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NBA Grind Down: Sunday, March 22nd - Page Two

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2015-03-22 22:59:43

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Detroit at Boston – 6:00 PM EST

Detroit Boston
detroitnba Vegas Total 197 bostonnba Vegas Total 197
Vegas Sprd 5.5 Vegas Sprd -5.5
Team Proj. 95.8 Team Proj. 101.3
Team Pace 95.59 Team Pace 98.48
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 Reggie Jackson Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Caron Butler Anthony Tolliver Andre Drummond Proj Starter Phil Pressey Avery Bradley Evan Turner Brandon Bass Tyler Zeller
Opp. Season 19 3 22 23 23 Opp. Season 4 15 16 29 29
Opp. Last 7 22 15 14 11 22 Opp. Last 7 25 1 7 22 25

Detroit

Detroit has struggled for the majority of the season and hit rock bottom as they lost on Friday to the 76ers. Both of these teams are middle of the road in points scored and points allowed which results in a middle of the road total of 196. Anthony Tolliver makes a decent punt play, but has not exactly put up mind blowing numbers in his starts, yet he will continue to see increased minutes with Greg Monroe out.

Elite Plays

Reggie Jackson – He is playing at an elite level in his last three games as he has scored over 34 fantasy points with a 40+ and a 50+ game mixed in there. He needs around 35 fantasy points to reach value and he will make that easy work tonight without Greg Monroe in the lineup. Dollar for dollar, he is one of my top point guards on the board for the night slate.

Secondary Plays

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Not exactly the flashiest of plays, Pope is playing over 35 minutes in his last three and has scored 15+ real points in each. He will give you the salary relief you need, but do not expect a 35-point effort here.

Boston

To show how bad the East is, Boston is currently holding onto the last playoff spot in the conference with their tremendous 30-38 record. They will try to hold onto that spot as they get to face a Detroit Pistons squad who has struggled and will be without Monroe again tonight. Boston will be 5-point favorites with a total of 196 for this game and will be without their starting point guard and backup point guard in Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas.

Elite Plays

Avery Bradley/Evan Turner – I like both of these guys in the night slate and I really like them if they move Turner down and start Crowder. If that happens, that tells me that Phil Pressey will only get a few minutes and these two guys will have the ball in their hands for the majority of the game and will play big minutes. If that happens, they both need around 25-30 fantasy points to reach value, which I feel they should have an easy time doing in this match up.

Secondary Plays

Jae Crowder – If he gets the start, you could make him a borderline elite play tonight. He has recently been very consistent and has scored over 22 fantasy points in each of his last four.

Denver at Orlando – 6:00 PM EST

Denver Orlando
denvernba Vegas Total 202 orlandonba Vegas Total 202
Vegas Sprd 1.0 Vegas Sprd -1.0
Team Proj. 100.5 Team Proj. 101.5
Team Pace 98.38 Team Pace 95.96
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 Ty Lawson Randy Foye Danilo Gallinari Wilson Chandler Kenneth Faried Proj Starter Elfrid Payton Victor Oladipo Maurice Harkless Channing Frye Nikola Vucevic
Opp. Season 20 10 30 21 24 Opp. Season 9 28 29 30 22
Opp. Last 7 14 23 29 24 2 Opp. Last 7 2 28 21 27 19

Denver

Denver rolls into Orlando for a very nice match up between two young teams that are trying to make names for themselves late in the season. Denver is a pretty big mess at the moment, while Orlando look to have a young nucleus that could improve in years to come. The total is set pretty high at 206, with a perfect fantasy spread of -1 for the Nuggets.

Elite Plays

Kenneth Faried – The Manimal is in charge right now and is playing at a very high level. He has scored over 35 fantasy points in each of his last four, and his price does not reflect that yet. This is a perfect spot to use him as the Magic are 21st in the league at defending the PF position.

Secondary Plays

Depending on price at the site you play on, I like Ty Lawson, Randy Foye, and Wilson Chandler as decent plays today. I do not like any for cash purposes as I feel there are better plays at their price points, but have no problem seeing them in GPP lineups as this game could be very high scoring.

Editor’s Note: Randy Foye has been ruled out for tonight’s game.

Orlando

The Magic have been led recently by their rookie point guard who has put up some huge numbers in recent games. They now have one of the best matchups on the board as the Nuggets allow the fourth-most points per game in the league. This game has high scoring written all over it and should be targeted for fantasy purposes. Check back at the status of Tobias Harris as if he is out, the starters get a bit of a boost and Maurice Harkless becomes a decent fantasy punt.

Editor’s Note: Tobias Harris has been ruled out for tonight’s game.

Elite Plays

Elfrid Payton – He has been playing lights out recently and is coming off two triple-doubles in a row. I have him ranked just under Reggie Jackson and will most likely be using them both in my cash lineups tonight as they both have tremendous upside and decently high floors.

Nikola Vucevic – The old theory of using big men against the Nuggets continues today as Vucevic should have a field day inside against the 22nd-ranked defense against the center position. He has not had any huge games lately which has dropped his price across the industry, making it a perfect opportunity for us to jump on.

Victor Oladipo – It is tough to say there are three elite plays in this game for the Magic, but I truly believe they will all reach value in this match up. Oladipo’s price is the one I like the least of the three and will most likely be using him the least as well, but he has been tremendous lately and if Harris is out, I think it boosts Oladipo probably the most.

Secondary Plays

None – If Harris is out, Maurice Harkless would be a secondary play in this game.

Washington at Sacramento – 6:00 PM EST

Washington Sacramento
washingtonnba Vegas Total 207 sacramentonba Vegas Total 207
Vegas Sprd -3.5 Vegas Sprd 3.5
Team Proj. 105.5 Team Proj. 102.0
Team Pace 95.78 Team Pace 97.83
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 John Wall Bradley Beal Paul Pierce Nene Hilario Marcin Gortat Proj Starter Ray McCallum Ben McLemore Omri Casspi Rudy Gay DeMarcus Cousins
Opp. Season 28 30 14 20 27 Opp. Season 11 2 4 4 3
Opp. Last 7 27 20 18 8 5 Opp. Last 7 18 21 6 26 6

Washington

Washing gets a huge pace bump for this game as they are 3-point favorites with a total of 207. They face a Kings team that allows the second-most points per game, which boosts a few of the Wizards’ fantasy prospects today.

Elite Plays

John Wall – It is hard not to like Wall today as Sacramento has the 27th ranked defense against the point guard position. Due to the fact that there are great options for about 2k cheaper, Wall may be a bit underowned, which makes him a great tournament play tonight.

Bradley Beal – At under $6,000, Beal’s price is perfect for the match up. All year long we have discussed the King’s ineptness at guarding shooting guards and Beal proved that with a 30 fantasy point performance last time they played about a week ago. He makes a great cash and tournament play today.

Secondary Plays

None

Sacramento

Sacramento has a big question mark with the status of DeMarcus Cousins. I don’t know what is going on behind the scenes with Cousins and the front office, but he is probable today which is huge for the Kings. With how defensively sound the Wizards are, none of the Kings are in play for cash, but Cousins is always in play for tournaments, especially on DraftKings where he is under 10k.

Elite Plays

None

Secondary Plays

None

Charlotte at Minnesota – 7:00 PM EST

Charlotte Minnesota
charlottenba Vegas Total 198 minnesotanba Vegas Total 198
Vegas Sprd -4.0 Vegas Sprd 4.0
Team Proj. 101.3 Team Proj. 97.3
Team Pace 95.43 Team Pace 97.49
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 Kemba Walker Gerald Henderson Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Cody Zeller Al Jefferson Proj Starter Zach LaVine Kevin Martin Andrew Wiggins Adreian Payne Gorgui Dieng
Opp. Season 29 26 26 24 28 Opp. Season 8 14 3 18 6
Opp. Last 7 24 22 15 13 24 Opp. Last 7 12 7 23 12 27

Charlotte

The Hornets are traveling into Minnesota for a match up against a T-Wolves squad missing a lot of pieces. The Hornets have struggled themselves recently as they have lost three straight and need to get back on track as they are a game behind the eighth spot in the playoffs. The Hornets are 3-point favorites with a total of 197 and should have a decent go at it as the T-Wolves allow the most points in the league.

Elite Plays

Al Jefferson – Taking his price into account, Jefferson is an elite play today. He has struggled a bit recently with the rest of the Hornets, but now have the Twolves to feast on and their 28th ranked defense against the center position. There is a bit of risk attached to it, but it could pay off in a must win game for the Hornets.

Secondary Plays

Kemba Walker – Talk about risk, Walker started his first game in a long time and returned with 33 fantasy points. I wish his price was lower, but could make an interesting tournament play in a great match up against Minnesota.

Minnesota

Minnesota are the walking wounded at the moment. They are playing without starters Rubio, Pekovic and Garnett. This has resulted in only dressing eight players, which means a lot of minutes to go around for those players as Gary Neal and Justin Hamilton sat out last game too. Check back on the news for this game, as depending who sits out tonight, guys like Zach LaVine and Gorgui Dieng will again step into big minutes. They are my two favorites plays with Kevin Martin being a secondary play. Again, this is dependent on who sits out.

Elite Plays

Check Above

Secondary Plays

Check Above

Dallas at Phoenix – 9:00 PM EST

Dallas Phoenix
dallasnba Vegas Total 204 phoenixnba Vegas Total 204
Vegas Sprd -4.0 Vegas Sprd 4.0
Team Proj. 104.3 Team Proj. 100.3
Team Pace 96.88 Team Pace 99.13
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 Rajon Rondo Monta Ellis Chandler Parsons Dirk Nowitzki Tyson Chandler Proj Starter Eric Bledsoe P.J. Tucker Marcus Morris Markieff Morris Brandan Wright
Opp. Season 16 19 25 8 18 Opp. Season 23 6 19 11 15
Opp. Last 7 3 17 10 3 23 Opp. Last 7 26 11 20 25 15

Dallas

Although Dallas scores the third-most points in the league, they are really tough to get a read on for fantasy purposes as they spread the ball around so much. They have a great matchup tonight against the Suns where the spread is a pick ‘em, and the total is set at 207.

Elite Plays

None

Secondary Plays

Monte Ellis and Chandler Parsons are the only two guys I would give a look at today, but really only for GPP plays. Neither has been consistent recently and both could put up duds even in great match ups.

Phoenix

Phoenix is coming off a huge win over the Rockets where they were able to put up 117 points, while continuing to play without their starting point guard in Brandon Knight. I think he will likely sit out this game as well and will write this up assuming that.

Elite Plays

Eric Bledsoe – He really is the ultimate tournament play lately. He mixes in games of 28 fantasy points with 50 fantasy point games. This match up lends me to believe he will be closer to the higher outage game as he should be able to take advantage of Rondo or Ellis in this game.

Marcus Morris – Price has still not caught up to his production and I love him tonight in this game. He is coming off a 38 point effort for a guy in the 5k range, which is perfect to get some expensive guys in tonight.

Secondary Plays

Markieff Morris – I would much rather take his brother tonight, but Kieff makes a decent tournament play as we have seen his upside of 40+.

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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.