Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Lakers

Total: 226.5

Spread: LAL -4

Injuries

MEM

Ja Morant - QUEST

Desmond Bane - QUEST

Kyle Anderson - QUEST

Yves Pons - QUEST

Sean McDermott - QUEST

Matthew Hurt - QUEST

Dillon Brooks - OUT

Steven Adams - OUT

Sam Merrill - OUT

LAL

LeBron James - PROB

Anthony Davis - OUT

Kendrick Nunn - OUT

MVP/CPT

LeBron James, LAL

The King has played like just that even at his senior citizen-ish age. At least in basketball years. He’s been as dominant as ever and the Lakers need him to be all that and more with Anthony Davis out and the rest of the roster constructed how it is. James has topped 60+ FP in six of his last eight games and seven times in his last 10 overall.

Ja Morant, MEM

Morant is currently listed as questionable, but if he suits up and plays, my word has his numbers been insane against the Lakers. In two meetings this year, Morant is averaging…AVERAGING…40.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 2.5 steals per meeting. AVERAGING!!!!!! What more do I have to convince you on? How about the 52.4 DKP/game over his last five contests? 

Jaren Jackson Jr., MEM

I mean, look at this dudes upside, man. The problem is we don’t normally see it, or at least we haven’t, when everything is on full display. He had one of the best games of his young career here last time out posting 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists, five blocks and three steals. That’s showdown winning upside, which is why I’m willing to take a shot at him in the CPT chair, especially if Morant sits.

UTIL

Desmond Bane, MEM

He played yesterday and potentially re-aggravated the injury? It remains to be seen if he sits, but Bane has been tremendous from the start of the year until now. Over his last five games he’s averaged 37.9 DKP and there’s no Dillon Brooks or Steven Adams and possibly no Ja Morant or Kyle Anderson as well. Everything is lining up for Bane to continue his monstrous season here, that is if he plays.

Malik Monk, LAL

This guy has been all that and more for the Lakers lately as he’s averaged 21.6 points and 33.6 DK/game, with back-to-back games of 40+ DKP. MEM is without their best perimeter defender in Dillon Brooks here, so Monk should be able to take advantage of that fact. With Anthony Davis off the floor, Monk gets a very solid 2% usage increase to 20.5% and averages .93 FP/min.

Brandon Clarke, MEM

There’s a lot of uncertainties for Memphis right now, but Steven Adams is in the health and safety protocols which means we should see plenty of Brandon Clarke here. Clarke went nuclear yesterday notching 48 DKP in a double-double and that’s well within his range of outcomes depending on who’s in/out for Memphis.

List of guys firmly in play if Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson all sit;

Avery Bradley, LAL

It’s weird to say it, but yeah, Bradley’s in play. He’s been great in two of his last three games, topping 29.5 DKP in each of them. The problem is the floor as he’s scored less than 16.5 DKP in the three games surrounding those two.

Large-field GPP’s considerations: Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Xavier Tillman