Special to Yahoo Sports
As we head down the stretch of the NBA regular season, some players have gotten hot for fantasy managers at just the right time.
The question is, can they continue to remain productive?
Let’s dive into six such players and discuss what to expect over the final month of the regular season.
Rozier has been stellar since joining the Hornets and is on pace to average at least 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 three-pointers for the third straight season. His scoring numbers have taken a bit of a step back compared to last season, but it’s difficult to complain when he’s providing 19.5 points and 3.1 three-pointers per game. Both LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges have also had breakout seasons, which have cut into Rozier’s scoring burden.
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With the Hornets battling for a playoff spot, they have turned to Rozier even more down the stretch. Over their last 15 games, he’s averaged a robust 38 minutes. That’s left him to provide 23.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.5 three-pointers per game. They have limited guard depth behind him and Ball, so Rozier should continue to play a ton. The only negative impact to his role could be the return of Gordon Hayward (ankle), but that doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon since there is still no timetable for him to retake the floor.
Barnes started the season on a high note, but it was followed by a 34-game stretch — which extended through January — in which he only provided 14.5 points per game. Part of the problem was that he shot 42.2 percent from the field during that span while attempting only 10.6 shots per game.
As disappointing as that production was, Barnes is shooting a stellar 56.5 percent from the field over his last 15 games, putting up 20.1 points per contest. What’s noteworthy is that his usage rate didn’t change much considering he attempted 10.3 shots per game during that stretch.
Story continues
Harrison Barnes is enjoying one of the hottest streaks in the NBA, but will it last? (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty…
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