Virtually unknown and fresh out of playing for a Russian team, Patrick Beverley stepped up to the plate and delivered sprinsingly stellar results, ones not even general manager genius Darryl Morey could have guessed. Beverley shined with his opportunity on the big stage, averaging 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals on 100% free-throw shooting for six games. Nobody even expected the series to go six at all, especially when Lin went down in Game 2, but Beverley pushed the team to an admirable series against a number one seed.
Even though he received death threat tweets from OKC fans after injuring Westbrook's knee, Beverley picked up even more believers that he could not only handle the league, but be respected as a legitimate force on an intimidating Rockets' squad. Though he played only six games, Jeremy Lin could become trade bait for a better piece in a championship run if Beverley continues to prove he's a reliable point guard with starting potential. Lin is younger but makes a considerable more amount after signing a three-year, $25 million deal in the 2012 offseason. Beverley makes less than a million for the next two years, with team-options for both years. That's an amazing deal for Morey and the Rockets, especially if Beverley continues to improve and emerges as a leader.
He doesn't need to score to be effective, unlike Lin, which is perfect when playing in a backcourt with superstar James Harden. Also Dwight Howard will take a huge chunk of the scoring opportunities, as well as Chandler Parsons. As a sophomore at Arkansas, Beverley averaged 6.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals while still putting up 12.1 points per game. He also led the team in three-point shooting, an important skill for this new Rockets roster. Howard will command double-teams in the paint and will need good shooters around him. He will also be needed on the perimeter during Harden-Howard pick and rolls that will suck in the defensive and leave Beverly open. Lin, on the other hand, hasn't shot better than .339% from downtown since he's been in the league, while Beverley shot a commendable .375% in his six playoff games.
Beverley and his Swiss-army type skill set will flourish on this Rockets roster, and he could become a starting point guard soon, especially if Lin doesn't improve his three-point shooting and gets shipped off. In the meantime, Beverley will make an excellent sixth-man, bringing in energy and defense whenever he checks into a game. Combined with his impressive rebounding numbers for a point guard, it's a good contrast to Lin's driving and scoring style.
It's an exciting season for Beverley after proving himself in the playoffs last season, and he should gain ample minutes on a team that should be championship contenders for the foreseeable future. He's a low-risk high-reward player on a very cheap contract, and with only six games of NBA-ready proof, his talent is undeniable for more minutes.
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