Asik and Howard to start next game (Updated w/ Blog Post)

/\ THIS is why you don't trade Asik and why the experiment is worth the chance.

 

There's a huge possibility the twin tower experiment could start out ugly, but we have to let McHale and the team test it out with a reasonable amount of time before we deem it a failure. Tempered expectation is what I'd want from fellow Rockets' fans.

 

You play your best players.
Clearly Asik is one of our best players.

At some point you have to not look at matchups and look at what you bring to the table. They have a stretch in Nowitzski? BFD. Having Dwight or Asik stretching away from the paint on defense is not the end of the world. You have one of them to back up the other. One of them stays home.

THe upside of a Howard Asik tandem is just too overwhelming to anything casspi jones dmo.

Casspi emerged and will get his minutes but sadly its almost whether we want to or not, that we need to run asik howard.

Unfortunately cant rely on casspi jones dmo. And if howard or asik gets hurt then they get their chance.

TWIN TOWERS FEVER

 

Nice post btw, exactly what I was thinking; the Lin/Bev situation doesn't really matter to be honest. Lin will have his moments and Bev will have his. They both know what they bring to the team on the floor, and they know their duties as floor general. It's just how they both understand what they need to bring in order to be a successful floor general, in respect to Harden and Howard/Asik.

I don't think we'll fully understand how the full mechanism of Asik/Dwight will work. Definitely not during the span of pre-season. Not enough time during pre season games to evaluate. As you all may know, a pre season game involves more rigorous activity within a few minutes of the game for the starters, versus during a reg season game it's pretty rigorous but fluidly spaced out throughout the game, so interactions between and to and from team mates and opposing players is much more at a justifying level than versus a pre season game; speculating wise, I might add. So I agree again with you, that we don't know whether these two can play together effectively. So we need time, but I don't know if preseason is enough time for Asik to realize him and Dwight might just work out to perfection; which could be a problem for the Rockets.

I may be wrong, as in we're all just fluctuating and brainstorming whether or not this Oreo Cookie duo can work out or not. But I hope we see some kind of positivity in tomorrows game from the two in whatever minutes they are both limited to playing and trying out this what could be a lethal positioning for the Rockets surrounding the rim and paint.

 

If the Asik/Howard pairing works, wouldn't you want Patrick Beverley in the starting line up tho, so the Lin/Bev thing could very well matter. The lanes will likely be clogged which would call for more efficient spot up shooters on the perimeter (which Bev is very good at). My first concern would be relying on Harden too much to penetrate and attack, but this seems to be an area that Bev is also working on to improve (at least I've seen Bev try to attack more this year than last). Second concern, pace and tempo, without Lin we could very well slow down the offense. I think once we figure out Asik's situation it'll give better clarity on which PG makes better sense on the 1st unit, and that situation might matter again.

 

They are going to make this work.

 

I say forget about trying to adjust to other teams, throw Asik and Howard out there and make teams adjust to us, nobody can compete with our size!

 

Hmmmmm. I like your thoughts.

 

false positive

I've seen a lot of comments on why the TT experiment should not be judged overly harshly based on 1-2 preseason games. It makes sense as to why a rough start might be in the offing given the limited practice time for the pairing and no gametime minutes to date for Asik (plus the fact that this is a pretty unfamiliar system for the team given the limited Asik-Smith minutes last year).

Two questions for the peanut gallery:

1) Is there a possibility that the initial results will be too encouraging? Or is the Dirk situation actually a very difficult test with easier results against other teams?

2) What are the signs as we go into the season that the experiment is not working? Static offense? Howard being run ragged on the defensive side?

Anyway, I'm with everyone that this is an exciting development and can't wait to see the early returns. So many benefits if this structure, for about 10 mpg, actually works.

 

WTF did I just read...

 

^LOL.


But yes, I'm quite excited about this season. I really think that Asik may have potential at the PF, but our pace may have to slow right down. Doesn't matter, if our defense approaches the rare air of top 5 defensive team.

Imagine that, the Top Offense, plus Top 5 defense.

Game Over NBA.

 

The key is asik. The problem is, he hasn't bought in. Not only does he not buy in to teaming with dwight, he is actively opposed to playing with him and perhaps even sees dwight as an enemy in a professional/financial sense.

Even if he did buy in, you don't want either dwight or asik guarding skilled, agile 4's who can stretch the floor. Dwight's footwork has never been exceptional, not even for a center, so he is surely at a disadvantage in speed and agility against elite 4's. Asik will only be worse. Add to that, both dwight and asik will be carrying an additional 30 lbs compared to most other 4's, so both will be at a significant speed disadvantage.

With either player posting up, the other will have nothing to offer offensively. Both have an effective shooting range of 5-8 feet.

This experiment will not work. I tend to suspect this idea is motivated more by a desire to placate asik's ego, and perhaps to boost his stats to make him more appealing as trade bait, rather than being motivated by sound tactical preparation and knowledge.

 

Add to that, having asik and howard in the lineup clogs the paint for houston's guards, preventing them from driving and penetrating freely. The offense becomes far more stationary and predictable: asik and howard down low, 3 shooters parked at the 3 point line.

On top of that, having both asik and howard in the lineup at the same time slows their offense as they will have to wait for both asik and howard.

There are numerous inherent problems that an asik howard tandem creates on both the offensive and defensive end. With a pair of 265 lb. centers in the lineup, you can't expect any scoring outside of 10 feet for either, nor can you expect either player to keep up with skinnier, faster, more agile 4's and on top of that, you clog the paint limiting the options for your guards.

Sadly, Asik is never going to be happy anyway, which is the whole point of inserting him into the starting line up in the first place.

The bottom line is that unless morey can acquire a legitimate 4, the current options at 4 will only hurt the team; ironically, asik or howard will hurt the team even more even though they are the team's most talented bigs, since they're also the biggest and slowest.

In before: "you hate asik" and "you hate the team" and "you're a troll" etc. etc etc

 

asik have no offense whatsoever, all his points comes from hustle plays or dishes from teammates for easy layups. So saying Dirk cant guard Asik is r****ded. All he needs to do is keep his body near Asik, so he isnt left open.

 

Bynum-Gasol? Or, Yao-Cato?

 

These are the other 7 Playoff teams from the Western Conference last season and their starting 4 & 5 man.

OKC:
Perkins & Ibaka.
Howard & Asik can match up on the defensive end with these two. And considering how Ibaka choked last season - having either H or A sag off and encourage the jumper is advised.

Spurs:
Duncan & Splitter.
Howard & Asik can match up on the defensive end with these two.

Denver:
I don't think they make the Playoffs this season so I didn't bother.

Clippers:
Jordan & Griffin.
Howard & Asik can match up on the defensive end with these two. Again, I'd encourage the Clippers to beat us all night with Blake's jumper.

Grizzlies:
Gasol & Z-Bo.
Both big bodies who aren't exactly agile. H & A can play out to either of them as neither will be beaten off the dribble.

Warriors:
Bogut & Lee.
Lee is one of the only players who could 'test' these two because he can put the ball on the floor and is too quick for A. I'd be happy lulling GS into a false sense of achievement by taking the ball out of Curry's hands and letting them think David Lee going to work is beneficial.

Lakers:
See Nuggets.

There will probably be matchups from other teams which cause problems on the defensive end for H & A.

But looking at the major matchups in the Western Conference Playoffs - having these two on the floor is going to be a huge positive defensively that not many teams will be able to overcome.

And of course if they do overcome it - we go to an athletic 4 - move Asik to the bench and have 48 minutes of elite rim protection. Another positive. Another thing that team may not be able to overcome.

 

Omer had some incredibly nice post moves on occasion last season which surprised me.

All he needs to do is back Dirk down. Dirk cannot stand his ground in the post against Asik.

If given enough space I'd be confident letting him back Dirk down.

 

Asik do have ofensive game, postup moves, etc particularly agains weaker or smaller defenders

 

How to make it work? Let our perimeter players develope a midrange game. When they drive by their man and they don't have a clear lane they need to pull up and let Asik and Dwight get the rebound...