Rockets' Tari Eason has quickly silenced absurd early-season criticism

As the Houston Rockets have found their footing on both ends of the court, one of their biggest question marks this season, bench forward Tari Eason, has also begun to find his stride, rebounding excellently from his sub-par play in the earliest portion of the season.

While, with his restricted free agency now looming, it remains unclear how these upcoming contract negotiations will affect Eason's play throughout the course of the season, he seems to have slid perfectly back into the role that the Rockets have for him, making the team's depth exponentially more potent in the process.

Eason's performance, undoubtedly, is a major storyline to watch this season given its bearing on the team's future financial flexibility, but, for now, it is merely important that he play well, bringing his intense energy on a nightly basis in order to help elevate this team into championship contention.

Tari Eason has played well over his last five games, and the team is better for it

After Houston failed to sign Eason to an extension this past offseason, it clearly affected his play as the season began. In the team's first two games, against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons, Eason's time on the court looked entirely ineffective, as he averaged just 3.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and one assist through the 50 minutes he played between those two games.

Fans and analysts immediately, and somewhat understandably, recoiled in fear at this development. If Eason's flaws as a player revealed themselves in full this season, how could that affect the team's depth?

Nevertheless, the earliest portions of the season are always fertile soil for overreactions, and it appears, as of now, that this was a classic case of hasty assessment.

Since that time, Eason has averaged 15.8 points, five rebounds and 2.4 assists, looking again like one of the team's most important pieces off of the bench. He even started against the Dallas Mavericks in place of the hampered Jabari Smith Jr., putting up 15 points and going 6-of-9 from the field in a 110-102 Houston victory.

Without a doubt, this is the type of play that the team needs from Eason, and it is the type of play that has made him one of the most beloved members of the team through his first three years in the league.

While, if this level of performance continues for the duration of the season, the Rockets could have a tough decision to make when the time comes for his extension, the short-term focus must be on playing well, and Eason has proven he can do so within this new iteration of the team.