Starting 5: DvP - Wednesday, February 11th
The Starting 5 Series will provide Grinders with a quick look at the day’s top positional plays, analyzed through the lens of our Daily Research Tools.
As always, one of the best tools to use is the Defense vs Position tool. With so many questionable players tonight, analyzing minutes and projections will be a little tougher. On a night like tonight, DvP provides one of the more reliable metrics.
POINT GUARD – Damian Lillard (POR) vs. Lakers
Lakers – 47.15 FanDuel points per game allowed to opposing point guards for the season
The Blazers draw a fantasy-friendly matchup with the Lakers tonight, and the Lakers are fresh off allowing a 60+ fantasy point game to Ty Lawson a night ago. Imagine what Damian Lillard and company are capable of.
There is some blowout risk here with the game being in Portland, but the Lakers have been competitive of late. If this game stays close, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Lillard be one of the top overall performers of the night. He has a tremendous upside in this matchup.
SHOOTING GUARD – Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) vs. Kings
Kings – 39.72 FanDuel points per game allowed to opposing shooting guards for the season
The steady rise of Giannis Antetokounmpo has been fun to watch, and there’s nothing to suggest that he will slow down anytime soon. His scoring, rebounding, and overall stats have been on a steady incline, and he has a nice matchup against Sacramento this evening.
The Kings have given up big games to opposing shooting guards all year (remember Klay Thompson?), and Antetokounmpo should be no exception. Although he plays all over at different positions, his fingerprints should be all over this game tonight.
SMALL FORWARD – Trevor Ariza (HOU) vs. Clippers
Clippers – 42.59 FanDuel points per game allowed to opposing small forwards over the last three weeks
Trevor Ariza is currently dealing with a neck injury, but he is listed as probable for tonight’s game and should be good to go. Just keep your eye on the news to make sure he’s a full go.
The Clippers have major problems containing opposing wing players, and tonight should be no exception. The numbers they have allowed to opposing small forwards over the last three weeks have been even worse. They will have issues with James Harden and Ariza this evening, and both of them make fine plays on this final day before the All Star Break.
POWER FORWARD – Paul Millsap (ATL) vs. Celtics
Celtics – 44.16 FanDuel points per game allowed to opposing power forwards for the season
The Celtics have major issues on the glass, and that has contributed to their poor performance against opposing power forwards this season. Paul Millsap has been playing very well of late and should have a nice performance on the interior in this game. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him put up a 40+ fantasy point performance against Jared Sullinger and company.
Millsap is one of the most consistent players in the league and makes a great cash game play tonight.
CENTER – Nikola Vucevic (ORL) vs. Knicks
Knicks – 53.59 FanDuel points per game allowed to opposing centers over the last three weeks
The Knicks’ makeshift frontcourt has been a defensive sieve of late, as evidenced by their 53.59 FanDuel points allowed to opposing centers over the last three weeks. With his price being significantly cheaper than DeMarcus Cousins, Nikola Vucevic is one of my favorite center plays tonight. The Knicks have nobody that can contain him inside, and he should be a virtual lock for a double-double in this game.
With Tobias Harris out, Vucevic will also be asked to shoulder more of the offensive load. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Vucevic be one of the highest scoring fantasy players at any position tonight.