The Houston Rockets are attempting to turn around their NBA season. With a disappointing start for James Harden, Dwight Howard and Ty Lawson, fans of the basketball team gave up hope of even seeing the group in the NBA playoffs. However, it looks like the Houston Rockets might just be gearing up for a comeback - one that might catapult Harden beside Stephen Curry once again.
One of the main concerns of the Houston Rockets is the chemistry of the other NBA stars with franchise leader Harden. With Howard still finding his footing around The Beard, it was initially expected that Lawson will bring in more stability to the basketball team. However, the former Denver Nuggets star failed to make good of his promise to ease the burden of Harden. Throughout the season, Lawson had been struggling in the hardwood court - with the point guard getting reassigned to the bench.
Since then, Lawson had been the center of NBA trade rumors. The former Denver Nuggets star is reportedly treated as a major trading chip by the Houston Rockets. That is, the basketball team is purportedly targeting a huge deal in exchange for the star. With the diminishing minutes of Lawson and his reduced role in the Houston Rockets, the trade rumors have become even more rampant. However, it looks like Lawson just caught a break as the controversial point guard was placed in the starting lineup when Patrick Beverly in the game against the Detroit Pistons.
"Just see if we can put a little boot in there and give Ty an opportunity to play extended minutes," said JB Bickerstaff via ESPN. The interim head coach added, "See if that helps him, see what the dynamic looks like now with he and James (Harden) on the floor together a little bit more. I think there's a little bit more comfort."
Bickerstaff further noted, "I think now, with Pat being out, it gives us an opportunity to give them extended minutes with them two [Lawson and Harden] on the floor. Hopefully, we can get what we expected from him in the beginning (of the season) now that there's more of a comfort level with the two of them. There are two dynamic guys on the floor now."
The comments of Bickerstaff on Lawson's improving performance alongside Harden further thumped down the trade rumors regarding the former Denver Nuggets star. This was later on strengthened when talks of keeping Lawson past the February deadline emerged.
"More Rockets: I'm told they expect to keep Ty Lawson past Feb. 18 trade deadline. Recent chatter about Bucks, but they're rolling w/ him," disclosed of Sam Amick of USA Today via Twitter.
