Well, maybe just a sweet chart, but hey what do you think the ancients really do all day in the rain forest, anyway? 

This week we have a trio of short guards who have been shockingly impressive, and three duds whom it is never too late to digress from. 

As always, please send your fantasy thoughts, questions and hopefully brutal criticisms to danoff.charles@gmail.com to have your electronic mail published in next week’s Charity Stripe. 

Three Who’ve Impressed

Aaron Brooks | Houston Rockets

Fantasy Eligible Positions: PG, SG

The 26^th overall pick of the 2007 draft has been essentially a forgotten player on a Rockets team that has seemingly had contributions from everyone else on the roster.  In the midst of their insane win streak, unknowns such as Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes, the 2007 AP All American was never heard from. 

That was until a recent injury to Rafer Alston gave Brooks a shot at some minutes.

As you can see in the chart above, Brooks’ game score has been gyrating violently all season, but has gone up consistently since game 43.  He’s also been shooting better, making more than 50% of his shots in most games since number 39.

Alston will probably return soon from his hamstring injury, but with the Rockets already having locked up a playoff spot and Aaron’s strong play, he figures to get consistent minutes through the season’s end.

Dan Dickau | Los Angeles Clippers

Fantasy Eligible Position: PG

Since Sam Cassell was bought out in March, Dickau’s been getting more consistent minutes.  And as he’s always done since given good floor time since coming into the league, he’s been scoring well. 

You could say this is true for all players, but the difference with Dickau is that he scores the same when given a lot of minutes as he does when only given garbage time at the end of a game.  Most reserve players cannot pull that off.  In 67 games averaging 31 MPG for the Hornets in the ’04 – ’05 season, he averaged 13.2 PPG, while shooting a respectable 41% from the field.

Look for Dan to get good minutes and put up decent scoring numbers over the Clippers last few games.  Heading into next season, it is about time he was given a shot to be somebody’s primary backup point guard.

Ramon Sessions | Milwaukee Bucks

Fantasy Eligible Positions: PG, SG

After averaging 21.1 PPG, 7.6 APG and 6.5 RPG for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBDL, Sessions was recently called up to the majors by the Milwaukee Bucks brass. 

In his limited window of opportunity he has definitely impressed. 

So far in April, he’s been averaging 7.8 PPG and 7.8 APG per contest, and as if that were not astounding enough for the 56^th overall pick of the 2007 draft, he even impressed franchise leader Michael Redd near the end of a recent Wizards game,

“Hey rook, it took me eight years in the league before I hit my first game-winner and you already got one in your first year.”

That was after hitting the victory saving shot for the Bucks at the buzzer.  Over his time in Tulsa and his brief NBA stint, Sessions seems to have definitely earned himself a spot on somebody’s roster full time next season.

In the present, pick him up if you’re looking for that impossible to find diamond in the rough down the stretch of your fantasy playoffs.

Three to Digress

Booby Gibson | Cleveland Cavaliers

Fantasy Eligible Positions: PG, SG

Despite his reputation as a clutch shooter earned in the Cavs 2007 Finals run, and his .459 3 point percentage on the season, Booby is definitely someone you want to digress at the moment. 

Since coming back from a recent extended spat with an injury, he’s made just four of his first seventeen three pointers.  I imagine he will turn it around come playoff time, but until then his progress will be slow and steady, as the lingering injury seems to be hampering his shot. 

Not what you need in your most crucial stretch of the season.  Time to boo Booby right off your roster.

Al Harrington | Golden State Warriors

Fantasy Eligible Positions: SF, PF, and C

With his team on the brink of playoff elimination, Harrington has been packing it in lately.  Maybe, the Nuggets paid him off, or at least gave him a steal on some off -season snow. 

Whatever the reason, he’s been absolutely chucking the ball lately, making only 32.5% of his field goals, and barely 15% of his three pointers in April.  His PPG for the month so far at 8.8 are well below his seasonal average of 13.7. 

If he does not pick it up again soon, it will be a sad day for NBA fans, as the team that put on arguably the greatest single-series show in NBA history, will not return for an encore performance.

Jason Kapono | Toronto Raptors

Fantasy Eligible Position: SF

Speaking of snow, what is going on in the wintry country land of ice hockey with the two-time defending All-Star 3-Point champion? 

Despite getting consistent minutes for a specialist type player in February and March, Kapono put up only twenty shots from distance in the period.  The Raptors have qualified for the playoffs again so everything seems to be alright for Toronto; but, nevertheless, Kapono needs to throwing up some long bomb rocks.

Otherwise, their playoff season will be as short as I imagine those were of many fantasy squads who had Jason on their rosters.