Warriors second-year forward Ekpe Udoh was instrumental in his teams 101-93 win over the Blazers on Wednesday at Oracle. He defended Portlands LaMarcus Aldridge very well down the stretch and helped the Warriors snap a three-game losing streak.His box score numbers didnt exactly jump outfour points, seven rebounds and two blocked shotsbut anyone who saw the game knows Udoh had a bigger impact than that.Udohs ability to defend Aldridge one-on-one set the defensive tone for the Warriors in the final quarter. It was a game the Warriors needed, too, after losing a couple of difficult games to begin their current six-game homestand.
Golden State plays the Oklahoma City Thunder, owners of the best record in the NBA at 15-3, but before that, Warriors coach Mark Jackson took a look back at Wednesdays win. Jackson was asked about Udoh after Wednesdays game and then again after practice on Thursday. One issue that came up after the win was whether or not Jackson was considering a lineup change involving Udoh replacing center Andris Biedrins.Jackson said he most certainly wasnt, and that Udoh hadnt been consistent enough this season to be rewarded with a starting job.Jackson revisited the subject, among a few others, at Thursdays practice. Udoh also sat down and talked to the media. Here are those interviews.
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