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

We outrebounded the Mavs by 12 and won the game despite 23 turnovers. Guess the win was not winny enough for some. Shoulda won by how many?

 

Winning doesn't matter in preseason.

It was a sloppy game.

 

228 minutes / 82 games = 2.78 minutes per game. 166 seconds per game for the season.

 

I'll accept that. So we just draw no conclusions yet? OK.

 

IBTL - I don't need to see them many games, you just can see their strengths and weaknesses as players and notice.

If they were multi-skilled players I could see it, but two guys that need to be in the paint - are a blocker on offense and a detriment on defense to any team with a PF that can hit even a 15 footer, and in today's NBA that is every team.

I personally want Asik traded, we are paying him too much to be a backup, and that is all he will be here in Houston....trade him for something we need.

Wish him luck - he is a good center, just not a great one.

DD

 

I know of no NBA team that has ever given significant minutes to a center and PF who cannot hit a shot from beyond 7 feet. Has there been one?

 

Deandre Jordan and Blake Griffin?

 

They played 187 of those minutes in the last ten games. I think I'll skip the math, though. Seems kind of hard for one of us.

Denver Nuggets 2012-13.

 

Gee... I don't know... maybe the Chicago Bulls with Dennis Rodman and Luc Longley.

Longley could kind of shoot a jump shot within 15 feet... but it's not something he did often, he didn't have a good fg% for a center, and he didn't score a lot of points.

 

Didn't I say significant minutes? See any significant minutes in these lineups?

 

Longley had a midrange game.

DD

 

He did, but most of his points came from layups, put backs, post scoring, etc.

 

I was actually encouraged by what I saw. Dwight was able to keep up with Dirk for the most part. There were a few times where Dirk got left at the top of the ark, but other than that I can't complain. Asik still needs to shake some rust off. But he looked pretty good. It's going to take some work to master, but I think this is your starting lineup. In the interview after the game Harden said something to the extent of "This is the first time we've been able to play with OUR lineup". This to me, makes it sound like Harden believes that Asik and Dwight are the starters.

 

Yes. Faried and any of their three centers.

Though it is worth noting that players staying out of bounds, Karl's favorite floor spacing trick, is no longer legal this season.

 

People seem firmly uninterested in the state of our defense, even after last season. What are your ideas on shoring up the second unit after you trade Asik away?

 

Are you for real? The top lineup with Faried, Koufos, Lawson, Gallinari, and Iguodala was the 4th most used lineup in the NBA last season. The entire NBA. Their backup center was JaVale McGee, who is a brutal shooter.

 

I thought the Asik and Howard combo was good based on the highlights in the nba. Guards can drive and if they get guarded by a pf or center. Guards pass to the open Center (left or right) and they dunk it.

I only saw the highlight as I had class; only saw the second half.

 

JTR lives in an alternate reality. He maintains that the four spot has been getting only five or six shots attempts per game, even though durvasa's stats show that through game 4 Jones had been getting about double that per 48, Casspi had been getting more than three times that per 48, and D-Mo had been getting about four times that per 48.

 

I didn't watch the game. I hope I'll get a chance next time. All I can say to the naysayers so far is that: It's the FIRST TIME, and Asik was coming out of an injury. So give them a chance to work a little more.

One interesting thing just by looking at the boxscore: Asik took 7 shots in about 24 minutes. He averaged 7.5 FGA in 30 minutes last season. So that's about the same amount. I was expecting that he would be used less on offense. Did I miss something?

Also, the two guys got 26 rebounds. That's pretty good.

 

I wouldn't judge until the earliest mid November, probably more like med December depending on well Asik's injury has healed, and he has time to get the feel of the game again.