Perhaps it's a matter of playing with a young/inexperienced group needing time to gel, perhaps he needs an well-oiled defensive unit like he had in Chicago to help him out, perhaps he's getting more fatigued by the minutes, but while Aşık is racking up the rebounds and doing a good job of contesting without fouling, the team he anchors is below average in defense (the Rockets are significantly defensively with him on the court, but their 105 opponent points per 100 possession (as of 12/3/12) with him on court is still just average). This kind of performance isn't what All-Defensive Team candidates are made out of.
The Rockets are a high turnover, high paced team. A guy like Asik is worth much less in such a system than in a Van Gundy/Thibadeau system. I've said it before that the Rockets eventually need to slow down and play a more controlled pace if they want to contend. But in terms of growth for youngsters, this type of Golden State style of play is more conducive to increasing their confidence. Also better for trade value.
I think it has a lot to do with the style of game they play. Taking quick shots from the 3pt line creats oppertunities for the other team to get scoring chances before the Rockets can get into their half court defense. They are worse than bad in transition defense.
Oh Carl. I'm too busy to respond. Just spent 10 minutes trying to wipe off my screen thinking there was dirt on it, only to find you had gone subscript wiggle "s" and crazy umlaut "O" on me. But srrsly though? The words "Omer Asik" and "All Defensive" don't belong in the same sentence, Carl. You know that. Unless it's "I asked Omer Asik if people from Turkey liked to eat a lot of Turkey and he got all defensive on me." The only thing that can be said about Omer Asik's defensive presence is that the Rockets are a pregame layup drill to other teams with him out. So while he's vital, he also by no means elevates the team to great defensive levels. He lacks the same "mistake proofing" that a Dwight Howard or even a weakside pogo stick like Serge Ibaka can bring to the court.
Omer is serviceable starting center who can be elite on the defensive end. He was horrible tonight and the Spurs made him look silly. Omer incompetence on the offensive end at times is frustrating too. On a more talented team, Omer would do fine but on a team that's still lacking key components (legit starting point guard, consistent low post threat, etc.), his weaknesses are going to be more glaring.
Let's be honest, any points at all from Omer should be considered a bonus. His double double average feels more than a little unsustainable.
I hope Asik can do more of this: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G9AYDcze--c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Maybe you're just being Carl Haterra Asik can handle his own against Big Men, he clogs the paint and able to block shots plus he's a good rebounder.
J/k... But anyway, we all have to remember that this is the first time Asik is getting major minutes. When he was playing for the Bulls, he was barely getting any playing time over there. But with Houston, he's playing better than expected and he is a legit 7 footer. Even though he's not the emphatic shot blocker we wanted, but he gets the job done. I know the Bulls really regret signing Gibson instead of Asik and I'm glad they did. Asik is still young for a big man and he's only going to get better as time goes on. Remember how much he improved on his offense with a little of hard work and elbow grease this summer? That shows that Asik is talented and hard working and willing to improve as much as he can.
His rebounding rate has remained consistent and translated into a great find as a 35-minute a night center, but you're right. Even before tonight, I would say Omer has been terrific rebounding the ball, better than I thought he would be offensively and has shown a great work ethic, which is a very positive sign for his upside... but he has not quite been the rim protector that I expected. His shotblocking has not carried over. Not a complaint. Just a fact. I think there is some truth though to what meh is saying. You would think that being a high-paced team would create more defensive opportunities, thus more blocked shots, but I think it's more that Asik's blocks in Chicago came from halfcourt sets and an elite team defense funneling those in. To Omer's credit, he's running a 7-foot frame and 260+ pounds back and forth all night. I've been happy with his play overall, despite the dud tonight.
A team that sets good screens like the Spurs is capable of making a lot of players' defense seem "overrated"........ The Rox problem is it never before this season had Lin taken out on screens with regularity....... And the remaining defenders had no clue how to handle that. Since we do play the Spurs again shortly, it will be interesting to see how the coaches try to fix this. (I think switching is the best option, but only if the defenders can then recover to their designated man.) But my impression of the coaches, in regard to fixing team deficiencies, is not favorable.
i understand in high school or college when you get someone like asik that your team is gonna be a beast on defense, no doubt but in the nba, you got dwight howard on the lakers and they still suck on defense. does that mean dwight howard sucks on defense? no it meas chemistry does matter and its not overrated. it also helps if your team isnt the 2nd youngest team in the league
Did not want to create this thread myself for sake of being flamed. This is however obvious. We have been toasted all season now by good bigs. Seriously, go and look at the box scores and tell me which big Asik has been guarding and how many points he has scored on him. We are almost the worst defense in the league and a lot of the blame has to go to Asik.
Asik is slow but that's to be expected. While his defense is not spectacular, it is slightly above average. On a couple of the swithces tonight, he got the quick guards and couldn't keep up with them. Asik makes it up by grabbing enough defensive boards to make him a serviceable center. I am happy with our 8-million-dollar center.
His offense need significant improvement or else i see a replacement next year. When opponents leave you wide open, it means they don't respect your offense and sometimes he got a wide open lane and still couldn't make the layups...wtf. Next year, they can either upgrade the Center position or PG position depend on how it go. However, if Jeremy Lin is not a huge part of this team, i am out. No more Rockets fan. It is the ONLY reason i am here.
He's overrated on this website, but he is very much worth every bit of his contract, so I can't say that he's truly "overrated". He has little to no offensive skill other than just being bigger than everybody else, and until he learns how to be a legit threat, he probably won't ever be anything more than just an above average center.
