This article is part of our NBA Barometer series.
RISERS
James Harden, G, HOU - It's difficult for a player of Harden's caliber to boost his already expansive ceiling, but the move to point guard has done just that for Harden. Back-to-back double-doubles in the last week have The Beard's assists (12.4) at almost five more per game than last season (7.5), when he was toiling away at two guard. The scoring hasn't been hurt either, as he's averaging 19.2 attempts per game and is posting career highs in points (31.8) and three-point percentage (39.1 percent).
Giannis Antetokounmpo, G, MIL - Speaking of full-time moves to point guard boosting a player's already significant fantasy stock, the Greek Freak is Exhibit 1-A. He's averaged 25.5 points on 56.7 percent shooting with 8.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals in his last two games. He's also sporting a team-leading usage rate of 28.6 percent and shooting 47.8 percent from the field, while averaging an increase of more than six shots, one rebound and two assists per game than last season.
Tyler Johnson , G, MIA - Johnson has been one of the beneficiaries of Josh Richardson's injury and has been coming on over the last week in particular. He's scored in double digits in each game this season but is averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 blocks in 31.0 minutes off the bench in his last two games. While Richardson's eventual return will eat into some of that playing time, Johnson looks like a considerably improved player with solid opportunity for the moment.
Sean Kilpatrick, G, BKN - Another young two-guard on a similar track as Johnson, Kilpatrick has played heavy minutes off the bench, and his playing time has actually increased the last two games. The 26-year-old is averaging 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals over 30.5 minutes during that span on a Brooklyn team that desperately needs dependable scoring. Veteran Randy Foye, who was listed at the top of the shooting guard depth chart to begin the season, has yet to play due to a hamstring injury, while Bojan Bogdanovic continues to struggle with consistency despite his considerable upside. These two factors, along with his production, have given Kilpatrick's minutes a boost, and he may well hang on to a lot of that playing time even after Foye returns, given the early returns.
Evan Fournier, G, ORL - Fournier has thrived in the starting shooting guard role that was vacated by when Victor Oladipo was traded to the Thunder. He leads the Magic in attempts (79), is second in usage (24.6 percent) and is third in shooting percentage (45.6). He went off for a season-high 29 points Thursday against the Kings and has cleared the 20-point mark in three of five games overall. Likely Orlando's most consistent scorer outside of Nikola Vucevic, Fournier's production only figures to increase this season.
Tobias Harris,F, DET - Harris has taken his play to another level since his midseason trade to the Pistons last year. He's averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on stellar 61.5 percent shooting over his last two games, while also tallying a 57.1 percent success rate on his seven three-point attempts over that span. He's second on the Pistons with 67 attempts and has career highs in scoring (20.8), field-goal percentage (58.2), three-point percentage (52.9) and steals (1.2).
Joel Embiid, C, PHI - The usually hapless Sixers appear to have finally gotten one right in Embiid, who leads the team in attempts (37) and usage (42.4 percent), even as his minutes have been carefully managed. He still figures to see an overall playing time cap and the occasional night off as well, but the talent is clearly shining through now that the 2014 first-round pick is finally healthy and on the court. Assuming he can steer clear of injury, Embiid's arrow figures to be on a constant upward trend the more he plays this season.
Jusuf Nurkic, F, DEN - Nurkic has taken well to starting alongside center Nikola Jokic in the frontcourt over the first four games, averaging 16.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 29.0 minutes per game. He's also shooting a solid 51 percent from the field while hitting double digits in the scoring column in each contest. The early metrics look highly favorable for continued production from the big man as well, as he leads the Nuggets in possessions (235), attempts ( 49) and points (66), while ranking second in usage (25.5 percent).
Jabari Parker, F, MIL - Parker has averaged 24.0 points and 5.0 rebounds over his last two games while posting 58.1 and 57.1 percent tallies from the field and three-point range, respectively. He's also tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo for most shot attempts (67) and second to him among the Bucks' starters in usage (24.0 percent).
INJURIES
Dirk Nowitzki, F, DAL - Nowitzki is expected to be sidelined at least a week due to an Achilles injury, though coach Rick Carlisle hinted the absence could be much longer. Given his age, Nowitzki could well be on the shelf for some time.
Chandler Parsons , F, MEM - Parsons' recovery from March knee surgery is essentially complete, as the team announced he'll make his Grizzlies debut Tuesday versus the Nuggets.
Al Horford, F, BOS - Horford missed Wednesday's and Thursday's games against the Bulls and Cavs, respectively, with a concussion sustained from an inadvertent blow to the head in Monday's practice session. He'll have an opportunity to play against the Nuggets on Saturday if he is cleared.
Gary Harris, G, DEN - Harris continues to struggle with his groin injury, and has yet to make it through a full practice session. He looks unlikely to play in either of the Nuggets' games this weekend.
Will Barton, G, DEN - Harris' replacement to start the season, Will Barton, is now also on the mend with what has been described as a significant ankle sprain. He's already been ruled out of Saturday's game against the Pistons, after missing Thursday's game against the T-Wolves.
Tony Parker, G, SAS - Coach Gregg Popovich announced Parker will be out for about a week with a sore right knee that he originally suffered in the season opener against the Warriors.
Jeremy Lin, G, BKN - Lin left Wednesday's game with a hamstring injury and the team announced he won't even be evaluated for two weeks. Lin was off to a strong start over the first five games, averaging 15.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals across 26.8 minutes per game.
Jae Crowder, F, BOS - Crowder is estimated to be out for approximately two weeks with an ankle injury, after originally slated to only be sidelined for one.
Jrue Holiday, G, NOP - The Pelicans ecently announced the Holiday should be back with the team by the middle of the month, following a leave of absence to care for his newborn and ailing wife.
Ricky Rubio, G, MIN - Rubio is out indefinitely with a sprained right elbow.
Gordon Hayward, F, UTA - Hayward, who suffered a finger injury in the preseason, hopes t make his debut by the end of next week.
Reggie Jackson, G, DET - Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said Jackson's knee injury is showing an adequate level of progress and that he's expected to resume on-court activities within the next two weeks.
FALLERS
Kyle Korver, G, ATL - Korver scored a combined six points on 2-of-15 shooting over the last two games. He's been in single digits in the scoring column in three of the first five games overall, and his current 40.7 field-goal percentage is his lowest since the 2007-08 season.
Klay Thompson, G, GSW - Kevin Durant's arrival in Golden State was expected to affect the Splash Bros' production to an extent, but Thompson's problems are largely of his own making. He's still averaging 16.5 shot attempts a game, but he's shooting career-low 38.4 from the field and 19.6 from three-point range. His scoring average (15.8) is more than six points per game less that last season's 22.1 figure, and he's cracked the 20-point mark once in the first six games.
Ish Smith, G, DET - Smith has shown some nice upside the last two seasons in starting opportunities, but he's been unable to duplicate that from a scoring perspective while filling in for Reggie Jackson (knee). He had a particularly rough week, shooting 32.5 percent (13-of-40) while averaging just 10.0 points in three games. He's also struggled from behind the arc all season, draining just one of his eight three-point attempts. With Andre Drummond, Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris significantly involved in the offense, Smith has been relegated to much more of a distributor.
DeMarre Carroll, F, TOR - Carroll, who recently proclaimed himself as just "80-to-90 percent healthy," is playing as if he's indeed hampered by injury. He went scoreless over 20 minutes Friday and supplied just one rebound overall, an outing that was preceded by a seven-point effort on Wednesday. He's hit double digits in scoring just once this season, and has seen his minutes trend down in each of the last three games.
