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NBA Grind Down: Sunday, November 22nd

by Ryan138 Last Updated 2015-11-24 01:30:07

Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

Vegas lines are broken down to show projected team totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extra possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.

We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.

Every game is also broken down by our NBA experts, providing an overview of the game and a selection of players to consider from each contest.

Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.

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Toronto at L.A. Clippers – 03:30 PM

Toronto L.A. Clippers
torontonba Vegas Total 207 laclippersnba Vegas Total 207
Vegas Sprd 6.0 Vegas Sprd -6.0
Team Proj. 100.5 Team Proj. 106.5
Team Pace 97.71 Team Pace 100.31
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 Kyle Lowry DeMar DeRozan DeMarre Carroll Luis Scola Bismack Biyombo Proj Starter Chris Paul J.J. Redick Paul Pierce Blake Griffin DeAndre Jordan
Opp. Season 19 24 12 21 18 Opp. Season 5 19 9 10 19
Opp. Last 7 30 6 19 28 5 Opp. Last 7 18 19 3 22 9

Toronto (Record: 8-6, Away: 5-5)

Los Angeles Clippers Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 106.0 (26 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.9 (23 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -4.9 (26 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 201.6 (19 of 30)

The Raptors get a matchup today against the Los Angeles Clippers. Defensively, the Clippers have not been very good so far this year. They are in the bottom third of the league in points allowed, defensive efficiency and rebounding differential to begin the year. The Raptors have a 100.5 projected team total for the game today, which is about one point less than their average this season.

Usually, playing point guards against Chris Paul has been a tough thing to do, yet, this season, the Clippers defense against the point guard position has been poor and is ranked last in the league over the last week. That could be contributed to his injuries woes to begin the year, which is something to take advantage of with today with Kyle Lowry. The other Raptor that is in play is DeMar DeRozan. Both of these guys have heavy usage rates and are both Elite Plays at their position. DeMarre Carroll could be seen as a secondary play at the small forward position that is usually thin in terms of plays. He will play 35+ minutes each night and has a decent matchup today. Also, check to see who will replace Jonas Valanciunas in the starting lineup. Whether it is Luis Scola or Pattrick Patterson, both will receive a bump today.

Elite Plays

Kyle Lowry
FD: $8,700 DK: 8,500
Usage: 26.4

DeMar DeRozan
FD: $7,600 DK: 7,200
Usage: 27.0

Secondary Plays

DeMarre Carroll
FD: $5,900 DK: 5,700
Usage: 17.4

L.A. Clippers (Record: 6-6, Home: 5-2)

Toronto Raptors Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 98.2 (8 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 100.2 (14 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 5.3 (4 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 191.3 (9 of 30)

The Raptors have been a solid defensive team to begin the season. They are ranked eighth and ninth respectively in points allowed and fantasy points allowed this year. With that said, the Clippers are six-point favorites in this matchup at home and have a very high 106.5 projected team total, which is slightly above their season PPG average.

It appears that this Clippers team will come into this game fully healthy as Chris Paul and J.J. Redick should both play. Chris Paul put up a bit of a dud on Friday after his big game against Curry the previous night. Some rest may allow him to heal up, but he is a tough play today when Lillard is priced closely, with a much better matchup and Curry and Westbrook are also on the slate. He is a secondary play today. Blake Griffin, on the other hand, is playing huge minutes every night and is the second best power forward tonight, with a little less risk than Anthony Davis. DeAndre Jordan is worth a look today due to the lack of options at the center position as well.

Elite Plays

Blake Griffin
FD: $9,600 DK: 9,500
Usage: 29.3

Secondary Plays

DeAndre Jordan
FD: $7,400 DK: 7,300
Usage: 12.1

Chris Paul
FD: $8,900 DK: 8,600
Usage: 25.7

Boston at Brooklyn – 06:00 PM

Boston Brooklyn
bostonnba Vegas Total 204 brooklynnba Vegas Total 204
Vegas Sprd -5.0 Vegas Sprd 5.0
Team Proj. 104.8 Team Proj. 99.8
Team Pace 101.99 Team Pace 98.03
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 Isaiah Thomas Marcus Smart Jae Crowder Amir Johnson Jared Sullinger Proj Starter Jarrett Jack Joe Johnson Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Thaddeus Young Brook Lopez
Opp. Season 22 27 23 8 25 Opp. Season 1 20 20 15 16
Opp. Last 7 25 15 28 12 25 Opp. Last 7 5 12 18 23 14

Boston (Record: 7-5, Away: 3-1)

Brooklyn Nets Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 103.3 (19 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.9 (23 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 0.5 (14 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 207.4 (25 of 30)

These two teams get to play each other in the back half of a home and home series today. The first game resulted in a blowout victory for the Boston Celtics. Today’s game has the Celtics as five-point favorites with an overall total of 204. The Celtics’ matchup is a favorable one against the Nets, as they have not been solid defensively as evidenced by the 120 points they allowed to this Boston team on Friday.

The problem with the Celtics is, of course, the minutes and the rotation. It was a blowout on Friday, yet, only two of the starters played more than 21 minutes. The safest option at this point seems to be Jae Crowder as he has received the most consistent minutes, is mid-priced, and saw eight of twelve shots fall on Friday. The other Celtic that deserves a look is Jared Sullinger. Prior to the blowout, he was seeing minutes closer to the 30 zone and if this game stays close should be around that area as well. Lastly, Isaiah Thomas is worth a look as a secondary tournament play if he starts again. He has a great matchup against Jarrett Jack and the Nets point guard defense ranked 22nd in the league. With Marcus Smart out for today’s game, that does open a bit of value up in the backcourt as Avery Bradley should step into the starting lineup and get a nice boost in minutes.

Elite Plays

Jae Crowder
FD: $5,400 DK: 5,600
Usage: 16.7

Secondary Plays

Jared Sullinger
FD: $6,000 DK: 6,300
Usage: 20.3

Isaiah Thomas
FD: $7,500 DK: 7,400
Usage: 30.4

Avery Bradley
FD: $5,800 DK: 5,000
Usage: 21.1

Brooklyn (Record: 2-11, Away: 1-3)

Boston Celtics Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 96.8 (6 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 95.5 (3 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 1.1 (13 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 191.3 (8 of 30)

The Nets will look to rebound against this Celtics squad, but they are facing a very difficult matchup. Boston is ranked in the top ten is points allowed, defensive efficiency, rebound differential and fantasy points allowed per game. The Nets have the lowest projected team total of the day at 99.8.

Jarrett Jack showed last game the results of playing the number one defensive team against point guards this year. He really struggled as he only scored 13 fantasy points and should be avoided today, except for tournaments, as he is cheap. Thaddeus Young is in play today. He has a great price for his recent production as he has put up 30+ fantasy points in each of his last five games. The other Net that is in play is Brook Lopez. He struggled a bit on Friday, but he has a decent matchup against the inside defense of the Celtics and is priced favorably over at DK.

Elite Plays

Thaddeus Young
FD: $6,400 DK: 6,900
Usage: 21.6

Brook Lopez
FD: $8,000 DK: 7,200
Usage: 24.4

Secondary Plays

None

Phoenix at New Orleans – 06:00 PM

Phoenix New Orleans
phoenixnba Vegas Total 210 neworleansnba Vegas Total 210
Vegas Sprd 1.0 Vegas Sprd -1.0
Team Proj. 104.8 Team Proj. 105.8
Team Pace 102.42 Team Pace 99.88
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 Eric Bledsoe Brandon Knight P.J. Tucker Markieff Morris Tyson Chandler Proj Starter Jrue Holiday Eric Gordon Alonzo Gee Anthony Davis Omer Asik
Opp. Season 30 15 21 20 27 Opp. Season 17 18 26 2 8
Opp. Last 7 23 7 27 15 17 Opp. Last 7 12 22 25 3 6

Phoenix (Record: 7-5, Away: 2-2)

New Orleans Pelicans Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 109.9 (30 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 110.0 (30 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -6.5 (29 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 210.6 (26 of 30)

This game should be one of the higher scoring games on the slate as both teams feature Pace numbers over 100. It features a Pelicans defense that has struggled immensely to start the year and is ranked dead last in points allowed as well as defensive efficiency. The Suns have a 104.8 project team total for this game.

Brandon Knight has been absolutely on fire recently. He is playing 35+ minutes, and has had 60+ fantasy points in two of his last three games. His price has jumped up due to his recent play, but he has a hot hand as well as a good matchup against the backcourt of the Pelicans. Eric Bledsoe is the other Sun to target tonight. He has a fantastic matchup against the Pelicans and although he is the most expensive shooting guard on the slate, he is very safe and has a high ceiling as well.

Elite Plays

Brandon Knight
FD: $8,000 DK: 7,900
Usage: 27.0

Eric Bledsoe
FD: $8,400 DK: 8,400
Usage: 28.3

Secondary Plays

None

New Orleans (Record: 2-11, Away: 2-4)

Phoenix Suns Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.5 (15 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 99.1 (10 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 4.6 (6 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 191.5 (10 of 30)

The Suns have actually been stout defensively so far this season. A lot could be contributed to the big man in the middle, Chandler, as their frontcourt defense numbers rank them in the top ten at both the power forward spot and center position. Yet, as slight favorites, the Pelicans have a high 105.8 team total for this game.

With a healthier Davis and Holiday playing today, the Pelicans lose a lot of the value we have seen throughout the season. With this high scoring game though, Eric Gordon is an option. The backcourt defense of the Suns has been average this year and Gordon is still mid-priced at a position that does not feature a lot of good plays. Of course there is also Anthony Davis. The Suns inside defense has improved with Chandler, yet Davis is capable of being the highest scoring player on any given day. He is the top power forward on the slate today, but he does come with some risk due to his recent injury woes.

Elite Plays

Anthony Davis
FD: $10,800 DK: 10,700
Usage: 28.1

Secondary Plays

Eric Gordon
FD: $6,000 DK: 6,300
Usage: 22.0

Dallas at Oklahoma City – 07:00 PM

Dallas Oklahoma City
dallasnba Vegas Total oklahomacitynba Vegas Total
Vegas Sprd Vegas Sprd
Team Proj. Team Proj.
Team Pace 99.75 Team Pace 101.17
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 Deron Williams Wesley Matthews Chandler Parsons Dirk Nowitzki Zaza Pachulia Proj Starter Russell Westbrook Andre Roberson Kevin Durant Serge Ibaka Steven Adams
Opp. Season 13 29 16 17 5 Opp. Season 11 7 3 27 10
Opp. Last 7 28 8 17 11 10 Opp. Last 7 3 13 16 13 8

Dallas (Record: 9-4, Away: 5-2)

Oklahoma City Thunder Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 105.5 (24 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 101.5 (17 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 8.5 (1 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 200.9 (17 of 30)

Dallas has a decent matchup today against the Thunder, who are slightly below the league average defensively this year. The game features the second highest total of the slate at 210.

Dallas is a very difficult squad to play in daily fantasy this year. They spread the points around the team, which makes spending fantasy dollars on them very difficult. Zaza Pachulia has been pretty consistent this year and makes a decent mid-tiered play at the center position even though the matchup is tough. Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams have actually both played 30+ minutes recently and have both put up solid fantasy efforts, yet all three are just secondary plays tonight.

Elite Plays

None

Secondary Plays

Zaza Pachulia
FD: $6,000 DK: 5,500
Usage: 16.0

Dirk Nowitzki
FD: $6,700 DK: 6,300
Usage: 21.9

Deron Williams
FD: $6,600 DK: 5,500
Usage: 20.4

Oklahoma City (Record: 7-6, Away: 5-3)

Dallas Mavericks Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 99.7 (12 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 98.5 (8 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.8 (19 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 197.1 (14 of 30)

The Thunder have a decent matchup today against this Dallas squad that has been an average defensive team so far this year. Both of these teams play at a 100+ Pace this year, which should lead to one of the higher scoring matchups of the day.

The obvious question here is the health of Kevin Durant. Recent reports have him at the bad side of questionable for this game, as he has not done much in practice. That would lead me to believe he will sit for another game, which means Russell Westbrook immediately becomes the player with the highest upside on the slate. His price continues to rise, but he has basically a 55-point floor with 70-point upside. Serge Ibaka should be benefiting more from the absence of Durant, but has really struggled over the last two games. He has a great matchup against the Mavs who are ranked 27th in the league against power forwards, but is a tournament play due to inconsistencies.

Elite Plays

Russell Westbrook
FD: $11,900 DK: 12,300
Usage: 37.3

Secondary Plays

Serge Ibaka
FD: $6,600 DK: 6,700
Usage: 17.5

Golden State at Denver – 08:00 PM

Golden State Denver
goldenstatenba Vegas Total 213 denvernba Vegas Total 213
Vegas Sprd -11.0 Vegas Sprd 11.0
Team Proj. 112.3 Team Proj. 101.3
Team Pace 101.93 Team Pace 99.11
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 Stephen Curry Klay Thompson Harrison Barnes Draymond Green Andrew Bogut Proj Starter Emmanuel Mudiay Gary Harris Danilo Gallinari Kenneth Faried J.J. Hickson
Opp. Season 27 30 7 16 20 Opp. Season 25 8 4 11 9
Opp. Last 7 26 16 15 19 29 Opp. Last 7 27 28 11 14 1

Golden State (Record: 14-0, Away: 6-0)

Denver Nuggets Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 103.1 (18 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 103.9 (20 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 0.4 (15 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 205.9 (23 of 30)

The Nuggets continue their trend from recent years of being a below average squad defensively. This game should be extremely fun to watch as both teams have a 100+ projected team total and has the highest overall total, set at 213.5.

The Warriors clearly begin with Stephen Curry. He is matchup-proof and has one of the best matchups on the board as the Nuggets are ranked 27th in the league against the point guard position. He has huge upside and is right up there with Russell Westbrook today. He has a slightly lower floor than Westbrook due to Russell having to lead his team to victory, which Curry can defer. The other concern is the blowout for Curry as well. Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes are both solid secondary plays at their positions as well, while Andre Iguodala is a decent value play who has put up about 20 fantasy points in his recent games.

Elite Plays

Stephen Curry
FD: $11,100 DK: 10,900
Usage: 33.0

Secondary Plays

Draymond Green
FD: $7,800 DK: 7,400
Usage: 17.9

Harrison Barnes
FD: $5,400 DK: 5,300
Usage: 16.9

Denver (Record: 6-7, Away: 3-3)

Golden State Warriors Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.2 (13 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 96.7 (7 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 2.2 (9 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 192.2 (11 of 30)

Even though they score a ton of points and play at a fast pace this year, the Warriors are still a very solid defensive team and are ranked slightly above league average in all the defensive categories above.

If the Nuggets can keep this game close, they should be able to put up some solid fantasy efforts, but it is a big IF against this Warriors team. There are two standout plays for the Nuggets and the first being Emmanuel Mudiay. He has played well as a rookie this year and has high upside even with the difficult matchup. He is a tournament play only today. Danilo Gallinari appears to be the highest upside Nugget on the board tonight. He has been a bit inconsistent this year, but does feature a 50 fantasy point ceiling in this matchup. Will Barton and Nikola Jokic are both in play as well, and could make for great plays if the Nuggets are getting blown out.

Elite Plays

Danilo Gallinari
FD: $7,000 DK: 6,500
Usage: 20.9

Secondary Plays

Emmanuel Mudiay
FD: $6,100 DK: 5,900
Usage: 28.9

Will Barton
FD: $5,300 DK: 5,600
Usage: 20.8

Nikola Jokic
FD: $4,000 DK: 3,600
Usage: 15.6

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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.