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NBA Grind Down: Sunday, March 22nd

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2015-03-25 02:34:15

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 NBA Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review.

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San Antonio at Atlanta – 3:00 PM EST

San Antonio Atlanta
sanantonionba Vegas Total 203 atlantanba Vegas Total 203
Vegas Sprd 2.0 Vegas Sprd -2.0
Team Proj. 100.5 Team Proj. 102.5
Team Pace 95.90 Team Pace 96.33
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 Tony Parker Danny Green Kawhi Leonard Tim Duncan Tiago Splitter Proj Starter Jeff Teague Kent Bazemore DeMarre Carroll Paul Millsap Al Horford
Opp. Season 18 17 11 17 11 Opp. Season 15 1 1 22 16
Opp. Last 7 23 14 25 17 29 Opp. Last 7 4 24 9 18 8

San Antonio

These two teams are becoming mirror images of each other, as the Spurs will travel to San Antonio East, for a matchup with the Hawks. This game has a high total of 203 for the matchup as the Spurs score the 11th-most points and the Hawks score the seventh-most points in the league. On the other side of the ball, they are both in the top-10 in points allowed, but Vegas believes the offenses with shine this afternoon. As of now, the only player for the Spurs to be ruled out in Manu Ginobili and the rest of the team should be playing, but as always with the Spurs, check the news prior to game time.

Elite Plays

Kawhi Leonard – The one guy who continues to play his minutes and put up big game after big game is Leonard. He finally looks ready to take over this team and has scored over 35 fantasy points in eight of his last ten games.

Secondary Plays

I can see taking GPP flyers on guys like Tony Parker as well as Tim Duncan. Both are very cheap at DraftKings, but it looks like Pop could be playing his starters, but limiting minutes down the stretch here. Both have the potential for 40-point games, but it is always tough to trust them in cash games.

Atlanta

Atlanta comes into this game as small 2-point favorites with a high total, which should result in fantasy goodness. The Hawks come in pretty healthy with only Kyle Korver questionable for the matchup this afternoon. If Korver were to miss this game, that would give a bump in value to DeMarre Carroll, who has played well over the last three games, as well as Kent Bazemore, who has been just okay recently. Carroll would be in play even though he has a tough matchup against Leonard, while I would look elsewhere with Bazemore.

Elite Plays

Paul Millsap – Old man Duncan continues to be a solid offensive contributor, but his defense has resulted in the Spurs allowing the ninth-most points to the PF position this year. Millsap does a bit of everything on the court and at his price he needs to put up just under 40 points, which he has hovered around in his last three. I think he comes close again, and most likely hits that mark this afternoon.

Secondary Plays

None

Cleveland at Milwaukee – 3:00 PM EST

Cleveland Milwaukee
clevelandnba Vegas Total 196 milwaukeenba Vegas Total 196
Vegas Sprd -8.0 Vegas Sprd 8.0
Team Proj. 102.3 Team Proj. 94.3
Team Pace 94.86 Team Pace 96.31
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 Michael Carter-Wiliams Khris Middleton Giannis Antetokounmpo Ersan Ilyasova Zaza Pachulia
Opp. Season 1 13 23 16 21 Opp. Season 12 22 21 12 14
Opp. Last 7 1 18 24 20 30 Opp. Last 7 29 19 3 5 18

Cleveland

The Cavs will travel into Milwaukee for an afternoon game. They are 8-point favorites in a game with a total of 196’. The Cavs score the sixth-most points in the league at 105.3, but will be playing a pace down game against the Bucks who only allow 97.9 points. The Cavs are coming off their first secured playoff spot in many of their careers, as LeBron so nicely tweeted out, and should have an easy time with the Bucks this afternoon. The Cavs big three are fully healthy and all should be playing today.

Elite Plays

LeBron James – Milwaukee has struggled all year long against the small forward position and is ranked 24th against them on the year. LeBron has not hit value in his last three games, but continues to play 35+ minutes and the Cavs are getting rolling for the playoffs soon. He is a secondary play due to the value possibilities, as well as the possible blowout, but is definitely in play.

Secondary Plays

None

Milwaukee

Milwaukee has really been playing poorly lately as they have lost 12 of 15 and are now looking at possibly missing the playoffs if they continue to lose. Trading away Brandon Knight is looking pretty bad at this point, and they will have to turn it around immediately. They are heavy underdogs and have just been so bad that it is hard to trust many of their players in this matchup today. With that said, Jared Dudley and O.J. Mayo’s status has not been determined yet. If they are both out, I can see taking a tournament flyer on Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton who have both been playing well, but whose salaries have increased a bit too much for me.

Elite Plays

None

Secondary Plays

None

Miami at Oklahoma City – 3:00 PM EST

Miami Oklahoma City
miaminba Vegas Total 212 oklahomacitynba Vegas Total 212
Vegas Sprd 3.5 Vegas Sprd -3.5
Team Proj. 104.5 Team Proj. 108.0
Team Pace 93.04 Team Pace 98.20
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 Goran Dragic Dwyane Wade Luol Deng Udonis Haslem Hassan Whiteside Proj Starter Russell Westbrook Dion Waiters Andre Roberson Mitch McGary Steven Adams
Opp. Season 26 8 17 27 4 Opp. Season 10 5 5 3 7
Opp. Last 7 8 10 26 28 17 Opp. Last 7 10 6 5 29 3

Miami

Miami will go into Oklahoma City to take on the Westbrook show this afternoon. This game has the highest fantasy potential of the afternoon slate and probably the highest of the entire day as the total sits at 212 and the spread is a close one with the Heat being only 3-point underdogs. Although Miami’s season numbers do not suggest it, the addition of Dragic has made them a bit more of a running team and it should show this afternoon.

Elite Plays

Dwyane Wade – He has turned back the clocks recently and seems to be scoring at will on the court. Wade has scored over 22 real points in each of his last eight games and has scored over 36 fantasy points in nine of his last ten. The Thunder’s season numbers against the SG are solid, but over the last three weeks have allowed the 11th most points to shooting guards. Wade should be salivating over this match up and put up another solid game.

Goran Dragic – He will be stuck defending Westbrook a lot this afternoon, but should also be able to take advantage of the run and gun style this game is going to be played at. Dragic’s numbers are a bit surprising as of late as he has had over 30 in his last four, while putting up two 40+ point fantasy games.

Secondary Plays

Hassan Whiteside – His price is now a bit high for my liking, but it is tough to ignore him this afternoon. The makeshift big man rotations of the Thunder will likely result in some tired legs, and Whiteside could finally explode like we have been waiting for. The other thing that could happen though is Westbrook driving and getting him quickly into foul trouble. At his price, he is a secondary play and a GPP play for me only.

Oklahoma City

This poor Thunder squad is so beat up. They will most likely be missing Durant, Ibaka, Collison and possibly Kanter. If Kanter is out, Steven Adams makes for an elite center play at his price and Mitch McGary makes a decent tournament play at the PF position, especially with Collison’s 20 minutes needing to be filled. If Enes Kanter plays, on the other hand, he makes for an elite play at the center position.

Elite Plays

Russell Westbrook – He reached value in the last game against the Hawks, scoring 65 fantasy points. He will need at least that again to hit value at his 13k salary, and while it is crazy to say he will do so, I believe he should. I am hoping a bit that Kanter is out, as it will open up a bit of value on the slate in order to get Westbrook in easier. There is not much else to say other than if you can fit him in without hating the rest of your squad, do so.

Secondary Plays

Dion Waiters – You are going to need some value in order to fit Westbrook into your lineups, and Waiters may be the guy to target. He is playing 35+ minutes in his last three and is coming off probably his best performance as a member of the Thunder in his last game. He is not the safest option by any means, but is cheap and only needs around 23 fantasy points to reach value.

New Orleans at L.A. Clippers – 3:30 PM EST

New Orleans L.A. Clippers
neworleansnba Vegas Total laclippersnba Vegas Total
Vegas Sprd Vegas Sprd
Team Proj. Team Proj.
Team Pace 93.99 Team Pace 96.81
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 Dante Cunningham Alexis Ajinca Proj Starter Chris Paul J.J. Redick Matt Barnes Blake Griffin DeAndre Jordan
Opp. Season 3 16 27 14 13 Opp. Season 17 18 9 6 12
Opp. Last 7 13 16 22 4 14 Opp. Last 7 11 26 12 10 20

New Orleans

It is very difficult to write up this Pelicans squad, as we do not have the news on Anthony Davis, Omer Asik, and Tyreke Evans. Evans may play this afternoon, but he is clearly struggling and now healthy so he is an easy pass. If he does sit, Norris Cole will step up and make a great value play even with the difficult match up. If Asik sits again, Alexis Ajinca will step up and make a good value play as well. If Anthony Davis laces them up, I think he could make a great tournament play, but the blowout potential puts his price a bit too high and would rather pay up for Westbrook than him. Check the news closer to game time for this one.

Elite Plays

To be determined by injury status, see above.

Secondary Plays

To be determined by injury status, see above.

L.A. Clippers

The Clippers come into this game as the second-highest scoring team in the league at 106.1 and finally have their big man back for the last dozen or so games prior to the playoffs. This game could have blowout written all over it depending on who the Pelicans send out there. Check the news because if there are a number of injuries for the Pelicans, the Clippers would become tournament plays only.

Elite Plays

Depending on the health of the Pelicans, I would like Chris Paul and J.J. Redick in this match up. Blake Griffin at this point is a bit too expensive for his production since coming back from injury and Jordan is a bit too expensive for me on a slate with very solid center plays for much cheaper, but makes for a decent tournament flyer.

Secondary Plays

None

New York at Toronto – 4:00 PM EST

New York Toronto
newyorknba Vegas Total 197.0 torontonba Vegas Total 197
Vegas Sprd 12.0 Vegas Sprd -12.0
Team Proj. 92.8 Team Proj. 104.8
Team Pace 93.39 Team Pace 96.09
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 Langston Galloway Alexey Shved Lance Thomas Andrea Bargnani Louis Amundson Proj Starter Greivis Vasquez DeMar DeRozan Terrence Ross Amir Johnson Jonas Valanciunas
Opp. Season 22 12 28 9 10 Opp. Season 21 21 2 7 25
Opp. Last 7 16 8 30 30 9 Opp. Last 7 21 12 1 6 28

New York

The Knicks will make the trip north into Canada to face the Toronto Raptors in the last game of the afternoon slate. The Knicks have had a bit of a bright spot recently with the addition of Shved into heavy minutes, which hasn’t paid off into wins, but at least has given the New York fans something to cheer about. They will have a tough time this afternoon though as they are the biggest underdogs on the board.

Elite Plays

Alexey Shved – He has been the Linsanity of the Knicks in the month of March. In his last seven games, Shved has scored at least 29 fantasy points in each and has had five games of 35+ fantasy points. His price at this point asks for him to get around 35 fantasy points to reach value, so we can still take advantage of him on the big sites.

Secondary Plays

None

Toronto

The big question mark this afternoon is the health of Lowry. He is currently questionable with back problems and sat out their last game on Friday. I fully expect him to sit out this one again since the Raptors most likely do not need him in order to get the victory today. They are 12-point favorites with a total of 197. Check on the news, but the Raptors will probably be without their starting point guard.

Elite Plays

Greivis Vasquez – He played 37 minutes without Lowry on Friday and came through with a 25-point performance. He is the perfect value play on a slate in which we are going to need some value to play the studs.

Secondary Plays

The only other Raptor I would think about playing would be DeMar DeRozan. He is a tournament play only as this game has blowout written all over it and DeRozan would probably be one of those players to get some rest down the stretch. I can see the tournament potential of Louis Williams this afternoon as well, but has not had a very good March.

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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.