NBA Disappearing Acts: Roy Hibbert and 9 Players Who Faded After a Strong Start

With 82 games in the season there is bound to be ebbs and flows in the season for players. The greats usually have an off game or two, rarely do they ever struggle for a whole month. That is what separates the greats from the not-so-greats.

Most of the time rookies or second year players are the ones that go through these swoons.

After doing a fair amount of research, going over endless amounts of numbers, looking at team trends, who is going up and who is going down, finding players who lead to their success and the players who slumped during losing streaks.

So we’re going to look at players who were red hot in November have fallen off in December.

10. Pau Gasol

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Andrew Bogut #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Staples Center on December 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Bucks defeated the Lakers 98-79. NO

November Stats:

PPG: 20.3
RPG: 12.3
APG: 3.9
FG%: 54%
FT%: 85%

Pau Gasol was amazing in November. He basically put the Lakers on his back and carried them through the month of November.

The man was a legitimate candidate for MVP and had the Lakers looking like they were the team to beat once again and that they couldn’t be stopped.

December Stats:

PPG: 16.3
RPG:  9.5
APG: 4.1
FG%: 48%
FT%: 78%

The December rolled around and the Lakers started to lose games, Pau looks a little banged up, but there was hope with Andrew Bynum coming back. There wasn’t much in the return except the loss of about four minutes a game to help rest up.

The Lakers were getting hammered at home by lowly Eastern Conference teams and also the Miami Heat debacle on Christmas Day.

If the first game in January is a sign of things to come, then well the Lakers better start prepping to pick in the lottery for the first time in a few years.

9. Russell Westbrook

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 21: Teammates Kevin Durant #35 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma Thunder warmup before the start of their game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOT

November Stats:

PPG: 24.1
RPG: 4.8
APG: 8.8
FG%: 44%
FT%: 87%

Another man who was considered to be an early favorite for MVP and probably the most improved player in the league. Westbrook was hot and so was the Thunder, rolling up teams that were sub .500 and padding their stats along the way.

Westbrook and his team was doing what they were supposed to do.

December Stats:

PPG: 20.6
RPG:  4.8
APG: 7.6
FG%: 42%
FT%: 84%

Now I’m going to hit you with a stat that you’ve never heard before and something that I could have just made up, but is very telling in Westbrook’s progression from November to December.

Westbrook lead the team in No Pass Possessions at 16.2.

That means Westbrook would shoot the ball without passing the ball once 16.2 times per game. I am not making this up. I started counting this stat after I heard from a few sources that Westbrook was becoming a black hole and those guys were right.

Want to be amazed a bit more?

8.8 of those times Westbrook put up a shot with 18-20 on the shot clock.

Also I didn’t count fast breaks. These numbers were based upon would be half court sets.

As a point guard with a top five player on the team who is better than you in every conceivable way, might want to pad the assist numbers and get him the ball more.

8. Kobe Bryant

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 02: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench in the closing minutes of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on January 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Grizzlies defeated the L

November Stats:

PPG: 27.2
RPG: 5.7
APG: 4.8
FG%: 42
FT%: 86

Kobe was smoking just like Pau to start the season and he looked like he wanted to take the throat out of Boston, Miami and anyone who wanted to challenge him for the league MVP.

December Stats:

PPG: 23.7
RPG: 3.9
APG: 4.1
FG%: 47
FT%: 77

The games are really starting to catch up to him. His knee might be quite right and he’s also starting to take a lot of ill-advised shots just like 2006-07 It’s all about me Kobe Bryant.

Kobe is one of the ten greatest players of all time and he knows how to pull himself out of a slump like this, but I can’t remember the last time when Kobe had an off month. 77% from the line is almost unheard of for him.

7. Brandon Roy

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DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 15: Guard Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Center on December 15, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User

November Stats:

PPG: 16.5
RPG: 2.3
APG: 2.4
FG%: 42
FT%: 91

Brandon Roy looked like he could start the year and help take the Blazers to the next level and compete for the Northwest Division title. Greg Oden went down and you just had a sense that Portland could be headed for another injury plagued season.

December Stats:

PPG: 13.9
RPG: 2.6
APG: 4.4
FG%: 35
FT%: 82

Roy played in only nine of a possible 16 games and there is now talk that he could shut it down for the year. Brandon Roy is a great player, but his knee is starting to betray him. There is only one solution.

The Blazers need to trade him to Phoenix so he can enjoy their miracle worker training staff.

6. Roy Hibbert

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 11: Josh Smith #5 of the Atlanta Hawks stands over Roy Hibbert #55 of the Indiana Pacers after fouling him at Philips Arena on December 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by do

November Stats:

PPG: 15.6
RPG: 9.4
APG: 2.7
FG%: 49
FT%: 73

I didn’t even know Roy Hibbert was getting playing time. I thought he was a bust and wasn’t  going to be able to hack it in the NBA and when a friend yelled at me to start paying attention to Hibbert, I was shocked.

I had no idea that he had become a serviceable NBA player. He was the backbone of the Pacers defense.

December Stats:

PPG: 10.9
RPG: 6.7
APG: 2.1
FG%: 41
FT%: 66

Almost back to the Roy Hibbert that we all know and love.

5. Rajon Rondo

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BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 26: Eddie House #55 of the Miami Heat battles Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics for a loose ball at the TD Banknorth Garden on October 26, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by

November Stats:

PPG: 11.7
RPG: 4.4
APG: 13.4
FG%: 53
FT%: 46

Through November you could argue that Rajon Rondo was ready to take over the lead as the best point guard in the NBA. His assist and steal numbers were off the charts. Outside of his shooting you could make a strong argument for his case.

December Stats:

PPG: 10.3
RPG: 4.0
APG: 13.0
FG%: 58
FT%: 33

Now it’s hard for him to stay on the court and his free throw numbers somehow got even worse. Not sure how that is possible for a point guard, but even Shaq think he should spend more time practicing from 15 feet.

4. JJ Hickson

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 29: J.J. Hickson #21 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles for a loose ball with Gerald Wallace #3 of the Charlotte Bobcats during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 29, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER

November Stats:

PPG: 11.4
RPG: 5.8
APG: 0.6
FG%: 44
FT%: 82

Hickson was supposed to have a breakout year and by his November numbers he was ready to start that. Sky was the limit for him. He’d get into the starting lineup and would be a major contributor for the rebuilding Cavs.

December Stats:

PPG: 8.1
RPG: 4.3
APG: 0.4
FG%: 43
FT%: 49

His December wasn’t so hot. Leon Powe was getting more burn than he was.

3. Jamal Crawford

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 26: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball over Emeka Okafor #50 of the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena on December 26, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Hornets defeated the Hawks 93-86. NOTE

November Stats:

PPG: 5.5
RPG: 1.9
APG: 1.0
FG%: 39
FT%: 100

Jamal Crawford is one of my favorite players in the NBA and while he wasn’t setting the world on fire with his numbers in November, he was at least contributing. When Crawford gets hot he’s one of the most dangerous people in the world with a basketball. He simply cannot be stopped.

December Stats:

PPG: 3.0
RPG: 0.0
APG: 1.0
FG%: 33
FT%: 0.00

Crawford only had eight whole minutes in December before an injury put him on the sidelines.

2. Eric Bledsoe

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 01: Eric Bledsoe #12 of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles against the San Antonio Spurs at the Staples Center on December 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downlo

November Stats:

PPG: 10.0
RPG: 4.1
APG: 5.7
FG%: 49
FT%: 85

Bledsoe looked like he could actually be the best rookie point guard to come out of Kentucky this year. Even though the wins weren’t mounting, he was strongly leading a very young Clippers team. He wasn’t an all-star or rookie of the year. That guy is wearing #32 and on the same team.

December Stats:

PPG: 5.6
RPG: 2.7
APG: 3.7
FG%: 33
FT%: 84

With the return of Baron Davis, Bledsoe has been relegated to the backup point guard role and his numbers have suffered. He’s definitely the future of the team at the position, but not so much in December and for the rest of the year.

He’ll get his shot. Baron Davis’ knees and back are a ticking time bomb.

1. John Wall

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 07: John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards blocks a shot by Derek Fisher (L) #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half at Staples Center on December 7, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Wizards 115-

November Stats:

PPG: 17.3
RPG: 3.8
APG: 9.1
FG%: 42
FT%: 82

John Wall could have been described as the most exciting rookie in the NBA. His pregame dances, his blazing fast speed, the way he finds teammates with precision passes. Wall was battling Bledsoe for the best rookie point guard in the game.

December Stats:

PPG: 13.7
RPG: 4.2
APG: 7.6
FG%: 38
FT%: 81

Wall has been described as a turnover machine, he now can’t stay on the court and he’ll need to average 88 points a game and dish out 30 assists to wrestle away the rookie of the year award away from Blake Griffin.