NBA Grind Down: Wednesday, February 7th

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2018-02-07 19:59:39

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Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

Vegas lines are broken down to show projected Implied Team Totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extra possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.

We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.

If you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use promo code “GRINDERS” to receive the best perks in the industry.

Legend & FAQ

Brooklyn Nets at Detroit Pistons – 7:00 PM ET

Brooklyn Nets							Detroit Pistons
			Vegas Total		209.0					Vegas Total		209.0
			Vegas Spread		9.5					Vegas Spread		-9.5
			Implied Team Total		99.8					Implied Team Total		109.3
			Pace Projection +/-		-1.2					Pace Projection +/-		1.8
Projected Starters	Spencer Dinwiddie	Allen Crabbe	DeMarre Carroll	Quincy Acy	Jarrett Allen		Projected Starters	Ish Smith	Reggie Bullock	Stanley Johnson	Blake Griffin	Andre Drummond
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	8	6	28	13	6		DvP	22	14	17	29	30
DRPM Rat.	18	22	10	26	5		DRPM Rat.	7	16	4	15	26

Brooklyn Nets

Happy Wednesday everyone! We have a small six-game slate on tap tonight. We start with the Nets and Pistons in a game that features the highest spread on the board at 9.5 points. Detroit has been stout defensively this season, ranking tenth or better in points allowed per game and defensive efficiency. The Nets come into the game with the third-lowest implied total (99.8 points) and the third worst projected point differential (-5.2) of the slate.

It’s not all doom and gloom with the Nets tonight, as Caris LeVert and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson have both been ruled out. This should open up minutes on the wing and in the frontcourt. Spencer Dinwiddie has quietly played well over his last five games, averaging 35 fantasy points per contest. Ish Smith is not a great individual defender and as a whole, the Pistons are ranked 19th in efficiency against point guards. The best part is that Dinwiddie should carry low ownership in the second half of a back-to-back.

D’Angelo Russell has flashed some upside, but has yet to play more than 23 minutes since returning from injury. It would take a near-perfect outing for him to exceed value at this price point. Allen Crabbe has been quiet, but could push for 30 minutes without LeVert in the lineup. DeMarre Carroll grades out as one of the top point-per-dollar targets at small forward on FanDuel ($5,100). Not only will he see a few extra minutes thanks to the injuries, but the Pistons are ranked in the bottom five in both efficiency and DvP against small forwards.

The Nets’ frontcourt has been frustrating all season. Quincy Acy is currently listed as questionable. Joe Harris drew the start in his absence last night, but Brooklyn might need a bigger lineup to defend the likes of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. Jahlil Okafor has played well in limited minutes, but relies on efficiency to reach value. It might be tough sledding against a talented Pistons’ frontcourt. Jarrett Allen is the best bet out of the Nets’ bigs, but he is priced up on both FanDuel and DraftKings.

Notable Injuries

Caris LeVert (Out)
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Out)
Quincy Acy (Questionable)

Brooklyn Nets Offense

Points Per Game: 104.9 (16 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 99.8 (10 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: -5.2 (10 of 12)

Matchup vs. Detroit Pistons

Points Allowed Per Game: 102.9 (7 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.8 (10 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -0.3 (15 of 30)
Pace of Play: 98.2 (21 of 30)

Elite Plays – Spencer Dinwiddie (GPP), DeMarre Carroll (FD)

Secondary Plays – Spencer Dinwiddie (Cash), DeMarre Carroll (DK), Allen Crabbe

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have won four games in a row and have yet to lose since acquiring Blake Griffin. They should be able to pick up another win tonight, as they host a Nets’ team that is playing their second game in as many nights. On the season, Brooklyn is ranked below the league average in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Pistons have an implied total of 109.3 points, which is the fourth highest on the board and six points above their season average.

Ish Smith is coming off of a strong five-game stretch where he averaged 31 minutes and 30 fantasy points per contest. He draws an exploitable matchup against the Nets, who are ranked 24th in efficiency and 22nd in DvP against point guards. There are point guards that I prefer in tournaments, but Smith offers one of the highest floors at his price point. Reggie Bullock and Stanley Johnson should both play 32-35 minutes once again and they both average close to 0.65 fantasy points per minute on the season. If we are price shopping, Bullock is the better buy on FanDuel and Johnson is the better buy on DraftKings.

In the three games that they have played together, Blake Griffin has scored 50, 37, and 39 fantasy points, while Andre Drummond has scored 46, 66, and 53 fantasy points. The two have been a lethal combination down low and so far, they haven’t cut into each other’s fantasy production. I see both as elite plays against the Nets, who are ranked 28th in efficiency against both power forwards and centers. Given the size of the slate and the matchup, you can play Griffin and Drummond in the same lineup.

Notable Injuries

Dwight Buycks (Probable)

Detroit Pistons Offense

Points Per Game: 103.1 (25 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 109.3 (4 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 6.2 (1 of 12)

Matchup vs. Brooklyn Nets

Points Allowed Per Game: 108.7 (24 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 107.1 (21 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -0.9 (17 of 30)
Pace of Play: 101.2 (6 of 30)

Elite Plays – Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, Stanley Johnson (DK)

Secondary Plays – Ish Smith, Reggie Bullock (FD)

Houston Rockets at Miami Heat – 7:30 PM ET

Houston Rockets							Miami Heat
			Vegas Total		211.0					Vegas Total		211.0
			Vegas Spread		-5.0					Vegas Spread		5.0
			Implied Team Total		108.0					Implied Team Total		103.0
			Pace Projection +/-		-2.5					Pace Projection +/-		1.4
Projected Starters	Chris Paul	James Harden	Luc Mbah a Moute	Ryan Anderson	Clint Capela		Projected Starters	Goran Dragic	Josh Richardson	Justise Winslow	James Johnson	Hassan Whiteside
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	3	12	5	4	13		DvP	5	25	20	5	23
DRPM Rat.	24	3	3	7	1		DRPM Rat.	2	18	1	29	2

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have won nine of their last ten games and have nearly caught the Warriors for the best record in the Western Conference. They are playing in the second half of a back-to-back, but the bigger concern is their matchup against the Heat. On the season, Miami is ranked third in points allowed per game and seventh in defensive efficiency. The Rockets may have the sixth highest implied total (108 points) on the board, but they have the second worst projected point differential (-6.0).

Chris Paul has been quiet over his last five games. His minutes and fantasy production are both down during that stretch and it’s hard to imagine him playing 35+ minutes in the second half of a back-to-back. James Harden price tag is appealing, but the Heat have been tough on shooting guards this season. They also have an elite rim protector in Hassan Whiteside. Of the two Rockets’ guards, I prefer Harden, but there may not be enough value in the slate to make him a core play.

Trevor Ariza has already been ruled out of tonight’s game and Ryan Anderson is listed as questionable. This could open up a lot of playing time for the likes of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, P.J. Tucker, Eric Gordon, and Gerald Green. If Anderson is active, I will likely avoid the situation altogether. If he is ruled out, Mbah a Moute and Tucker would become viable cash game targets, while Green would make sense as a low-owned tournament play. Clint Capela minutes are all over the map, but you have to think Mike D’Antoni will want his defense against Hassan Whiteside. As always, Capela is a fine tournament target, but his volatility makes him a risky cash game option.

Notable Injuries

Trevor Ariza (Out)
Ryan Anderson (Questionable)

Houston Rockets Offense

Points Per Game: 114.0 (2 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 108.0 (6 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: -6.0 (11 of 12)

Matchup vs. Miami Heat

Points Allowed Per Game: 101.3 (3 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.3 (7 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 0.4 (13 of 30)
Pace of Play: 96.9 (28 of 30)

Elite Plays – Clint Capela (GPP)

Secondary Plays – James Harden, Clint Capela (Cash), P.J. Tucker, Luc Mbah a Moute

Miami Heat

After having one of the best records in basketball for a stretch in January, the Heat have lost seven of their last ten games. While they have a pace-up matchup against the Rockets, this isn’t the ideal spot for fantasy production. On the season, Houston is ranked eighth in defensive efficiency and fifth in rebounding differential. The fact that Miami is playing at home helps and they come into the game with an implied total of 103 points. Their total might be the fourth lowest of the slate, but it is nearly three points higher than their season average.

We have to keep a close eye on the injury report for Miami tonight. Kelly Olynyk, Wayne Ellington, and Justise Winslow are all doubtful or questionable, which could open up nearly 70 minutes of playing time in the rotation. I typically avoid point guards against Chris Paul and the Rockets, but Goran Dragic has some tournament appeal at a price of $6,900 on FanDuel. Tyler Johnson would become a very interesting option tonight if Ellington and/or Winslow are ruled out. Johnson typically plays 26-28 minutes off the bench, but that number could be north of 30 depending on the availability of those two players.

Olynyk is listed as doubtful, which would give small boosts to James Johnson, Hassan Whiteside, and Bam Adebayo. Olynyk typically doesn’t play a ton of minutes, but he’s heavily involved in the offense and even a five-minute bump can be the difference between a player falling short or meeting value expectations. Johnson is my favorite of the three, as he would likely slide into the starting lineup and play close to 30 minutes against a Rockets’ team that doesn’t have a true power forward on their roster. Whiteside and Adebayo are best suited as large-field GPP fliers for a slate that features some good options at center.

Notable Injuries

Kelly Olynyk (Doubtful)
Wayne Ellington (Questionable)
Justise Winslow (Questionable)

Miami Heat Offense

Points Per Game: 100.4 (28 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 103.0 (9 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 2.6 (4 of 12)

Matchup vs. Houston Rockets

Points Allowed Per Game: 105.7 (15 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.5 (8 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 2.6 (5 of 30)
Pace of Play: 100.8 (8 of 30)

Elite Plays – James Johnson (if Olynyk is out)

Secondary Plays – Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson (bump up if Ellington and/or Winslow are out)

Minnesota Timberwolves at Cleveland Cavaliers – 8:00 PM ET

Minnesota Timberwolves							Cleveland Cavaliers
			Vegas Total		224.0					Vegas Total		224.0
			Vegas Spread		-4.0					Vegas Spread		4.0
			Implied Team Total		114.0					Implied Team Total		110.0
			Pace Projection +/-		0.6					Pace Projection +/-		-1.6
Projected Starters	Jeff Teague	Jimmy Butler	Andrew Wiggins	Taj Gibson	Karl-Anthony Towns		Projected Starters	Isaiah Thomas	J.R. Smith	LeBron James	Jae Crowder	Tristan Thompson
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	29	24	30	19	25		DvP	19	17	1	6	7
DRPM Rat.	27	24	21	28	28		DRPM Rat.	22	1	28	12	22

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves have only won five of their last ten games, but currently own the fourth best record in the Western Conference. Tonight they take their turn at the punching bag that is the Cavaliers. After losing to the Magic last night, Cleveland has now lost six of their last ten games. This is one of the best possible matchups for fantasy production, as the Cavaliers are ranked 25th or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. Minnesota has the highest implied total on the board at 114 points.

Jeff Teague minutes have been all over the map recently, but he should play 30-32 minutes in a game that features a spread of only four points. The Cavaliers as a whole are ranked 29th in DvP against point guards and Isaiah Thomas is one of the worst on-ball defenders in the NBA. At a price point under $6,000, Teague is an elite play in all formats. Jimmy Butler has a great track record against LeBron James and most of that came against the Cavaliers when they had one of the best defenses in basketball. Butler should have a field day tonight and is one of my favorite players to pay up for in this slate.

Andrew Wiggins grades out as one of the top point-per-dollar targets at shooting guard, largely thanks to the matchup and a cheap price point. He does rely on scoring for a large portion of his fantasy production, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you are facing the Cavaliers. Taj Gibson is priced up on FanDuel, but is more than affordable on DraftKings ($5,100). Karl-Anthony Towns should be able to dominate the paint on both ends of the floor, but has only topped 33 minutes one time in his last eight games. He’s certainly viable in tournaments, but I keep finding myself going up to Anthony Davis or Andre Drummond when I’m paying up at center.

Notable Injuries

None

Minnesota Timberwolves Offense

Points Per Game: 109.0 (6 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 114.0 (1 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 5.0 (3 of 12)

Matchup vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Points Allowed Per Game: 109.5 (26 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 109.4 (28 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -2.6 (25 of 30)
Pace of Play: 100.0 (12 of 30)

Elite Plays – Jeff Teague, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, Taj Gibson (DK)

Secondary Plays – Taj Gibson (FD), Karl-Anthony Towns

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers were up by 21 points at one point last night against the Magic and still ended up losing the game. They are a complete mess right now and nobody seems to be on the same page. There are trade rumors floating around and the team clearly lacks chemistry. All of this is cause for concern, but they do draw a nice matchup at home against the Timberwolves. On the season, Minnesota is ranked 24th in defensive efficiency. The Cavaliers have an implied total of 110 points, which is the third highest on the board.

Isaiah Thomas continues to struggle from the field and with the locker room drama, many experts are saying that he wouldn’t fetch a late first-round draft pick in a trade right now. I’ve always been a fan of IT2’s, but he needs to turn it around sooner rather than later. He certainly has a chance to do just that tonight, as he squares off against a Wolves’ team that is ranked 22nd in efficiency against point guards. Thomas could see a small bump in playing time and potentially in usage with Dwyane Wade out tonight. J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver could both see a few extra minutes as well, but they are deep tournament fliers at best.

LeBron James had a great start to last night’s game against the Magic, but everything quickly unraveled. I’m certainly tempted to play him at a discounted price point in a game where the Cavaliers have a high implied total, but I’d rather save $1,500 and play Jimmy Butler instead. As we know, Butler is one of, if not the best on-ball defender in basketball. Tristan Thompson minutes have been down the last few games, but he’s the Cavaliers’ best chance of slowing Karl-Anthony Towns down. At the very least, Thompson is worth a look in tournaments. Jeff Green could see around 25 minutes with Wade out if you are looking for a cheap punt play at power forward.

Notable Injuries

Dwyane Wade (Out)

Cleveland Cavaliers Offense

Points Per Game: 109.2 (5 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 110.0 (3 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 0.8 (7 of 12)

Matchup vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Points Allowed Per Game: 105.7 (15 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 107.5 (24 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 0.4 (13 of 30)
Pace of Play: 97.8 (23 of 30)

Elite Plays – Isaiah Thomas (GPP)

Secondary Plays – Isaiah Thomas (Cash), LeBron James, J.R. Smith (DK), Jeff Green, Tristan Thompson (GPP)

Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 PM ET

Utah Jazz							Memphis Grizzlies
			Vegas Total		201.0					Vegas Total		201.0
			Vegas Spread		-7.0					Vegas Spread		7.0
			Implied Team Total		104.0					Implied Team Total		97.0
			Pace Projection +/-		-3.3					Pace Projection +/-		-2.0
Projected Starters	Ricky Rubio	Donovan Mitchell	Joe Ingles	Derrick Favors	Rudy Gobert		Projected Starters	Andrew Harrison	Wayne Selden	Dillon Brooks	JaMychal Green	Marc Gasol
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	11	20	7	14	1		DvP	14	1	13	8	17
DRPM Rat.	22	12	18	28	11		DRPM Rat.	6	14	9	8	2

Utah Jazz

The Jazz have won six games in a row and are slowly creeping back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference. When healthy, you can argue that the Jazz are one of the five best teams in the West. They draw a difficult matchup tonight against the Grizzlies, who are ranked dead last in pace of play and fifth in points allowed per game this season. Despite the poor matchup on the road, the Jazz have an implied total of 104 points, which is slightly higher than their season average.

It took a few months, but Ricky Rubio is finally playing at a high level for the Jazz. He has scored at least 31 fantasy points in each of his last six games and has topped the 40 fantasy point mark three times during that stretch. It feels a bit strange paying this much for a player that was so inconsistent earlier in the year, but the high price tag will keep his ownership low. Andrew Harrison is far from an elite defender and as a whole, the Grizzlies are ranked 15th in efficiency against point guards. Donovan Mitchell minutes have been down recently, but a few of those games were blowouts. He should play a full complement of minutes tonight and his price has come down to a very playable $7,000 on DraftKings.

I’ve been on the wrong side of Joe Ingles and Rodney Hood for most of the season, so I’ll leave those two to the birds in this slate. In general, Ingles is typically the better cash game play, while Hood offers the upside that we are looking for in tournaments. Derrick Favors has averaging 29 fantasy points over his last five games and draws the best matchup of the five starters. He grades out as one of the top power forwards targets on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Targeting centers against Marc Gasol is not a profitable strategy over the course of an entire season, but Rudy Gobert isn’t a player that is impacted much by matchups. Most of his fantasy production comes from blocks, rebounds, steals, and easy buckets at the rim.

Notable Injuries

Ekpe Udoh (Out)

Utah Jazz Offense

Points Per Game: 103.4 (23 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 104.0 (8 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 0.6 (8 of 12)

Matchup vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Points Allowed Per Game: 102.5 (5 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.5 (18 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.5 (22 of 30)
Pace of Play: 96.1 (30 of 30)

Elite Plays – Derrick Favors, Ricky Rubio (DK GPP), Donovan Mitchell (DK)

Secondary Plays – Ricky Rubio (DK Cash), Donovan Mitchell (FD), Rudy Gobert

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies forgot to show up to the game last night against the Hawks. I’m not sure they ever left their hotel, as they did not look like a professional basketball team. To make matters worse, they are going from one of the best possible matchups to one of the worst tonight against the Jazz. With Rudy Gobert in the lineup, the Jazz are a top five defense. The Grizzlies come into the game as seven-point underdogs with an implied total of only 97 points.

Andrew Harrison was one of the biggest fantasy duds of the slate last night. Luckily, I swapped off of him in my main lineup right before lock, as I wanted some exposure to the Lakers and ended up taking a chance on Josh Hart. After that poor outing, his ownership is going to plummet, even though he is still averaging 26 fantasy points in his last five games. Every now and then, it pays off to zig when everyone else is going to zag. I don’t love his matchup tonight, but love the idea of a low-owned point guard at $5,000 that has the potential to play 30+ minutes.

Wayne Selden has averaged 30 minutes and 20 fantasy points over his last five games, but we can no longer take him at a cheap price point. I still prefer him over Dillon Brooks, but will likely be avoiding both tonight against the Jazz. The Grizzlies’ frontcourt has very little fantasy appeal against a Jazz defense that is ranked eighth in efficiency against power forwards and fifth in efficiency against centers. There are enough plays at their respective positions that I will be taking a hard pass on JaMychal Green, Jarell Martin, and Marc Gasol.

Notable Injuries

Tyreke Evans (Out)
Chandler Parsons (Out)
Deyonta Davis (Out)

Memphis Grizzlies Offense

Points Per Game: 99.6 (29 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 97.0 (11 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: -2.6 (9 of 12)

Matchup vs. Utah Jazz

Points Allowed Per Game: 102.3 (4 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.6 (9 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.5 (22 of 30)
Pace of Play: 97.4 (25 of 30)

Elite Plays – Andrew Harrison (GPP)

Secondary Plays – Andrew Harrison (Cash), Wayne Selden

Indiana Pacers at New Orleans Pelicans – 8:00 PM ET

Indiana Pacers							New Orleans Pelicans
			Vegas Total		221.0					Vegas Total		221.0
			Vegas Spread		3.5					Vegas Spread		-3.5
			Implied Team Total		108.8					Implied Team Total		112.3
			Pace Projection +/-		2.4					Pace Projection +/-		-1.0
Projected Starters	Cory Joseph	Victor Oladipo	Bojan Bogdanovic	Thaddeus Young	Myles Turner		Projected Starters	Rajon Rondo	Jrue Holiday	E’Twaun Moore	Nikola Mirotic	Anthony Davis
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	21	26	21	25	11		DvP	9	10	11	15	28
DRPM Rat.	27	3	28	22	3		DRPM Rat.	25	1	29	11	15

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have won six of their last ten games and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They draw one of the best possible matchups tonight, as they get to square off against the Pelicans, who are playing at the league’s fastest pace since DeMarcus Cousins went down. Not only is this a pace-up spot for Indiana, but the matchup is in their favor as well. They come into the game with an implied total of 108.8 points, which is the fifth highest on the board and two points above their season average.

Darren Collison is going to miss the next few weeks after having an arthroscopic procedure on his knee. His 30 minutes per game will likely be distributed to a number of players, including Cory Joseph, Lance Stephenson, and Bojan Bogdanovic. Joseph will likely draw the start at point guard and push for 30+ minutes against the Pelicans, who are ranked 21st in DvP against point guards this season. Stephenson is more of a wildcard off the bench. We’ll likely see his minutes fluctuate quite a bit depending on how well he is playing in a particular game. Bogdanovic is averaging 27 fantasy points over his last five games and is an excellent tournament play on both FanDuel and DraftKings.

Victor Oladipo is expected to play tonight, after missing one game with an illness. He should be a full go tonight against a Pelicans’ defense that is ranked dead last in efficiency against shooting guards. Oladipo is one of my favorite players to pay up for tonight and I like the idea of using him in a game stack for tournaments. The Pacers’ frontcourt is going to cause some headaches moving forward, but Myles Turner is severely underpriced on DraftKings. As long as he stays out of foul trouble, he should play 30+ minutes in one of the highest scoring games of the slate. I prefer Turner over Domantas Sabonis and Thaddeus Young, although I wouldn’t rule them out in tournaments.

Notable Injuries

Victor Oladipo (Probable)

Indiana Pacers Offense

Points Per Game: 106.7 (11 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 108.8 (5 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 2.1 (5 of 12)

Matchup vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Points Allowed Per Game: 111.1 (29 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 107.3 (23 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.1 (19 of 30)
Pace of Play: 101.8 (4 of 30)

Elite Plays – Victor Oladipo, Myles Turner (DK), Bojan Bogdanovic (GPP), Cory Joseph (Cash)

Secondary Plays – Myles Turner (FD), Bojan Bogdanovic (Cash), Cory Joseph (GPP), Lance Stephenson (GPP), Thaddeus Young, Domantas Sabonis

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are always one of my favorite teams to see on the schedule. They play at a fast pace, they score a lot of points, and they tend to give up quite a few points as well. Tonight’s game against the Pacers has a total of 221 points, which is second only to the Wolves-Cavaliers game. The Pelicans have an implied total of 112.3 points, which is the second highest on the board and two points above their season average.

Rajon Rondo would likely win the mid-season award for most inconsistent player in DFS, but he’s one of my favorite plays of the slate. Over his last three games, he has averaged 28 minutes and 32 fantasy points. He draws a nice matchup against Cory Joseph, who is a significantly worse defender than Darren Collison. Rondo is a better tournament play than cash game target, but I don’t mind chasing some upside in cash games in these smaller slates. Jrue Holiday has a difficult matchup against Victor Oladipo, but still grades out as one of the top point-per-dollar targets at shooting guard. Holiday has seen a massive usage and FP/min boost with Cousins out of the lineup this season.

E’Twaun Moore is always viable in tournaments, especially at his discounted price point. We shouldn’t turn our heads at the chance to roster a player that will see 30 minutes in a high scoring game. Nikola Mirotic scored 48 fantasy points in his Pelicans’ debut and then put up a dud against the Jazz. The important statistic is that he played 33 or more minutes in both games. He is one of the best power forward options of the slate, especially on DraftKings $6,500. Anthony Davis deserves to be considered the top overall play tonight. Not only does he dominate with Cousins out of the lineup, but the Pacers are ranked 27th in efficiency and 28th in DvP against centers this season.

Notable Injuries

None

New Orleans Pelicans Offense

Points Per Game: 110.7 (4 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 112.3 (2 of 12)
Projected Point Differential: 1.6 (6 of 12)

Matchup vs. Indiana Pacers

Points Allowed Per Game: 105.6 (14 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.6 (19 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.5 (22 of 30)
Pace of Play: 98.4 (20 of 30)

Elite Plays – Rajon Rondo, Nikola Mirotic, Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday

Secondary Plays – E’Twaun Moore

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