NBA Grind Down: Thursday, January 16th
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: Any 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
Click ‘Stat Chart’ Buttons Below for Pop-Ups of Essential Game-Specific Statistics including Defense vs. Position and Pace
Brooklyn at Atlanta
- Vegas Line – Brooklyn -1.5, 192.5 Over/Under
- Brooklyn Proj. Starters – Livingston-Anderson-Johnson-Pierce-Garnett
- Atlanta Proj. Starters – Teague-Korver-Carroll-Millsap-Scott
Brooklyn
We have some NBA action during the day today. The Nets and Hawks square off for a special NBA Europe game that will take place in London. With only 3 games on the schedule tonight, this game ranks as the second best game to target fantasy-wise. The total is set at 192 points and the game is expected to be close. The Nets will be without Deron Williams again which means Shaun Livingston will get another start at the point and Joe Johnson will continue to get some added ball-handling duties.
The Hawks have been very average defensively this season. They really struggle to defend the SF and Center positions which puts Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a good spot today. Garnett is always a bit risky, but Pierce makes a solid cash game play.
- Shaun Livingston – Livingston’s price varies across the board, but he makes a great play on sites that still have him listed cheap (FD & DK specifically). Livingston has really played well as the starter filling in for D-Will and he should easily be able to cover his value tonight.
- Joe Johnson – Johnson has topped 29 fantasy points in 4 straight games. He has really been playing well with Williams out of the lineup and he’s becoming more of a playmaker with the ball in his hands more often. He also has the revenge factor today, he is facing his former team for only the 6th time.
Atlanta
The Hawks are in a pretty good spot today. Plus taking a few players from this game will provide you with some entertainment during your work day. Expect this game to be close and end up coming down to the wire. DeMarre Carroll did not make the trip to London which means Lou Williams will likely get the start at SG. He makes a solid value play today.
The Nets haven’t been terrible defensively this season, but they aren’t considered a top defense by any means. The position that they struggle to defend the most is the SG position. Kyle Korver makes a nice play tonight that will likely fly under the radar. I also like Mike Scott, he makes a solid value play.
- Paul Millsap – Millsap is one of my favorite plays today. I like the matchup against the shorthanded Nets frontcourt. Millsap has topped 36 FP’s in 3 of his last 5 games and has a great chance to top that mark again tonight. He is really their best offensive player and he can do a little of everything on the court.
- Jeff Teague – Teague has been in quite a slump, but I think today may be the day that he breaks out of it. Without many other options at PG tonight, Teague makes a solid play against Livingston and the Nets. Expect him to top 25 FP’s here.
New York at Indiana
- Vegas Line – Indiana -10, 184 Over/Under
- New York Proj. Starters – Felton-Shumpert-Anthony-Bargnani-Martin
- Indiana Proj. Starters – Hill-Stephenson-George-West-Hibbert
New York
The Knicks and Pacers is my least favorite game of the day to target. Not only does it have the lowest total on the board, but this game comes with a potential blowout as well. The Knicks have been playing much better of late, but the Pacers are one of the best teams at home this season. The Pacers rank in the top 6 at defending every position on the floor and I just don’t see any favorable matchups to exploit here. Iman Shumpert has topped 16 FP’s in 9 straight games though and he makes a nice value play on a few sites.
Indiana
The Pacers are taking on a Knicks team that has really defended PG’s, PF’s, and Centers well this season. In fact, the Knicks rank in the top 8 against each of those positions. That doesn’t bode well for George Hill, David West, or Roy Hibbert. That said, I think Hibbert is probably the safest play at Center tonight. There are very few options and he may be the only reliable Center. Danny Granger makes an interesting play off of the bench.
- Paul George – George has a great matchup against the Knicks. I think he should dominate both ends of the floor and I’m actually expecting him to outperform Melo in this one. George can do everything on the floor and I think we see him fill up all areas of the stat sheet in this game.
- Lance Stephenson – Stephenson has really flourished this season and even with Granger back, he is getting huge minutes and he has still been playing at a high level. In fact, he is more of a ball handler than Hill is on the majority of plays.
Oklahoma City at Houston
- Vegas Line – Houston -2.5, 206 Over/Under
- Oklahoma City Proj. Starters – Jackson-Sefolosha-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins
- Houston Proj. Starters – Lin-Harden-Parsons-Jones-Howard
Oklahoma City
The Thunder and Rockets game will be the most popular game of the night and for good reason. It features two high scoring offenses that like to push the pace. The Rockets have defended the PG position well this season, but I still like the value of Reggie Jackson. Lin doesn’t scare me as a defender and Jackson had a great game against them earlier in the year. Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb, and Thabo Sefolosha are all close to minimum salary and all make decent punt options if you need to save some cap space.
- Kevin Durant – Durant should be considered the top option on the board tonight and it’s not even close. He is head and shoulder above all options tonight so if you can find a way to get him on your team, do it. Durant has a great matchup and should push for 50 fantasy points tonight against the Rockets.
- Serge Ibaka – Ibaka is one of the more frustrating fantasy players in the league because his fantasy production seems to come in bunches. He will go on a tear for a 3-minute stretch and then be quite for the next 7 minutes. It’s hard because a lot of his production relies on easy buckets around the rim and blocks. That said, I like the matchup and the upside.
Houston
The Rockets are in a great spot tonight. The Thunder have defended two positions very well this season though. They rank in the top 5 against SF’s and Centers and even though it will be tough, I will likely be avoiding both Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard. They both have tough matchups tonight. Terrence Jones has been on fire the past couple of weeks and makes a nice play at PF if you are willing to pay up for him.
- James Harden – Harden has faced his former team 10 times now and he’s basically posted his season long averages against them. Harden is averaging 25, 5, and 4 against the Thunder. I think he can improve on those numbers a bit tonight. Thabo has been playing limited minutes and it has hurt their DvP rankings against SG’s.
- Jeremy Lin – Lin is a bit risky tonight, but I think he makes a solid play. He’s played well in 3 straight games and has been the workhorse PG for the Rockets. With Aaron Brooks sitting out last night, his status for tonight is in question as well.