Goran Dragic drives against Ramon Sessions in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers
Photo ©Yahoo! Sports
When Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin went down with injuries, basketball pundits all over the league counted the Houston Rockets out of being able to make it to the playoffs this season. However, one point guard out of Slovenia changed everything for a franchise that has made the best out of injuries that have hit them for the past couple of years. Goran Dragic, the flashy point guard who has played serious ball when Kyle Lowry went out with an injury. Dragic was recently named Western Conference Player of the Week after he put up big games against the league-leading Chicago Bulls, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Sacramento Kings, averaging almost 21 points a game, 8 assists a game, and 2 steals a game during that stretch of games.
However, this is not the first time Dragic was mentioned by basketball pundits. As in 2010, while he was still playing with the Phoenix Suns backing up Steve Nash at the point. Dragic in Game 3 of their Western Conference semi-final match-up against the San Antonio Spurs. Dragic nailed 23 points in the 4th quarter to lift the Suns to a 3-0 lead in the series before sweeping them in the next game. The following year, Dragic was traded to the Rockets for then Most Improved Player point guard Aaron Brooks. Right now, the Rockets got the better of the swap between the two guards as Dragic is having a starting role with the Rockets, while Brooks ended up playing in China.
Dragic is known for facilitating the Rockets offense through his passing and driving abilities which can break down opposing defenses and open up the Rockets arsenal of shooters at the same time has a dependable outside shot, shooting 46% from the three point line.
Now with Kyle Lowry back in the mix starting with the Rockets game against the Kings in Sacramento, Rockets coach Kevin McHale allowed Dragic to remain as the starting point guard, with Lowry coming off the bench as he comes back to playing after sitting out the previous games with a bacterial infection.
Dragic will be a unrestricted free agent this summer and teams are sure will go out to get the services of the Slovenian guard. But Dragic is hoping to stay with the Rockets.
All the backlash when the Rockets GM Daryl Morey giving up Jeremy Lin was a huge mistake by the franchise has been forgotten with the emergence of Dragic where as a starter he is averaging 18.2 points a game on 51% FG shooting and 45% 3PT FG shooting with 8.7 assists. He is more considered as Slovenian version of a Manu Ginobili than a LeBron James as he brings out the best when his best is needed.
Kyle Lowry was playing the best ball of his life when he carried the Rockets early in the season before a bacterial infection took him out of commission and gave Goran Dragic the go signal to step up and play ball.
It all depends on the Rockets management if they are going to keep Dragic or not during the summer especially with Lowry locked up for the next 2 season. For now, these two point guards will create match-up problems over opposing teams as the playoffs approaches. The playoffs will tell if the Rockets are a legit team to beat in the NBA.
K-Smoove
