This article is part of our FantasyDraft NBA series.
The two worst defenses over the last 10 games face off Thursday when the Lakers visit the Timberwolves in a matchup rife with fantasy implications. Later in the evening, the high-flying Rockets will try to stop a surging Trail Blazers in a competition of contrasting styles.
GUARDS
Chris Paul, LAC at PHO ($15,900): The Suns' team defense has improved a lot over the past month, but their opponents still lead the league in free-throw attempts. Paul is a career 86.5 percent free-throw shooter, and he attempts more than four per game. Additionally, it is likely that Paul will be guarded by 5-foot-10 rookie Tyler Ulis, who is probably not up to the task.
Ish Smith, DET vs. BKN ($12,000): Smith has started the last two games, and Reggie Jackson was active for one. In the two starts, Smith is averaging 17.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game. He has been a bigger part of the rotation since late February, and the Pistons seem to be playing better with him at the helm.
Kris Dunn, MIN vs LAL ($7,700): When Dunn has seen big minutes, he has been productive. Over the last three games, he has played at least 26 minutes, finishing with at least nine points and two steals in each. This is consistent with what has happened to Dunn earlier this season, as he averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals in the nine games he has played at least 26 minutes.
FORWARDS/CENTERS
Blake Griffin, LAC at PHO ($15,000):Marquese Chriss has been the Suns' starting power forward since the All-Star break. Chriss is an exciting, athletic prospect, but he is undersized. Griffin should have little difficulty bullying Chriss in the post, or boxing out for a rebound. Griffin is averaging 20.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game over his last seven, and that included games against several defenders better suited to the task of guarding him.
DeAndre Jordan, LAC at PHO ($12,900): Jordan is simply better than Alan Williams, his matchup Thursday. Williams, like Jordan, is a player whose greatest skill is their rebounding, and who has a role in the offense, even if it is not a big one. But Williams is shorter, smaller and less athletic than Jordan. Suns opponents attempt the most free throws in the league, which also helps Jordan, who is a terrible free-throw shooter, though each trip to the line is a chance to keep padding his scoring total.
Robin Lopez, CHI vs CLE ($9,200): The Cavaliers have played this whole season with basically only one center, Tristan Thompson. Nonetheless, Thompson is averaging 29.9 minutes per game. However, over the last five games, that workload has dropped, and he has not played more than 27. All of the injuries and shorthanded play has put a lot of strain on the Cavaliers' rotation players, and for Thompson, it is showing in his stats and productivity. The worse Thompson is, the better his matchup, Lopez, should be. Lopez has also played very well lately, scoring at least 20 fantasy points in 10 of his last 16 games.
UTILITY
Jimmy Butler, CHI vs. CLE ($18,000): The Cavaliers are in shambles. Though it is possible that Kyle Korver (foot) will be the only player out due to injury Thursday, the team is very banged up. J.R. Smith and Kevin Love have returned, but not to their pre-injury production. Iman Shumpert (shoulder) and Richard Jefferson (knee) are listed as game-time decisions. The Cavaliers have really struggled to defend shooting guards and small forwards, ranking in the top third for points allowed to both positions. Meanwhile, Butler has four straight double-doubles – three with at least 10 assists and one with 10 rebounds.
Ivica Zubac, LAL at MIN ($9,900): The Timberwolves have been the second-worst defense in the league over the past 10 games. They've also allowed the 10th-most points to centers and they are rebounding well below 50 percent of missed shots. That's a good matchup for Zubac, who has scored in double-digits in eight of his last 10 games, and is grabbing 5.7 rebounds per outing. Additionally, he is averaging 22.6 minutes per game despite struggling with early foul trouble in a few contests.
