Jan. 2 - Welcome to the Stat Rat, and to 2006. Our first order of business is to respectfully contradict the Chinese calendar, which says that 2008 will be the Year of the Rat. No offense to Yao Ming, but we feel that this and every new year is a Rat year. So let's get to our Movers and Shakers:

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

Kevin Martin is picking up the slack for Bonzi Wells, while Mike Bibby is picking up and carrying the entire Kings team. Martin is averaging 16.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in the five games since Wells got hurt. Meanwhile, with Wells, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Peja Stojakovic all sidelined, Bibby's had back-to-back games of 38 points and 10 assists and 33-and-10 to lead short-handed Sacramento over the Clippers and Celtics. And is Grant Hill finally healthy? After lifting Orlando to three victories last week and combining for 63 points and 62 percent shooting in the process, I'm going to say yes.

 
 
Stats through 12/31/2005
Rnk Player - POS - Team Last 7 thru 12/24 +/-
1 Jason Richardson - G/F - GS 1.97 0.56 1.41
2 Baron Davis - G - GS 1.80 0.55 1.24
3 Grant Hill - F - ORL 1.00 -0.10 1.10
4 Shawn Marion - F - PHO 1.98 0.89 1.09
5 Kyle Korver - F - PHI 1.48 0.42 1.06
6 Mike Bibby - G - SAC 1.56 0.51 1.06
7 Kevin Martin - G - SAC 0.91 -0.13 1.04
8 Kevin Garnett - F - MIN 1.86 0.85 1.01
9 Boris Diaw - G/F - PHO 1.35 0.38 0.98
10 Steve Nash - G - PHO 1.68 0.75 0.93

Stat Rat Shakers

As if it wasn't bad enough that top-tier centers Yao Ming and Marcus Camby are hurt, Portland's Joel Przybilla sat out two games with a sore knee. Przybilla did play in Sunday's game against the Clippers, however. Luke Ridnour got back in Seattle's lineup against Memphis on Dec. 31, but played only five minutes. The Sonics guard missed two games with a chest contusion and nausea, losing eight pounds last week. Not a great way to ring out the old year.

Stats through 12/31/2005
Rnk Player - POS - Team Last 7 thru 12/24 +/-
1 Luke Ridnour - G - SEA -0.70 0.41 -1.11
2 Marcus Camby - F/C - DEN 0.06 0.84 -0.78
3 Joel Przybilla - C - POR -0.55 0.22 -0.77
4 Damon Jones - G - CLE -0.58 0.13 -0.71
5 Sarunas Jasikevicius - G - IND -0.44 0.27 -0.71
6 Kareem Rush - G - CHA -0.60 0.09 -0.69
7 Pat Garrity - F - ORL -0.78 -0.14 -0.64
8 Vladimir Radmanovic - F/C - SEA -0.44 0.20 -0.64
9 Jermaine O'Neal - F/C - IND 0.04 0.66 -0.62
10 Jim Jackson - G/F - PHO -0.77 -0.18 -0.59

Minute Movers

Martin, Juan Dixon and Raymond Felton make the Minute Movers list for the second straight week. In the absence of Ridnour, Damien Wilkins, who's listed as a small forward, has gotten two starts at guard, and is averaging 13 points, six rebounds and four assists in his last three.

Stats through 12/31/2005
  Last 7 Days Through 12/24  
Rnk Player - POS - Team Gms Min/Gm Gms Min/Gm +/-
1 Kevin Martin - G - SAC 3 37.7 21 16.0 21.7
2 Calvin Booth - C - WAS 1 22.0 9 6.7 15.3
3 David Lee - F - NY 2 24.5 15 10.8 13.7
4 Juan Dixon - G - POR 3 37.0 25 23.5 13.5
5 Francisco Garcia - G - SAC 3 28.7 21 15.3 13.4
6 Raymond Felton - G - CHA 3 33.0 27 20.3 12.7
7 Damien Wilkins - F - SEA 4 26.5 25 14.2 12.3
8 James Singleton - F - LAC 2 22.0 17 10.1 11.9
9 Stephen Graham - G - HOU 1 16.0 5 4.4 11.6
10 Luol Deng - G/F - CHI 3 41.0 25 29.6 11.4

Minute Shakers

If you're in a deep league, here's a name for you: Etan Thomas. In Washington's last two games, the forward/center has seen his most extensive action of the season, and gone for averages of 27 minutes, 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Meanwhile, starting center Brendan Haywood is averaging just 15 minutes a game in his last three.

Stats through 12/31/2005
  Last 7 Days Through 12/24  
Rnk Player - POS - Team Gms Min/Gm Gms Min/Gm +/-
1 Luke Ridnour - G - SEA 2 8.5 25 33.8 -25.3
2 T.J. Ford - G - MIL 2 22.5 24 37.0 -14.5
3 Marcus Camby - F/C - DEN 2 20.5 23 34.7 -14.2
4 Charles Smith - G - POR 1 1.0 8 13.8 -12.8
5 Brendan Haywood - C - WAS 3 15.3 25 27.0 -11.7
6 Alonzo Mourning - C - MIA 4 15.0 26 26.6 -11.6
7 Austin Croshere - F - IND 3 15.3 21 26.2 -11.2
8 Malik Rose - F - NY 3 4.3 24 15.2 -10.9
9 Pat Garrity - F - ORL 3 5.0 22 15.8 -10.8
10 Manu Ginobili - G - SA 3 18.7 18 29.0 -10.3

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.