Rockets Shake Up Rotation, Unleash Aaron Holiday vs. Hawks

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The Houston Rockets have made a strategic change to their rotation, pulling struggling forward Tari Eason in favor of guard Reed Sheppard. This move has created an opportunity for Aaron Holiday to see increased minutes and provide a scoring boost off the bench. Holiday has proven to be a valuable contributor when given the chance, with the Rockets having an 8-2 record this season when he scores in double figures.

Why it matters

The Rockets have been in need of a change, having lost three of their last four games heading into the matchup against the surging Atlanta Hawks. Inserting Holiday into the lineup earlier could provide the scoring spark the team needs to keep pace with the Eastern Conference powerhouse.

The details

Rockets coach Ime Udoka made the decision to start Sheppard over Eason, a move that has been called for by fans all season due to Houston's lack of guard depth. Sheppard has been effective as both a scorer and facilitator, while Eason has struggled on the offensive end despite his defensive contributions. The change also creates a need for a scoring guard off the bench, which is where Holiday comes in. Holiday has proven to be a valuable contributor when given extended minutes, with the Rockets posting an 8-2 record when he scores in double figures.

• The Rockets had lost three of their last four games heading into Friday night's matchup against the Hawks.
• The Hawks had won 11 straight games heading into the rematch with the Rockets.

What’s next

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