This week has been hectic, to say the least. As we drive into the All-Star break, some players are slowing down. It's to be expected, it happens every year, there are certain players who start the season strong and then wear out. Then there's the break, and those same players come back as strong as they were at the beginning of the season, only to wear out again. Will the next few weeks be an indication of that trend yet again? Let's take a look at this week's "busts" and discuss it.

Yi Jianlian, MIL: After a strong start to his rookie season, Yi Jianlian is starting to see his minutes dwindle. Like every rookie, he is up and down as he learns his role on his new team and the intricacies of the NBA. Unfortunately for Yi, this past week was worse than his usual "down" week. He averaged 5.5 points, 0.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and one turnover in just 19 minutes of play. On the season, Yi averages just under 28 minutes per game, 9.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. Has his play degraded because his minutes have been taken away, or is the other way around? Because he's a rookie, I think it's fair to assume that Larry Krystkowiak is taking away Yi's minutes because he hasn't been producing. The question is, will Yi be able to regain confidence in his game and get out of the shadow of Yao Ming? Not this season. Make Yi your #4 or #5 fantasy forward if he's on your team. He was a bust last week, but he is capable of performing better, and when he does it will be worth the wait.

Luke Walton, LAL: Luke Walton has had a tough season thus far, and now the Lakers are blaming it on a sore ankle. The team says that Walton's right ankle hasn't been right since training camp, and that's why he's struggled so far. Even if that is the case, Luke had a horrible week last week. He averaged just 4.3 points, three assists, five rebounds and 1.7 turnovers in 28.3 minutes. The Lakers are already without starting center, Andrew Bynum, because of a knee injury, and Walton needs to help pick up the slack now that he's in his fifth year on the team. So far, he hasn't done that and it looks like he won't be able to chip in as much as the team needs him. Regardless that Walton was a bust last week, given the news about his ankle; he should be benched until further notice. Luke started out the season okay, and the All-Star break might be just what he needs to get back on track. Keep an eye on him after the break to see if he's still favoring that ankle, or if he's recovered and is back to normal.

Shawne Williams, IND: Indiana's backup SF, Shawne Williams, is struggling in the month of January, but it was his big fat goose egg yesterday that brought him to my attention. Williams, like Jianlian, started out the season on a strong note but seems to be fading as we head toward the break. Last week he averaged 2.7 points, one assist, three rebounds, and 0.7 turnovers in 13 minutes. During the month of November, Williams scored in double-digits eight times and didn't have any games where his point total was zero, giving him some fantasy value. But in the past two months he has scored in double-digits only five times and had five games where he didn't score at all, giving fantasy owners no reason to start him. Williams is a rookie out of Memphis, so expect his season to continue with the ups and downs. For now, keep him benched until he can show that he's back on track, able to give Mike Dunleavy a rest and be productive about it.

It looks like the All-Star break is going to be huge for all three of these players. They all seem tired and worn out from the fast pace of the NBA game and the pressures of playing well. Don't give up on them yet, they are busts this week, but after the break they could all turn into gems! If they do, keep in mind that these guys will wear out again towards the end of the season, and it's likely to be a faster downward spiral at that time. I do not think there is any need to get rid of these players, just keep your eyes and ears open to what's going on around the league and with their teams so you know when it's time to bench them.