This article is part of our NBA Barometer series.
RISERS
Ricky Rubio, PG, MIN - Rubio has shot the ball a full 10.0 percent better than his season average over the past five games, and his increased ability to knock down jumpers has also opened up the floor for the flashy Spaniard to show off his passing skills. All in all, Rubio has averaged a 15.0-point and 11.4-assist double-double over that span, and he will continue to be a nightmare for defenses if he can maintain the 47.7 percent mark from the field that has made him so dangerous over that span.
Bojan Bogdanovic, SG, BKN - Bogdanovic's 44-point outing against the 76ers on Mar. 15 was the start of an impressive scoring binge that has seen him average 27.3 points per game over the last four. His assist or rebound totals won't blow you away, but Bogdanovic contributes enough in those categories to make the enticement of his increased point total too high to pass up. With 12 three-pointers and 21 made free throws since last Tuesday's outburst, the shooting guard is getting plenty of looks and converting them at a great clip.
Lance Stephenson, SG, MEM - Stephenson has stepped up big time for the injury-riddled Grizzlies over his last seven appearances, averaging 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in that span. While he moved back to a reserve role Monday after a brief stint as the starting point guard, Stephenson has maintained value with 16 points apiece in both games
RISERS
Ricky Rubio, PG, MIN - Rubio has shot the ball a full 10.0 percent better than his season average over the past five games, and his increased ability to knock down jumpers has also opened up the floor for the flashy Spaniard to show off his passing skills. All in all, Rubio has averaged a 15.0-point and 11.4-assist double-double over that span, and he will continue to be a nightmare for defenses if he can maintain the 47.7 percent mark from the field that has made him so dangerous over that span.
Bojan Bogdanovic, SG, BKN - Bogdanovic's 44-point outing against the 76ers on Mar. 15 was the start of an impressive scoring binge that has seen him average 27.3 points per game over the last four. His assist or rebound totals won't blow you away, but Bogdanovic contributes enough in those categories to make the enticement of his increased point total too high to pass up. With 12 three-pointers and 21 made free throws since last Tuesday's outburst, the shooting guard is getting plenty of looks and converting them at a great clip.
Lance Stephenson, SG, MEM - Stephenson has stepped up big time for the injury-riddled Grizzlies over his last seven appearances, averaging 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in that span. While he moved back to a reserve role Monday after a brief stint as the starting point guard, Stephenson has maintained value with 16 points apiece in both games since. He has a history of piling up numbers when he gets the ball in his hands, and the banged-up Grizzlies have no choice but to keep looking Lance's way.
Zach Randolph, PF, MEM -Lance Stephenson isn't the only Grizzlies player on the rise recently, as Randolph's 19.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game in three appearances since returning from injury have promptly propelled the veteran into the spotlight. Randolph is still a terrific rebounder with polished offensive moves despite his advanced age, and it's possible that his rise in assists could be permanent with the Grizzlies making a concerted effort to play through their offensive cornerstone in lieu of a true point guard.
Toney Douglas, PG, NOP - Douglas has become New Orleans' de facto No. 2 scoring option behind Jrue Holiday with Ryan Anderson (groin) still unable to return, and Anthony Davis (knee/shoulder), Tyreke Evans (knee), and Eric Gordon (finger) all lost for the season. That role has paid major fantasy dividends for the veteran guard over the last five games, as he is averaging 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 32 minutes per game over that span. Even if Anderson returns soon to bolster the team's front-court scoring, he won't cut into Douglas' minutes.
INJURIES
Chandler Parsons, SF, DAL - Parsons will undergo season-ending knee surgery after a Monday MRI revealed a torn meniscus in his right knee. He had been playing terrific basketball of late after a slow start to the season, and his absence could be a death blow to a Mavericks team that is terribly thin on the wing. Wesley Matthews will get all the minutes he can handle down the stretch, while the team's bevy of point guards will also rotate in at the shooting guard position to help fill the void.
Anthony Davis, PF, NOP - Davis will require multiple surgeries to fix both his left knee and a torn labrum in his left shoulder, leaving the young forward sidelined for 4-5 months. The Pelicans have been decimated by injuries all season, but this might be the most devastating blow yet. Ryan Anderson will see an increase in production as the full-time starter at power forward once he returns from a groin injury, while Jrue Holiday should continue to put up big numbers due to a lack of healthy offensively gifted alternatives.
Kenneth Faried, PF, DEN - Just as Faried was starting to assert his scoring and rebounding dominance on the interior, a back injury has forced the Manimal to miss three straight games. Fill-in starter Darrell Arthur simply lacks Faried's explosiveness, but the Nuggets should be able to return Arthur to a reserve role soon enough with Faried supposedly closing in on a return.
FALLERS
Stephen Curry, PG, GSW - Perhaps the Spurs revealed the blueprint to limiting Curry's effectiveness, as the leading MVP candidate shot just 10-for-35 between Saturday's lost in San Antonio and Golden State's subsequent win over Minnesota on Monday while being hounded by physical defense and hedging big men. He's still a terrific all-around option, but his 16.5 points per game and 28.6 percent mark from the field are far cries from Curry's season averages of 30.1 points and 50.7 percent, respectively.
Evan Fournier, SG, ORL - Fournier continues to score the ball at a decent clip, but his utter inability to contribute in other categories severely limits his overall value. With no games above four rebounds and three assists in his last six tries, the Frenchman's stat line is lacking despite a robust 16.2 points per game over that span. Don't miss the forest for the trees just because he's able to maintain a scoring average in the mid-teens.
Nerlens Noel, PF, PHI - Noel looked like he may be turning the corner after pulling down 16 rebounds to go along with 14 points on St. Patrick's Day, but his 8.0 points per game average and inability to crack double-digit rebounds in three attempts since then suggest that was just a one-game fluke. He has earned only 24 minutes of playing time in each of Philadelphia's last two games, which more often than not simply isn't enough for a player of Noel's caliber to leave much of a mark.
Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, DEN - Mudiay's last six appearances feature one solid outing sandwiched by five subpar performances. Outside of a 23-point, 10-assist effort Mar. 14 against Miami, the rookie is averaging just 10.4 points and 3.0 assists over that span. A five in six chance of getting such inconsequential production makes owning Mudiay a tough pill to swallow at the moment.
