NBA Grind Down: Thursday, January 28th - Page Two
Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Chicago -8.5, 202.5 Over/Under
- Chicago Bulls Proj. Starters – Rose-Butler-Snell-Gibson-Gasol
- Los Angeles Lakers Proj. Starters – Clarkson-Williams-Bryant-Randle-Hibbert
| Chicago Bulls | Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 202.5 |  | Vegas Total | 202.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -8.5 | Vegas Sprd | 8.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 105.5 | Team Proj. | 97.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 98.60 | Team Pace | 98.40 | |||||||||
| 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 | Derrick Rose | Jimmy Butler | Tony Snell | Taj Gibson | Pau Gasol | Proj. Starter | Jordan Clarkson | Louis Williams | Kobe Bryant | Julius Randle | Roy Hibbert | |
| Opp. Season | 30 | 27 | 26 | 20 | 28 | Opp. Season | 26 | 15 | 24 | 19 | 24 | |
| Last 3 Weeks | 12 | 26 | 28 | 4 | 30 | Last 3 Weeks | 24 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 19 | |
Chicago Bulls
Record: 25-19 — Road: 9-10 — Last 10: 3-7
- Chicago Bulls Offense
Points Scored Per Game: 101.3 (17 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 105.5 (4 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 4.2
The final game of the night is between the Bulls and the Lakers. Chicago comes into this game in deseparate need of a win, losing seven of their last ten games. The Bulls are listed as 8.5-point favorites with their team total set at 105.5 points.
- Los Angeles Lakers Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 106.2 (28 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 108.3 (30 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -4.3 (29 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 213.2 (30 of 30)
As crazy as it sounds, the Lakers do not play much defense. In fact, they are ranked in the bottom three in all four of the defensive categories listed above. With such a great matchup, we should give the Bulls’ offense a sizable boost as a whole. Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noah are both out for the Bulls, which should lead to big minutes for the remaining members of their frontcourt.
- Injury Watch:
Nikola Mirotic (Out)
Mike Dunleavy (Out)
Kirk Hinrich (Out)
E’Twaun Moore (Questionable)
Derrick Rose (Probable)
Elite Plays
Pau Gasol
There are so many reason to like Gasol tonight. Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic are both out, which should result in Gasol seeing around 35 minutes. He has been in great form recently, averaging 38.3 fantasy points over his last five games. And to top it all off, he is facing his former team.
FD — $8,700 — C
DK — $8,700 — C
TO-Adjusted Usage — Season: 21.1 | Last Five Games: 20.8
Min/Game — Season: 31.7 | Last Five Games: 32.2
FP/Game — Season: 37.5 | Last Five Games: 38.3
Jimmy Butler
Butler is expensive, but he draws a terrific matchup against the Lakers. Shooting guard is a tough position to fill and if you are paying up, Butler is the recommended target. He should see minutes in the upper-30s against a defense that is ranked 27th against shooting guards.
FD — $8,700 — SG
DK — $8,800 — SG
TO-Adjusted Usage — Season: 21.9 | Last Five Games: 20.5
Min/Game — Season: 38.3 | Last Five Games: 38.8
FP/Game — Season: 37.6 | Last Five Games: 33.6
Taj Gibson
Gibson is a must play for me tonight, even on DraftKings where he is priced at $5,500. With Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic out, Gibson should see 35+ minutes tonight against the Lakers. We have seen what he can do when given starter’s minutes and I will be targeting him in all league formats tonight.
FD — $4,800 — PF
DK — $5,500 — PF
TO-Adjusted Usage — Season: 11.9 | Last Five Games: 12.0
Min/Game — Season: 25.5 | Last Five Games: 27.4
FP/Game — Season: 20.1 | Last Five Games: 20.8
Secondary Plays
Bobby Portis
Free Bobby Portis day is here! Portis is typically thought of as a tournament play, but with Joakim Noah and Nikola Mirotic out, he should see at least 20 minutes tonight against a Lakers’ defense that can’t rebound or defend the paint. He is one of my favorite tournament plays and I actually don’t mind him in cash games either.
FD — $3,500 — PF
DK — $3,500 — PF
TO-Adjusted Usage — Season: 18.9 | Last Five Games: 22.1
Min/Game — Season: 14.1 | Last Five Games: 12.1
FP/Game — Season: 12.8 | Last Five Games: 10.3
Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 9-38 — Home: 5-16 — Last 10: 1-9
- Los Angeles Lakers Offense
Points Scored Per Game: 96.3 (27 of 30)
Implied Team Total: 97.0 (10 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 0.7
The Lakers have lost nine of their last ten games and have fallen to 9-38 on the season. They draw an average matchup tonight against the Bulls at home. The Lakers are only projected to score 97 points, which is the third lowest team total on the board.
- Chicago Bulls Defense
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.8 (13 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 100.3 (8 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: 2.1 (8 of 30)
Fantasy Points Allowed Per Game: 206.4 (25 of 30)
The Bulls are ranked eighth in defensive efficiency, but their quick pace of play hurts their rankings in points allowed per game (13th) and fantasy points allowed per game (25th). Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams are both questionable to play tonight. If one or both are forced out, give a boost to Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell.
- Injury Watch:
Julius Randle (Probable)
Louis Williams (Questionable)
Kobe Bryant (Questionable)
Elite Plays
NONE
Secondary Plays
Jordan Clarkson
Clarkson is the only fantasy option from the Lakers that is on my radar tonight. The Bulls have struggled to defend point guards all season and Clarkson would see a nice boost in minutes if Kobe Bryant or Louis Williams are forced out of tonight’s game.
FD — $5,700 — PG
DK — $5,700 — PG
TO-Adjusted Usage — Season: 19.3 | Last Five Games: 20.7
Min/Game — Season: 32.1 | Last Five Games: 31.0
FP/Game — Season: 24.4 | Last Five Games: 23.8