Here is the issue, Roy played a great game today...but Asik was consistent on one end...every time..Roy is actually quite variable..if he plays like this all the time, the pacers are hard to beat..and Miami has to gamble a lot more on steals..
That would be the Memphis Grizzlies...and they were just swept.. And right now, Miami is playing better team defense than the Pacers...allowing only a stingy...88.1 ppg to opponents vs 92.2 ppg for the Pacers...
Well in the regular season Indy had the best defensive efficiency rating. Hibbert's defensive stats are pretty dang good and the eye test confirms what the stats say. He was a terrible offensive player in the regular season but has showed up on that end in the postseason, which is really where it matters. Asik and Hibbert are both defensive beasts, I was just responding to your implication that Asik is a more consistent defender than Hibbert, when it's really not true.
This thread cannot be complete without an Asik highlight reel. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/443Np4dt_A8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Kudos to Indiana and Hibbert in defeating the Heat, but it's out of sight and out of mind kee jerking IMO to think Hibbert is that much better than Asik. Asik averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds against the midget front line of Miami this season in less than 35 minutes played per game.
Hibbert is better offensively. He has a range of post moves but Asik has him beat on the boards and his post D.
You people keep bringing up stat lines while completely ignoring the fact that they play in teams that try to enforce vastly different game paces. Every single metric stat will always be skewed in favor of the players of teams that play faster. The offensive comparison isn't even there. Asik's bulk of points comes off open looks due to the defenses collapsing on pretty much everyone else except him. Hibbert regularly takes on defenders and kills them softly with that smooth post hook.
Hibbert because he's already a third-to-second-tier star while Asik's more of an excellent role player. This is mainly due to their effect to the game both offensively and defensively. Defensively, they're not far, Asik by a hair. Offensively, there's a big gap between them since Hibbert can dominate offensively when he wants to. Hibbert can be a first-tier star if he can just be consistent. Asik, unless he improves a lot (LOT!!!, those slippery hands...) offensively will always be a role player.
the point is asik doesn't have an offensive game. I will give him kudos for being good at rolling to the basket but what else can he do? Hibbert, if given Asiks role on offense would put up equal or better efficiency. How many times has Asik been given the ball to post up? these arguments are the exact same as when Magic fans claimed Dwight was better than Yao on offense because he had better stats and higher efficiency. Its lazy
Hehe. Better than prime Hakeem even! Hakeem gives what, 4 more points on 8 more field goal attempts? Numbers say it all, Dwight on offense>>>Hakeem.
Hibbert's skill level is nowhere near comparable to Yao. The discrepancy of skill level vs stats between Yao and Dwight, vs Hibbert and Asik is a ludicrous, lazy analogy. Yao was one of the greatest, skilled shooting big men of all-time who rarely shot below .500. Hibbert has yet to shoot .500 his entire career. But that smooth jump hook, tho. Also, Yao dominated Dwight head to head, rarely losing to Dwight. Hibbert and Asik split in their two head to head match ups this year, due to Greg Smith, who was having a monster game, given the majority in the second game. Hibbert was the third option behind Paul George and David West this year for a reason.
Asik because he can still grow, only 3 years in the NBA and just first year as a starter. With Hibbert, this is pretty much what you're going to get. This is still good, don't get me wrong, but I'd like to think we've not seen Asik's full potential yet.
Hibbert doesn't have an offensive game either. They're almost identical as offensive players. Asik is the better rebounder. Hibbert is the better shotblocker. Asik has better defensive fundamentals.
