After a mid-January loss Jamison told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, “It can’t get any worse than this,” following an embarrassing 112-57 loss against the Lakers. “If it is, y’all going to have to help me. I don’t know how much of this I can take. This, by far, is the bottom.” 

Jamison’s Cleveland team looks to have hit the bottom but the veteran forward has continued to produce despite his team capsizing. Since the calendar turned to 2011 Jamison has posted multiple 30 point performances while logging nearly 40 minutes nightly. Without LeBron James, Jamison has shot the ball with more regularity and is attempting a career high of nearly five three pointers a game. Should the Cavaliers develop some semblance of cohesion this winter, it will surely be on the back of Jamison.  

Who could have imagined that a mid-December trade to one of the NBA’s basement teams would awaken veteran star Rashard Lewis? Prior to being dealt from Orlando, Lewis had yet to log a double-figure rebounding performance but now as a Wizard Lewis has posted four in the past 15 days. For those who dispel the power of a change of scenery, Lewis has been the poster child for players looking to bounce back from a sluggish start. 

Since playing in the Capital City Lewis has seen more floor time (38 MPG) than he had with Orlando and consequently his scoring output has also surged beyond the meager 11.5 PPG he posted in a Magic uniform. 

Part of the newfound success for Lewis has been predicated on his adaptability in playing with star rookie point guard John Wall. “When you’re getting stops, you can run out and John (Wall) is pushing the ball, the defense collapses in the paint,” Lewis told Y! sports, “[I’m] wide-open on the perimeter.” For as long has Lewis gets open looks on the perimeter, the savvy forward will continue to give Washington the veteran presence they desperately need while contributed in all facets of the game. 

Jamal Crawford’s season high 36 point explosion Wednesday against the Raptors is a fitting exclamation point on what has been a dominant stretch for one of the NBA’s premier combination guards. Crawford has seemingly found his groove and proved to be the catalyst for his surging Hawks team in the highly contested Southeast division. While his season averages are proportionately lower than his career production, Crawford has embraced the New Year and is one the league’s top scorers. Following a recent Atlanta win, Hawks’ star Joe Johnson said of Crawford, “He’s a guy who can really heat up and score in bunches.” 

Crawford has done much more than merely score in bunches. The 30 year old has been on a torrid pace when shooting from the floor (45%) and his assist production is among the NBA’s elite from players off the bench. “When you’ve got guys like that coming off the bench,” Johnson said, “you’re a tough team to beat.” Expect Atlanta to stay hot amid winter’s chill for as long as head coach Larry Drew continues to allot Crawford minutes and opportunities to fill up the nightly box score. 

Written by Conor Gereg exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com.