By Rick Morris
March 25, 2008 12:54pm CDT

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

Atlanta Hawks: At the time of the Mike Bibby trade, it was predicted in this space that Joe Johnson's offensive game would gain from not having to spend as many minutes at point guard anymore. His numbers have justified that forecast, as his 27.0 PPG average over the last ten games is second only to Lebron James in the Eastern Conference and is up a whopping 5.4 PPG from his year-to-date average. And with a multiplicity of talented young scoring options now receiving his passes, Bibby is averaging 6.7 APG, not bad for a scoring point guard and up .8 APG from his full-season numbers.

Boston Celtics: While MVP talk is not explicitly germane to examining fantasy production, in most instances there is at least a vague connection between statistical dominance and speculation for the league's greatest individual award. Not so in the case of Kevin Garnett. His 2007-08 numbers are sharply down from last season (18.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG and 3.4 APG, as opposed to 22.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG and 4.1 APG – with a recent rebounding haul of 8.4 RPG that is further off the pace still). While most observers expected his scoring total to be down given the fact he would now have Ray Allen and Paul Pierce sharing the ball with him, few thought his rebounding numbers would go down this far, and fewer still bargained on his assist total actually being down at all given the firepower in the lineup.

Charlotte Bobcats: Aided in part by receiving increased looks when Gerald Wallace was on the shelf, Jason Richardson is defying expectations that his time with the Cats would result in his scoring production being mired down near last year's numbers (16.0 PPG last year, 20.9 PPG this year and 23.8 PPG of late). Increased opportunities on the wing have even led to increased production for Derek Anderson of all people (7.7 PPG lately, 5.2 PPG on the season).

Chicago Bulls: So much for the wishful thinking that the trade of Ben Wallace and subsequent freeing up of potential additional minutes for Tyrus Thomas was going to allow him to shed the "bust" label (4.1 PPG and 3.3 RPG lately). The Bulls have benefited in the frontcourt, however, from the offensive play of Drew Gooden, who has been more consistent offensively since coming over in the aforementioned trade (11.9 PPG on the season, 15.5 PPG lately).

Cleveland Cavaliers: The "shooters' curse" continues in Cleveland, as Wally Szczerbiak is following in the dubious footsteps of Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall in terms of shooters who grew cold upon taking up residence on the North Coast. With a scoring mark of 12.2 PPG on the season and with the only other dangerous long-range gunner Daniel Gibson on the shelf due to his ankle injury, Wally World was expected to furnish the Cavs with the long-range production they have found so elusive over the past few seasons. Instead, with a recent tally of 7.7 PPG, he is struggling to stay afloat in a Cleveland rotation with a great many players of approximately the same level of overall skill. Meanwhile, Lebron James' emergence as a candidate for league scoring champion has finally come at the expense of his distribution numbers, as he is averaging 6.1 APG of late, down from 7.3 APG on the season.

Detroit Pistons: While "energy player" Jason Maxiell is worth more to the Pistons than to most fantasy owners, he remains a decent end-of-the bench option – most of the time. But he's fallen off a bit in scoring and rebounding of late (6.5 PPG and 4.4 RPG, down from 7.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG on the season). The frontcourt scoring is not being replaced by Antonio McDyess (6.2 PPG lately, down from 8.8 PPG over the full season).

Indiana Pacers: Now that Jamal Tinsley is confirmed to miss the rest of the season, the Pacers will continue with combo guard Flip Murray starting at the point and Travis Diener coming off the bench. The streaky Murray is producing offensively of late, with 13.2 PPG, nearly four over his season average, but with 2.7 APG over the same stretch, he's clearly playing out of place in terms of expected production for the position.

Miami Heat: With the Dwyane Wade injury setting up the Heat to clinch the spot with the most ping-pong balls in the NBA lottery, the current lineup configuration in the frontcourt may never be seen next year. Udonis Haslem will miss the rest of the season due to his ankle injury, so Shawn Marion is currently playing power forward, with Ricky Davis sliding up to small forward and rookie Daequan Cook manning the off-guard spot. In the likely event that Miami's posturing for draft position pays off, Michael Beasley will be playing power forward from Day One, with Marion moving back to small forward, and Davis in all likelihood moving into a rotation at the two. Presently, Marion's time at the four is paying off for his owners in terms of rebounds, as he is averaging 12.3 RPG compared to his season average of 10.2 RPG.

Milwaukee Bucks: While the Yao Ming injury rightfully has received much more media attention, Chinese basketball has also suffered a more minor setback recently as Yi Jianlian has regressed sharply (4.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG, down from 8.8 PPG and 5.2 RPG on the season). Those who understandably jettisoned Charlie Bell (7.6 PPG on the season) are fuming, as they are missing out on his recent progression (13.2 PPG).

New Jersey Nets: Jason who? Devin Harris is justifying the big trade almost single-handedly out in the Meadowlands with 15.4 PPG and 6.6 APG recently. If Vince Carter is missing Kidd's feeds, he has a funny way of showing it (21.6 PPG lately, 20.9 PPG on the season).

New York Knicks: Not to be cruel, but Eddy Curry's absence for the rest of the season can be filed under "Quite Inconsequential" (4.1 RPG in his final ten games). From out of nowhere, rookie Wilson Chandler is stepping it up recently (8.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG recently, up from 5.4 PPG and 2.9 RPG on the season).

Orlando Magic: A breakthrough season like the one Hedo Turkoglu is experiencing is remarkable enough. But repeatedly in the second half of the season, it has been noted that The Turk is posting numbers in excess of his season totals, and he is doing so yet again (21.3 PPG recently, 19.9 PPG this season). Orlando's more predictable season of great emergence, posted by Dwight Howard, has suffered a bit of a falloff lately, but even his regression to the mean stats are at a level most other players would sell a (non-vital) organ to obtain (18.0 PPG and 13.5 RPG lately, down from 21.1. PPG and 14.4 RPG this year).

Philadelphia 76ers: Not only has Rodney Carney's offensive production surged of late (9.2 PPG, up from 5.8 PPG this season), he's marginally less of an "assist black hole," as well (a "whopping" .8 APG recently, up from .5 APG this year). Samuel Dalembert's shoulder injury comes at an unfortunate time, as his recent RPG total has been sterling as usual (11.4) but has been accompanied by a slightly better-than-usual scoring touch (11.3 PPG).

Toronto Raptors: Who the heck woke up Rasho Nesterovic? He has 13.6 PPG and 6.5 RPG lately, up from 6.1 PPG and 4.4 RPG on the season. Rookie sensation Jamario Moon is continuing to progress on the glass (7.5 RPG recently, up from 6.4 RPG this year).

Washington Wizards: In examining the Wizards roster to find players whose offensive looks will be diminished once Gilbert Arenas is 100%, Roger Mason and Nick Young appear at least near the top of the list. Yet both, as if anticipating an increased level of competition for opportunities, have increased their offensive production of late. Mason is averaging 9.5 PPG, up from 8.6 PPG this season, while Young's uptick has been even sharper (9.4 PPG, up from 7.2 PPG this season).