Minutes in the NBA are precious. Their number is limited.
That, not because of his poor play (according to Coach Don Nelson), is why second-year forward Brandan Wright has found playing time hard to come by. The minutes he once owned have been hijacked by swingman Corey Maggette, who was forced out of his small forward position by fellow swingman Kelenna Azubuike, who had to move over to make room for shooting guard Anthony Morrow.
As a result, for the second consecutive season, Wright is back on the bench waiting for an opportunity, eager to show his skills in a decreasing window.
“There’s been pressure,” Wright said after Wednesday’s practice, part of which he spent playing three-on-three with the low-minute reserves while the rest watched film. “But I can’t really worry about that. I’ve just got to go out there and do the things I do. I feel comfortable how I’m playing. I feel like I’m playing well out there when I get my opportunity. But you really can’t worry about that.”
Last season, Nelson received scrutiny for not playing Wright, the rookie lottery pick the Warriors acquired from Charlotte during last year’s draft. Nelson contended Wright wasn’t ready to play until the second half of the season, where he flashed his promise, finishing with averages of 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 9.9 minutes.
This season, Wright figured to be a significant factor as the franchise looked to the future, which figured to include Wright. On Nov. 5, after Wright played 32 minutes against Denver, Nelson said the Wright era at power forward was being ushered in sooner. Wright began starting ahead of disgruntled forward Al Harrington and averaged 27.8 minutes over the next four games.
But beginning with the Detroit game, Nelson has gone predominantly with a small lineup, which called for Morrow getting some action. With Morrow’s emergence as a constant in the rotation and perhaps a regular starter, Nelson has decided to stick with small ball for the foreseeable future. That means Maggette at power forward some 40 minutes a night.
“We’re pretty well committed to a small lineup now for some period of time,” Nelson said. “I’m a game coach. I’ll do whatever I think will help us. It probably takes some minutes away.”
Not only will Wright’s minutes be cut, but the minutes he receives figure to come at a new position. Nelson said he would still play Wright some at power forward, as he did Tuesday against Portland. But, in theory, Nelson said, most of Wright’s time will be backing up starting center Andris Biedrins.
“(Playing center) shouldn’t change anything,” Wright said. “I still should be able to do the things I was doing when I was out there on the court.”
