Total Minutes Played (March 8th)



Love This Game!!


The minutes per game stat is a number that is dominated by the top players in the league, hence the top scorers. As I was shuffling through some of the NBA stats from the current season, I stumbled across a list of the top 10 players who have logged the most total minutes. It is a very strange list of players because half the players aren’t even competing for the playoffs and are just taking away minutes for the rookies who need to develop their game. Here is the top 10 list of players who have played the most total minutes. Ive also added total steals and turnovers for these players to give you a better idea of what they do with/out the ball.

Name	Team	GP	Total Minutes	Steals	Turnovers
Monta Ellis	Golden State	62	2532	139	205
LaMarcus Aldridge	Portland	63	2511	72	133
Loul Deng	Chicago	62	2430	55	121
Blake Griffin	LA Clippers	64	2427	43	174
Dorrell Wright	Golden State	62	2401	87	114
Kevin Love	Minnesota	65	2379	39	143
Pau Gasol	LA Lakers	64	2376	38	114
Lebron James	Miami Heat	61	2342	93	221
Chris Paul	New Orleans	65	2326	154	149
Mike Conley	Memphis	65	2308	111	145

Firstly, lets recognize that Lebron James has played the fewest games out of the ten players listed above but leads the group in turnovers with 3.62 per game.

 

Second thing I need to point out is that Dorrell Wright should be in the running for the most improved player with the amount of minutes he’s logging while having the fewest turnovers out of the top 10.

 

The last major point that needs to be addressed is Mike Conley’s minutes. The Memphis Grizzles have seven guards on their roster; Jason Williams, O.J. Mayo, Xavier Henry (rookie), Ishmael Smith (rookie), Greivis Smith (rookie) and Tony “boo-ray” Allen all have great resumes but the chemistry isn’t there with this bunch. Mayo and Allen have been budding heads during the season (boo-ray money). Jason Williams mentorship hasn’t been there for the rookies or for his team. And Lionel Hollins has no idea what the F he is doing with all these guards. Hollins has the great mighty mouse Damon Stoudamire on his coaching staff to develop these young players but yet has a hard time finding minutes for the future guards of this team?  (Shake my head in confusion).


RIP MIKE & ET


Notes:

-Chris Paul’s minutes will decrease with the minor concussion that he sustained this past weekend but it’s to be noted that he does lead the NBA in steals (no surprise)

-Loul Deng....I wasn’t expecting Loul to be on this list but once you watch the Bulls play, you quickly see why he logs all those minutes. He is the most versatile guy on the Bulls and can play either the forward or guard positions. I think Loul's minutes have been increased due to Boozer being out for the start of the season and Noah's mid-season thumb surgery.

- Kevin Love (Mr. Double-Double) plays on a very weak team but takes full advantage of the time that he is given. He has proven to the league that he can play heavy minutes, rebound (leads the league), score (great 3pt%) and from time to time can pick your pocket.

-The top two players on this list got snubbed from the All-Star team in my opinion. LaMarcus Aldridge and Monta Ellis are both leaders on their teams and they are two of the top leading scorers in the NBA. Aldridge has made the Blazers a playoff contender while Ellis is slowly becoming less of a selfish player. Ellis’s selfishness is easily conveyed by the amount of turnovers (205) he's given up this year.      

-Blake Griffin – He’s a rookie who is playing 38 minutes/game. He plays for the Clippers. He might be their best player and the league’s new favourite player. But he has to do a better job of taking care of the ball. That will come with experience.



Just hangin' Out!



PS. D. Rose for MVP.