After a month's absence, MarShon Brooks is back in the rookie rankings with Drew Packham of NBA.com ranking him ninth and Sebastian Pruiti of Grantland one place higher. It's Brooks' renewed offensive production that's got him plaudits from the rookie pundits. After all, over the last six, he's averaging 17.2 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 50%.

Pruiti notes that while he is still a gunner (on coach's orders), he is also quite efficient. "He's successful because he gets to the rim. Brooks drives on 69.7 percent of his isolation attempts. He doesn't settle, and that helps his efficiency numbers."

Packham quotes Brooks on one aspect of his progression. "It gets kind of frustrating with me and (fellow rookie) Jordan (Williams) because it's April, but we didn't have a chance to get a full training camp ..." Instead it's learning on the fly.

• Judgment calls (Video) - Drew Packham - NBA.com
• Kenneth Faried, Isaiah Thomas, and the best from this year's NBA rookies - Sebastian Pruiti - Grantland