Evidence That Howard & Asik Should Be Able To Play Together

What exceptions we have left? Half of MLE? That's at least what I heard.

 

One other solution............ >>>>>mid range shots<<<<< With Asik and Dwight down in the paint, not only will it be packed, but we will also have the unfair advantage of 2 dominant rebounders. They'll give us significantly more second chance opportunities and a higher percentage of put backs. We can afford to take more chances at midrange shots now, and deviate from our layup,3pter, or die approach.

 

Both teams being tired doesn't help you. It only points to more of an anomaly. Besides that, you're pinning your argument on two regular season games? Seriously?

 

Asik doesn't want to win a title, at least in the sense that it's not a driving priority (and that in itself makes him additionally valuable as a trade commodity), he wants to start, why do you think he asked Chicago not to match when he signed with us and our roster that didn't even look like a 30 win team at the time?

 

I don't think they can work together unless one of them develops a consistent 15 footer, and even then it still wouldn't be as ideal as pairing Dwight with a 3pt shooter. I think Morey said they won't be playing together, and in Morey I trust.

As for the "Greg Smith experiment" lets not forget we applied that experiment against the Thunder and got destroyed by 29 points in game 1. The lack of floor spacing created by 2 bigs who can't shoot is something we might be able to get away with in the regular season, but the playoffs is a different game where there is less transition buckets and faster rotations in the half-court.

How many teams have even made the finals with a rangeless front court? And by rangeless I mean both bigs practically having no shot beyond 5 feet. Dwight and Asik might be able to hit a jump shot once in a blue moon, but guys like Hakeem, D-Rob, Duncan, were able to hit that 15 footer alot more consistently. Marc Gasol can shoot too so using him as a counter-example makes no sense.

Blake Griffin has moments where he gets a little streaky with his mid-range, but the 2nd round wasn't one of those moments and we saw the result. The most successful team I can think of with a rangleless front court was the Denver Nuggets (neither Koufos or Faried are respectable shooters), they won 57 games in the regular season and then look at what happened to them in the playoffs..

No team in the last 25 years has ever made it to the finals with a rangeless starting front-court.

 

That is just short-sighted~ If he stays for a year or two, he is going to be a starter somewhere for sure and makes more money for sure too. Vision!

 

Yup, that's why the Rockets' pitch that Howard and Harden know Asik is part of any championship run has begun.

I agree that Harden, Lin and Parsons can learn to play off of two big men. They can also learn to play together. When teams double Howard, Asik can very quickly slide into the post and vice versa. Coaches will have fun tweaking our offense.

 

It's all about matchups, thus unfair to use OKC as an example. Now if we see OKC play, it's not Ibaka-Durant-Thabo-KMart-Westbrook. You now put Perkins in the lineup, cause of Dwight. And without K-Mart, you put in Fisher or you keep in Ibaka, where does this go?

It's matchups. Having Asik, and having a reliable closing bench swingman that provides D, 3pt shooting, clutch ability, and just high IQ, are the two key components to having the well-rounded team. In regard to matchups, and depth for injuries.

Just cause D-Mo or TJones might start doesn't mean they log heavy minutes, and definetly do not finish, but down the line it allows them emerge into valuable assets for another trade or just as our own studs.

I'm against trading Asik; see the only reason to do it is if he demands a way out. I don't know if I 100% believe ESPN as of right now, I'd need "multiple sources" no Chriss Broussard style, but like Woj or Stein to come out.

 

Mini-MLE. We don't even need to use that on those guys I mentioned, Brewer would come here for the minimum. He'd be a nasty defender, but we need the range. In Chicago, he hit big 3s(3s when they counted), but he's a known liability on that end. At the same time though, Dwight-Parsons-Brewer-Harden-Lin or Bev is the best damn 5 you'll see on any court defensively. Especially if Harden just plays average D, doesn't need to be a "stopper" nor could he be.

 

I can't believe some people are so quick to judge that it can't work and are a very narrow & closed minded and negative about the idea of playing both together.

It's not black or white. It's a actually a very wide spectrum of grey.

The duo of Asik and Howard has so many strengths that it would be idiotic and be utter incompetence of coaching not to exploit it.

True, there are some weaknesses and limitations, but these could be managed.

Quit saying that neither one can shoot, and that spacing would be a problem.

You know what? Asik hits his jumpers all the time in practice and could very soon bring that to actual games. The challenge or problem is more mental - psychological - confidence - & how comfortable he is than mechanics - shooting stroke - ability - etc.

 

Frankly, Asik had a better chance to win a ring as a backup center in Bulls.
D.Rose won MVP and better than Harden.
Chicago is a bigger city than HOU, and his girlfriend is from there.

The Bulls could offer him 5-6M salary per year if the poison pill had never existed.
In fact, he comes to HOU for a starting position and 3M extra money.

The Rockets should try the twin towers and make them successful.

 

Gortat is more offensively talented, but he got his with Dwight. I think Asik needs to look how successful they were. There were times when Howard would play at the 4 with Gortart at the 5.

 

I feel bad for Omer Asik.
Two year later, he will be 29 years old.
He will get his contract, maybe the last one.

Playing as backup center again may limit his stats and market value, even he has proved he worth over 10M this year.

 

More bodies in the lane for Harden to get fouled by

 

He'll still get 22 to 25 minutes a night if Howard plays the 4 with him at the Sametime. Infact he'll be fresher and he'll be more productive on the defensive end.

 

Interesting discussion. I would probably trade Asik if a good offer comes up, but at the same time it would be interesting to see the ultra-big lineup.

 

He is 2nd rounder and weren't paid too much in the first 2 years.

It's reasonable to sign a big contract to secure his family.
Only veterans wants a title after they have enough money.

 

WOW. What a strong statement! Only veterans wants a title. Where did you hear that?

 

Orlando tried to play Gortat and Howard together and that was a failed experiment.
Gorat's offensive game >>>>>>> Asik's.

Howard would have to play PF and that would diminish his greatest strength which
is rim protector/deterrant

 

One example I brought up was Moses Malone and Billy Paultz. Both were centers but played well with each other, especially in the '81 Playoffs/Finals.