NBA Grind Down: Wednesday, March 25th
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.
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L.A. Clippers at New York – 7:00 PM
- Vegas Line – L.A. Clippers -14.5, 197 Over/Under
- L.A. Clippers Proj. Starters – Paul-Redick-Barnes-Griffin-Jordan
- New York Proj. Starters – Larkin-Galloway-Thomas-Amundson-Bargnani
| L.A. Clippers | New York | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 197 |  | Vegas Total | 197 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -14.5 | Vegas Sprd | 14.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 105.8 | Team Proj. | 91.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.80 | Team Pace | 93.38 | |||||||||
| 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 | Chris Paul | J.J. Redick | Matt Barnes | Blake Griffin | DeAndre Jordan | Proj Starter | Shane Larkin | Langston Galloway | Lance Thomas | Louis Amundson | Andrea Bargnani | |
| Opp. Season | 18 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 24 | Opp. Season | 4 | 16 | 27 | 16 | 13 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 3 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 26 | Opp. Last 7 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 14 | |
L.A. Clippers
The Clippers head to New York to take on a Knicks team that has all but given up on their season. The Clippers are listed as 14.5-point favorites here, which is the biggest spread on the board. While the Knicks usually present us with a favorable matchup to exploit, it’s tough to justify rostering any Clippers’ players tonight. With 12 other games on the schedule, there is no reason to take any unnecessary risks in a potential blowout.
Opponent Breakdown (New York)
Record: 14-57
Points Allowed Per Game: 101.3 (Rank: 22)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 29
Rebounding Differential Rank: 27
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
New York
The Knicks have lost four games in a row and eight of their last ten. They are also playing shorthanded, as half of their team seems to be nursing injuries. The Knicks are huge underdogs tonight at home against the Clippers. While Doc Rivers’ troops have had a mediocre defense this season, the Knicks are only projected to score 91 points tonight. That is one of the lowest team totals on the board. The only reason to target any Knicks’ players tonight is if Alexey Shved is ruled out.
Opponent Breakdown (L.A. Clippers)
Record: 46-25
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.5 (Rank: 18)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 18
Rebounding Differential Rank: 18
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Shane Larkin (FD: $4800, DK: $4000) and Langston Galloway (FD: $6100, DK: $5100) would both become viable value options against the Clippers if Alexey Shved is ruled out tonight.
Atlanta at Orlando – 7:00 PM
- Vegas Line – Atlanta -8.5, 201.5 Over/Under
- Atlanta Proj. Starters – Teague-Korver-Carroll-Millsap-Horford
- Orlando Proj. Starters – Payton-Oladipo-Harkless-Frye-Vucevic
| Atlanta | Orlando | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 201.5 |  | Vegas Total | 201.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | -8.5 | Vegas Sprd | 8.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 105.0 | Team Proj. | 96.5 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 96.33 | Team Pace | 95.97 | |||||||||
| 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 | Jeff Teague | Kyle Korver | DeMarre Carroll | Paul Millsap | Al Horford | Proj Starter | Elfrid Payton | Victor Oladipo | Maurice Harkless | Channing Frye | Nikola Vucevic | |
| Opp. Season | 21 | 12 | 30 | 21 | 23 | Opp. Season | 15 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 12 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 10 | 22 | 29 | 28 | 4 | Opp. Last 7 | 18 | 25 | 30 | 26 | 25 | |
Atlanta
The Spurs of the East Hawks travel to Orlando take on the Magic tonight. While Orlando is typically a team that we love to target players against, I’m not sold on the Hawks’ players tonight. Atlanta basically has the number one seed in the Eastern Conference locked down and they are not going to catch the Warriors for the best overall record in the NBA. Basically, they just need to stay healthy for the rest of the season. There are a few great matchups here, but I’m not sure the risk outweighs the potential reward.
Opponent Breakdown (Orlando)
Record: 22-50
Points Allowed Per Game: 102.1 (Rank: 25)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 26
Rebounding Differential Rank: 25
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Paul Millsap (FD: $7900, DK: $7500), Al Horford (FD: $7400, DK: $6400), and DeMarre Carroll (FD: $5700, DK: $5800) are all in play tonight against the Magic. However, given the fact that the Hawks like to give their starters as much rest as possible, they are all secondary options in a potential blowout against Orlando.
Orlando
The Magic have lost seven of their last ten games and are sizable underdogs tonight at home against the Hawks. Tobias Harris and Channing Frye are both questionable for tonight’s game, but it sounds like they could both suit up against Atlanta. If that’s the case, that cuts into the fantasy appeal of Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic. Given the potential blowout and the tough matchup against the Hawks, the Magic can safely be avoided tonight.
Opponent Breakdown (Atlanta)
Record: 53-17
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.4 (Rank: 6)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 9
Rebounding Differential Rank: 29
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None
Indiana at Washington – 7:00 PM
- Vegas Line – Washington -3.5, 193 Over/Under
- Indiana Proj. Starters – Hill-Miles-Hill-West-Hibbert
- Washington Proj. Starters – Wall-Beal-Pierce-Hilario-Gortat
| Indiana | Washington | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 193 |  | Vegas Total | 193 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 3.5 | Vegas Sprd | -3.5 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 94.8 | Team Proj. | 98.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 95.54 | Team Pace | 95.90 | |||||||||
| 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 | George Hill | C.J. Miles | Solomon Hill | David West | Roy Hibbert | Proj Starter | John Wall | Bradley Beal | Paul Pierce | Nene Hilario | Marcin Gortat | |
| Opp. Season | 11 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | Opp. Season | 10 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 10 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 24 | 15 | 23 | 24 | 28 | Opp. Last 7 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 17 | |
Indiana
The Pacers continued their losing ways with a loss against the Rockets on Monday night. They have now lost six games in a row and find themselves a full game behind the Celtics for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They need a win desperately and a victory over the Wizards could go a long way in righting the ship. This game has a very low total of 193 points, as both teams own top ten defenses this season.
Opponent Breakdown (Washington)
Record: 40-31
Points Allowed Per Game: 97.6 (Rank: 8)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 5
Rebounding Differential Rank: 4
Elite Plays
George Hill (FD: $7000, DK: $7100 / MPG: 27 / Usage Rate: 25.9)
Even though the Wizards have been stout defensively this season, Hill is still on my radar as an elite point guard option tonight. He has been terrific over his last six games, averaging 33 fantasy points in 33 minutes per contest. His minutes are higher than they have been all season and he may be asked to do a little more offensively tonight with Rodney Stuckey out. It also helps that the Wizards have struggled to contain point guards recently.
Secondary Plays
Even though the Pacers’ lethal small forward combination burned a ton of people on Wednesday night, C.J. Miles (FD: $4300, DK: $4600) and Solomon Hill (FD: $4000, DK: $4400) are both in play again tonight with Rodney Stuckey out.
Washington
The Wizards are also looking to end their losing streak, although they have only lost three in a row, compared to six for the Pacers. The Wizards are listed as 3.5-point favorites in a game that features a low total. The Pacers are one of the slowest-paced teams in the NBA. They are also ranked in the top ten in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential this season.
Opponent Breakdown (Indiana)
Record: 30-40
Points Allowed Per Game: 97 (Rank: 4)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 10
Rebounding Differential Rank: 7
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
John Wall (FD: $9500, DK: $8600 / MPG: 36 / Usage Rate: 25.2)
Wall has struggled in his last two starts, but he had averaged 44 fantasy points per game in his previous five contests. He draws a mediocre matchup against George Hill and the Pacers. The good news is that this game is in Washington, where Wall has had slightly better splits than he has on the road. Wall is in play on DraftKings, as he is still under-priced at only $8,600.
Brooklyn at Charlotte – 7:00 PM
- Vegas Line – Charlotte -3, 195.5 Over/Under
- Brooklyn Proj. Starters – Williams-Brown-Johnson-Young-Lopez
- Charlotte Proj. Starters – Walker-Henderson-Kidd-Gilchrist-Williams-Jefferson
| Brooklyn | Charlotte | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 195.5 |  | Vegas Total | 195.5 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 3.0 | Vegas Sprd | -3.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 96.3 | Team Proj. | 99.3 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 94.78 | Team Pace | 95.44 | |||||||||
| 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 | Deron Williams | Markel Brown | Joe Johnson | Thaddeus Young | Brook Lopez | Proj Starter | Kemba Walker | Gerald Henderson | Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | Marvin Williams | Al Jefferson | |
| Opp. Season | 8 | 11 | 3 | 20 | 5 | Opp. Season | 12 | 27 | 10 | 28 | 18 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 17 | 4 | 18 | 27 | 13 | Opp. Last 7 | 5 | 10 | 26 | 25 | 30 | |
Brooklyn
The Nets are still in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. They are one of five teams that are within two games of each other. A win over the Hornets would go a long way, as the Hornets are one of those five teams. The Nets are listed as 3-point underdogs in a game that features a relatively-low total of 195.5 points. The Hornets have been solid defensively this season, ranking fourth in points allowed per game.
Opponent Breakdown (Charlotte)
Record: 30-39
Points Allowed Per Game: 97 (Rank: 4)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 7
Rebounding Differential Rank: 12
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
Brook Lopez (FD: $7800, DK: $7000 / MPG: 28 / Usage Rate: 26.5)
Lopez actually sees a small boost with Al Jefferson in the lineup. Jefferson has never been known as an elite defender and he’s also dealing with a knee injury, which is only going to help Lopez’s cause. Lopez has really played well over his last ten games, averaging 36 fantasy points per contest. My favorite stat during that stretch is that he has grabbed at least seven rebounds in eight of those ten games.
Charlotte
The Hornets have lost six of their last ten games and are now a half-game behind the Celtics for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Tonight they host the Nets in what is expected to be a very competitive game. The Hornets draw a favorable matchup against Brooklyn, who is ranked 20th in points allowed per game and 26th in rebounding differential this season.
Opponent Breakdown (Brooklyn)
Record: 29-40
Points Allowed Per Game: 100.8 (Rank: 20)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 25
Rebounding Differential Rank: 26
Elite Plays
Kemba Walker (FD: $7600, DK: $7200 / MPG: 35 / Usage Rate: 26)
Since entering the starting lineup, Walker has averaged 37.6 fantasy points in 33 minutes per game. He has topped the 33-fantasy point mark in each of his last three games. The Hornets are still fighting for their playoff lives and I fully expect Walker’s minutes to continue to rise down the stretch of the regular season. He draws a favorable matchup against Deron Williams and the Nets. Walker may also be asked to carry the load offensively, as Al Jefferson is playing at less than 100%.
Secondary Plays
Marvin Williams (FD: $4200, DK: $4300 / MPG: 25 / Usage Rate: 13.3)
Cody Zeller has already been ruled out of tonight’s game and Al Jefferson is not at full-strength. Both bode well for Williams’ fantasy production, as he may see an uptick in minutes and/or usage. Williams has scored at least 20 fantasy points in four of his last seven games. He has a great chance to reach that mark again tonight against a Nets’ defense that is ranked 28th against small forwards this season.
Miami at Boston – 7:30 PM
- Vegas Line – Boston -5, 201 Over/Under
- Miami Proj. Starters – Dragic-Wade-Deng-Beasley-Haslem
- Boston Proj. Starters – Smart-Bradley-Turner-Bass-Zeller
| Miami | Boston | |||||||||||
 | Vegas Total | 201 |  | Vegas Total | 201 | |||||||
| Vegas Sprd | 5.0 | Vegas Sprd | -5.0 | |||||||||
| Team Proj. | 98.0 | Team Proj. | 103.0 | |||||||||
| Team Pace | 93.07 | Team Pace | 98.45 | |||||||||
| 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 | Goran Dragic | Dwyane Wade | Luol Deng | Michael Beasley | Udonis Haslem | Proj Starter | Marcus Smart | Avery Bradley | Evan Turner | Brandon Bass | Tyler Zeller | |
| Opp. Season | 20 | 3 | 21 | 22 | 26 | Opp. Season | 14 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
| Opp. Last 7 | 29 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 29 | Opp. Last 7 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 30 | 11 | |
Miami
The Heat lost on a buzzer-beater by Khris Middleton last night. Even worse was the injury to Hassan Whiteside. He suffered a bad cut on his hand and he is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game against the Celtics. That could be a big blow, as they are fighting for their playoff lives. The Heat aren’t getting very much love from Vegas, as they are 5-point underdogs tonight against the Celtics.
Opponent Breakdown (Boston)
Record: 31-39
Points Allowed Per Game: 101.6 (Rank: 24)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 14
Rebounding Differential Rank: 19
Elite Plays
Dwyane Wade (FD: $7900, DK: $7900 / MPG: 32 / Usage Rate: 34.4)
Wade has been terrific over his last nine games, averaging 36 fantasy points in 33 minutes per contest. The Heat need another big game out of him tonight against the Celtics. He does draw a tough matchup against Avery Bradley, but his increased role in the offense more than outweighs the matchup. Wade has one of the highest usage rates in the entire NBA and is one of the top shooting guard options on the board tonight.
Editor’s Note: Dwyane Wade has been ruled OUT for tonight’s game.
Secondary Plays
Michael Beasley (FD: $4000, DK: $4200 / MPG: 23 / Usage Rate: 23.4)
With Hassan Whiteside doubtful, it sounds like Michael Beasley may draw the start. If that’s the case, he offers great value at his price point. Beasley has been productive this season, averaging 0.78 fantasy points per minute. If he draws the start, he could realistically push for 30+ minutes tonight against the Celtics.
Boston
The Celtics have won six of their last ten games and are currently sitting in the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. This is a huge game for both teams, as they are both fighting for playoff positioning. Isaiah Thomas is expected to return to the lineup tonight, which will cut into the production of Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, and Avery Bradley. Throw in a tough matchup against a Heat team that is ranked third in points allowed per game and the Celtics are an easy team to avoid tonight.
Opponent Breakdown (Miami)
Record: 32-38
Points Allowed Per Game: 96.9 (Rank: 3)
Defensive Efficiency Rank: 18
Rebounding Differential Rank: 24
Elite Plays
None
Secondary Plays
None