Rockets.com on Casspi: Finding a perfect fit

I really hope Casspi can keep it up. I wanna see him do well. He has talent, and hopefully he can display that now that he's been given a real shot to show what he can do.

 

i would like to see this guy in starting 5 at PF!

 

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Glad he is getting used to the PF position. I think he has the size advantage and rebounding prowess compared to Delfino where he has a chance to play a more permanent role at PF as opposed to situational. He also has one more trump card that Delfino lacked: Dwight Howard.

Asik is an exceptional defender, but his strength is in positioning(and defensive rebounding), which isn't the greatest boon when it comes to small ball. Howard on the other hand is a great weakside shot blocker, which is hand and glove when it comes to helping out his undersized PF buddy. That is how a SF in Rashard Lewis survived the pounding of a fulltime PF. Also why Casspi is such a great fit on this team, next to Howard.

For those still questioning Casspi's ability to play PF, besides Jason Freidman flat out telling you so, Casspi has played every single minute as a Rocket so far at PF. Both in games and in all of the practice footage we have seen.

 

If he can play acceptable defense, this could happen.

On the offensive end, he looks better than Dmo or Jones and has enough 3 pt prowess to play the stretch 4 and make opponents defense have to cover him.

 

Guy's FG% and 3PT% are decent.

 

And this quote from the article:

 

picture is overused...

because DM keeps being smart... smh.

 

To be fair... Casspi didn't score during that stretch. Other than that pass to Parsons on the break and a couple rebounds, he didn't even touch the ball.

The guy he was guarding didn't get the ball, so he didn't get to show his defense.

He got posted up by West twice, but both times there was a foul called. One on Casspi, one off the ball on Parsons. So he didn't get to show his defense.

And to points were from a Howard post up, Harden shot some open 3's, and Parsons hit a 3.

Casspi was pretty much a non-factor. He just didn't get a chance to do much of anything except for grab a couple rebounds. But one thing to keep in mind is that he wasn't a liability. He did fine.

 

Lin, Harden, Parsons, Casspi, Dwight (small ball with a stretch 4)
or
Bev, Lin, Harden, Parsons, Dwight (super small ball)
will probably be the lineup that finishes most games.

Maybe replace Bev/Casspi with Asik for the big teams like Memphis, Indiana, San Antonio, Chicago with big bruising 4s that can post up.

 

Also

Yes!

But it raises the thought: with even more 4's than we thought, this Asik-Howard combo is sounding less and less realistic.

 

I hope so too. Obviously his performance over the last three games will not be replicated often, but I am optimistic he can back up Parsons and step into the stretch PF position. His future is bright with the Rockets.

 

My addition to the genre, crappy photoshop and all

 

The Asik-Howard combination was never ever realistic. It was just a figment of the imagination of some star crossed Rockets fans. And the coaching staff doing due diligence responding to reporters queries. "Yes we will try it out! (but obviously the offensive limitations far far outweigh the defensive improvements)". But I cannot fault fans for unbridled optimism.

 

I'm willing to see what the coaches come up with for it. They seem to have some ideas there if they think it will work at all.

 

Actually it was a figment of the imagination of McHale. He said he'd like to get Omer on the floor with Howard 14-15 minutes a game.

http://www.solarsportsdesk.ph/bk/bk...usive-with-houston-rockets-coach-kevin-mchale

 

I think smh is overused ....and it has absolutely nothing to do with the genius of DM...
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Perhaps. But from any statistical analyst's viewpoint it makes zero sense. It can of course be used for short minutes as a "change up", and certainly would be considered as a back up plan if Harden is injured, but otherwise the idea has no merits. You just never ever clog the paint when you have the greatest dribble drive penetrator in the NBA.