NBA Grind Down: Tuesday, May 5th
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: Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s NBA Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter and lineup alerts for the most up-to-date DFS NBA news.
Washington at Atlanta – 8:00 PM ET
- Vegas Line – Atlanta -7, 200.5 Over/Under
- Washington Proj. Starters – Wall-Beal-Pierce-Hilario-Gortat
- Atlanta Proj. Starters – Teague-Korver-Carroll-Millsap-Horford
| Washington | Atlanta | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 200 |  | Vegas Total | 200 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 7.0 | Vegas Sprd | -7.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 96.8 | Team Proj. | 103.8 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.82 | Team Pace | 96.10 | |||||||||
| 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 | Jeff Teague | Kyle Korver | DeMarre Carroll | Paul Millsap | Al Horford | |
| Opp. Season | 19 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 9 | Opp. Season | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 4 | Opp. Last 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 11 | |
Washington
Editor’s Note: John Wall is OUT tonight.
The Wizards continued their great play with a win over Hawks in Game 1 to steal home-court advantage. The Hawks will look to extend their lead with a win tonight, but you have to think the Hawks bounce back in this situation. Vegas has the Wizards listed as 6.5-point underdogs with their team total set at 95.5 points. John Wall and Bradley Beal were both hurt in Game 1, but both are expected to be in the lineup for tonight’s Game 2.
Opponent Breakdown (Atlanta)
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.2 (Rank: 5)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 7
Rebounding Differential Rank: 27
Elite Plays
Editor’s Note: John Wall is OUT tonight.
John Wall (FanDuel: $9600, DraftKings: $9400 / MPG: 36 / Usage Rate: 25.4)
Wall was terrific in Game 1, finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, and 3 steals. His price has come up a bit on both FanDuel and DraftKings, but he should still be considered an elite play, even at his elevated price point. He is basically a lock to play 40+ minutes against a Hawks’ defense that was ranked below-average against point guards this season.
Paul Pierce (FD: $4500, DK: $5400 / MPG: 26 / Usage Rate: 20.1)
Pierce started the first-round series off with a bang and he did the same here in the second-round. He finished Game 1 with 19 points and 3 rebounds in 31 minutes of action. He will likely see around 30 minutes per game in this series and his price point is very affordable for a guy that can take over a game offensively. Dollar for dollar, he is one of the top small forward options tonight.
Otto Porter (FD: $4100, DK: $4800 / MPG: 19 / Usage Rate: 15.5)
Porter may not draw the start, but he is playing starter’s minute here in the playoffs. In his last four games, he has averaged 25 fantasy points in 31 minutes per contest. He had 25 fantasy points in Game 1 and he may be able to replicate that performance in Game 2. His price has yet to reflect his recent level of production, making him one of the best value plays on the board.
Secondary Plays
Bradley Beal (FD: $7200, DK: $7300 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 22.2)
Marcin Gortat (FD: $7300, DK: $7000 / MPG: 30 / Usage Rate: 17.3)
Atlanta
The Hawks looked like they had no energy in Game 1 and they have to be very careful tonight, or they could find themselves in an 0-2 hole that would be nearly impossible to climb out of. I expect a much better outing from the Hawks tonight and wouldn’t be surprised to see them run away with Game 2. They are listed as 6.5-point favorites with their team total set at 102 points. Their team total is second only to the Warriors in tonight’s two-game slate.
Opponent Breakdown (Washington)
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.6 (Rank: 9)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 5
Rebounding Differential Rank: 3
Elite Plays
Al Horford (FD: $7400, DK: $7900 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 22.3)
Paul Millsap is a borderline elite play as well, but if I’m targeting any of the Hawks’ frontcourt players, I’d rather take the discount with Horford. He had a huge performance in Game 1, finishing with 17 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 assists in only 30 minutes of action. His minutes will likely go up to around 35 tonight, as the Hawks can’t afford to lose the first two games in this series.
DeMarre Carroll (FD: $6800, DK: $7200 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 16.6)
Carroll had a very strange fantasy outing in Game 1. He is typically a player that fills up all areas of the stat sheet, yet he only finished with 27 fantasy points despite scoring 24 actual points. His offense has really improved throughout the course of the season and he should have a much better line in terms of his peripheral stats tonight.
Jeff Teague (FD: $6400, DK: $6900 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 24.9)
Dollar for dollar, I have Teague ranked as my top point guard in tonight’s small two-game slate. He has been hit or miss so far here in the playoffs, but the Hawks need a big game from him tonight. He has a depressed price tag on both FanDuel and DraftKings and he has the best matchup of any player on the Hawks. I’m expecting a 35+ fantasy point outing from Teague tonight.
Secondary Plays
Paul Millsap (FD: $8900, DK: $8600 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 23.6)
Kyle Korver (FD: $6500, DK: $6400 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 14.2)
Memphis at Golden State – 10:30 PM ET
- Vegas Line – Golden State -10.5, 196.5 Over/Under
- Memphis Proj. Starters – Calathes-Lee-Allen-Randolph-Gasol
- Golden State Proj. Starters – Curry-Thompson-Barnes-Green-Bogut
| Memphis | Golden State | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 196.5 |  | Vegas Total | 196.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 10.5 | Vegas Sprd | -10.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 93.0 | Team Proj. | 103.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 94.31 | Team Pace | 94.15 | |||||||||
| 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 | Nick Calathes | Courtney Lee | Tony Allen | Zach Randolph | Marc Gasol | Proj Starter | Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Harrison Barnes | Draymond Green | Andrew Bogut | |
| Opp. Season | 6 | 6 | 12 | 22 | 16 | Opp. Season | 7 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 2 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9 | Opp. Last 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
Memphis
The Grizzlies are hoping to have Mike Conley back for Game 2 tonight. There are conflicting reports on his status, as Mike Conley says that he plans to play, while other reports suggest that he is unlikely to play. The bad part is that we likely won’t know his status before the first game tips off, which makes it tough on early-lock sites. The Grizzlies are 10.5-point underdogs tonight against the Warriors with their team total set at only 93 points.
Opponent Breakdown (Golden State)
Points Allowed Per Game: 99.5 (Rank: 14)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 1
Rebounding Differential Rank: 12
Elite Plays
Marc Gasol (FD: $8700, DK: $8500 / MPG: 34 / Usage Rate: 24.7)
Gasol is the model of consistency. He rarely has a bad fantasy outing, as he has now scored at least 38 fantasy points in every single game so far in the playoffs. Al Horford will likely have the highest ownership level tonight, but I’m willing to pay a little extra for that high floor in cash games. Gasol should do what Gasol does and have another 38+ fantasy point outing tonight against the Warriors.
Zach Randolph (FD: $7100, DK: $7100 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 24.2)
Randolph had a hard time in the first-round series against LaMarcus Aldridge, but that’s a problem that many power forwards have against the Blazers. He had a much better outing in Game 1 against the Warriors, finishing with 37 fantasy points in 36 minutes per contest. While Draymond Green is an excellent defender, he doesn’t have the size to knock Randolph off of his spot in the post. This is a matchup that the Grizzlies will try to exploit over and over again.
Secondary Plays
Mike Conley (FD: $5800, DK: $5300 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 23.8) – Only on late-swap sites.
Tony Allen (FD: $4900, DK: $5100 / MPG: 26 / Usage Rate: 16.6)
Courtney Lee (FD: $4100, DK: $4600 / MPG: 31 / Usage Rate: 15.2)
Golden State
The Warriors made winning look so easy. If it’s not one of the “Splash Brothers,” then it’s one of the many complementary pieces that they have making plays on both ends of the floor. The Warriors are large favorites again tonight and the only thing holding them back from reaching value is a potential blowout. The Grizzlies do have an elite defense, but they aren’t going to be able to stop the Warriors in this series.
Opponent Breakdown (Memphis)
Points Allowed Per Game: 95.2 (Rank: 2)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 4
Rebounding Differential Rank: 12
Elite Plays
Stephen Curry (FD: $10200, DK: $10700 / MPG: 33 / Usage Rate: 28.4)
Curry won the MVP this season and rightfully so. He will get awarded the trophy tonight before the game and he’ll want to put an encore for his fans. He played well in Game 1, finishing with 39 fantasy points in 38 minutes of action. The Warriors don’t have an answer for him defensively and he should have another big fantasy outing tonight. Dollar for dollar, I have him ranked behind Jeff Teague and John Wall, but I certainly can’t argue the Curry pick tonight.
Klay Thompson (FD: $7500, DK: $7600 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 27.3)
For the first time in nine game, Thompson scored less than 20 actual points. He still managed to score 29 fantasy points though, thanks to his six assists in Game 1. He is an elite scorer that is easily the top shooting guard option on the board tonight. He has scored at least 33 fantasy points in three of his last four games.
Secondary Plays
Draymond Green (FD: $8100, DK: $8300 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 17.2)
Harrison Barnes (FD: $4200, DK: $4700 / MPG: 29 / Usage Rate: 14.8)
Andre Iguodala (FD: $4100, DK: $4100 / MPG: 27 / Usage Rate: 13.6)