NBA Grind Down: Tuesday, March 10th - Page Two
Detroit at L.A. Lakers – 10:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Detroit -2.5, 199 Over/Under
- Detroit Proj. Starters – Jackson-Caldwell-Pope-Prince-Monroe-Drummond
- L.A. Lakers Proj. Starters – Clarkson-Ellington-Johnson-Hill-Black
| Detroit | L.A. Lakers | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 199.0 |  | Vegas Total | 199.0 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -2.5 | Vegas Sprd | 2.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 101.50 | Team Proj. | 98.25 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.81 | Team Pace | 96.75 | |||||||||
| 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 | Tayshaun Prince | Greg Monroe | Andre Drummond | Proj Starter | Jordan Clarkson | Wayne Ellington | Wesley Johnson | Jordan Hill | Tarik Black | |
| Opp. Season | 30 | 22 | 20 | 12 | 25 | Opp. Season | 3 | 18 | 17 | 28 | 29 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 7 | 23 | 20 | 12 | 18 | Opp. Last 7 | 2 | 27 | 11 | 30 | 27 | |
Detroit
The Pistons draw the best matchup on the board tonight. They are facing a Lakers’ defense that has allowed more points per game than any other team in the NBA this season. The Pistons are 4-point favorites tonight with their team total set at 101.5 points. This game is expected to be close and high-scoring, two characteristics of a game that we love to see in DFS.
Opponent Breakdown (L.A. Lakers)
Record: 16-46
Points Allowed Per Game: 105.7 (Rank: 30)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 28
Rebounding Differential Rank: 21
Elite Plays
Greg Monroe (FD: $8100, DK: $8100 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 23.8)
Monroe comes into tonight’s game on the heels of a terrific five-game stretch, where he has averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game. He needs roughly 40 fantasy points to meet value expectations tonight, which he is certainly capable of. The Lakers are ranked in the bottom ten in both points allowed per game and rebounding differential. Don’t over-think this one, target Monroe in all league formats.
Reggie Jackson (FD: $6900, DK: $7000 / MPG: 29 / Usage Rate: 23.3)
At point guard tonight, there is Reggie Jackson, and then there is everyone else. There is no reason to fade Jackson tonight against the Lakers, who have allowed more fantasy points to point guards than any other team in the NBA this season. Jackson has averaged 37 fantasy points per game in his last three and he should be able to reach that mark again tonight.
Secondary Plays
Andre Drummond (FD: $8400, DK: $7900 / MPG: 30 / Usage Rate: 21.2)
Drummond is typically an easy fade in cash games, given his inconsistency, but with a lack of options at center, he’s in play in all league formats tonight. Drummond has scored at least 38 fantasy points in five of his last eight games and he draws a terrific matchup against the Lakers, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing centers this season.
L.A. Lakers
The Lakers have lost five games in a row, but at least they’ve been competitive recently. They are only 2.5-point underdogs tonight against the Pistons in a game that features a total of 199 points. This game is a fantasy gold mine and for once, there are actually quite a few Lakers’ players on my radar.
Opponent Breakdown (Detroit)
Record: 23-39
Points Allowed Per Game: 99.8 (Rank: 17)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 17
Rebounding Differential Rank: 9
Elite Plays
Jordan Clarkson (FD: $5600, DK: $5000 / MPG: 21 / Usage Rate: 22.2)
Lin continues to get the attention, but Clarkson has actually been a much better fantasy option recently. He has really played well over over his last seven games, as he has averaged 27 fantasy points in 32 minutes per contest. His price is still affordable across the industry and he has a decent size advantage over the turnover-prone Reggie Jackson.
Secondary Plays
Jordan Hill (FD: $5800, DK: $5000 / MPG: 28 / Usage Rate: 22.1)
Hill is in play tonight if you are looking for a contrarian play at center. Most people will gravitate to Rudy Gobert and Andre Drummond at the position, but Hill offers good value for the price and he should draw another start tonight. He also draws a favorable matchup against the Pistons, who are ranked 28th against power forwards and 29th against centers.
Wayne Ellington (FD: $5400, DK: $4700 / MPG: 25 / Usage Rate: 17.9)
Ellington has scored at least 23 fantasy points in four of his last seven games and he has played at least 35 minutes in every game during that stretch. He should continue to log heavy minutes tonight against the Pistons, who are ranked 18th against shooting guards this season.