NBA Grind Down: Sunday, January 18th
Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down Article. Each day, we’ll break down all of the matchups with a focus on defense vs. position stats. The Grind Down shows you Vegas lines, defense stats and projected starting lineups for each and every game.
The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. Use this article to help you gain a better understanding of the matchups for the coming week and build from there. We have everything you could possibly need on our Daily Research console for you to be a successful daily fantasy player!
Note: Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s NFL Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review.
New Orleans at Toronto – 3:30 pm EST
- Vegas Line – Toronto -6, 201 Over/Under
- New Orleans Proj. Starters – Evans-Gordon-Cunningham-Anderson-Asik
- Toronto Proj. Starters – Lowry-DeRozan-Ross-Johnson-Valanciunas
| New Orleans | Toronto | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 201 |  | Vegas Total | 201 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 6.0 | Vegas Sprd | -6.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 97.5 | Team Proj. | 103.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 94.74 | Team Pace | 96.08 | |||||||||
| 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 | Dante Cunningham | Ryan Anderson | Omer Asik | Proj Starter | Kyle Lowry | DeMar DeRozan | Terrence Ross | Amir Johnson | Jonas Valanciunas | |
| Opp. Season | 19 | 9 | 27 | 9 | 9 | Opp. Season | 21 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 17 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 30 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 16 | Opp. Last 7 | 14 | 12 | 24 | 24 | 24 | |
New Orleans
It is a good thing that this game is the first of the day on this short slate, as there are a a few questions marks on the Pelicans side. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday are both game-time decisions which will have a huge impact on specific plays for this game. The Pelicans struggled mightily in their last game without their two stars and Tyreke Evans was unable to step up his game enough on a night where he was 50% owned. If Davis plays, he immediately becomes the top option on this slate, but I am going to write up this game as if Davis is sitting. If Davis plays, I think Anderson can be ignored, and if Jrue and Davis play, I think Evans gets dropped to a secondary play.
Elite Plays
Tyreke Evans – If either Holiday or Davis is out, Evans definitely qualifies as an elite play. The Raptors have really struggled defensively lately as they have allowed over 100 points per game in seven of their last nine games. Evans’ usage rate will be massive today and he will be close to a must play if injuries keep anyone out.
Ryan Anderson – Simply a plug and play today if Davis is out. He struggled last game, but should bounce back today and should play 35 minutes if AD cannot suit up.
Secondary Plays
Eric Gordon – I think Gordon makes a decent secondary play regardless of the injuries. Prior to Jrue going down, Gordon was getting 30+ minutes per game and averaging about 25 fantasy points per game. At a salary that is less than 5k, this more than pays it off. He will not win you any tournaments, but as amazing as it sounds, he is pretty safe to put in your lineups to hit value today.
Omer Asik – He is getting written up only due to the fact that there are very few options on this three-game slate. He makes a decent play today as he will get you somewhere around 20-25 fantasy points at a cheap price. The absence of Davis last game had no effect on his minutes so do not expect anything more out of Asik than usual.
Toronto
Toronto is getting arguably their best player back and he looks like he is picking up his shooting right where he left off. The Raptors are getting him back at the right time as they are losers of five of their last six games before his return two games ago. Toronto is the third-highest scoring team in the league at 107.1 points per game and both teams are in the bottom third of the league in points against. This results in Toronto being seven-point favorites with a total of 203. I think I may be avoiding Kyle Lowry today due to better options at the position and the fact that his price is high thanks to his heavy usage during DeMar DeRozan’s absence. DeMar will take enough usage out of Lowry that I would rather pay up for Westbrook than use Lowry.
Elite Plays
DeMar DeRozan – I like him a lot better at DK where is price is still low since coming back from injury. He is getting 30 minutes per game and is not afraid to launch up his usual amount of shots. He scored 25 and 20 real points in his first two games back and if he can get a few other stats out there today, should easily reach value at DK.
Secondary Plays
James Johnson – If he is starting, he makes a good tournament play today. He played 27 minutes with DeRozan in the lineup last game and scored 31.7 fantasy points. He has a lot of risk, so he is an easy guy toavoid for cash.
Amir Johnson – I hate playing Amir this year, as he has burned me on multiple nights. He is a tournament play only again as he has 30 point potential, but also 10-point potential. If Davis is out, Amir makes a much better play.
Oklahoma City at Orlando – 6:00 pm EST
- Vegas Line – Oklahoma City -9, 210 Over/Under
- Oklahoma City Proj. Starters – Westbrook-Roberson-Durant-Ibaka-Adams
- Orlando Proj. Starters – Payton-Oladipo-Marble-Frye-Vucevic
| Oklahoma City | Orlando | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 210 |  | Vegas Total | 210 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -9.0 | Vegas Sprd | 9.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 109.5 | Team Proj. | 100.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.82 | Team Pace | 95.54 | |||||||||
| 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 | Russell Westbrook | Andre Roberson | Kevin Durant | Serge Ibaka | Steven Adams | Proj Starter | Elfrid Payton | Victor Oladipo | Devyn Marble | Channing Frye | Nikola Vucevic | |
| Opp. Season | 26 | 3 | 21 | 22 | 27 | Opp. Season | 25 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 4 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 15 | 18 | 27 | 26 | 19 | Opp. Last 7 | 8 | 30 | 21 | 28 | 15 | |
Oklahoma City
The Thunder need to step up their game if the hope to make a playoff push, as the season is almost halfway over, and they’re still sitting below .500. They got a huge win over the Warriors their last time out in a contest that featured some of the biggest fantasy performances we’ve seen this year. This should be a high-scoring affair that stays relatively competitive as the Thunder are nine-point favorites in a game with a 211 total.
Elite Plays
Russell Westbrook – If you had Westbrook on Friday night, you most likely walked away with some cash. He had a ridiculous 17 points, 15 rebounds and 17 assists against Curry and the Warriors. He will look to continue that strong play against the Magic and Payton who has not exactly lived up to his college defensive player of the year status. Orlando is 26th in the league at defending the point guard position, and the only thing that worries me here is the blowout. With such a short slate, we cannot worry too much about blowouts and Westbrook makes a great play.
Kevin Durant – The Thunder are pretty simple to write up these days. Their studs are going to carry them each and every night as the rest of the team are simply role players these days. Without Harris, Durant will have a prime match up against Oladipo or Marble unless the Magic make some changes to their starting lineup. Regardless of what they decide, Durant is the top option at the SF position today.
Secondary Plays
Dion Waiters – He is getting more and more comfortable with his new squad and has seen his minutes increase each game from 22 in his first game to 37 minutes in the game on Friday. I like Waiters tonight because if the Thunder do blow the Magic out, Waiters should continue to get his minutes off the bench.
Orlando
The Magic clearly have a lot of good young talent on their squad. The problem at the moment is turning that talent into wins, and that is where this team has struggled. They have been missing one of their young stars for the last four games in Tobias Harris, and he is considered day-to-day. If he sits, it gives a bump to guys like Vucevic, Frye and Oladipo again today. They are the big underdogs, but with such a high total, they are projected to score around 100 points tonight.
Elite Plays
Victor Oladipo – Oladipo has really stepped up his game in the absence of Tobias Harris. He is playing close to 40 minutes per night and his salary is quickly rising throughout the industry. DK has been slow to move his price and makes a great play there where 35 fantasy points would hit value. He is an easy option today if Tobias is out.
Nikola Vucevic – Prior to running into the brick wall that is the Memphis Grizzlies interior defense, Vucevic scored over 50 fantasy points in his prior 3 games. He is another guy whose usage goes up without Harris, as well as seeing more opportunities for rebounds. He is the most expensive center by far, but will almost most likely outscore any other center option tonight by a good margin.
Secondary Plays
Elfrid Payton – If you are going to fit all the studs in tonight, you are going to have to find some value. Payton is another young player who has been playing some of his best basketball recently. Westbrook takes a lot of chances, which can result in some pretty big fantasy games for opposing point guards. The Thunder have allowed the 25th-most points against the PG position. You are most likely going to have to choose between Burke or Payton today for your value PG. Burke comes with more consistency, but Payton may have a bit more upside tonight.
Channing Frye – Another value option on the short slate, Frye has actually put up some really nice numbers recently. He has had 34 fantasy points and 28 fantasy points in his last 2 games which more than pays off his close-to-minimum salary.
Utah at San Antonio – 7:00 pm EST
- Vegas Line – San Antonio -11, 196 Over/Under
- Utah Proj. Starters – Burke-Ingles-Hayward-Kanter-Favors
- San Antonio Proj. Starters – Parker-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Bonner
| Utah | San Antonio | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 196 |  | Vegas Total | 196 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 11.0 | Vegas Sprd | -11.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 92.5 | Team Proj. | 103.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 92.85 | Team Pace | 95.65 | |||||||||
| 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 | Trey Burke | Joe Ingles | Gordon Hayward | Enes Kanter | Derrick Favors | Proj Starter | Tony Parker | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Matt Bonner | |
| Opp. Season | 8 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 19 | Opp. Season | 11 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 2 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 18 | Opp. Last 7 | 22 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 11 | |
Utah
Like the Magic, the Jazz are a squad that appears to have some solid young players, yet who are struggling to win games. It’s clear both of these teams have some potential in the years to come. The problem today is they run into the Spurs as the biggest underdogs of the slate in a game that they are projected to score about 92 points for the lowest on the night.
Elite Plays
Trey Burke – Burke is going to give you the most consistent, cheap option at the point guard position today. His floor and ceiling are basically the same as he has scored 20-30 points per game since Alec Burks was injured.
Secondary Plays
Derrick Favors – With Leonard back, Gordon Hayward is out of the picture a bit, especially with the imminent blowout. If you want exposure to other Jazz players, I think Favors is your guy. He has shown some consistency lately and has had two games straight of 35+ fantasy points. If they are to stay in this game, they will need a big outing from Favors, which he is capable of. In his first game against the Spurs this year, he had 21 points and 8 rebounds.
Rudy Gobert – Another tournament play only, he is capable of huge games in short minutes due to his blocks and steals potential. With Kanter back, Gobert has still seen 25, 32 and 35 minutes for the Jazz. He has a bit of risk attached, but will get his minutes regardless of the score tonight.
San Antonio
It is rough to see a three-game slate and then to see the San Antonio Spurs in the late game. It is something we will simply have to deal with today as you cannot ignore a team on a short slate like this. The Spurs are projected to score over 100 points tonight, but are close to fully healthy which makes any play on their team risky due to the “Pop” factor. Be careful with loading up on Spurs tonight.
Elite Plays
Tim Duncan – Duncan will be the most expensive PF if Davis sits, and he is the most consistent on the slate if we get that news. He will score close to 40 fantasy points, which comes close to paying off his salary. Again, all the Spurs come with the “Pop” factor, but with three games, you cannot ignore them completely.
Secondary Plays
Danny Green – He is going to get 30 minutes tonight with Belinelli already ruled out. He is not going to light up the world, but should get you somewhere around 25-30 fantasy points, which should pay off his salary.
Kawhi Leonard – Leonard came back last game and put up 38 fantasy points in 31 minutes. Prior to his injury he was the most consistent option on this Spurs squad and should be looked at the same way going forward.