P.J. Tucker (PF/SF, HOU) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: It has not been a great start to the season for the Houston Rockets, who currently sit at 1-4 and just a half-game out of last place in the West. (A spot occupied by the Suns, who have a pair of guys from last year's Rockets team, Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson, in the starting lineup, so that's...something.)

Much of those struggles are tied to injuries and suspensions, which is where P.J. Tucker comes in. Tucker, who starts at the four for Houston and has been the main backup at the five with Nene (calf) not having seen the floor yet. A James Ennis injury has put Michael Carter-Williams and Carmelo Anthony in the starting unit, which has really just meant that Tucker has had to do more on both ends of the floor.

It's a small sample, but in the two games where Ennis has been out, Tucker is averaging nine points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and five steals. FIVE STEALS. His efficiency was great in one game and bad in the other, but he's averaged 10.5 field goal attempts over the sample as opposed to the 6.3 attempts he averaged before that.

Ennis could return any time from his hamstring injury, but with James Harden also dealing with a hamstring issue, Tucker has some good chances to make things happen in the short term. He's not likely to be a great add down the stretch, but with the way things are going injury-wise for the Rockets, he's a good play whenever the team's starting unit is displaced. Give him a look this week if you need steals, three-pointers, and a block -- he's had one in four of Houston's five games this season.