Aaron Holiday emerges as Rockets' most unlikely hero after Fred VanVleet injury

As the Houston Rockets came away with a pair of pivotal wins in Kevin Durant's absence, one surprising player, veteran guard Aaron Holiday, stepped up in a big way to help propel the team to victory.

Yet, with the extended run he has gotten in Tari Eason's absence, Holiday's excellent performance hasn't been confined to just the last two games, and, despite his limited role at the beginning of the season, he might be proving to be part of the solution to the backcourt problem the Rockets are experiencing with their loss of starting point guard Fred VanVleet.

Over his last six games, Holiday is averaging 12.5 points, 0.8 rebounds and one assist while shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc, and, while it is still likely that his minutes are drastically reduced when everyone is healthy, he has proven his ability to step up when it is most needed.

Aaron Holiday will be a key factor in the Rockets' depth as the season wears on

Through their first 16 games, Houston has emerged as one of the premier offensive teams in the NBA. As it stands, they are second in the NBA in offensive rating, first in offensive rebounding percentage and fifth in points per game.

Yet, any team will suffer absences due to injury throughout the course of an 82-game regular season, and the Rockets have already gotten their fair share. Eason is still set to be out for at least a couple of weeks with his oblique injury, and both Durant and Steven Adams have missed a pair of games each for differing reasons.

Nevertheless, it appears as though Houston's bench is deep enough to survive these ebbs and flows.

Holiday has not only played well in his expanded role, he has made multiple game-changing shots in the fourth quarter, presenting an extra perimeter shooter that the team can lean upon in clutch time. With a backcourt comprised of Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard and Josh Okogie, having a veteran hand that can maintain a limited role and still perform when called upon is absolutely crucial.

Holiday is not necessarily a volume playmaker, but that's not what the team needs in this moment. Holiday knows how to keep himself prepared, and head coach Ime Udoka will value that quality as the season wears on, even if Holiday's minutes return to their minimized status within the next couple of weeks.

Barring a blockbuster trade, it is clear that Houston will not attempt to account for VanVleet's absence with star-power but with their overwhelming depth, and Holiday's recent performances provide serious hope that they will be able to do so successfully.