With the end of the season mere weeks away, it’s fairly safe to start analyzing certain statistical aspects of the season.  One of the more interesting looks involves production within limited playing time.  At the start of the 2010-11 season, the NBA had a total of 436 active players.  Of that total, only 172 have logged more than the league average of 23.8 minutes per game, leaving 264 players who appear on court less than the average amount.

 

The player having the distinction of playing the least amount of on-court minutes is Hassan Whiteside, who appeared in only one game (the season opener) logging 1.45 minutes.  On the other end of that spectrum is Monta Ellis, who has averaged 40.43 minutes of playing time in 60 games.

 

In theory, when a player’s name is name is called, he has an opportunity to prove how valuable he could be if given more playing time.  That works to some degree, but as NBA coaches are fond of saying: "There are only so many minutes to go around".

 

There are players that absolutely make the most of their minutes.  HOOPSWORLD was curious to see which players do the most with their playing time, i.e. which ones are the most productive with the least amount of minutes.  In addition to the 23.8 mpg figure, let’s first set out other key league averages:

*Note – All stats represent games played through March 3, 2011

 

Points -                   9.7                      Assists -                 2.1

Field Goal % –        .458                      Steals –                  0.7

Three-Pt % –          .359                      Blocks -                 0.5

Free Throw % -      .766                      PER -                   13.67

Total Rebounds -     4.1

 

                                                                            

We looked at players who have averaged no more than 15 minutes’ playing time this season and who have appeared in at least 50 of their team’s games (with one 49-game exception).  Their career statistical information was also included.  These are the players, in no particular order, we determined give their teams the most value with the least amount of playing time:

 

MARREESE SPEIGHTS – Philadelphia 76ers

 

Year	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
08-09	PHI	79	2	16.0	0.502	0.250	0.773	1.6	2.2	3.7	0.4	0.3	0.7	0.58	2.29	7.7
09-10	PHI	62	1	16.4	0.477	0.000	0.745	1.4	2.7	4.1	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.82	2.45	8.6
10-11	PHI	49	1	11.9	0.507	0.250	0.754	1.0	2.5	3.5	0.5	0.1	0.3	0.71	2.02	5.6

Key stats per 36 minutes: 16.8 ppg, 10.5 rpg

 

Many expected Speights to make a third-year jump this season after logging around 16 minutes of playing time the first two years; instead, he’s fallen out of rotation averaging 11.9 minutes per game.  He’s even registered 11 DNPs so far.  Despite the decreased minutes, he has still managed to average 5.6 ppg/3.5 rpg, and improve his field goal percentage while maintaining a PER of 15.4 (both of which exceed the league average); even his free throw shooting percentage has increased.  Offense has never been an issue for 6’10" Speights; in fact, the Sixers bench leads the league in scoring (39.5 ppg).

 

Speights’ defensive game is the issue that has limited his playing opportunities.  Teammate Elton Brand expects to see a lot more of Speights come playoff time, but unless coach Doug Collins sees an improved grasp of the defensive concepts, his role will continue at the same pace.

 

ERIC MAYNOR – Oklahoma City Thunder

 

Year	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
09-10	OKC	55	0	16.5	0.434	0.362	0.692	0.2	1.5	1.7	3.4	0.5	0.2	1.04	1.49	4.5
09-10	UTA	26	2	14.0	0.391	0.208	0.758	0.4	1.1		3.1	0.5	0.1	1.08	1.27	5.2
10-11	OKC	59	0	14.7	0.395	0.390	0.717	0.3	1.2	1.5	2.6	0.4	0.1	0.93	1.25	4.6

Key stats per 36 minutes: 11.2 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 spg

 

Maynor averaged 30.7 minutes during his four-year college career at Virginia Commonwealth.  Few will forget how then-sophomore Maynor made VCU’s game-winning shot vs. Duke in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament.  He was drafted 20^th overall by the Utah Jazz in June, 2009, then traded to the Thunder on December 22, 2009.

 

The Thunder has the ideal backup point guard in solid Maynor.  While nowhere near as athletic as starting PG Russell Westbrook, he won’t, for a lack of a better term, mess things up; he distributes well, shoots well and has a very nice basketball IQ.  Recently, he has shown some solid three-point shooting.  His minutes have dropped nearly two minutes per game over the last half of the season in OKC which accounts for some decreased numbers.  With the reliable performance Maynor gives night after night as Westbrook rests, the affect of recent acquisition of Nate Robinson appears minimal.

 

ZAZA PACHULIA – Atlanta Hawks

 

Year	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
03-04	ORL	59	2	11.3	0.389	0.000	0.644	1.2	1.8	2.9	0.2	0.4	0.2	0.58	1.47	3.3
04-05	MIL	74	4	18.9	0.452	0.000	0.746	1.8	3.3	5.1	0.8	0.6	0.5	0.95	2.24	6.2
05-06	ATL	78	78	31.4	0.451	0.000	0.735	3.4	4.5	7.9	1.7	1.1	0.5	2.31	3.67	11.7
06-07	ATL	72	47	28.1	0.474	0.000	0.786	2.8	4.2	6.9	1.5	1.1	0.5	2.25	3.71	12.2
07-08	ATL	62	5	15.2	0.437	0.000	0.706	1.4	2.6	4.0	0.6	0.4	0.2	1.11	2.26	5.2
08-09	ATL	77	26	19.1	0.497	0.000	0.709	2.2	3.4	5.7	0.7	0.4	0.3	1.18	2.70	6.2
09-10	ATL	78	1	14.0	0.488	0.000	0.650	1.5	2.3	3.8	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.74	2.38	4.3
10-11	ATL	58	3	14.4	0.423	0.000	0.738	1.4	2.4	3.9	0.7	0.3	0.3	0.90	2.24	3.9

Key stats per 36 minutes: 9.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg

                                                               

{AUTHOR_BOX}The above box scores tell an interesting story about Pachulia’s career.  The 27-year-old, now in his eighth year, is nowhere near starting center quality, but he’s a proven double-digit scorer and respectable rebounder when given minutes.  However, coach Larry Drew (and previous coach Mike Woodson) is not giving him the playing time he once enjoyed.  Everything changed when the Hawks selected Al Horford in the 2007 draft.

 

Pachulia, amid recent trade speculations, has publicly expressed his displeasure about his playing time.  On the surface, averages of 3.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 14.4 minutes of play doesn’t quite impress (nor the fact that 23.4% of his field goal shots are blocked), but he does many thankless duties on-court (setting screens, diving for balls, etc.) that aren’t necessarily recorded.  Look up "dirty work", Zaza’s face will be among the many who fill that role on various teams.

 

OMER ASIK – Chicago Bulls

 

Season	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3p%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
10-11	CHI	58	0	11.6	0.515	0.000	0.558	1.2	2.4	3.7	0.4	0.3	0.7	0.7	1.9	2.6

Key stats per 36 minutes: 7.9 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.1 bpg

 

Wonder why the Houston Rockets approached the Chicago Bulls a few weeks ago in an effort to acquire Omer Asik?  Ultimately, Houston’s unwillingness to part with Courtney Lee halted progress in their bid, but they recognized Asik’s upside.  To start with, he’s a legitimate 7-footer.  He’s strong as a horse and is devoted to improving his game.  Asik was Turkey’s starting center in the 2010 FIBA World Championships; he received a lot of credit for helping them win a silver medal.  During those nine FIBA games, Asik averaged 8.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.2 blocks, .552 in field goal percentage in 19.0 minutes.  He’s a 24-year-old rookie with years of experience abroad.  And at this moment, his rebounding rate exceeds such players as Carlos Boozer and Kevin Garnett and equals Tim Duncan’s rate.

 

According to the Bulls’ assistant coach Ron Adams, Asik’s ceiling is higher than people think.  "Defensively, I just think he’s top of the line. I think he can be as good as any defensive player in this league. And he’s getting close to it already," Adams recently told ESPNS’s Nick Friedell.  Like Pachulia, he needs to bring that blocked shot percentage down (22.7%).

 

GREIVIS VASQUEZ – Memphis Grizzlies

 

Season	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3p%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
10-11	MEM	54	0	12.3	0.371	0.254	0.806	0.2	0.9	1.1	2.2	0.3	0.1	1.0	1.3	3.3

Key stats per 36 minutes: 9.7 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3.2 rpg, 1.0 spg

 

Rookie Vasquez, a 6’6" point guard, earns attention on our list because of his assist numbers and free throw shooting percentage; both exceed the league average.  His assist rate is better than such renowned PGs as Deron Williams, Raymond Felton and John Wall.  The former Maryland stand-out enjoyed 33.6 average minutes in his four-year career, posting 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists.  The 28^th overall pick in the 2010 draft pick patiently waits his turn behind starting PG Mike Conley.

 

TREVOR BOOKER – Washington Wizards

 

Year	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
10-11	WAS	54	6	13.5	0.555	0.000	0.603	1.2	1.9	3.2	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.54	1.61	4.3

Key stats per 36 minutes: 11.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg

                 

Another first-round draft pick (23^rd overall in 2010), Booker averaged 28.4 minutes during his four-year career at Clemson, posting averages of 12.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.08 bpg.  At 6’7", Booker has explosiveness, length and energy; coach Flip Saunders praises his consistency. Drafted as an undersized power forward, Saunders has been grooming him to play small forward.  He has real upside, and his noted PER of 14.2 exceeds the league average.

 

 

And now here’s a brief look at players posting some impressive numbers in less than 15 minutes’ playing time over the past thirty days:

*Note – those italicized stats represent figures that exceed the league average

 

Patty Mills – Portland Trail Blazers

Average Minutes: 10:25 (12 games)

Key Stats: 5.8 ppg, 1.7 apg, .460 FG%, .875 FT%

 

Tiago Splitter – San Antonio Spurs

Average Minutes: 12:00 (6 games)

Key Stats: 5.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .684 FG%

 

Jason Maxiell – Detroit Pistons

Average Minutes: 12:25 (7 games)

Key Stats: 4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .684 FG%

 

Chris Anderson – Denver Nuggets

Average Minutes: 12:55 (15 games)

Key Stats: 5.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.8 bpg, .618 FG%

 

Zabian Dowdell – Phoenix Suns

Average Minutes: 13:00 (8 games)

Key Stats: 4.9 ppg, 2.6 apg, 0.9 spg

 

Ike Diogu – Los Angeles Clippers

Average Minutes: 13:21 (11 games)

Key Stats: 5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, .579 FG%, .773 FT%

 

Nikola Pekovic – Minnesota Timberwolves

Average Minutes: 13:31 (15 games)

Key Stats: 5.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .537 FG%, .833 FT%

 

Jeff Teague – Atlanta Hawks

Average Minutes: 14:05 (11 games)

Key Stats: 4.5 ppg, 1.6 apg, 0.8 spg, .778 FT%

 

Hakim Warrick – Phoenix Suns

Average Minutes: 14:18 (13 games)

Key Stats: 6.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, .554 FG%

 

Dahntay Jones – Indiana Pacers

Average Minutes: 14:19 (15 games)

Key Stats: 8.8 ppg, .527 FG%

 

 

Playing time fluctuates for many players.  When consistent, high-level playing reveals itself, players put themselves in an excellent position to grab more minutes.

 

Which low-minute players have impressed you this season?  Let us know in the comments section below.