Or, in our case, if a rookie gets the injury bug and finds himself in a suit, most likely he's going to find himself on the outside looking in. With so many rookies getting big-time minutes, the difference between the Top 10 and the also-rans can be made up with a few minutes of playing time.
Just ask Marcus Thornton, who slips three spots this week despite a recent stretch in which he became a key cog in the Hornets' offense. Unfortunately, Thornton is nursing a back injury and has missed New Orleans' last three games.
Or ask Ty Lawson, who early in the season was cemented in the middle of the pack, before slipping in part due to his January absence with a sprained ankle (and the improved play of the other rookies). Lawson has regained his top-10 status, but it took him some time.
Or maybe Wesley Matthews would know how it feels. Matthews became a starter for the Jazz through much of 2009, then saw his playing time dip in 2010 with the return of C.J. Miles from injury. February, though has been good to Matthews and he has responded to increased playing time, putting him on the cusp of the top 10 once again.
On the other hand, a little playing time can go a long way.
Take Darren Collison as a prime example. The Hornets point guard has catapulted up the rankings while filling in quite admirably for Chris Paul, and should stay among the Top 5 with Paul sidelined for the next several weeks.
While these rankings, in general, are a reflection of the players' accomplishments over the entire season, it's easy to become swayed by recent performance. For one thing, it makes for a little variety from week-to-week and it's gratifying to reward a player for making the most of their playing time.
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