It’s the single biggest question about Houston’s key offseason acquisition, Ty Lawson:
It a change of scenery and a fresh start what he needs to conquer his personal demons?
This is a man who had two DUIs inside of seven months and just got out of a rehab facility. He has baggage. But some around the point guard said he would change in a new situation and on a winning team where he had responsibility. Houston provides that opportunity.
Lawson also is the kind of dynamic playmaker the Rockets needed to help out James Harden, who had to carry a ridiculous load in Houston last season. Lawson echoed that saying the move to Houston is what he needed, he told Fox News 26.“Oh yeah for sure,” Lawson said. “I was like before I even came to the team I was talking to James. I was like ‘man get me over there.’ I’ll be that piece to (help) get over the hump. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air....
“I feel like last year watching the playoffs, they definitely need another playmaker,” Lawson said. “You could tell James got a little bit tired. He had to come down and score and make passes every time on the court. So I just want to relieve a little bit of pressure for him the best way I can.”
For Lawson personally I hope this move and this situation are what he needs to get his life in order.
He certainly brings some shot creation and up-tempo play that the Rockets could use. His skill set bumps the Rockets up to true contender status. However, it’s going to take some experimentation by Kevin McHale to find lineups that will keep Houston in the top 10 defensively — playing Lawson and Harden together could supercharge the offense but creates defensive holes. Dwight Howard covers some of that, but not all.
McHale has time to figure it all out — Houston should be a lock as a playoff team and win plenty of games. But they are going to need to be better just to get back to where they were last season in a stacked West.