With the recent spat of injuries to the Warriors, they need some of their rookies to step up. 22-year old guard Charles Jenkins has replaced Stephen Curry in the starting lineup due to his ankle injury. Jenkins has played in 7 games (3 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 7.4 minutes, 1.7 points, 0.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. The Warriors would like for 21-year old guard Klay Thompson to step up and replace Jenkins in the starting lineup, but he’s not playing well enough right now. Thompson has played in 9 games (1 start) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 17.7 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He is only shooting 38% from the floor so far this season and that’s just not good enough. 20-year old center Jeremy Tyler has only played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 1.8 minutes and 0.5 points per game. 23-year old forward Chris Wright has played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 3.7 minutes, 1.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

When the Warriors drafted 23-year old PF/C Ekpe Udoh in the first round, they expected him to provide defense and rebounding off the bench. He suffered a broken wrist before the season started and he missed quite a bit of time. When he returned he was so/so. He played in 58 games (18 starts) for the Warriors last year and he averaged 17.8 minutes, 4.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. I look for Udoh to battle Andris Biedrins for the starting center job in training camp next season, but he will need to improve to beat him out. 22-year old point guard Jeremy Lin had a rough go as a rookie. He played in 29 games (0 starts) for the Warriors last year and he averaged 9.8 minutes, 2.6 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game despite only shooting 38.9% from the floor. He’s going to have to improve if he wants to make the Warriors’ roster in 2011-12. 25-year old small forward Jeff Adrien played in 23 games (0 starts) last year and he averaged 8.5 minutes, 2.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

The Warriors have more than enough guys who can score but 23-year old rookie center is helping them by playing some good old fashioned defense as of late. In his last 7 games, Udoh is averaging 30.1 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 2.1 blocked shots. He has now played in 53 games (13 starts) so far in his rookie year and he is averaging 17.1 minutes, 4.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Udoh started the season late due to a broken wrist but he’s trying to make up for lost time right now.

The Warriors have not got much help from their rookie class so far this year. 23-year old PF/C Ekpe Udoh has recently moved into the starting lineup at center over Andris Biedrins but he hasn’t shown much so far. Udoh has played in 37 games (2 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 14.6 minutes, 3.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. it will be interesting to see if Udoh takes advantage of his bump in P.T. going forward. 25-year old small forward Jeff Adrien has played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 10.8 minutes, 2.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Adrien is likely going to be sitting near the end of the bench with Reggie Williams and Al Thornton ahead of him on the bench. 22-year old point guard Jeremy Lin has been back and forth between Oakland and the D-League. Lin has played in 23 games (0 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 8.7 minutes, 1.9 points, 0.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. But, Lin is only shooting 34% from the floor and that’s nowhere near good enough to get the job done.

23-year old rookie PF/C Ekpe Udoh started the year late due to wrist surgery. He has played in 14 games (0 starts) so far this year and he is averaging 13.5 minutes, 2.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. The Warriors will probably bring along Udoh slowly with David Lee & Andris Biedrins starting at power forward and center. 22-year old rookie point guard Jeremy Lin keeps bouncing around between Oakland & the D-League. Lin has played in 17 games (0 starts) for the Warriors so far this year and he is averaging 8.5 minutes, 1.9 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.