NBA Grind Down: Wednesday, February 5th - Page 3
All stat chart buttons below open in an in-screen popup window and include stat tables for all games on the given page of the Grind Down Article
Toronto at Sacramento
- Vegas Line – EVEN SPREAD, 200.5 OVER/UNDER
- Toronto Proj. Starters – Lowry-Derozan-Ross-Johnson-Valanciunas
- Sacramento Proj. Starters – Thomas-Thornton-Gay-Thompson-Cousins
Toronto
The Raptors and Kings game is a Pick ‘Em game tonight. I always like these types of games because we don’t have to worry about a blowout. Well I suppose when the Kings are involved, there is always some risk of a blowout, but they have played well at home this season. The Kings have really struggled defensively this season. In terms of fantasy points allowed, they are ranked 23rd or worse against PG’s, SG’s, SF’s, and PF’s.
- DeMar DeRozan – I’m still having a hard time trusting any of the bigs of the Raptors. I like to take players that are guaranteed big minutes and that’s just not the case with any of the bigs. Instead, I will target the guards. DeRozan is an All-Star and he continues to play like one. He has topped 30 FP’s in 11 of his last 13 games. The two games that he didn’t top 30 fantasy points were the game that he got injured in as well as his first game back. Look for him to push for 35+ tonight.
- Kyle Lowry – Of the two, I am giving the slight edge to DeRozan, but I think they both make great plays tonight against the Kings. The Kings have been one of the worst teams in the league at defending PG’s all season long and Lowry is one of the few players that truly fills up all areas of the stat sheet.
Sacramento
The Kings don’t have the greatest matchup on paper, but they are playing at home and are projected to score around 100 points. Isaiah Thomas is my least favorite of the big 3, Lowry has been a great defender all season long. Rudy Gay is in play, he is facing his former team and will have a little extra added motivation in this one. DeMarcus Cousins makes a nice GPP play, but he is still nursing an ankle injury.
Miami at L.A.Clippers
- Vegas Line – L.A.Clippers -1.5, 209.5 Over/Under
- Miami Proj. Starters – Chalmers-Wade-James-Battier-Bosh
- L.A.Clippers Proj. Starters – Collison-Redick-Barnes-Griffin-Jordan
Miami
This game features the 2nd highest total of the night. Both of these teams really defend the PG position well, but the other positions are all in play. I like Dwyane Wade tonight, but as always we don’t know for sure that he will be in the lineup, so he may be a little too risky to trust in cash games.
- LeBron James – LeBron has finally decided to turn it up offensively. For the first time this season, he has scored over 56 fantasy points in back to back games. While I don’t know if we can expect him to keep that streak going, I do think he has a great chance of topping 50 FP’s again.
L.A.Clippers
The Clippers don’t have a great matchup on paper, but this is expected to be a high scoring game. I will probably avoid Darren Collison unless he is extremely cheap, but the other Clippers’ players are in play. J.J. Redick is extremely cheap and makes a nice contrarian play tonight. I think he has a nice matchup and will likely be under-owned. DeAndre Jordan also makes a great play, the Heat are not a great rebounding team and rebounding is what DeAndre does best.
- Blake Griffin – Griffin is one of my favorite plays tonight. The Heat may have to adjust their lineup to match up with him because Battier would have an extremely tough time defending him in the post. Griffin continues to play well with CP3 out and I think he really plays well in this nationally televised game.