LOTTERY PICKS:
BLAKE GRIFFIN – Down
Recently learned a broken left kneecap will not allow the No. 1 overall pick to play this season.
HASHEEM THABEET – Down
Playing time and scoring numbers keep dropping for the former UConn standout even though Memphis has a pretty thin bench.
JAMES HARDEN – Even
Had a recent run of four straight games scoring in double figures and contributes on the glass but needs to improve his shot selection.
TYREKE EVANS – Even
A three-game absence due to a sore ankle didn’t slow down Evans, who scored at least 25 in four of his first eight January games. However, his Kings have been struggling and now he must get used to playing alongside high-scoring Kevin Martin.
JONNY FLYNN – Up
Even when the former Syracuse star isn’t scoring a lot, he’s usually doing a good job distributing the basketball. Flynn had a career-high 29 points in Minnesota’s win over the 76ers on MLK Day.
STEPHEN CURRY – Up
The sharpshooter has two 26-point games this month, hitting a combined 11 of 14 from 3-point range. Curry even helps out on the glass and is a good assists guy, creating the possibility he’ll be a late entry into the Rookie of the Year race.
JORDAN HILL – Even
Playing a bit more lately and taking good shots but at 6-foot-10, he must become a better rebounder.
DEMAR DEROZAN – Even
An inconsistent but capable scorer starting for Toronto, DeRozan needs to start contributing in other areas.
BRANDON JENNINGS – Even
Through the first few weeks of January, Jennings had two 25-point games but failed to score 15 in the other seven. His field-goal percentage was around 30 percent during that span but his assist totals have remained good.
TERRENCE WILLIAMS – Down
Fails to take advantage of the little playing time he does get for the woeful Nets.
GERALD HENDERSON – Down
Can’t make it on the floor anymore unless it’s garbage time.
TYLER HANSBROUGH – Down
Inner-ear infection recently forced him to miss seven games and he’s been ineffective since returning, going 5 of 17 from the field in his first four games back while doing little rebounding.
EARL CLARK – Even
Finally got a lot of action in a recent game at Charlotte and scored 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, but he spent the entire game on Phoenix’s bench two nights later at Memphis.
OTHER FIRST-ROUNDERS:
AUSTIN DAYE – Up
Scored in double figures four times in a recent six-game stretch and got his second NBA start on MLK Day at New York, scoring a career-high 16 points despite missing all six of his 3-point tries. Daye had made his previous four attempts.
JAMES JOHNSON – Down
Tyrus Thomas’ return has cut into Johnson’s playing time and he makes too many mistakes when he does get off the bench.
JRUE HOLIDAY – Even
The former UCLA point guard makes a key 3 every so often and tries to help on the boards in reduced playing time following the arrival of Allen Iverson and Lou Williams’ return.
TY LAWSON – Up
Lawson just came back from an ankle problem that forced him to miss four games, prior to which he had three straight games of at least 20 points and eight assists subbing for Chauncey Billups. He’ll still get plenty of playing time even with Billups back from his injury.
JEFF TEAGUE – Down
Rarely gets significant playing time anymore in Atlanta’s rotation.
ERIC MAYNOR – Up
Continues providing quality minutes as the surprising Thunder’s backup point guard, usually good for around eight points and three assists.
DARREN COLLISON – Down
Received great experience earlier in the season starting for an injured Chris Paul, but Collison often struggles getting into the flow of the offense in limited time off the bench.
OMRI CASSPI – Down
Had scored more than 20 in four straight games before a slump during which he averaged 9.3 points and was 5 of 25 from 3-point range.
TAJ GIBSON – Up
Not really losing much playing time even after Tyrus Thomas’ return, Gibson plays with a lot of effort and is an occasional double-digit scorer who is happy to do the grunt work.
WAYNE ELLINGTON – Even
Had back-to-back 17-point efforts recently, shooting 15 of 25 from the field, after going 1 of 12 for four points in the previous two games. Ellington can be a dangerous shooter and he’ll help on the glass.
SECOND-ROUNDERS:
SAM YOUNG – Down
Point totals and playing time have dipped since a pair of 22-point games in early January.
DEJUAN BLAIR – Up
Now a regular starter for a veteran-filled San Antonio team, Blair can be a beast on the boards and he recently keyed a win over the Thunder with 28 points and 21 rebounds while Tim Duncan sat out.
CHASE BUDINGER – Up
Budinger appears to be regaining his shooting touch after a sprained ankle forced him to miss seven games, scoring a combined 29 points in two recent games while going 5 of 9 from 3-point range.
JONAS JEREBKO – Even
Keeping his spot in a starting lineup for a banged-up Detroit team, Jerebko often scores in double figures and will grab 5-10 boards but could afford to be better on the glass considering he’s 6-10.
WELSEY MATTHEWS – Even
Has been a solid 3-point threat off the bench for Utah lately and can pour in 15 points on any given night despite usually playing less than 20 minutes.
