RADIO
Welcome to Rotation Watch, RotoBallers! Each week, this article will highlight the players gaining minutes in their team's rotation. Fantasy managers want to roster the players that accumulate stats and rack up the playing time. They want to avoid the players falling out of favor and watching the action from the sidelines.
With the new season here, Rotation Watch is well... back in the rotation. With new rotations and players bouncing around from season to season, it's important to take note of who's "in" and who's "out". I've been consistently updating my data model to account for minutes over the 2022-2023 regular season, as well as each player's last four games, and their stats based on who's on and who's off the floor (accounting for injury, etc.).
So without further ado, let's start searching those box scores and look for those hidden gems that grabbed minutes to help your fantasy basketball team achieve the ultimate prize: a championship. Of course, these suggestions are the cream of the crop, and if you ever need an extra slice of advice, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @LucidMediaDFS.
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NBA Playing Time Changes
Brandon Clarke - PF/C Memphis Grizzlies
ESPN: 52.2% rostered
Week 15: 21:00 Minutes per Game
I'll start off this week similarly to where I started out last week, in Memphis. I talked a little bit about Xavier Tillman last week, this week I'll talk about Brandon Clarke in regards to filling the "Steven Adams" role for the Grizzlies.
Clarke hasn't been getting a ton of minutes since the injury but has been filling up the stat sheet. He averaged 12 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and two "stocks" (steals + blocks) this past week. He's not widely available, but I'd seriously consider picking him up if he's available in your league until Adams returns.
Trey Murphy III - SG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans
ESPN: 18.6% rostered
Week 15: 31:40 Minutes per Game
I'll take a look at Trey Murphy III next. Murphy is a bit more available, at least in ESPN leagues. While Brandon Ingram has returned to the Pelicans' lineup, Murphy is still getting the start at the "small forward" position as Ingram is playing the "shooting guard" position.
In all reality, it really doesn't matter who's playing what position, considering that Murphy is starting and playing a solid amount of minutes. He's averaging 13.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, an assist, and two "stocks" per game over the last week. He's worth a stream at least for the next week until Dyson Daniels and Zion Williamson make their return.
Pat Connaughton - SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks
ESPN: 5.8% rostered
Week 15: 29:20 Minutes per Game
I'll finish things up this week with Pat Connaughton, who slotted into the starting "small forward" role for Milwaukee. He's seen a nice minutes uptick, from a 24:55 season average to 29:20 over the last week. This is largely in part due to both Serge Ibaka and Bobby Portis being out of the rotation.
I wrote up Pat Connaughton in my DFS article last Friday, and he delivered a 14-point, eight-rebound, three-steal performance while adding an assist. He's slowed down a bit over the last two games but should continue to see solid minutes until Ibaka and Portis return, which likely won't be until next week.
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