakersnba Vegas Total 208.0
Vegas Spread -8.0 Vegas Spread 8.0
Team Total 108.0 Team Total 100.0
Pace +/- 2.3 Pace +/- -3.6
Proj. Starter Mike Conley Tony Allen Vince Carter James Ennis Brandan Wright Proj. Starter Jordan Clarkson D’Angelo Russell Brandon Ingram Julius Randle Tarik Black
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 29 26 28 30 29 Adj. DvP 8 14 7 1 1
DRPM -3.00 -1.84 -3.29 -0.74 1.58 DRPM -0.59 1.85 0.03 -0.36

Memphis Grizzlies

Marc Gasol – Out (Foot)
JaMychal Green – Out (Shoulder)

The Grizzlies are going to be playing extremely short-handed today, with Marc Gasol and JaMychal Green both remaining sidelined due to injury. Vince Carter is also going to rest for this game. It just happens to be a favorable matchup against the Lakers. Combine a matchup with the Lakers and a short rotation, and you have the opportunity for a fantasy gold mine. Mike Conley should be the focal point of the offense, while Zach Randolph will look to continue his double-double ways after putting up 22 and 12 on Friday. If value is what you seek, both Brandan Wright and James Ennis are in play thanks to the thinned out rotation and great matchup.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Mike Conley $8,300 $8,300 1.04 33.6 2.8 35.1 1.7 29.5% 2.1% 29 -3.00
Tony Allen $4,100 $4,300 0.75 27.4 0.5 20.5 0.5 17.6% -0.9% 26 -1.84
Vince Carter $3,900 $4,300 0.68 24.5 6.3 16.6 2.5 15.6% -1.5% 28 -3.29
James Ennis $3,600 $3,900 0.59 23.3 0.3 13.8 1.3 13.0% -2.2% 30 -0.74
Brandan Wright $3,600 $4,100 0.86 14.7 4.2 12.6 1.6 16.8% -2.4% 29 1.58
Zach Randolph $5,600 $7,000 1.08 24.3 2.2 26.2 -0.8 28.5% -0.9% 30 N/A

Elite Plays – Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Brandan Wright

Secondary Plays – James Ennis, Tony Allen

Los Angeles Lakers

Ivica Zubac – Out for season (Ankle)

This is a terrible pace-down matchup for the Lakers, so there isn’t much appeal here. There will be more minutes to go around with Ivica Zubac out for the season, but it’s hard to find someone to love. Luke Walton will continue to rotate players liberally, and this is just a bad matchup. I suppose Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell are in the conversation at point guard if you want to go there. David Nwaba played 35 solid minutes the other night after Zubac went down, so he could be considered as a punt option. Don’t go crazy here.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Jordan Clarkson $5,900 $5,800 0.77 29.1 10.8 22.6 5.4 23.8% -4.0% 8 -0.59
D’Angelo Russell $6,700 $6,500 0.98 28.4 8.9 27.8 4.4 28.6% -4.0% 14 1.85
Brandon Ingram $4,500 $4,700 0.59 29.3 5.9 17.4 5.6 16.4% 2.0% 7 0.03
Julius Randle $6,600 $6,100 1.00 29.0 1.6 29.0 0.3 23.0% -1.4% 1
Tarik Black $3,700 $4,000 0.87 15.8 -1.6 13.8 -3.3 16.1% -1.9% 1 -0.36
Larry Nance $3,900 $4,600 0.81 22.1 2.7 18.0 -0.9 13.7% 1.2% 1 N/A

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell (GPP), David Nwaba

Dallas Mavericks at Milwaukee Bucks – 3:30 PM ET

Dallas Mavericks Milwaukee Bucks
dallasnba Vegas Total 197.0 milwaukeenba Vegas Total 197.0
Vegas Spread 5.5 Vegas Spread -5.5
Team Total 95.8 Team Total 101.3
Pace +/- -1.8 Pace +/- -4.7
Proj. Starter Yogi Ferrell Wesley Matthews Harrison Barnes Dirk Nowitzki Nerlens Noel Proj. Starter Matthew Dellavedova Tony Snell Khris Middleton Giannis Antetokounmpo Thon Maker
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 14 6 8 8 13 Adj. DvP 2 8 3 11 6
DRPM -1.84 -0.68 0.52 1.93 -0.46 DRPM -1.21 0.36 -0.20 1.18 1.93

Dallas Mavericks

Seth Curry – Questionable (Shoulder)

On the large slates, there are sometimes games you can completely write off. If you are playing the all-day slate, this would likely be a game that I don’t mind totally ignoring. If you are playing the early only slate, you probably don’t have the luxury of doing that. We have a relatively low total in this game of just 197 points, and it’s hard to imagine this one turning into a track meet. The point guard position is a mess in Dallas, so you can ignore that. Nerlens Noel isn’t getting consistent minutes, so you can probably ignore him here, too. Dirk Nowitzki has turned back the clock a lot lately, but there’s limited upside there. Seth Curry may or may not play. Wesley Matthews gets a boost if Curry is out. That’s about all I have, as I don’t like playing Dallas guys — especially when they are on the road against a team like Milwaukee.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Yogi Ferrell $4,600 $3,900 0.74 25.6 -2.3 18.9 2.2 21.5% 2.6% 14 -1.84
Wesley Matthews $4,600 $5,100 0.68 34.6 0.6 23.4 -1.5 19.7% -2.8% 6 -0.68
Harrison Barnes $5,500 $5,700 0.80 35.8 0.1 28.8 -3.6 24.3% -2.8% 8 0.52
Dirk Nowitzki $6,100 $5,800 0.98 26.6 1.7 26.0 -0.9 24.3% -2.0% 8 1.93
Nerlens Noel $5,900 $5,000 1.01 20.9 4.1 21.1 4.0 17.8% -0.2% 13 -0.46

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Dirk Nowitzki, Wesley Matthews (fringe elite value if Curry is out)

Milwaukee Bucks

Malcolm Brogdon – Questionable (Back)
John Henson – Doubtful (Thumb)

Dallas plays slow, and that does not cater to production from opposing players. Giannis Antetokounmpo always brings a ton of upside to the table, but there are more logical options to spend up for here today (see: Westbrook, Russell). I don’t really get excited about anyone else on the Bucks. Greg Monroe is a daily boom/bust option. Khris Middleton is a little too expensive for my liking. Matthew Dellavedova is worth a look as a punt play with Malcolm Brogdon ruled out, but don’t expect miracles from him: he managed a meager 6/3/7 line in a game that went into overtime on Friday.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Matthew Dellavedova $3,500 $3,800 0.64 26.1 -7.2 16.6 -4.9 19.3% -0.4% 2 -1.21
Tony Snell $3,800 $3,400 0.52 29.1 1.5 15.1 -0.7 12.1% 0.4% 8 0.36
Khris Middleton $6,200 $6,300 0.88 29.7 3.7 26.0 0.2 23.9% -1.1% 3 -0.20
Giannis Antetokounmpo $10,100 $9,500 1.29 35.5 1.6 45.8 3.0 29.1% -0.6% 11 1.18
Thon Maker $3,500 $3,000 0.81 8.4 2.5 6.8 0.7 16.9% -5.5% 6 1.93
Greg Monroe $6,000 $5,100 1.11 22.7 2.3 25.2 0.3 24.0% 0.1% 6 N/A

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Giannis Antetokounmpo, Matthew Dellavedova

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs – 1:30 PM ET

Utah Jazz San Antonio Spurs
utahnba Vegas Total 191.0 sanantonionba Vegas Total 191.0
Vegas Spread 5.0 Vegas Spread -5.0
Team Total 93.0 Team Total 98.0
Pace +/- -2.0 Pace +/- -5.0
Proj. Starter Dante Exum Rodney Hood Gordon Hayward Boris Diaw Rudy Gobert Proj. Starter Tony Parker Jonathon Simmons Kawhi Leonard David Lee Dewayne Dedmon
Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C Opponent Rank PG SG SF PF C
Adj. DvP 5 10 1 3 2 Adj. DvP 1 2 2 2 3
DRPM -0.83 1.63 0.89 1.40 4.34 DRPM -0.99 0.47 -0.09 -1.64 5.82

Utah Jazz

George Hill – Out (Groin)
Raul Neto – Out (Groin)
Derrick Favors – Out (Knee)

There are 30 teams in the NBA. This game features the teams that rank 30th (Utah) and 27th (San Antonio) in pace. If you want to go buck wild targeting players from this game, send me a head-to-head invite. I don’t care if you are playing the early only slate or the all day slate — you don’t want a lot of exposure to this game. We may be able to target a player or two thanks to injuries and rest, and Utah will be without Neto, Hill, and Favors again today. Rudy Gobert is in play as a GPP upside option that will carry a super low ownership today, while Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack also get a boost. That’s the extent of my interest, and I won’t roster more than one Utah player on a single roster.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Dante Exum $3,500 $3,000 0.59 18.0 -4.2 10.7 -5.3 19.0% -0.7% 5 -0.83
Rodney Hood $4,000 $4,300 0.74 27.4 -4.6 20.2 -1.4 22.5% 1.2% 10 1.63
Gordon Hayward $7,700 $6,500 0.99 34.5 0.3 34.3 -0.6 27.8% 0.4% 1 0.89
Boris Diaw $3,600 $3,000 0.56 17.5 -1.5 9.8 4.8 17.5% 1.9% 3 1.40
Rudy Gobert $9,000 $7,800 1.05 33.9 3.1 35.6 13.9 16.2% 4.8% 2 4.34
Joe Ingles $4,400 $4,400 0.68 23.4 4.8 15.9 4.6 15.2% 0.5% 1 N/A

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Rudy Gobert (GPP), Gordon Hayward, Shelvin Mack (punt)

San Antonio Spurs

Manu Ginobili – Out (Rest)
Danny Green – Out (Quad)
LaMarcus Aldridge – Out (Thumb)

I would love to write the Spurs off entirely against the Jazz, and I might still do that anyhow. There is some opportunity to be had with Ginobili, Green, and Aldridge out, but this isn’t a spot to get too excited about. Jonathan Simmons is my preferred wing target over Kyle Anderson, and both should soak up the minutes vacated by Ginobili and Green. There is a very low floor with both of them, though. Kawhi Leonard is very nearly an elite option with Aldridge sidelined, but I can’t quite put him there with Utah on the docket. The same goes for Pau Gasol. If either of these teams had a better matchup today, there would be a plethora of options from each side. Unfortunately, they are playing each other. So it goes.

Notable Fantasy Players

Player FD Salary DK Salary FP/Min Minutes L5 +/- FP/Game L5 +/- True Usage L5 +/- DvP DRPM
Tony Parker $3,700 $3,300 0.73 25.4 -0.8 18.7 -5.0 22.8% -2.5% 1 -0.99
Jonathon Simmons $3,500 $3,000 0.68 17.2 -4.4 11.8 -4.9 18.8% -0.3% 2 0.47
Kawhi Leonard $9,400 $8,600 1.22 33.8 0.9 41.1 -2.0 30.9% -1.1% 2 -0.09
David Lee $4,200 $3,500 0.93 18.5 -2.5 17.2 -5.3 17.2% -3.0% 2 -1.64
Dewayne Dedmon $3,600 $3,000 0.90 17.4 0.8 15.7 -0.3 12.0% -1.7% 3 5.82
Pau Gasol $5,700 $4,500 1.06 25.5 -0.9 26.9 0.0 21.4% 1.9% 3 N/A

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Kawhi Leonard (almost elite), Pau Gasol, Jonathan Simmons (GPP)

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About the Author

stlcardinals84
Justin Van Zuiden (stlcardinals84)

Justin Van Zuiden (aka stlcardinals84) is a longtime RotoGrinders contributor and show host. He’s appeared in numerous Live Finals, has logged countless 6-figure wins in a host of different sports (including 5 in PGA), and is a former DFS Writer of the Year Nominee by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. You can find Justin’s ‘Covering The Bases’ series on weekends during the MLB season. He is also a main contributor of sports betting picks at our sister site, ScoresAndOdds, and is a co-host on the RotoGrinders Game Night show on SiriusXM. Follow Justin on X – @stlcardinals84