Lee provides balance to overworked backcourt

HOUSTON It won't always be as simple as Courtney Lee playing 15 minutes off the Rockets' bench. Tuesday night simplicity was sufficient. Kyle Lowry watched the entire fourth quarter in his warm-up top. Kevin Martin played just long enough in the period to break a sweat. Beyond the stats that summarized the Rockets' 97-80 win over the Pistons at Toyota Center, the numbers that brought Rockets coach Kevin McHale great joy were the minutes his starting backcourt played in the triumph. "The highlight of the night was Kyle not having to play in the fourth," McHale said. "That poor dude has been playing 40, 41 (minutes a game). "They've logged heavy, heavy, heavy minutes. Having done that myself I just know how, really you're tired. I woke up this morning and I was tired, and I'm not playing. I know the guys are tired so I was concerned coming into today." Lee had missed eight consecutive games with a right calf sprain. In the five games since Lowry returned from a foot injury he had averaged 41.4 minutes per game. During that same stretch Martin averaged 43.2 minutes per game. Without Lee available to relieve Martin, Lowry played additional minutes alongside his usual backup, Goran Dragic. Martin was often first to the bench only to return with haste to team with Dragic when Lowry earned an abbreviated break. Those adjusted tandems worked to mixed results with the Rockets (7-7) winning three consecutive games and four of eight without Lee, but with Lowry and Martin participating to the point of utter exhaustion. With Lee back in the fold against the Pistons (3-11), the normal rotation was back in play. Upon entering the game at the 5:29 mark of the first quarter, Lee deflected a pass and nailed his first shot attempt, a 3-pointer from the corner in front of the home bench. While the Rockets meandered their way through an unsightly first half, lurching forward and drifting back frequently enough to keep the Pistons in contention, Lee was the lone reserve to record a positive plusminus rating in the first half (plus-3). In the second half Dragic, Patrick Patterson and Chase Budinger got on board with Lee and finished off the Pistons with a 15-4 run that expanded the lead to 17 points with 4:01 remaining. Lee posted six points, two steals and a rebound but, of greater significance, provided the backcourt balance that had been sorely lacking during his absence. Last season, his first with the Rockets, Lee averaged 21.3 minutes while coming off the bench in 80 of 81 games. His workload will gradually find that level, but his return enabled Lowry and Lee, who combined to start 151 games last season, to play only 29 and 28 minutes, respectively. "We've been together for a couple of years and we've built that chemistry," Lee said. "Guys know rotations and know what each other does. When one guy goes down it kind of throws it out of whack. "It's good to be able to get back in that rhythm now." Lee embraced the return to optimal health. Lowry and Martin appreciated the chance to catch a breather with the reserves clicking. "Awesome," Lowry said after posting 13 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals. "It was one of those games where we were up and we just needed the second unit to come in and finish it off. It was great to get some rest that fourth quarter." Said Martin, who added 11 points and a pair of steals: "I'm not 23 anymore, so it was good to get a little break tonight. We need his (Lee's) play to continue throughout the year." Tuesday night was a start. If Lee regains his form as a versatile scorer and defensive maven, Lowry and Martin can produce through a more efficient allotment of minutes. Those scenarios would help prevent McHale from having to concoct methods for lessening the workload for his starting backcourt on those precious few days off between games. At this stage, with memories of 40-plus-minute games fresh on their minds, Martin and Lowry don't need to be convinced to take a seat. "He (McHale) won't have to lock me out (of practice)," Martin said. "He can give me the keys to every door and I won't use them." Follow me on Twitter at moisekapenda