Fantasy Hoops Crunchtime: Meet the Punchables

We've all had them—the guys on your fantasy team that lure you in like catnip, then absolutely crush your spirit with a devastating, week-demolishing performance that leaves you wishing for five minutes alone in a room with them.

They are The Punchables!

Weak backs, births of children, hip pointers, these are the hallmarks of these wimpy warriors, these beasts of the bench, these titans of the training room. Exploding for eight-cat excitement while on your bench, they beckon your weekly lineup with promises of categorical dominance, late-season prominence and statistical preeminence.

But once they get locked in there, it's nothing but meager production, gameplay reduction and percentage destruction. Oh, for a minute alone with these top five Punchables....

5. Trevor Ariza

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PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 30: Trevor Ariza #1 of the New Orleans Hornets puts up a shot during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on January 30, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Hornets 104-102. NOTE TO USER: User exp

Steals. The rarest of beasts.

Usually the domain of studs like Rondo, Paul and Ellis. What if you could find that kind of steal production on your waiver wire?

Oh, wait, look at Ariza! Steals, threes, playing time and some points and rebounds as well! I'm picking him up and starting him! (Sound of lineup locking) Ooooh, a 16-percent shooting night, followed by a 3-2-1 line, then a hip pointer....oh, yeah, that's why he was on the waiver wire...

4. Darko Milicic

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 09: Darko Milicic #31 of the Minnesota Timberwolves embraces Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers after their game at Staples Center on November 9, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers won 99-94. NOTE TO USER: User

Hey, Darko, congratulations on the birth of your child! Really, this is great news.

Now could you please return to the lineup and start blocking shots? As a matter of fact, while you're in the hospital, could you have them take a look at your sore toe (which caused you to miss a week after two minutes of your game on Monday) and your hip pointer, too?

True fact: if you Google "Darko injuries" you get just over 4 million hits. Try it.

3. Carlos Delfino

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 10: Carlos Delfino #10 of the Milwaukee Bucks rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on January 10, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledge

This is like the girl that you catch out of the corner of your eye, and think "Wow! She's hot!" Then, after you steal her from her boyfriend, you notice that he seems oddly happy.

You see Delfino's name in the box scores, and the five-steal games, the double-doubles, the threes. Then you pick him up/trade for him, and find yourself caught in a perfect storm of super-deep roster, whimsical coaching, on-court drifting and atrocious shooting.

Somewhere, the old boyfriend is smiling.

2. Jameer Nelson

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BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 06: Jameer Nelson #14 of the Orlando Magic passes the ball around Glen Davis #11 of the Boston Celtics on February 6, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Magic 91-80. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

OK, I'll be honest: Jameer is the reason that I am writing this article today.

Before last night, Jameeracle averaged 17 and 6 over his last five games, earning him mention on several fantasy sites as a sleeper for this week. Start him! (Sound of my lineup locking).

Last night, he kicked off my week with 2 points, 4 assists and five turnovers on 14.3 percent shooting. I'm laughing as I write this. And crying.

1. Andrei Kirilenko

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 12: Andrei Kirilenko #47 of the Utah Jazz against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on November 12, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, Use

Did you know that "Kirilenko" is Russian for "paper thin"? I can almost guarantee you that if you ask any fantasy player about the topic of this article, the first thing they will say is "AK".

He's like Jameeracle squared, and it has been going on for years. What makes AK No. 1 is that, when he plays, he is a flat-out stud. Points, steals, blocks, rebs, threes—he's got it all. Then he throws out his back ironing his hair and you're left kicking yourself around the room, saying "I knew it!"

Going. On. For. Years.