Credit by: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, the Golden State Warriors blow out the Houston Rockets on the road 115-80. Game 3 showed again that Stephen Curry and the Warriors are early favorites to win the title and the Rockets miss Patrick Beverley.
On March 30th, Rockets starting point guard Patrick Beverley suffered a severe left wrist injury causing him to miss the rest of the regular season. It was a huge blow for the Rockets because they lost one of the best defenders in the NBA but the Rockets were still playing great securing the 2nd seed in a brutal Western Conference.
If Patrick Beverley is the difference in this series, he’s gotta be the MVP
— Ethan Strauss (@SherwoodStrauss) May 24, 2015
Many people figured that Beverley would be back by the time the team advanced to the Western Conference Finals. He practiced the week before this matchup started; but Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that while Beverley was able to practice and shoot the ball, he still felt discomfort with the pin from his surgery still in his wrist.
Now the title states “needed” making it like the series is over, but with the way Houston is playing, especially at home, it seems like the series is over. Game 4 will be tonight at 9:00 EST in Houston and I do think that the Warriors will complete the sweep because they have momentum. Do I think with a healthy Beverley the Rockets would of been more of a competitive series? Absolutely. With his advanced perimeter defensive skills, we would help defend Steph Curry who just broke the record for three pointers made in the playoffs.
https://vine.co/v/eAAWdl1vYYp/embed/simple
Patrick Beverley’s only 2015 playoff “highlight”
Let’s look for a second on Beverley. He is scheduled for restricted free agency this summer and he is one of the better point guards in free agency. Teams will definitely be interested in a guy who can defend and shoot the ball well. It will be hard for the Rockets to keep him because they do not have a lot of salary cap room with the large contracts of James Harden and Dwight Howard. They also have other key free agents like Josh Smith and Corey Brewer that have done well this season need a new contract. The team originally signed him at a bargain in 2013 and will no longer be receiving a bargain contract. If he signs another teams offer sheet don’t be surprised if the Rockets decide not to match it.
I do not know what to expect from Patrick Beverley in the offseason. If he decides to leave I can see him going to either the Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks or Los Angeles Lakers who drafted him back in 2009. It is a little tougher with restricted free agents because their original teams can match. Next season, the Houston Rockets could be without their top perimeter defender.
