DANIEL GIBSON
Cleveland Cavaliers, PG
Comment: The Cavaliers hoped for big things out of Gibson this season, but were let down by his play. He also missed some time with injury. But he has come to play thus far in the playoffs. He shot 47 percent from the field and is averaging 12 points per game as the catalyst for the Cavaliers.
RASHARD LEWIS
Orlando Magic, SG
Comment: Lewis has been excellent in the first round for Orlando thus far, serving as a nice complement to Dwight Howard and company. He is averaging 15.5 points, five rebounds and five assists per game, which is a nice line for a shooting guard. He is an appropriate start as a high end No. 2 shooting guard in all fantasy leagues.
LINAS KLEIZA
Denver Nuggets, SF
Comment: Kleiza has entered this category for the second week in a row and he has definitely earned it. In the first two games of the playoffs, Kleiza has absolutely lit it up for the Nuggets. While playing 36 minutes per game, Kleiza is shooting over 60 percent and is averaging 16.5 points per game. He is also averaging six boards and is an obvious start in fantasy right now.
ANTONIO MCDYESS
Detroit Pistons, PF
Comment: Scola has been a huge part of Houston’s success this season and has continued it through the end of the season. He ended the season with two straight 22-point performances, and is on fire heading into the playoffs. After the Rockets lost Yao Ming for the season, it seemed like all was lost, but Scola and many others stood up to fill the void.
TYSON CHANDLER
New Orleans Hornets, C
Comment: Chandler is on this list for the second straight week, and rightly so, because he is a big reason why the Hornets have a 2-0 series lead. He averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds per game in the regular season, and is now averaging 10 points and 13 rebounds per game in the playoffs. He's shot 56 percent and also blocks some shots, making him a nice fantasy option.
LEANDRO BARBOSA
Phoenix Suns, PG
Comment: Barbosa may have been the runner up for the sixth man of the year, but he is not playing up to those standards thus far in the first round of the post season. He has played 32 minutes per game and is shooting just 25 percent from the field. His six points and six rebounds per game are not impressive, and may justify his benching until he proves valuable again.
ANDRE IGUODALA
Philadelphia 76ers, SG
Comment: If Iguodala does not score, the 76ers are not going to defeat the Detroit Pistons in the first round. I am not sure how they managed to muster a win while AI is averaging only 10 points, six assists and five rebounds per game. He is going to need to kick his scoring into gear if he wants the 76ers to be a dark horse in the Eastern Conference.
JOSH CHILDRESS
Atlanta Hawks, SF
Comment: Childress has been a bit disappointing since his stellar regular season came to an end. In the post season, Childress has averaged just seven points per game, and 6.5 rebounds per game. He needs to shoot the ball more, as evidenced by a mere eight shots he has taken in the two games thus far. Childress needs to be clicking for the Hawks to move on.
PAUL MILLSAP
Utah Jazz, PF
Comment: Millsap was hoping to provide the Jazz with a little bit of spunk and scoring off of the bench, but thus far, the plan is not exactly going as he had hoped. While he is shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field, he has averaged just 6.5 points and 4 rebounds per game in the first two games of the post season. Look for other options at the position.
MARCUS CAMBY
Denver Nuggets, C
Comment: While Camby has been a good contributor at times this season, he hasn't really held up his end thus far in the playoffs. To this point, Camby is averaging a mere five points per game in the team's first two playoff games. He is rebounding (12 per game) but fantasy owners need more out of him if they are going to consider him an option. I would sit him.
BOBBY JACKSON
Houston Rockets, PG
Comment: While averaging 32 minutes per game thus far in the post season, Jackson has proven that he still has plenty left in the tank. He is averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal per game since the regular season ended. If a team is strapped at the point guard position, he could be a good option, considering that he is starting in Houston.
LUKE WALTON
Los Angeles Lakers, SF
Comment: With all the frenzy that follows Kobe Bryant, people often forget that Luke Walton is capable of some pretty good things. While he was disappointing in the regular season, averaging just over seven points per game for the Lakers, he has come to play in the playoffs. So far, he is shooting a nasty 68 percent, along with 17 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and 5 assists in only 28 minutes per game of play. Start him immediately.
ANDREI KIRILENKO
Utah Jazz, SF
Comment: Kirilenko was one of the game's most inconsistent fantasy players all season. He's showing some signs of life in the playoffs however. Andrei is averaging 12 points and six rebounds in the opening series against Houston, while shooting 45 percent from the field. Utah would like to see him shoot a higher percentage from beyond the arc, but he can prove to be a real difference maker if he's going well.
REGGIE EVANS
Philadelphia 76ers
Comment: This man has been quite the surprise thus far in the post season for the 76ers. He is averaging 12.5 rebounds and 12 points per game while shooting over 61 percent from the field in the post season. He as emerged has an excellent potential starter in fantasy if you need him to fill in for someone who is no longer in the playoff picture.
BRENDAN HAYWOOD
Washington Wizards, C
Comment: Haywood has done well for the Wizards thus far, and has earned himself a spot in my start em section. He has averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds 2.5 blocks and is shooting 75 percent from the field so far in the playoffs. He has emerged as a low end No. 1 center because he contributes to multiple categories.
JASON KIDD
Dallas Mavericks, PG
Comment: I know some people are going to call me crazy for making this call, but it is one that certainly needs to be made. While playing almost 35 minutes per game, the former Nets player has scored a mere nine points per game in the opening round. He has averaged 8.5 assists, but he needs to score also if the Mavericks are going to have any chance of advancing.
T.J. FORD
Toronto Raptors, PG
Comment: It's funny how sports work. One week, a player could be so hot that you will burn yourself by just looking at him, and the next he's colder than Alaska in January. Ford has averaged a mere 5.5 points and six assists per game in the first two games of the playoffs for the Raptors and it looks like Jose Calderon may have claimed the job.
JERRY STACKHOUSE
Dallas Mavericks, SF
Comment: Stackhouse had an up and down fantasy impact during the regular season, but the post-season has not been too pleasant thus far. He has averaged just nine points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds per game, and it is quite apparent that he is just not the superstar that he once was. His shooting percentage is low, and it is time for you to try someone else.
EDUARDO NAJERA
Denver Nuggets, PF
Comment: Despite playing 22 minutes per game off of the bench for Denver, Najera hasn't done much in the team's first two playoff affairs. He has averaged just 5.5 rebounds per game and a dismal 2.5 points per game. Add this to the fact that he is shooting under 30 percent from the field thus far, and it becomes clear that he should not be in any fantasy lineup.
BEN WALLACE
Cleveland Cavaliers, C
Comment: I gave him the award for the worst fantasy dud of the 2008 season and it looks like he is going to let that award speak for the regular and post season. He is shooting a whopping 60 percent thus far, but that would be more impressive if he took more than five shots. He is averaging six rebounds and four points per game. If you start him, you're an idiot.
Michael Ganci is UPDATE! Basketball Editor.
