NBA Grind Down: Wednesday, February 25th - Page Three
Memphis at Sacramento – 10:00 PM EST
- Vegas Line – Memphis -7, 199 Over/Under
- Memphis Proj. Starters – Conley-Lee-Green-Randolph-Gasol
- Sacramento Proj. Starters – McCallum-McLemore-Gay-Thompson-Cousins
| Memphis | Sacramento | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 199 |  | Vegas Total | 199 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -7.0 | Vegas Sprd | 7.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 103.00 | Team Proj. | 96.00 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 94.19 | Team Pace | 97.52 | |||||||||
| 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 | Mike Conley | Courtney Lee | Jeff Green | Zach Randolph | Marc Gasol | Proj Starter | Ray McCallum | Ben McLemore | Rudy Gay | Jason Thompson | DeMarcus Cousins | |
| Opp. Season | 28 | 30 | 6 | 22 | 28 | Opp. Season | 5 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 1 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 26 | 29 | 8 | 22 | 29 | Opp. Last 7 | 29 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 4 | |
Memphis
The Grizzlies travel to Sacramento to take on a Kings’ team that has really struggled over the last month or so. The Kings present a favorable matchup for fantasy production, as they are a fast-paced team that has allowed the fourth-most points per game to their opponents this season. The Grizzlies are projected to score 103 points tonight, which is considerably higher than their season average.
Opponent Breakdown (Sacramento)
Record: 19-35
Points Allowed Per Game: 104.6 (Rank: 27)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 27
Rebounding Differential Rank: 1
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Mike Conley (FD: $6600, DK: $6400 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 24.5)
Marc Gasol is a safe cash game play tonight, but again, it’s hard to roster him with Rudy Gobert in such a great matchup against the Lakers. Conley makes an interesting tournament play tonight though. His minutes are trending upward and he has scored at least 35 fantasy points in each of his last two games. He also draws a favorable matchup against the Kings, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season.
Sacramento
The Kings draw the worst matchup on the board tonight. Not only are the Grizzlies one of the slowest paced teams in the league, but they are ranked fifth in defensive efficiency. That lethal combination has allowed the Grizzlies to hold their opponents to the fewest amount of points per game this season.
Opponent Breakdown (Memphis)
Record: 41-14
Points Allowed Per Game: 95.5 (Rank: 1)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 5
Rebounding Differential Rank: 13
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Ray McCallum (FD: $3500, DK: $3300 / MPG: 15 / Usage Rate: 17.5)
Darren Collison is not expected to play tonight, which means McCallum will draw another start at point guard. In two starts this season, he is averaging 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. His matchup against Mike Conley isn’t ideal, but he’s close to minimum salary and he could play somewhere in the range of 30 minutes tonight.
San Antonio at Portland – 10:30 PM EST
- Vegas Line – Portland -3, 195.5 Over/Under
- San Antonio Proj. Starters – Parker-Green-Leonard-Duncan-Baynes
- Portland Proj. Starters – Lillard-Matthews-Batum-Aldridge-Lopez
| San Antonio | Portland | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 195.5 |  | Vegas Total | 195.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 3.0 | Vegas Sprd | -3.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 96.25 | Team Proj. | 99.25 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.53 | Team Pace | 96.46 | |||||||||
| 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 | Tony Parker | Danny Green | Kawhi Leonard | Tim Duncan | Aron Baynes | Proj Starter | Damian Lillard | Wesley Matthews | Nicolas Batum | LaMarcus Aldridge | Robin Lopez | |
| Opp. Season | 20 | 19 | 12 | 2 | 9 | Opp. Season | 11 | 1 | 1 | 23 | 18 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 17 | 23 | 10 | 20 | 21 | Opp. Last 7 | 28 | 20 | 13 | 23 | 22 | |
San Antonio
There is little to like about the Spurs tonight. First off, they are the Spurs and they are coached by Greg Popovich, who seems to hate daily fantasy basketball more than anyone (given his rotations, resting starters, etc.). The Spurs also face a defensive-minded Blazers’ team that has held their opponents to the sixth-fewest points per game this season. Why take the risk on any of the Spurs veterans when you don’t have to?
Opponent Breakdown (Portland)
Record: 36-19
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.2 (Rank: 6)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 4
Rebounding Differential Rank: 12
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
Portland
The Blazers draw a tough matchup against a Spurs’ team that has really improved on the defensive end of the floor. For the first few months of the season, the Spurs were ranked around the league average in points allowed per game. They are now ranked seventh, holding opponents to only 97.3 points per game. While I expect this game to be competitive, it provides very little fantasy appeal.
Opponent Breakdown (San Antonio)
Record: 34-22
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.3 (Rank: 7)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 6
Rebounding Differential Rank: 10
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
LaMarcus Aldridge (FD: $9300, DK: $9000 / MPG: 36 / Usage Rate: 29.8)
Aldridge was a late scratch on Sunday night, but is listed as probable for tonight’s game against the Spurs. Aldridge has 50 fantasy point upside every time he takes the floor and he draws a favorable matchup against a team that is ranked 23rd against power forwards this season. With all of the value out there tonight, we have to spend up somewhere. Aldridge is a fine way to spend some of that extra salary cap.