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NBA Grind Down: Sunday, March 15th

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2015-03-17 18:04:13

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.

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Chicago at Oklahoma City – 1:00 PM EST

Chicago Oklahoma City
chicagonba Vegas Total 204 oklahomacitynba Vegas Total 204
Vegas Sprd 7.5 Vegas Sprd -7.5
Team Proj. 98.3 Team Proj. 105.8
Team Pace 95.56 Team Pace 97.88
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 Aaron Brooks Tony Snell Mike Dunleavy Pau Gasol Joakim Noah Proj Starter Russell Westbrook Dion Waiters Andre Roberson Serge Ibaka Enes Kanter
Opp. Season 28 7 17 24 4 Opp. Season 25 5 19 16 10
Opp. Last 7 14 24 28 2 9 Opp. Last 7 26 13 25 5 19

Chicago

This Chicago Bulls get another matinee matchup this Sunday, and it is a rematch of the TNT game from ten days ago when the Bulls walked away with a last-second winner. The same players look to be out for this one, as the Bulls will try their best to stop Westbrook from recording another triple double. The pace of this game should be fast, as the Vegas total is set at 203.

Elite Plays

Aaron Brooks – Thibs has learned that Brooks has got to play the minutes over Hinrich if the Bulls are going to have any offense from the point guard spot. Brooks has rewarded his coach’s decision to give him 35 minutes or so by scoring 31 and 42 fantasy points in his last two games. His price is beginning to rise, but he should hover around hitting value today.

Nikola Mirotic – Mirotic is the man for the Bulls’ second unit and has the green light to launch up as many shots and drives to the basket as he wants. He has three straight games of scoring 35 fantasy points, which is exceeding his $6,500 dollar price tag. Add this to the fact that the Thunder have struggled against defending the PF position all year, and you have a great play.

Secondary Plays

Pau Gasol – Gasol is worth a mention, as he has 50-point fantasy potential and has that same solid matchup as Mirotic, as the Thunder allow the seventh-most fantasy points to power forwards on the year. The problem with Gasol is the price tag of around $9,000 means he has to hit about 45 fantasy points, which he only has once in his last eight games. He is a secondary play today.

Oklahoma City

The Thunder start and end with Russell Westbrook. He is dominating games in a way few players have done and is leading this team into a playoff berth. The Thunder are 6-point favorites on their home court against the Bulls today, and the big news is in regards to the availability of Serge Ibaka. Serge Ibaka is officially out today and that will open up a few value plays for the early slate.

Elite Plays

Russell Westbrook – I am glad he is in the early slate today as I always want to play him, but the price tag is just so high. If you are playing the early only slate, you basically have to play the guy who has 75-point potential. Against this Bulls squad, he went for 43/8/7 just ten days ago, and should have his way with Brooks and Hinrich the entire game. Get him in your lineups.

Secondary Plays

With Ibaka out and now Enes Kanter and Steven Adams starting, Enes Kanter becomes an elite center play for the early slate and a solid one overall, as he is coming off a 42-point fantasy game on Friday. Steven Adams is a great value play at near minimum salary as well. Lastly, Mitch McGary makes a decent tournament option value play as if he gets the minutes, he will produce.

Houston at L.A. Clippers – 3:30 PM EST

Houston L.A. Clippers
houstonnba Vegas Total 212 laclippersnba Vegas Total 212
Vegas Sprd 4.0 Vegas Sprd -4.0
Team Proj. 104.3 Team Proj. 108.3
Team Pace 99.21 Team Pace 96.80
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 Patrick Beverley James Harden Trevor Ariza Terrence Jones Donatas Motiejunas Proj Starter Chris Paul J.J. Redick Matt Barnes Spencer Hawes DeAndre Jordan
Opp. Season 4 15 27 19 13 Opp. Season 2 21 23 25 21
Opp. Last 7 24 11 26 19 6 Opp. Last 7 2 28 23 30 30

Houston

The other day game today is a very solid Western Conference matchup between the Rockets and the Clippers. This should be a very fun game to watch as both teams get up and down the court, as the Rockets are the eighth highest scoring team and the Clippers are the second highest scoring team in the league. They both play middle of the road defense and this all results in the highest total of the day at 211.

Elite Plays

James Harden – Harden has not been his dominant self in the last two games, as he has failed to even come close to value. He has also struggled a bit in the three games against the Clippers this year, averaging only 15.3 points in those games. Harden becomes a bit of GPP play due to this, and due to the fact that it will be a struggle to get him, Paul and Westbrook into your lineups. I have Paul and Westbrook a bit above him today, but Harden can always go off.

Secondary Plays

Terrence Jones – Jones only played 23 minutes in the last game, which resulted in a low scoring night for him. If we throw that game out, he has scored over 33 fantasy points in four of his last five games and should be able to hit that mark again today against the Clippers, who have allowed the sixth-most points to the position in the last three weeks.

L.A. Clippers

The Clippers are battling injuries of their own right now, and Blake Griffin may not return today. The Clips should be without Jamal Crawford again as well. They are still slight, 4-point favorites on their home court and are in line to score about 107 points this afternoon. I like DeAndre Jordan in this game today, but his price is a bit too high for me as I like some of the other high priced players today a bit better. You can also look at Spencer Hawes as extreme value, but that pick comes with a ton of risk attached.

Editor’s Note: Blake Griffin will play in today’s game.

Elite Plays

Chris Paul – Paul has a tough match up against Patrick Beverley, but that has not affected Paul recently as he has taken this team on his back without Blake Griffin in the lineup. It is going to be tough to get him and Westy in your lineups, but if you can find the value, it may pay off big time.

J.J. Redick – His price is getting to a point where he is not the easy cash game plug him in type play, but the absence of Crawford has allowed Redick to play a ton of minutes and has put up a number of nice fantasy efforts as of late. He should see a number of open looks today in this up and down game.

Secondary Plays

Matt Barnes – You are going to need some value on the early slate and Barnes gives you that. He also benefits from no Crawford as he will be on the floor 30+ minutes and should reach value.

Denver at New Orleans – 6:00 PM EST

Denver New Orleans
denvernba Vegas Total 205 neworleansnba Vegas Total 205
Vegas Sprd 7.0 Vegas Sprd -7.0
Team Proj. 99.0 Team Proj. 106.0
Team Pace 98.53 Team Pace 93.97
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 Jameer Nelson Randy Foye Wilson Chandler Danilo Gallinari Kenneth Faried Proj Starter Tyreke Evans Eric Gordon Quincy Pondexter Anthony Davis Omer Asik
Opp. Season 17 18 10 6 9 Opp. Season 14 28 29 30 23
Opp. Last 7 19 21 2 1 12 Opp. Last 7 5 23 19 8 7

Denver

Denver will have to travel to play the Brow on Sunday night with a few question marks in their lineup. The late scratch of Lawson the other night opened up a few big time value plays, but there has been no word on his status for tonight yet. If it was just an illness, I would expect him to play, but we can’t be certain. Check the news throughout the day. Randy Foye, Darrell Arthur and Wilson Chandler will all miss today’s game, opening up more minutes and opportunities for the Nuggets other key contributors. With the news, it should open up big minutes for Will Barton who becomes a great value shooting guard play as well as makes Gallo more of an elite play.

Elite Plays

Kenneth Faried – Regardless of Lawson’s status, Faried has been such a better player as of late when he is getting the full allotment of minutes. He is still under 7k and has a 40 point ceiling. He has a tough match up against Davis and getting a few quick fouls does scare me a bit for cash games, but makes a great PF tournament play tonight.

Secondary Plays

Danilo Gallinari – Gallo is another guy that has some great potential to exceed value as long as this game stays close. A few blowouts recently have really kept these Nuggets’ price low across the industry, which is a good thing, but the blowout is always in play as there have been games where this team has looked atrocious. Gallo just needs around 30 to reach value, which he has done with games of 37 and 35 in his last two.

New Orleans

The Pelicans have one of the best matchups on the board tonight as they get a Nuggets team that plays very little defense. The Nuggets allow the fifth-most points per game at 103.7, and Vegas has the Pelicans as 7-point favorites with a total of 205. I do like Omer Asik a bit as a value play, as he should come close to hitting his value depending on his price at your site.

Elite Plays

Anthony Davis – It starts and ends with the Unibrow, as he is the top overall option of the night slate. He has that golden matchup against the Nuggets’ interior defense, which is ranked 30th against the power forward position. This could be one of those monster games for Davis, and I expect him to be the highest owned stud tonight.

Secondary Plays

Eric Gordon – He is still over 30+ minutes per game, and has a great matchup against the Nuggets’ guards. He should end the game with around 30 fantasy points, which is exactly where we need him to be for his price. His ceiling is not going to win you any tournaments, but he will not kill your lineups tonight.

Cleveland at Orlando – 6:00 PM EST

Cleveland Orlando
clevelandnba Vegas Total 201 orlandonba Vegas Total 201
Vegas Sprd -10.0 Vegas Sprd 10.0
Team Proj. 105.5 Team Proj. 95.5
Team Pace 94.84 Team Pace 95.80
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 Kyrie Irving J.R. Smith LeBron James Kevin Love Timofey Mozgov Proj Starter Elfrid Payton Victor Oladipo Tobias Harris Nikola Vucevic Dewayne Dedmon
Opp. Season 22 8 30 21 25 Opp. Season 8 23 25 13 14
Opp. Last 7 21 30 14 20 4 Opp. Last 7 11 27 24 15 3

Cleveland

Coming off one of the best games of the season on Thursday night, the Cavs have a much easier matchup tonight against the Orlando Magic. They are 10-point favorites with a total of 201, which means the blowout is in play for this game. The Magic struggle to defend across the board and the Cavs should take an early lead and never give it up.

Elite Plays

LeBron James – LeBron will do LeBron-type things regardless of the matchup, and today he has a very nice one where he should be able to do whatever he wants throughout the game. He needed overtime to hit value in the last game, but has hit 50 fantasy points in each of his last two games. I will be using AD over LeBron today, but LeBron is in just as good of a spot if this game stays close.

Secondary Plays

Kyrie Irving – Will you chase the monster game or not? He scored over 70 fantasy points on Thursday and is priced in the $8,000 range at the big sites. If he rides his confidence for a bit, we could see a different Kyrie for the next few games. We will have to wait and see, but I would suggest throwing him into at least one tournament lineup.

Orlando

Orlando are big underdogs today against the Cavs, and are a tough team to pick from a DFS perspective. Some of their better player’s prices have gone up (Oladipo) to a point where I do not want to take the chance in a blowout situation, but if they can keep it close, they will need to score a lot of points, making them decent tournament choices. Guys like Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic will have to play really well in order for them to keep it close, which is possible, but that is why they are GPP only tonight.

Elite Plays

None

Secondary Plays

None

Minnesota at San Antonio – 7:00 PM EST

Minnesota San Antonio
minnesotanba Vegas Total 205 sanantonionba Vegas Total 205
Vegas Sprd 12.5 Vegas Sprd -12.5
Team Proj. 96.5 Team Proj. 109.0
Team Pace 97.39 Team Pace 95.95
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 Kevin Martin Andrew Wiggins Kevin Garnett Nikola Pekovic Proj Starter Tony Parker Danny Green Kawhi Leonard Tim Duncan Tiago Splitter
Opp. Season 16 1 1 22 17 Opp. Season 29 25 28 26 27
Opp. Last 7 29 1 18 25 17 Opp. Last 7 28 20 20 7 23

Minnesota

While the Cavs/Magic game has blowout potential, this game has “blowout” written all over it. The T-Wolves will hobble into San Antonio with Rubio and Martin probable and Pekovic questionable. Check the news, as this does open up some value plays, but they have such a difficult matchup against the Spurs. The problem here really becomes the fact that the T-Wolves have guys playing that are really not 100%. If Rubio plays, will he only play 22 minutes? If Pekovic plays, that really takes him and Dieng out of playability as they take points away from each other. Lastly, Martin’s minutes have been down lately anyway and now will likely hover around the 25-30 mark. If you have to play someone, I can see playing Andrew Wiggins as the only truly healthy starter for Minnesota, yet he has struggled a bit lately.

Elite Plays

None

Secondary Plays

None

San Antonio

San Antonio is coming off that devastating loss to the Cavs in what was a great game to watch on national TV. They will try to get back on track against a very poor Minnesota squad who only has 14 wins on the season. This is really one of the worst spots to play Spurs players who are never that great to play in the first place. They are 12-point favorites today, which puts them on full blowout alert.

Elite Plays

Tony Parker – Although I do not know if I would play him in cash games tonight, as I can see Pop giving guys a rest, he makes a great tournament play as he is playing his best basketball of the season in his last four games. During this span, he is hovering around the 40 fantasy point mark and is crushing his value over that time. His price has come up to a point where he needs to get around 33-35 fantasy points and he should get that if the minutes are there. That is a big “IF” in this game though.

Secondary Plays

Kawhi Leonard – The other tournament play would be Leonard today. His price is too high again for the possibility of not playing full minutes, but he has been so consistent lately he is worth a mention. Minnesota is ranked near the bottom in terms of defending all five positions, so the Spurs should be able to do what they want, and Leonard has been leading the charge recently.

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About the Author

Ryan138
Ryan138

Ryan (Ryan138) is from Chicago and has been playing fantasy sports for over 10 years. He has been playing daily fantasy sports for over 2 years since he was introduced to Daily Joust in late 2010. In the last year, Ryan has risen into the Top 100 of the RotoGrinders leaderboards by playing at DraftDay, DraftKings and FanDuel in all the major sports.