With Tari Eason out, the Rockets needed someone to step up.
So far, it’s been Aaron Holiday who’s answered the call. Holiday has gotten extended minutes for the Rockets after it was announced that Eason would be out for at least four weeks with a strained oblique, averaging 9.8 points over his last four games on an efficient 55% shooting from the floor and 42.8% from deep.
Holiday’s scoring uptick
When the Rockets re-signed Holiday this offseason to a one-year, team-friendly deal for the veteran’s minimum, the idea was for Holiday to play spot minutes at the guard position while backing up Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard. Holiday was seen as an insurance policy for Houston before VanVleet tore his ACL, but with both him and Eason now injured, he’s become an important depth piece after starting the season out of the rotation.
Before a one-point outing against Denver in Houston’s most recent game, Holiday had scored in double figures in each of his last three games. The 29-year-old’s best game over that stretch was an 18-point outing against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 19, highlighted by a 14-point fourth quarter.
That’s a sharp increase from Holiday’s scoring numbers before Eason’s injury, where he was averaging just 2.6 points per game. He didn’t even play in Houston’s first two games.
With his recent scoring uptick, Holiday’s now averaging 5.8 points per game on the season while shooting 53.6% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. Including his mark of 93.3% at the free-throw line, he’s been an efficient scorer for the Rockets while running the offense.
Holiday’s numbers don’t jump off the page, and his role will likely decrease with the return of Eason and eventually VanVleet, but his recent play shouldn’t go unnoticed.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Aaron Holiday taking advantage of extended minutes with Tari Eason out
Reporting by Henry Daley, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
