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Houston Rockets don’t expect Patrick Beverley back this season

By Nathaniel Reeves

Mar 12, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley (2) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Rockets are likely to run into trouble in the postseason without their starting point guard.

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The Houston Rockets may have to navigate a brutal Western Conference in the postseason without their starting point guard.

According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Houston isn’t planning on Patrick Beverley returning from a torn ligament in his wrist this season.

As Feigen notes, head coach Kevin McHale doesn’t officially rule Beverley out for anything, but his language is considerably more pessimistic than before.

Beverley suffered the wrist injury on March 23 against the Indiana Pacers, just as he was fully recovering from an elbow injury. The Rockets may elect to have Beverley undergo season-ending surgery to avoid future damage, rather than attempt to return down the stretch.

While Beverley has not been at his best in 2014-15, his absence will have a massive impact on Houston in the postseason. The Rockets weren’t the favorite to advance out of a loaded Western Conference that may have been too difficult even for a 50-23 team anyway, but Beverley’s injury somewhat limits their ceiling.

Beverley is averaging 10.1 points per contest in 56 games this season. His field goal percentage is at a career low 38 percent and his PER has dipped to 11.4 after Beverley posted a mark of 15.4 in his rookie 2012-13 season, thanks in part to playing through multiple injuries.

Even with the regression, the Rockets’ roster is not built to successfully withstand a Beverley absence. Jason Terry and Pablo Prigioni will now be manning the point guard position in Houston.

Both of those players bring something to the floor, but their value does not come from the defensive end. While James Harden can carry the Rockets offensively enough to challenge even the top teams, Terry and Prigioni are below average defenders and will have trouble slowing don what could be a murder’s row of point guards in the postseason.

The Rockets could end up playing Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the postseason. Despite Lillard’s heroics against Houston in the first round last year, Beverley is one of the few defenders with the chance to slow him down.

That’s not to mention potential matchups with Chris Paul, Tony Parker, Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook. With Donatas Motiejunas dealing with a back injury, outstanding defender Terrance Jones missing much of the season and Dwight Howard still trying to get back to full strength, Houston may just have too many injury issues to overcome in a conference that allows for no margin of error.

Beverely also brings a certain emotion, effort and ability to get under the opponent’s skin that will be difficult to replace. Nick Johnson is an athletic defender who will now get more playing time and the Rockets should at least consider taking a look at Nate Robinson, but the Rockets simply don’t have any good options at the point guard position.

Harden is good enough to carry Houston to a deep postseason run. But without one of his main supporting pieces, the matchups are looking more pessimistic for the Rockets.

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