Patrick Beverley fractures hand, out up to six weeks

Patrick Beverley, relative to an average starting point guard, is not crucial to his team.

He can run a decent offense, but James Harden handles the ball more for the Rockets. He can hawk the ball on defense, but Dwight Howard drive Houston on that end.

So, this news isn’t the end of the world, but make no mistake, this is a big setback for the Rockets. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle:

Pat Beverley said he was told his fourth metacapal was fractured and would be out 4 to 6 weeks. Talk in locker room sounded more like 6.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 22, 2013

Houston’s starting lineup has settled with Beverley, Harden, Chandler Parsons and Terrence Jones, and the unit has been excellent together. In 245 minutes:

• Offensive rating: 112.9
• Defensive rating: 100.2
• Net rating: +12.7

The logical successor while Beverley is out is Jeremy Lin. That is if can get healthy. He’s missed 10 of Houston’s last 12 games. Lin, via Feigen:

“Hopefully, I’ll be back Monday if there are no setbacks,” Lin said. “Just to get back in shape after having to sit, not do anything for a while, not even really being able to sit, let alone jog or run, it’s good to sweat again and get your body going.”Lin missed six games with a sprained a bruised knee and was just working his way back for two games before he went out again after running into a screen set by the Warriors’ Andrew Bogut, forcing him to miss all four games last week.

In the 40 minutes Lin has played with the Rockets’ other four starters, the results have been predictable. Houston plays much faster, scores significantly better, defends a lot worse and comes out behind.

• Offensive rating: 118.3
• Defensive rating: 116.3
• Net rating: +2.4

As far as second options go, Lin isn’t bad. But that’s predicated on him being healthy.

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If Lin can’t go, Aaron Brooks is next in line. He’s played just 10 minutes with the other four starters – alert: small sample – but the results have been amazing:

• Offensive rating: 133.6
• Defensive rating: 86.6
• Net rating: +47.1

If the Rockets use Brooks as their main point guard, those numbers will certainly worsen on both ends of the court. But that initial success offers at least hope they could get by with their third option.

Like I said, losing Beverley hurts the Rockets, but they’re relatively well equipped to handle it.