By Rick Morris
March 4, 2008 2:37pm CST

All stats referenced are over the last 10 games unless otherwise noted.

Atlanta Hawks: In a remarkable achievement for a rookie, Al Horford's recent rebounding numbers (10.9 RPG) has pulled his year-to-date total up to double-digits, exactly at 10.0 RPG. Another young member of the frontcourt is struggling, however, as Marvin Williams has been giving back his gains in scoring this year, going from 15.2 PPG over the course of the season down to 9.4 PPG lately.

Boston Celtics: After an inexcusably poor stretch of distributing chronicled here weeks ago, Rajon Rando has gotten his assist numbers in gear lately (6.4 APG) and made his year-to-date totals fairly respectable in the process (5.1 APG). To a far lesser extent, Eddie House has seen his own assist rate increase lately (2.3 APG, up from 1.9 APG this year).

Charlotte Hornets: Gerald Wallace was regressing to the mean even before his concussion with his scoring at 16.8 PPG recently, down from 20.6 PPG this season. Beware of how he will fit into a crowded swingman depth chart when he returns. Jason Richardson, who at 20.7 PPG recently is up 0.3 PPG over his year-to-date average, could well benefit from increased opportunities in shots and minutes.

Chicago Bulls: Thabo Sefolosha's groin injury could not have come at a worse time, with Larry Hughes carrying over the hot streak he developed in his final days in Cleveland (he has 19.0 PPG since the trade, compared to 13.0 PPG for the season and even has 4.2 APG outside the point guard role, with a season average of 2.6 APG). Drew Gooden's scoring has remained fairly constant since the trade (11.0 PPG, compared to 11.2 PPG on the season) notwithstanding 1.9 less minutes per game in his new uniform. His rebounding, however, has improved since the move, at 9.4 RPG as compared to his 8.4 RPG over the full season.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Going from an afterthought in Seattle (20.8 minutes per game) to a vital part of the Cavalier engine (35.2 minutes per game) has delivered the expected boost to Delonte West's numbers. Compare his production before the trade (6.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.2 APG) and afterwards (10.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.8 APG). Ben Wallace is actually averaging 1.1 less minutes per game, but has had a similar spike in before-and-after scoring numbers (5.1 PPG vs. 8.0 PPG). His rebounding has remained perfectly constant, at 8.8 RPG as a Bull and as a Cav. His blocks are down, however (1.6 BPG in Chicago, 1.0 BPG in Cleveland). Notwithstanding Cleveland's intention to move him back to power forward, he'll still get significant minutes at center over the past few weeks now that Zydrunas Ilgauskas' is dealing with back problems. Here's a very counterintuitive statistical note since the trade: Wally Szczerbiak's scoring numbers before-and-after are very close (13.1 PPG vs. 13.0 PPG), and his rebounding stats are as well (2.7 RPG vs. 2.8 RPG). But this gunner, who was expected to do little other than float out near the three-point line and take shots to spread the floor, has somehow brought up his assists in Cleveland (2.0 APG now vs. 1.4 APG before).

Detroit Pistons: By his standards, Richard Hamilton is in something of a scoring slump lately at 15.7 PPG, down from 18.0 PPG this season. Rookies always have a hard time getting a chance to make an impact with the established Pistons' team (right, Darko?), but Rodney Stuckey has impressed when given the chance of late, averaging 8.4 PPG and exceeding his season total by 2.3 PPG. Antonio McDyess is going through a hot stretch on the glass (9.9 RPG of late, up an even 1.0 RPG over the year-to-date).

Indiana Pacers: Mike Dunleavy is building on one of the greatest offensive stretches of his career at 21.1 PPG, up from 18.2 PPG over the course of the year. Kareem Rush is also pulling his weight in the rotation of late (12.0 PPG, up from 9.2 PPG this year).

Miami Heat: As predicted here, the acquisition of Shawn Marion has rejuvenated both Marion (16.7 PPG recently vs. 16.0 PPG this season) and Dwyane Wade (25.3 PPG and 7.5 APG recently with 24.5 PPG and 6.9 APG this year). Also as a result of that trade, Mark Blount has stepped up to fill some of the production needed by the Heat post-Shaq (12.7 PPG and 7.2 RPG lately vs. 8.9 PPG and 3.9 RPG this year).

Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Bogut's progression as a force in the pivot has been fairly dramatic recently in terms of his rebounding (11.0 RPG, up from 9.3 RPG this year). Mo Williams has been providing insane scoring recently for his owners (22.3 PPG) relative to what could reasonably be expected, which is what you could probably call his season average (17.8 PPG). Have his assist numbers suffered in that comparison, though? Of course (4.8 APG lately, 6.3 APG this year).

New Jersey Nets: Marcus Williams is getting additional playing time as expected now that Jason Kidd has relocated. He's up in points and assists lately (7.8 PPG and 4.5 APG) relative to his season averages (4.8 PPG and 2.5 APG). Josh Boone's recent rebounding totals (8.2 RPG) demonstrate the potential he is now fulfilling.

New York Knicks: At a recent tally of 24.8 PPG, Jamal Crawford is up a full 4.0 PPG over the course of his year-to-date scoring. Speaking of players improving in even increments, Crawford is joined in a recent scoring acceleration by Zach Randolph, who is up over his full-season scoring by 1.0 PPG at 18.5 PPG. Fred Jones is also up dramatically (10.5 PPG recently vs. 6.8 PPG this season).

Orlando Magic: Only Dwight Howard in this dominating breakthrough year of his could be averaging 14.3 RPG recently and be off his season page by 0.3 RPG! Carlos Arroyo is up 1.6 PPG lately from his year-to-date average (8.6 PPG).

Philadelphia 76'ers: Thaddeus Young's recent production (9.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG) is much greater than the sum of his rookie year (7.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG). Andre Miller's year-to-date points (17.1 PPG) and assists (6.8 APG), while impressive, still don't compare to his recent totals (19.7 PPG, 8.1 APG).

Toronto Raptors: Slowly, Andrea Bargnani is continuing to progress in the right direction (12.3 PPG and 4.6 RPG lately, up from 10.4 PPG and 3.8 RPG this season). Carlos Delfino's offensive production is also moving up lately (11.7 PPG, up 2.1 PPG from the season average).

Washington Wizards: When the Wizards get their full rotation of healthy players back, DeShawn Stevenson will never again smell his present scoring rate (15.7 PPG). Roger Mason is another player taking great advantage of his vastly increased opportunities (11.5 PPG recently, up from 8.4 PPG this season).