26-year old point guard Aaron Brooks just hasn’t been able to get it together this year. Brooks played in 14 games in January for the Rockets in which he averaged 23.9 minutes, 11.6 points, 1.0 rebound and 3.4 assists per game on 34.6% shooting from the floor and 29.4% from three point range! Brooks has now played in 26 games (7 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 24.5 minutes, 12.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Brooks has never found his shooting stroke as he is hitting 36.2% from the floor and 30.1% from the three point line so far this year. Brooks has lost his starting job to Kyle Lowry and I just don’t see him getting it back any time soon, if at all.

24-year old point guard Kyle Lowry is having a rough start to January. Lowry has played in 7 games so far this month and he is averaging 33.3 minutes, 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.4 asssits and 1.0 steal per game. He is only shooting 34.4% from the floor (22 of 64) so far this month. Lowry has done a good job at the point so far overall this year. Lowry has played in 35 games (31 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 33.0 minutes, 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game. With Aaron Brooks back healthy, Lowry can’t afford to keep playing like he is so far this month or he is going to likely be replaced in the starting lineup when Kevin Martin is ready to return to action.

With Yao Ming out for the year and Brad Miller & Chuck Hayes hurting right now……the Rockets need 23-year old center Jordan Hill to step up. In his last four games, Hill has averaged 28.0 minutes, 8.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 36 games (8 starts) so far this year and he is averaging 18.4 minutes, 6.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. The Rockets have enough scorers at other positions so they would probably be more than happy with good defense and rebounding out of Hill until Miller & Hayes get healthy.

25-year old point guard Aaron Brooks has had a rough year due to a ankle injury. In his first 8 games back from an ankle injury, Brooks is averaging 20.3 minutes, 9.4 points, 1.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Brooks is only shooting 31.9% in those 8 games (23 of 72 from the floor. Brooks has now played in 13 games (5 starts) so far this year for the Rockets overall and he is averaging 23.9 minutes, 12.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. The Rockets are lucky to have Kyle Lowry at the point as they can take it slow with Brooks until he gets near 100% healthy.

The Rockets have lost starting center Chuck Hayes for the next 2-4 weeks with a sprained ankle. Hayes has played in 31 games (20 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 21.5 minutes, 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 54.2% shooting from the floor. The Rockets will use 23-year old Jordan Hill and 34-year old Brad Miller at center until Hayes is ready to return to action. Hill has played in 29 games (1 start) so far this year and he is averaging 17.5 minutes, 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game on 51.3% from the floor. I look for Hill to step up and respond to the challenge. Brad Miller has played in 30 games (5 starts) for the Rockets so far this year and he is averaging 18.1 minutes, 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Miller is shooting an amazing 43.4% from three point range so far this year. I think Hill & Miller will do a good job while Hayes is out of action.