Starting 5: Back to Back Tool - Saturday, January 31st
The Starting 5 Series will provide Grinders a quick look at the day’s top positional plays, analyzed through the lens of our Daily Research Tools.
Today, I will take a look at one of the newer tools on RotoGrinders, our Back to Back Tool. I typically use X games in X nights as a tiebreaker if I am weighing a few options at a position, so today we will take a look at some teams who have played a high number of games recently and target them with players who are rested.
POINT GUARD – Elfrid Payton vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are one of three teams playing tonight that are playing a back to back, while also playing their fourth game in five nights. The Mavs are an older team, and on a road trip right now, so it is just not a comfortable situation overall.
Meanwhile, the Magic didn’t play last night and had no travel, as the last game they played was at home. Payton is playing well right now, and could have a nice performance against a tired Mavs team here on Saturday.
SHOOTING GUARD – Klay Thompson vs. Phoenix Suns
There are a multitude of reasons to play Klay and Curry tonight against the Suns, but one you may not know: the Suns are playing a back to back and their third game in four nights. They had previously been on a home game stretch, but they do have to travel to the Warriors tonight.
Since the Suns have played two close games in a row, they may have a little less pep in their step tonight, and giving Klay even an extra inch of room on a three-pointer can prove deadly. This is going to be a high scoring game played at a high tempo, and the Warriors, while also on a back to back, may have a little more energy for this one. Thompson also has a lot of upside whenever he takes the court.
SMALL FORWARD – Kawhi Leonard vs. L.A. Clippers
The Clippers are on a back to back and are playing their third game in four nights, while the Spurs are well rested, having not played a game since Wednesday night. Both of the Clippers’ last two games have been on the road as well, which means more travel. San Antonio has been at home since last Friday.
Leonard will likely be guarded by Matt Barnes, who is nursing an abdominal strain, and he’s logging heavy minutes for the Spurs. All signs point to a very nice game from him tonight.
POWER FORWARD – Greg Monroe vs. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are on a back to back, on their third game in four nights, and just had to travel last night from Boston to Detroit. Then there’s the Pistons, who haven’t played since Wednesday.
I liked Monroe in this matchup before looking at the Back to Back tool, and that information has solidified him to me as a top tier choice tonight. Don’t forget either that the Rockets will be without Dwight Howard to provide interior defense.
CENTER – Al Jefferson vs. Denver Nuggets
The Hornets last played on Wednesday and traveled to Denver early to get in a hard practice in the altitude before tonight’s game. The Nuggets are playing their third game in four nights, although they are not on a back to back.
Jefferson was also a target of mine, as without Kemba Walker in the lineup, he is back to being the focal point of the team’s offense. He also has a nice matchup against the interior defense of the Nuggets. With the Hornets being well rested, and the Nuggets on a three-in-four set, it solidifies Jefferson as a top play for me tonight.