Despite limited minutes, there should be a ton of value in having Asik backing up Howard

Good post. Agreed. But it's the offense might be worrisome, not the defense.

 

Great post. Thanks for the analysis!

 

Also, you need to keep in mind that 48 mins of elite paint protection is the only thing proven to stop LBJ and the Heat. LBJ is the best player on the planet, getting your own stars and asking them to take him, Wade and Bosh on is a plan for failure as OKC and Chicago found out.

On the other hand, teams like Pacers with a good 7 ft center gave the Heat a good fight, Spurs with TD and Splitter pushed them to the brink, and Dallas with both Chandler and Haywood actually beat them. It doesn't matter if Asik only plays 15-20 mins a night, this is not worse than getting a 3rd star and having him take the shots left over from DH and Harden. The Howard insurance and 48 mins of elite paint protection is totally worth 28M combined, IMHO.

 

I would not be surprised if McHale starts Asik at PF

 

Excellent observation!

I would not worry too much about the offense... last year we were 6th in Ortg... a little drop of from that while immensely increasing the defense is still a net plus...

 

Good post, OP.

I see threads where Anderson gets traded for Asik and I just do not see this happening. While a very good stretch 4, guys like Anderson are MUCH easier to be found than players with Asik's defensive skills.

Morey is going to hold on to Asik for as long as he needs to until he gets that phone for a trade with at least similar value.

 

How would the offense be worrisome??

The only player of value the Rockets lost was Delfino.

The offense was one of the best in the NBA last year, and everybody except for Delfino is back.

Then Dwight Howard is added, which should improve the offense. I mean, Asik had no offensive ability. So he couldn't possibly be worse on offense.

At worst, the Rockets' offense should be the same as last year.

But in my opinion, it will improve a lot in the half court.

 

Yes but our 4 spot last year was the weakest link and right now we have done nothing there to improve it. Asik is a luxury we can go without when we are one starter away from being championship contenders.

 

Good post. Agreed. Asik at backup gives us a fierce defensive presence in the paint all game long. I feel for Asik a bit, as a competitor you'd always want to start and play a lot of minutes, but yahoos for our team.
I do believe, however, that Adik will play near 25 mins + a game to keep him happy and to maximize our talent. I don't know if Howard would like guarding pfs for 10 minutes a game, but we'd need that as well. Everyone should sacrifice a bit even our two big dogs.
Harden must take less possessions to feed Howard, Howard must slide to the 4 spot at tunes to accommodate Asik, Parsons and Lin must defer to our top stars, and Asik has to come off the bench. If we can do that without complaining but wholeheartedly, that's what championships are made of; talent + the mindset of sacrificing for the team. I see big things in our future. Go Rockets!

 

Robert Horry would have been a perfect fit...

 

That is true. The 4 was the weakest link... but not every position has to have a great player. Some players need very specific duties when they are in the game.

I think having one of the top centers in the world on the floor at all times is extremely valuable.

Smith, Motiejunas, Jones, and a small-ball player can fill the 4 spot at any given time depending on what McHale wants to do with the line-up.

Say, for example, the Rockets trade Asik for Ryan Anderson. Last year, the Rockets were one of the worst teams when Asik rested on the bench and Greg Smith was playing the 5. So imagine Dwight leaving the game to rest. Whatever value Anderson brings, the team loses when Greg Smith has to play the 5.

But if we keep both Dwight and Asik, the Rockets are at worst as good as they were last year with Dwight on the court. Except the Rockets won't have that dip in production when Howard goes to the bench. Because Asik comes into the game, and that is where the Rockets will really make their runs.

They will wear the other team out. The Rockets having an elite center in the game for a full 48 is an incredible advantage.

 

Neither would I.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if McHale starts Lin at PF.

 

He's put so many different lineups on the floor.

 

Yao-Mutombo?

 

Fun fact: Gortat never averaged more than 13.4 minutes per game in Orlando.

 

Lol

I agree. Never said we needed a great player at the 4 spot. We need a decent to good. Just someone that can be consistent and preferably defense minded. Anderson can stretch the floor but his lack of defense means Howard will have to work a lot harder on defense at the basket and incur more fouls.

I knew someone would mention TJones, DMo or Smith. They may do the job and they looked like they would but when given a chance last year they eventually failed us. That makes them question marks right now and we are not championship caliber with that big of a question at a very important roster spot. More than likely we just need a decent veteran to come in and hold the spot until one of the kids can fill it. Hopefully also help in coaching the kids.