Oodles of Udoh

Who will get the minutes? It’s a simple question that rarely has a simple answer.

Coaches are constantly tinkering and toying with their rotations. Sometimes it has to with injuries and in other instances, it’s a result of ineffective play from a certain player. The impact this has on minutes played and thus statistical production is where we come in.

Every Tuesday for the rest of the season, I’ll explore a certain aspect of half the league’s rotations while attempting to get inside coaches’ heads. The idea isn’t to tell you what Kevin Love and LeBron James are going to do -- it’s to decipher how much burn fringe players are going to get.

Here’s last week’s look at the East. Let’s kick this week off in Northern California, where a young shot-blocker has earned a promotion.

WARRIORS
Position: Center
The only question left here is what in the world took coach Mark Jackson so long?

Andris Biedrins started 29 games this year, averaging 2.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 16.7 minutes. Biedrins started 55 games last year, averaging 5.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 24.3 minutes. Ekpe Udoh has started three games this year, averaging 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 32.3 minutes. The talent gap here is severe and Jackson knows it.

Jackson said Monday night that Udoh will start for the rest of the season “unless he completely falls off the map.”

Here are Udoh’s per-36 minute extrapolations for this season: 9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.2 steals. Now that he’s locked in as the starter, we can safely expect 26-31 minutes nightly. There’s plenty of upside here in a 24-year-old developing raw talent that’s playing in an uptempo offense. Udoh’s elite shot-blocking ability keeps the floor high.

CLIPPERS
Position: Shooting guard
For a take on DeAndre Jordan that still holds, bang it here for the Feb. 24 Dose.

For reasons why Randy Foye is struggling, look no further than his talent level. Simply put, Foye has had plenty of chances to be an average shooting guard in this league. He just hasn’t been able to do it.

In 20 starts this year, Foye is averaging 10.7 points, 3.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 36.9 percent and playing 29.6 minutes. Over the last four games, coach Vinny Del Negro has seen enough. Foye is playing 21.8 minutes while Mo Williams is at 30.7. The Clippers are also rumored to be interested in starting shooting guards at the trade deadline. Owners are going to have to wade through a ton of duds to get to Foye’s handful of big games.

Editor’s Note: For exclusive columns, chats, pickup advice, weekly rankings and much more, check out the Season Pass!

GRIZZLIES
Position: Shooting guard
We all know what‘s going to happen as soon as Zach Randolph (knee) gets cleared: Marreese Speights will fall almost completely off the radar.

What’s more interesting is the way Tony Allen has seized and run with the starting shooting guard job. He played 20.5 minutes in three December games, 24.9 minutes in 18 January games and then 30.3 minutes in 11 February contests.

While other Grizzlies players will take a hit in attempts and minutes once Randolph returns, Allen doesn’t have to worry about that. He gets his 10.6 points per game without any plays being run for him and almost all his fantasy value lies in his steal rate. Deep-leaguers using Allen as a glue guy shouldn’t be concerned.

HORNETS
Position: Power forward
Chris Kaman is among the players most likely to be traded by March 15. Jason Smith’s concussion has lingered long enough that it can be considered severe. Emeka Okafor’s knee injury is being described as a “strange situation.” Carl Landry (knee) is a bench player. In other words, the party is far from over for Gustavo Ayon.

In 14 starts this year, Ayon is averaging 8.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks while playing 28.8 minutes. As long as the Kaman deal doesn’t net a useful big man, that’s sustainable usage. Deep-leaguers need to hold on.

Bonus position: Point guard
I thought that coach Monty Williams might be willing to use Greivis Vasquez at shooting guard once Jarrett Jack got back up to speed. After all, when Vasquez plays 25 minutes or more, the Hornets are 6-10. When he plays less than 25 minutes, they are 3-19. Apparently, that doesn’t matter to Williams. I was wrong.

Since Jack returned to the starting lineup three games ago, he’s averaging 33.9 minutes. Vasquez is 21.1. Additionally, Vasquez hasn’t topped 24 minutes in any of his last five games. We’re entering mere handcuff territory here.

JAZZ
Position: Small forward
Gordon Hayward played his way out of a starting job due to a lack of aggression on the offensive end. In his last 10 starts, he averaged 6.3 field-goal attempts per game. For a starting swingman of Hayward’s pedigree and caliber, that’s unacceptable.

Of course, coach Tyrone Corbin looks like a genius after Hayward went for 23 points, five assists and four rebounds in his first game off the bench Monday night. I’m not buying it. Hayward was dominant, making 8-of-11 field goals Monday -- and he still only played 27 minutes. That’s just not enough burn to sustain consistency and the minutes will take a hit when he isn’t on fire.  

Meanwhile, Josh Howard is locked in as a starter until he gets hurt. The veteran is averaging 12.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 3-pointers in that role this year. There’s not much upside, but the floor is decent.

KINGS
Position: Point guard
The Kings have lost four straight games, but three of those came in tough road spots and the fourth was a home loss to the Clippers. Isaiah Thomas should not be taking the blame here. The reasons that he took over the starting point guard job nine games ago still hold true. Tyreke Evans isn’t a point guard and John Salmons is a bench player at this point.

Is the league starting to get a book on Thomas, like they are on Jeremy Lin? Probably. They are making him go right more and closing out airspace on 3-pointers. Still, there’s a defined role for Thomas here and he’s still getting 28.3 minutes over the last four games. I’m riding the rookie until the wheels fall off.

LAKERS
Position: Small forward
Yes, Metta World Peace has been hot over the last week or so. No, it’s not going to continue and it shouldn’t stop the Lakers from shopping hard for a small forward at the trade deadline.

Over the last two games, World Peace is averaging 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 3-pointers while playing 35.1 minutes. In his previous 13 games -- all starts -- he averaged 5.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.8 3-pointers while playing 24.8 minutes.

This Lakers depth chart is a good bet to get shaken up by March 15. They’ve been linked to Michael Beasley, Raymond Felton, Ramon Sessions and Rajon Rondo over the past few weeks. The first three would get a major boost if they land next to Kobe Bryant.

Who will get the minutes? It’s a simple question that rarely has a simple answer.

Coaches are constantly tinkering and toying with their rotations. Sometimes it has to with injuries and in other instances, it’s a result of ineffective play from a certain player. The impact this has on minutes played and thus statistical production is where we come in.

Every Tuesday for the rest of the season, I’ll explore a certain aspect of half the league’s rotations while attempting to get inside coaches’ heads. The idea isn’t to tell you what Kevin Love and LeBron James are going to do -- it’s to decipher how much burn fringe players are going to get.

Here’s last week’s look at the East. Let’s kick this week off in Northern California, where a young shot-blocker has earned a promotion.

WARRIORS
Position: Center
The only question left here is what in the world took coach Mark Jackson so long?

Andris Biedrins started 29 games this year, averaging 2.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 16.7 minutes. Biedrins started 55 games last year, averaging 5.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 24.3 minutes. Ekpe Udoh has started three games this year, averaging 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 32.3 minutes. The talent gap here is severe and Jackson knows it.

Jackson said Monday night that Udoh will start for the rest of the season “unless he completely falls off the map.”

Here are Udoh’s per-36 minute extrapolations for this season: 9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.2 steals. Now that he’s locked in as the starter, we can safely expect 26-31 minutes nightly. There’s plenty of upside here in a 24-year-old developing raw talent that’s playing in an uptempo offense. Udoh’s elite shot-blocking ability keeps the floor high.

CLIPPERS
Position: Shooting guard
For a take on DeAndre Jordan that still holds, bang it here for the Feb. 24 Dose.

For reasons why Randy Foye is struggling, look no further than his talent level. Simply put, Foye has had plenty of chances to be an average shooting guard in this league. He just hasn’t been able to do it.

In 20 starts this year, Foye is averaging 10.7 points, 3.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 36.9 percent and playing 29.6 minutes. Over the last four games, coach Vinny Del Negro has seen enough. Foye is playing 21.8 minutes while Mo Williams is at 30.7. The Clippers are also rumored to be interested in starting shooting guards at the trade deadline. Owners are going to have to wade through a ton of duds to get to Foye’s handful of big games.

Editor’s Note: For exclusive columns, chats, pickup advice, weekly rankings and much more, check out the Season Pass!

GRIZZLIES
Position: Shooting guard
We all know what‘s going to happen as soon as Zach Randolph (knee) gets cleared: Marreese Speights will fall almost completely off the radar.

What’s more interesting is the way Tony Allen has seized and run with the starting shooting guard job. He played 20.5 minutes in three December games, 24.9 minutes in 18 January games and then 30.3 minutes in 11 February contests.

While other Grizzlies players will take a hit in attempts and minutes once Randolph returns, Allen doesn’t have to worry about that. He gets his 10.6 points per game without any plays being run for him and almost all his fantasy value lies in his steal rate. Deep-leaguers using Allen as a glue guy shouldn’t be concerned.

HORNETS
Position: Power forward
Chris Kaman is among the players most likely to be traded by March 15. Jason Smith’s concussion has lingered long enough that it can be considered severe. Emeka Okafor’s knee injury is being described as a “strange situation.” Carl Landry (knee) is a bench player. In other words, the party is far from over for Gustavo Ayon.

In 14 starts this year, Ayon is averaging 8.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks while playing 28.8 minutes. As long as the Kaman deal doesn’t net a useful big man, that’s sustainable usage. Deep-leaguers need to hold on.

Bonus position: Point guard
I thought that coach Monty Williams might be willing to use Greivis Vasquez at shooting guard once Jarrett Jack got back up to speed. After all, when Vasquez plays 25 minutes or more, the Hornets are 6-10. When he plays less than 25 minutes, they are 3-19. Apparently, that doesn’t matter to Williams. I was wrong.

Since Jack returned to the starting lineup three games ago, he’s averaging 33.9 minutes. Vasquez is 21.1. Additionally, Vasquez hasn’t topped 24 minutes in any of his last five games. We’re entering mere handcuff territory here.

JAZZ
Position: Small forward
Gordon Hayward played his way out of a starting job due to a lack of aggression on the offensive end. In his last 10 starts, he averaged 6.3 field-goal attempts per game. For a starting swingman of Hayward’s pedigree and caliber, that’s unacceptable.

Of course, coach Tyrone Corbin looks like a genius after Hayward went for 23 points, five assists and four rebounds in his first game off the bench Monday night. I’m not buying it. Hayward was dominant, making 8-of-11 field goals Monday -- and he still only played 27 minutes. That’s just not enough burn to sustain consistency and the minutes will take a hit when he isn’t on fire.  

Meanwhile, Josh Howard is locked in as a starter until he gets hurt. The veteran is averaging 12.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 3-pointers in that role this year. There’s not much upside, but the floor is decent.

KINGS
Position: Point guard
The Kings have lost four straight games, but three of those came in tough road spots and the fourth was a home loss to the Clippers. Isaiah Thomas should not be taking the blame here. The reasons that he took over the starting point guard job nine games ago still hold true. Tyreke Evans isn’t a point guard and John Salmons is a bench player at this point.

Is the league starting to get a book on Thomas, like they are on Jeremy Lin? Probably. They are making him go right more and closing out airspace on 3-pointers. Still, there’s a defined role for Thomas here and he’s still getting 28.3 minutes over the last four games. I’m riding the rookie until the wheels fall off.

LAKERS
Position: Small forward
Yes, Metta World Peace has been hot over the last week or so. No, it’s not going to continue and it shouldn’t stop the Lakers from shopping hard for a small forward at the trade deadline.

Over the last two games, World Peace is averaging 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 3-pointers while playing 35.1 minutes. In his previous 13 games -- all starts -- he averaged 5.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.8 3-pointers while playing 24.8 minutes.

This Lakers depth chart is a good bet to get shaken up by March 15. They’ve been linked to Michael Beasley, Raymond Felton, Ramon Sessions and Rajon Rondo over the past few weeks. The first three would get a major boost if they land next to Kobe Bryant.



MAVERICKS
Position: Shooting guard
It’s really strange that coach Rick Carlisle just popped up and randomly started Roddy Beabuois against the Hornets last Friday. The Hornets are known to have interest in trading for Beabuois and the Mavs have reportedly taken the “untradeable” tag off him. That theory garnered more steam as Roddy B played just 20 minutes on Saturday and 21 minutes on Monday.

Vince Carter actually leads the Mavs in plus-minus and the starting lineup with him in it is their best team plus-minus. While Beaubois’ explosive offensive ability always makes him intriguing there’s no loyalty here from Carlisle in terms of role or minutes. Perhaps that will change at the deadline, making Roddy B a hold for deep leaguers.

NUGGETS
Position: Power forward
Coach George Karl didn’t intend to use Kenneth Faried as a workhorse. Here’s what Karl said about his energetic rookie just five days ago, on March 1.

“I go into every game thinking 15-20 [minutes]. But if he keeps playing like he’s playing, it might be 20-25.”

Since that quote, Faried has played no less than 29 minutes and is averaging 31.3 minutes. The Nuggets have gone 3-0, including solid wins at Houston and at San Antonio. In other words, Faried has forced Karl to play him more with his outstanding play on the court. The rookie is getting 15.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while shooting 62.1 percent over the last three.  

By earning minutes rather than getting them out of desperation, Faried has thrust himself into the starting lineup conversation even as the Nuggets regain health. We know that Nene is going to start and get his 30 minutes, but it’s very possible that Faried sticks at power forward, thus sending Timofey Mozgov (ankle, day-to-day) to the bench. Chris Andersen is on the trading block and Al Harrington is a clear bench scorer. Danilo Gallinari will take his minutes at the expense of Corey Brewer. There’s enough room here for Faried to hover around 25 minutes the rest of the way.

ROCKETS
Position: Shooting guard/center
Coach Kevin McHale really started to calm his rotation down on Feb. 15. Since then Kevin Martin has played at least 30 minutes in seven of the last nine games. Samuel Dalembert has gotten 25 minutes in six of the last nine and Luis Scola has reached 30 minutes in seven of nine. Although the Rockets are currently riding a three-game skid, they are 5-4 during that span.

As mentioned both two weeks ago and a month ago in this space, the best things owners can do is close their eyes and sustain the peaks and valleys. McHale will bench anyone on a whim for a lack of effort, but it’s rarely a permanent thing. Martin’s free-throw volume and Dalembert’s shot-blocking are difference-making assets worth riding.

SUNS
Position: Power forward
Channing Frye seemed to be in the clear as he made 45.7 percent of his shots in 14 February games. Therefore, he played 28.3 minutes during that span.

But over the last two games, Frye is shooting a brutal 5-of-30. Yes, 16.6 percent. To be fair, one game means literally nothing to me. Two games still means just about nothing. But when we’re talking about Frye, a guy that is prone to shooting slumps -- and whose playing time depends solely on his ability to make shot -- there’s some concern here.

Remember that when Frye was making 38.6 percent of his shots in 16 January games, he managed just 21.9 minutes. The good news for Frye owners is that Markieff Morris is 8-for-46, or 17.3 percent, over his last six games. The Suns have also won five of their last six and Frye is rebounding the ball better than he has in ages. Frye should have a longer leash this time.

SPURS
Position: Shooting guard
When Manu Ginobili returned from his wrist injury on Feb. 11, he played just 17 minutes in his first game back. He didn’t top 24 minutes in any of his first four games.  

But when he returned from his oblique injury on Sunday, Ginbobili logged 23 solid minutes. Afterward, he confirmed that he felt much better this time than in that early-February return. Look for a semi-regular rotation to settle in on the wings here.

Although Ginobili is a good bet to stick in a bench role, we can safely expect 24-30 minutes nightly as long as he sustains health. Danny Green is the placeholder as the starting shooting guard, Gary Neal is the shooter and Kawhi Leonard is the defender. Those three all cancel each other out, leaving Manu as the only real fantasy option.

TRAIL BLAZERS
Position: Point guard
Before we get to the Raymond Felton/Jamal Crawford mess, I feel obliged to simply list Nicolas Batum’s stats in his 11 starts this year: 19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 3-pointers, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals. Wowzers. As mentioned two weeks ago, he has top-10 fantasy potential.

OK, let’s move on. Coach Nate McMillan says that he sat Felton prior to the All-Star break in order to let his starting point guard clear his head. Maybe that’s true. But if Jamal Crawford hadn’t gone 1-3 as a starter, or if McMillan had any other true point guard options on his roster, would Felton already have his job back? I don’t think so. It’s also not surprising that Felton’s name is popping up in trade rumors.

Remember that Felton played 31.6 minutes per game for the Nuggets a year ago and managed just 11.5 points to go with 6.5 assists. He’s playing 31.3 minutes for the Blazers this year and is averaging 9.7 points and 6.2 assists. That sample size is too large to ignore.

WOLVES
Position: Sixth man
Derrick Williams has been insisting all along that he can play the small forward spot. Coach Rick Adelman wasn’t buying it. But over the last five games, Williams is proving that he can be an asset on the wing. During that span, he’s averaging 14.6 points and has made 10-of-19 3-pointers while playing 24.2 minutes per night.

With Michael Beasley a prime candidate to move at the deadline, Williams could be given even more room to breathe. He’s a watch candidate as Wesley Johnson’s woes (5.8 points in 21.6 minutes per game this year) continue.

* The Thunder are not listed as they are the only Western Conference teams without any true question marks in their rotations. Perhaps that’s why they’re 30-8 on the season.