Corey Brewer Has Been Perfect Fit for Houston Rockets and Vice Versa

Since the trade on December 19, Corey Brewer and the Houston Rockets have been a match made in heaven.

Kevin McHale drafted the 6'9" forward back in his executive days with the Minnesota Timberwolves, so the Rockets knew what they were getting. With James Harden and Trevor Ariza averaging minutes in the dangerous upper 30s, general manager Daryl Morey swung the deal two months before the trade deadline.

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The Western Conference has been an arms race all season long, with all eight contenders getting in on the fun. The Rockets, however, may have prevailed over them all. After trading for Brewer, Houston signed Josh Smith less than a week later. Morey turned one of the worst benches in the NBA into a top-tier one.

The star power of Harden and Dwight Howard got the Rockets off to a good start, but in the midst of all the injuries and fatigue that come along with the grind of an 82-game season, the bench has been the key to Houston's success.

The second unit struggles to score in the half-court set with the Beard on the bench, but it makes up for those struggles with its defense. When Brewer and the bench brigade check in, they ramp up the aggression on that end of the floor.

The Rockets like to send a double-team to the ball-handler at the wings or in the post. They immediately trap, and the other defenders lurk in the passing lanes. It doesn't work every time, but this strategy helps Houston force the second-most steals per game in the NBA. When the team force turnovers, it leads to easy fast-break opportunities.

Brewer's agility and gritty mentality make this all possible. He is a lengthy, quick defender, which helps him grab 1.5 steals per game. His speed can make any missed shot a transition dunk. His greyhound style of play can create serious havoc for opposing teams—like his 17-point fourth-quarter outburst in Portland—which is why I regarded him so highly in the Rockets power rankings.

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Last season, Brewer would not have been a great fit with Houston. Last year's Rockets, with Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin, were an offensive powerhouse but didn't play a lot of defense. Brewer could have still been an energy guy off the bench, but his defensive tenacity would have been wasted.

The Rockets' refocus on defense this season is the difference between last year's first-round exit and a legitimate chance to contend. Replacing Parsons' well-rounded offense with Ariza's reliable defense has helped Houston jump all the way up to fourth in defensive efficiency, per ESPN.com

The acquisition of guys like Corey Brewer and even K.J. McDaniels is a testament to Morey's priority to focus on the defensive side of the court. The one time he advanced to the second round of the playoffs, back in 2009, Morey's team was also ranked fourth in defensive efficiency.

Defense wins championships. The Rockets were dead last among playoff teams in points allowed last season, so this change was inevitable. Now a defensive-minded team, Houston became the perfect fit for Brewer to have an impact.

Brewer is not a great shooter, even though it appeared that way last season against the Rockets. He's shooting 29.9 percent from deep with the Rockets this year and 43.4 percent overall. But with the ball-pressure strategy of this second unit, it doesn't matter.

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Like many players on this team, Brewer has a specific role. His job is to play aggressive defense, pick up a few steals and get out in transition as often as possible. When he hits the occasional corner three, it's a nice bonus.

When the playoffs roll around, the pace usually slows down dramatically. The Rockets have the second-fastest pace in the league, and they have no intentions of slowing down. Brewer and the second unit will continue to push the tempo with aggressive defense and fast-break opportunities, which is why Houston could cause problems in the postseason.

Brewer is locked up through next season. What Morey will decide to do this offseason is still uncertain, but he'll want to keep the Greyhound in Houston because he is the perfect fit.