NBA Grind Down: Sunday, January 31st - Page Two
Minnesota at Portland – 09:00 PM
- Vegas Line –
- Minnesota Proj. Starters – Rubio-Wiggins-Prince-Garnett-Towns
- Portland Proj. Starters – Lillard-McCollum-Aminu-Vonleh-Plumlee
| Minnesota | Portland | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 208 |  | Vegas Total | ||||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 7.0 | Vegas Sprd | ||||||||||
| Team Proj. | 100.5 | Team Proj. | ||||||||||
| Team Pace | 97.02 | Team Pace | 97.32 | |||||||||
| 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 | Ricky Rubio | Andrew Wiggins | Tayshaun Prince | Kevin Garnett | Karl-Anthony Towns | Proj Starter | Damian Lillard | C.J. McCollum | Al-Farouq Aminu | Noah Vonleh | Mason Plumlee | |
| Opp. Season | 24 | 16 | 7 | 22 | 19 | Opp. Season | 23 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 11 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 28 | 2 | Opp. Season | 30 | 9 | 24 | 20 | 14 | |
Minnesota (Record: 14-34 Away: 7-16)
Portland Trail Blazers Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 102.7 (19 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 105.4 (23 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 3.4 (5 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 199.0 (15 of 30)
The Blazers are a below average defensive team this year and are 15th or lower in points allowed, fantasy points allowed and defensive efficiency this year. This game features a 208 total with the Twolves being seven point underdogs. Minnesota features a projected team total of 100.5. Kevin Martin and Kevin Garnett are both listed as doubtful to play today. All the plays below are under the assumption that both will sit today.
Elite Plays
Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns has been on the hottest streak of his rookie season so far. He has scored at least 46 fantasy points over his last three games and is coming off a 32 point, 12 rebound performance against a tough interior of Utah. He gets an easier matchup against the Blazers’ 15th ranked center defense and 21-ranked power forward defense. Towns has elite status today as he has a high ceiling and high floor against the Blazers, especially at Draftkings, where he is a thousand dollars cheaper than on Fanduel.
FD — $8,400 — C
DK — $7,400 —C
Usage – 22.6
Min/Game — Season: 29.6
Draftkings you could play both of these guys and it may not be a terrible option. With Garnett out and Dieng getting the starts, he has seen his minutes go up and production has followed. He has put up 71 fantasy points combined over his last two games is a great, cheap option at the center position assuming he gets another start.
FD — $5,400 — C
DK — $5,000 —C
Usage – 16.1
Min/Game — Season: 24.2
Secondary Plays
Another guy worth a mention here is Lavine who has been shooting at a torrid rate lately. He has scored 19, 35 and 21 real points over his last three and is getting minutes around 30 with Martin out. He makes for another solid value play on a slate that is full of them.
FD — $4,600 — SG
DK — $5,200 —PG
Usage – 25.7
Min/Game — Season: 23.5
Portland (Record: 22-26 Home: 13-10)
Minnesota Timberwolves Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 103.6 (22 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 105.1 (21 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 0.0 (13 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 198.4 (14 of 30)
The Timberwolves are a below average defensive squad that is ranked 21st in defensive efficiency and 22nd in points allowed per game. The Trailblazers have a 107.5-projected team total that is 5.5 points higher than their season average for the second highest team total on the slate.
Elite Plays
Lillard has not been putting up the 50+ point fantasy efforts some have expected recently, he is still one of the best point guards in the league on the offensive end. He has a great matchup against Minnesota as they are ranked 23rd in the league at defending the position and Lillard is significantly cheaper than Curry.
FD — $8,800 — PG
DK — $9,200 —PG
Usage – 31.0
Min/Game — Season: 36.1
McCollum has been a very consistent option recently as he has put up 28+ fantasy points in eight of his last ten games. Yet, his upside has really been limited to around 36 fantasy points. The matchup is solid in a high-scoring game and his ownership should be down with all the value at the position.
FD — $7,500 — SG
DK — $7,200 —SG
Usage – 26.5
Min/Game — Season: 35.1
Secondary Plays
Plumlee is worth a mention here today as he has been playing very well in his minutes. While not playing more than 30, he has averaged 36.2 fantasy point over his last three games. The minutes are a concern, but at more than a point a minute return, it is tough to argue with him for a tournament play.
FD — $5,900 — C
DK — $5,500 —C
Usage – 17.7
Min/Game — Season: 26.1
Charlotte at L.A. Lakers – 09:30 PM
- Vegas Line – No Lines Set for This Game Yet
- Charlotte Proj. Starters – Lin-Lamb-Hairston-Williams-Hawes
- L.A. Lakers Proj. Starters – Clarkson-Williams-Brown-Nance-Hibbert
| Charlotte | L.A. Lakers | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total |  | Vegas Total | |||||||||
| Vegas Sprd | Vegas Sprd | |||||||||||
| Team Proj. | Team Proj. | |||||||||||
| Team Pace | 97.63 | Team Pace | 98.37 | |||||||||
| 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 | Jeremy Lin | Jeremy Lamb | P.J. Hairston | Marvin Williams | Spencer Hawes | Proj Starter | Jordan Clarkson | Louis Williams | Anthony Brown | Larry Nance | Roy Hibbert | |
| Opp. Season | 30 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 28 | Opp. Season | 18 | 17 | 20 | 27 | 13 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 11 | 30 | 11 | 12 | 23 | Opp. Season | 16 | 18 | 27 | 5 | 22 | |
Charlotte (Record: 22-25 Away: 6-17)
Los Angeles Lakers Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 106.4 (28 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 108.4 (30 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -4.4 (29 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 213.9 (30 of 30)
The Lakers are always a team to target. They are ranked 28th or worse in all the above categories including ranking last in the league in both fantasy points allowed and defensive efficiency. That bodes well for the Hornets who should feast today against this defense. Nicolas Batum will not play tonight, while Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb are currently questionable for the game.
Elite Plays
Please check the news closer to the late slate as Kemba Walker did not play the final 16 minutes of their last game. No news has been said to as why or if he has an injury at this time. If he plays, he is in line for a huge game as the Lakers are one of the best teams to target with the point guard position. The last time Batum was out, Kemba averaged 53.5 fantasy points over a three game stretch. If Lin and Lamb both have to sit, it is hard to argue against Walker being the top option at the position.
FD — $8,600 — PG
DK — $8,700 —PG
Usage – 25.4
Min/Game — Season: 35.8
A popular play lately, Hawes will continue to be highly owned at a 4k salary at Fanduel. While he has not been as good as he was in his first three starts, he has not killed your lineups and should still be in line for close to 30 minutes in a dream matchup against the Lakers.
FD — $4,000 — C
DK — $5,200 —C
Usage – 16.7
Min/Game — Season: 18.5
Secondary Plays
Check the news today on the injury front for the Hornets. If Lin is to play and start, he becomes a solid play at his price. If both sit, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist played well, but more importantly 34 minutes in his return and would make a great play against the Lakers. He is a great value play regardless of the injuries over at Draftkings where he is sub 4k. Lastly, Marvin Williams continues to be an option with Cody Zeller out with the shoulder injury.
L.A. Lakers (Record: 9-40 Home: 5-17)
Charlotte Hornets Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 101.6 (16 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 102.2 (13 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.7 (22 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 203.0 (21 of 30)
The Hornets are a below average defensive team and are ranked 21st in the league in fantasy points allowed per game. The overall total is currently not out for this game as there are a lot of injury concerns including the status of Kobe Bryant who is currently questionable for this game.
Elite Plays
If Kobe sits, Randle and Louis Williams can be bumped up to elite plays.
Secondary Plays
Williams played 35 minutes in his return on Friday and was able to score 29.2 fantasy points playing along Kobe and his 13 shots that he launched up. If Kobe sits, Louis gets a solid bump in usage and we should see his shot totals in the double-digit range. If that is the case, he should easily hit value in a solid matchup against the Hornets.
FD — $5,800 — SG
DK — $5,200 —SG
Usage – 21.5
Min/Game — Season: 29.5
Check the news on Kobe Bryant tonight. If he is to sit, Clarkson and Russell get a solid bump. Clarkson is the one getting all the run lately and does make for the higher upside play, but there are better plays at their prices today. Julius Randle is in a very good spot today regardless of the Kobe news, but would also see a slight bump if Kobe sat as well.