NBA GPP Green Light 1-31-18

Happy Hump Day everyone! We have an interesting eight game slate on tap tonight, with lots of intriguing games! Every game should end up being projected at over 200 points, with only the Memphis/Indiana and New York/Boston games being under 210 points. We had another devastating injury in the league last night with Kevin Love going down for 6-8 weeks, and it is possible that we get some big trade news at some point today. The list of injuries for today's slate is incredibly long so make sure to be following the news for today. The February 8th trade deadline is approaching fast and there are many players on tonight's slate that are rumored to be on the trading block. The best advice I can give for those playing the next couple of weeks is to turn on tweet notifications for @Wojespn, @ShamsCharania, @WindhorstESPN, and @TheSteinLine to make sure you get all the latest trade rumors pushed directly to you the moment they happen.

DK Salary: $8,300 / FD Salary: $8,500

The Indiana Pacers are on the slate tonight, so I am sure that everyone expected Marc Gasol to be one of my players, right? Normally, I would consider Gasol usable in cash games, as well, but he is strictly a tournament option for me tonight. The reason? Well, the Grizzlies have entered tank mode with Conley out the rest of the season, so there is a chance Gasol starts to see limited minutes as Memphis could let some of the young guys get run. Gasol only played 24 minutes in Monday's game against Phoenix, a game that teetered on slightly out of control and blowout for most of it, so that could have played a part in his reduced minutes. That being said, he was incredibly productive in those minutes as he produced a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double and three blocks. We know he has the ability to produce even in limited minutes, and his 26.5 percent usage and 1.12 fantasy points per minute with Conley, Green, and Ennis off the floor is encouraging. The other encouraging part of Gasol tonight is his matchup against Indiana! The Pacers, as we all know by now, are atrocious against opposing centers as they allow the second-most fantasy points (53.6) per game to centers and have allowed 46.2 points in the paint per game. They do a decent job limiting rebounds, as they are only giving up 42.9 per game on the season, but the return of Myles Turner to the starting lineup should help those numbers climb as he is an atrocious rebounder. I certainly don't expect Gasol to put up 70.8 fantasy points like he did the last time these teams faced off but he is still an amazing play in this spot tonight.

DK Salary: $6,800 / FD Salary: $6,800

I don't care about the price, I don't care about the ownership, I don't care who suits up for the Mavericks tonight. I refuse to fade Dennis Smith Jr. in this spot against the Suns. Smith has been a roller coaster of late, with two poor outings against the Nuggets and Rockets but was outstanding a few games ago against the Blazers and put up another solid outing against the Heat. Smith has been over 30 fantasy points in eight of his last ten games, and 39 or more in three of those games, and has flashed triple-double upside as well. He has double-digit field goal attempts in 10 consecutive outings, with seven three-point attempts in two of his last three, and notched double-digit assists in has last outing. Smith leads the team with a 29.28 percent usage rate for the season, is third on the team in isolation efficiency and second in pick-and-roll frequency, two areas that Phoenix struggles to defend. The majority of his field goal attempts are coming at the rim, where Phoenix is allowing opponents to shoot 64.3 percent over the last ten days. The Suns are one of the worst defenses in the NBA, giving up 112.2 points per game, and they have given up the second-most fantasy points per game (47.9) to opposing point guards. Opponents are shooting 47.1 percent from the field against them and over the last ten games opposing point guards have shot 49.3 percent from the floor. During that span, the Suns have allowed opposing point guards to rack up 28.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.4 assists. I have been targeting the Suns with point guards all season long, and they almost always pay off, and tonight will be no different. Lock and load Smith with confidence.

DK Salary: $5,400 / FD Salary: $5,900

The Chicago Bulls head cross country to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers tonight, and they do so shorthandedly. Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn are already confirmed out for tonight's game, and Nikola Mirotic could sit this game out, too, as he is nursing a leg injury and could end up being shipped out of town at any time. He was rumored to be traded yesterday to the Pelicans, but the deal fell through, although it seems both sides could be close to an agreement at any time. So, with those guys out, there is plenty to like about this Bulls squad. Bobby Portis will likely be the cover boy for most articles tonight, and he is a fine option, but I am going to look towards the backcourt for my favorite option on the slate. The minutes will be there for Grant, assuming the game stays close, without Dunn and he is averaging .97 fantasy points per minute on a 20.8 percent usage rate this season with the duo of Dunn and Markkanen off the floor. His usage rate climbs to 24.4 percent with those two, plus Mirotic, off the floor, although his production dips to .87 fantasy points per minute. Grant has been solid over the last few games, outside of a bad game against the Sixers, posting 26.75 and 27 fantasy points over the last two, but we saw an upside game out of him against the Pelicans when he put up 53.25 fantasy points. We know the potential for a big game is there for him, and it could come in an unexpected spot against Portland tonight. The Trail Blazers have been a good defensive team for the majority of the season but that hasn't been the case as much lately. They rank 26th in defensive efficiency against point guards over the last ten games and they have really struggled to defend the pick-and-roll. They are giving up 19.4 points per game to the ball handler in the pick-and-roll, which is the second-most in the NBA. Grant is running that play on 43.5 percent of his possessions this season and ranks in the 80th percentile in efficiency. I will be getting plenty of exposure to Grant tonight as a leverage play off the chalk Portis plays tonight.

DK Salary: $4,100 / FD Salary: $5,100

This may end up being a spot where Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ends up being chalk against the Atlanta Hawks but I am entirely okay with eating the chalk on him tonight. Kidd-Gilchrist is coming off a couple of bad outings over his last two games, matchups against Indiana and Miami, but he produced in a BIG way against the Hawks the last times these two teams met. He put up 19 points with five boards and two assists in 30 minutes and is in a prime spot to succeed again. The Hornets have already ruled out Marvin Williams for this game, which gives MKG a one percent usage boost, but more importantly, he averages an increase of 6.43 fantasy points per 36 minutes with Marvin Williams off the floor. With Williams out, there is a decent chance that the Hornets spend some time playing smaller lineups, meaning MKG could spend time closer to the basket, further boosting his upside tonight. While he hasn't been the "defensive stopper" he is generally known for, he has averaged almost one steal per game this season, as well. That part is important as the Hawks are turning the ball over 15.6 times per game, the sixth-most turnovers in the NBA. The Hawks are allowing a league-high 44.4 fantasy points per game to small forwards this season, and they rank 26th in defensive efficiency to the position over the last ten games, surrendering 20.6 points on 53.3 percent shooting, 6.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.6 combined blocks and steals to the position over that span. This lines up for an excellent spot for MKG to pay off his salary, and you can also consider Jeremy Lamb and Frank Kaminsky as options here.

DK Salary: $3,800 / FD Salary: $3,600

We have reached the point of the article where we get to my GPP punt of the night! Maxi Kleber is that punt as he and the Mavericks take on the Phoenix Suns. This is a massive pace-up spot for the Mavericks, against a terrible defense, and against a Suns team that has allowed the fantasy points per game to power forwards. Kleber has seen limited minutes, at times, but has played 26 and 35 minutes in two of his last three games. Outside of those games, however, he has seen only 15 and 9 minutes and then several games in the teens. The last time these teams faced off, Kleber played a total of 29.5 minutes, putting up 28 fantasy points, and could see similar minutes if Chriss and Chandler are able to suit up. Kleber is only averaging .71 fantasy points per minute, but if he gets 24-26 minutes in this matchup, he can easily pay off his salary. Kleber is definitely a risky option tonight, but one that could end up being extremely low owned. If you don't feel comfortable paying for Kleber, don't overlook Kyle O'Quinn, Ed Davis, Channing Frye, or Robin Lopez around the same price.