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Mar. 27 -- My favorite March Madness prediction: Some analyst, I honestly don't remember who, said before the tournament that only four teams could win the national championship -- Duke, Texas, UConn and Villanova. Really, a perfectly reasonable assessment.

Except it turns out that not one of those teams even reached the Final Four.

The Stat Rat is blessed with enough artificial intelligence to know that the future can't be controlled. So when it comes to assessing the state of fantasy NBA, our favorite number-cruncher (Latin name: figuritis rodentia) focuses on the present.

And presently, players like Carlos Boozer, Lamar Odom and Raymond Felton are tearing it up. The Stat Rat knows them as the Movers. Please take a moment to get to know your Movers and Shakers as well:

Stat Rat Movers = Players who've seen a recent spike in production over the past week compared to the entire season up until that point.

Stat Rat Shakers = Players who've seen a recent decrease in production over the past week compared to the entire season up until that point.

Minute Movers = Players who've seen a recent spike in playing time over the past week compared to the entire season up until that point.

Minute Shakers = Players who've seen a recent decline in playing time over the past week compared to the entire season up until that point.

Stat Rat Movers

Utah retired Karl Malone's number last week. Meanwhile, the current Jazz power forward is doing a none-too-shabby imitation of the Mailman. In his first six starts for Utah, Boozer is averaging 23.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 61 percent from the field. While Chris Paul will in all likelihood be Rookie of the Year, Felton is the rookie of the present. In March Felton is averaging 16.3 points and 6.0 assists -- though he did sit out the March 26 game at Memphis. Kobe Bryant, as you might expect, has been a regular on our Movers list. But Odom has been a fixture of late. Odom's numbers in March say he's getting the hang of the Triangle Offense. Actually, they scream it: 17.5 points, 8.5 boards, 6.2 assists, 1.7 threes and 59 percent from the field.

Stats through 3/25/2006

Rnk Player - POS - Team Last 7 thru 3/18 +/-
1 Carlos Boozer - F/C - UTA 1.10 -0.05 1.15
2 Raymond Felton - G - CHA 1.29 0.22 1.07
3 Andrei Kirilenko - F - UTA 1.69 0.71 0.98
4 Lamar Odom - F - LAL 1.48 0.63 0.85
5 Mike James - G - TOR 1.33 0.55 0.78
6 Dirk Nowitzki - F - DAL 1.70 0.92 0.78
7 Kobe Bryant - G - LAL 1.81 1.04 0.77
8 Joe Johnson - G/F - ATL 1.42 0.68 0.74
9 Bernard Robinson - G - CHA 0.67 -0.04 0.73
10 Vladimir Radmanovic - F/C - LAC 0.94 0.23 0.71

Stat Rat Shakers

In another case of not knowing what the future will bring, there's Jermaine O'Neal, he whose season was supposed to have been lost to a torn groin. O'Neal is not only back, but back in Indiana's starting lineup -- he had 11 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes vs. Philadelphia on March 26. Darius Miles, another player who's missed a lot of time this year, has sat out Portland's last two games. He was poked in the eye against Milwaukee on March 20, but was officially excused from the Blazers' last game to attend a family funeral.

Stats through 3/25/2006

Rnk Player - POS - Team Last 7 thru 3/18 +/-
1 Jermaine O'Neal - F/C - IND -0.58 0.37 -0.95
2 Darius Miles - G/F - POR -0.81 0.09 -0.90
3 Keith Van Horn - F - DAL -0.78 0.01 -0.79
4 Salim Stoudamire - G - ATL -0.73 0.03 -0.76
5 Kareem Rush - G - CHA -0.74 -0.05 -0.69
6 Quentin Richardson - G/F - NY -0.72 -0.03 -0.69
7 Milt Palacio - G - UTA -0.75 -0.07 -0.68
8 Jarron Collins - C - UTA -0.68 -0.03 -0.65
9 Rasho Nesterovic - C - SA -0.59 0.03 -0.62
10 Dikembe Mutombo - C- HOU -0.71 -0.09 -0.62

Minute Movers

As noted last week, the injuries in Houston's backcourt have created opportunities for Luther Head and Keith Bogans. Of the two, Head has made more of his extra minutes -- he's averaged 12.3 points and 1.6 threes in his last seven. Speaking of guards, Charlie Bell is a good play while T.J. Ford's injured quad keeps him sidelined. It's not reflected here, but Bell went for 18 points and 11 assists against Toronto on March 26.

Stats through 3/25/2006

Last 7 Days

Through 3/18
Rnk Player - POS - Team Gms Min/Gm Gms Min/Gm +/-
1 Keith Bogans - G - HOU 3 44.00 56 23.70 20.30
2 Bernard Robinson - G - CHA 3 37.30 57 18.70 18.60
3 Chris Wilcox - F - SEA 3 34.00 61 16.80 17.20
4 Rasual Butler - F - NOK 3 37.00 61 20.80 16.20
5 Carlos Boozer - F/C - UTA 4 40.30 16 25.10 15.20
6 Ronald Murray - G - CLE 3 40.30 60 25.80 14.50
7 Raymond Felton - G - CHA 3 41.00 66 27.70 13.30
8 Luther Head - G - HOU 3 40.00 64 26.80 13.20
9 Charlie Bell - G - MIL 3 32.30 43 19.20 13.10
10 Kevin Ollie - G - PHI 3 26.70 60 14.00 12.70

Minute Shakers

Samuel Dalembert still isn't starting in Philadelphia, but he did play 24 minutes at Indiana on March 26. That's the most action he's seen since Feb. 22. Only problem is Dalembert was 1-of-11 from the field against the Pacers. He did, however, grab 10 boards and block two shots.

Stats through 3/25/2006

Last 7 Days

Through 3/18
Rnk Player - POS - Team Gms Min/Gm Gms Min/Gm +/-
1 Kareem Rush - G - CHA 2 6.00 43 24.60 -18.60
2 Darius Miles - G/F - POR 1 17.00 32 34.70 -17.70
3 Milt Palacio - G - UTA 3 5.30 64 21.00 -15.70
4 Derek Anderson - G - MIA 3 10.70 28 26.10 -15.40
5 Samuel Dalembert - C - PHI 3 13.30 49 28.10 -14.80
6 Bostjan Nachbar - F - NJ 1 0.00 28 14.80 -14.80
7 Jiri Welsch - G - MIL 1 2.00 51 16.40 -14.40
8 Rasho Nesterovic - C - SA 3 8.30 64 20.40 -12.10
9 Eddie Griffin - F - MIN 4 7.80 53 19.30 -11.50
10 Ira Newble - G/F - CLE 3 0.00 23 11.50 -11.50

Neil Tardy is a fantasy expert for NBA.com. His column The Stat Rat runs every Monday as part of the NBA.com Premium Scouting Report. Contact him at NJT64@TalentedMrRoto.com.

The views expressed by the TalentedMrRoto.com represent only the views of the writers; they do not represent the views of the NBA or any NBA team.