39 Points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks. He shut down the paint on defense. No one on Orlando was allowed to go in unless they wanna get swatted.
Lin needs to contribute AT LEAST 15/10 a game. Parsons needs to be a LEGIT game changer not just a scorer when they collapse on our backcourt. Asik needs to develop his hands and DMO need to be more confident. We can win.
15/10 a game? Only Rondo averages more than 10 assists/game. 9 point guards right now average more than 15 pts/game. So basically Lin needs to be best point guard in the NBA when he hasn't even completed a full season as a starting point guard. Parsons is still on his rookie contract getting paid peanuts compared to what he's worth. I think he's playing at a level that's fine for now. Same as Lin this is Asik's first year as a starter and he's never been asked to do as much offensively than what he's doing now. He will get better with time. I like Asik, he has one of the brightest futures for any big man in the game today.
I've said it time n time again.... dollar for dollar - I'll take Asik and spend the 12M I save (vs DHo) on a power forward!
Agree with the OP. Dwight put in some work-- tonight, finally-- but still missed, what, 14 FTs? (I lost count). Overall, Dwight's been a genuine downer cow this year. Asik's a candidate for MIP. Asik's ham-handedness can frustrate us. The way Asik freaks out when there are defenders around him-- he does all these reverse layups instead of just dunking the ball and the defender-- make me wonder if he's still worried about his knee. Let's give Asik time. Who knows, maybe he'll be MIP two years in a row!
He's all we need to win in the same way Thorpe, Rodman, Grant were needed for those teams to win. I don't doubt that he can be a starting center on a championship team. The question is how many star players need to be in the same lineup. With the current Rockets, assuming no one develops, I think we need to add someone at least CP3/Melo/Healthy Love caliber. At the very least.
I know that most people won't want Bynum with his health issues, but imagine if we manage to sign him at a reasonable contract, and if he manages his knees well and manages to not get injured ----- imagine him playing at the 4 with Asik at the 5, with our dynamic duo of DMo and TRob backing them up. Wow.
He can't even catch the ball.. he's a good rebounder but not someone you look to in the 4th quarter in close games.
I totally believe it is not impossible for the team to win a title with Asik as the starting center. Another ward, Houston doesn't really have to get s different center. But the PF and PG positions need to be upgraded significantly. Which is a notch lower than the OP's assessment. On the other hand, it is almost impossible if Lin is the staring PG, not with Harden as the center piece any way.
Harden's official title is SG, but he plays more like a PG so why not get a good SG and let Harden handle the ball. Lin can come off the bench.
Yeah, Rockets position strength, from strong to weak: SG C SF PG PF. PG and PF need to be upgraded for a championship calibre team.
I agree with you. I think Asik is more than capable of being the center on a championship team! He's a hard worker and I can see him improving, especially on his free throw shooting. I would not trade him as he is still has not reached his potential. I also think that Lin is more than capable of being the point guard on a championship team! Although I don't think "Linsanity" will ever happen again I do think he has the skill-set to be a quality point guard in the nba. His play has been erratic to say the least but I see that he plays with heart and above all would like to prove all the naysayers he's not just a PR player. He has one full year since becoming the starter in the nba and he's right where I think he should be, not great,not terrible, but definitely growing and making progress as a point guard. What I would like for Morey to do is somehow pry Love or Aldridge. I think either one of these two can greatly improve our chances of getting a championship. I don't know if we will be able to get either one but if we can I feel confident that we will be contenders for the next 4-5 years. (P.S.) Please don't start your post using John Lopez, it's very distracting and hard to concentrate after that.... .............. .............. ..............
Amen. I'd like J.J. Hickson as a summer free agent signing. Hickson - Ranks #3 in the NBA in Double-doubles (35) http://www.nba.com/statistics/playe...ype=9&splitScope=GAME&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1 http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jj_hickson/game_by_game_stats.html
Please, if you could, name me the center that any team in the league gives the ball to late in the game. Al Jefferson and Marc Gasol are probably the closest examples. Al because of the team he is on, and Gasol because he can pass from the high post, but he doesn't really get the ball in the post late in games very often either. The days of Kareem, Hakeem, or Shaq doing work in the 4th to help their teams win are over with the limited talent at the center position.
