Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets: Although Brooklyn struggled to an 0-3 record this week, the middle Plumlee continued to contribute, scoring 4.7 points per game and snaring 3.0 rebounds per. With Brook Lopez out for the season, Mason will be one of the likely options to receive more playing time in head coach Jason Kidd's Rubik's Cube of a rotation.
Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats: Henderson continues to play solidly and help keep the Bobcats around .500 in a putrid Eastern Conference. He had 22 points and eight rebounds in a win Friday against Detroit, and on the season he's averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, numbers that are all above his career averages.
Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats: McRoberts played crunch-time minutes in Charlotte's overtime win versus Milwaukee on Monday, and he tallied nine points, three rebounds, and two assists. His seven-assist outing in the win over Detroit was impressive—as is his 32.0 percent assist rate, which is the highest in the league among big men.
Elton Brand, Atlanta Hawks: Brand continues to provide solid bench minutes for the Hawks. He averaged over 5.3 rebounds per game this week, and he notched a stunning five blocks in a blowout win Friday over the Jazz.
Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls: The Bulls' fortune turned this week, as they broke a four-game losing streak with wins over the Cavaliers and Nets. Boozer's performance was crucial in both wins, as he picked up 19 points, nine rebounds, and four assists against Cleveland, and he followed that up with 14 points and six rebounds in the Christmas day victory over Brooklyn. Notably, Boozer scored efficiently in both games, shooting better than 50 percent in each matchup.
Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls: Deng remains limited by a nagging Achilles injury, and with his absence in the win Wednesday, he has now missed three consecutive games. The veteran small forward—a free agent next offseason—has often been linked to trade rumors, although this week the Bulls' front office re-affirmed its hope to keep Deng in red and black long-term.
Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Chicago Bulls: Dunleavy was thrust back into the starting lineup in Deng's absence, and he certainly produced—averaging 12 points per game on 58.8 percent shooting in two games this week. With Deng sidelined indefinitely, it will be important for Dunleavy to maintain this level of efficiency to keep Chicago on track for a playoff berth.
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers: Although the Cavaliers turned in yet another subpar week, Irving was surely not at fault. In the team's sole victory this week Friday versus Milwaukee, Irving scored 39 points on 25 shots, also dishing out six assists and compiling four blocks—three on Brandon Knight. Then, this Thursday, Uncle Drew dropped 40 and nine assists in a heart-breaking double overtime loss to Atlanta. In the second extra period alone, Irving had 12 points, but he didn't have any time left to answer Jeff Teague's buzzer-beater. It seems to be yet another season of little team success but plenty of personal accolades for Kyrie, whose stellar play and widespread appeal has put him second in fan All-Star voting for the Eastern Conference backcourt, just a few thousand votes behind leader Dwyane Wade.
JJ Redick, Los Angeles Clippers: Redick remains sidelined with his injured right wrist, although he reportedly may be targeting a return as early as January 15.
Ryan Kelly, Los Angeles Lakers: Kelly received a season-high 17 minutes in the Lakers' Christmas showdown with the Miami Heat, and he scored a season-high four points in that outing. He played in three out of four games this week and appears to steadily be gaining a foothold in the Lakers' rotation.
Shane Battier, Miami Heat: Battier continues to start and the Heat continue to win; however, his season, much like his game, has not been very flashy. He's averaging 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, but he fits a very well-defined role in the Heat offense: he took 13 shots this past week—all 3-pointers.
Kyle Singler, Detroit Pistons: The third-year Swiss army knife is playing some of his best basketball this season, having hit double-digits in his past four games and averaging 5.3 rebounds per game this week. After starting the year slowly, Singler has heated up in December, shooting 51.2 percent from the field and a scorching 47.4 percent from beyond the arc this month.
Austin Rivers, New Orleans Pelicans: After a mid-December burst in which Rivers scored 17 and 11 in consecutive games, the second-year guard has cooled down somewhat. He managed just two points in 13 minutes Saturday versus Portland and didn't play Monday against Sacramento.
Eliot Williams, Philadelphia 76ers: Williams played in one of Philadelphia's two games this week, hitting a 3-pointer and grabbing two rebounds in 14 minutes against Milwaukee.
Seth Curry, Memphis Grizzlies: The undrafted rookie received an early Christmas gift, signing with the Grizzlies on December 24th. Curry had been playing this season with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League.
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