The Jekyll and Hyde Identity or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Asik and Dwight

Can't believe Morey didn't realize this we would have won 5 more games than last year & had $22mill to spend.. Fans were happy and going to games more.. This year it's the same amount of people in stands

 

The other reason I say this, has anyone else noticed that they tend to do better in the 2nd half of the game? I would argue that once you wear down the opponents, the bigs speed won't be as big as a liability. The other reason I say this the other team is a bit more warn down and won't be quite as quick to run plays as they would in the first part of the game and by starting them in the 2nd part of the 1st quarter if we build a lead even if they do give up some points, we won't have to play as much catch up as we have been when we start them off.

 

I actually think the OP's argument makes sense. The problem right now is that if the Jekyll and Hyde identity is intentionally designed to confuse or disrupt the opponent's game plan, it has done a fantastic job confusing and disrupting ourselves too.

 

I tend to agree with the OP, but we're failing miserably trying to execute it. We're shooting for 2 unique identities but coming up with no identity. McHale has to learn how put these players in sets to succeed. Help make the game easier on them. They're too young to figure it out on their own.

 

What? If I'm DM (or Les) I'm thinkin the excitement surrounding bringing D12 to town (reference the D12 rally) would pack the stands... Attendence for Rox in recent years has been spotty at best and let's be honest, it's a business and our team has to sell tix... so from the business end, bringing D12 was a no brainer....

 

Morey has been or record saying he doesnt believe Asik and Howard do not fit together. I know Morey believes that a GM should not interfere with the coaches decision.

In this case, Morey needs to step in Mchale's office and have a talk with him. He needs to force Mchale's hand and do away with the TT lineup. I want the first seed, but right now this team is headed to the 6th or 7th seed.

 

Its a one two punch on us because it hasn't been working, we start off with no offense and get blown out, and by the time we have our offense the other team is gone up 10-20 with a head full of confidence knowing they can beat us.

 

I would believe this more if it were clear that the team had some set offensive and defensive plays from which they were working in either lineup. Or if McHale actually managed player minutes/rotations against the two lineups consistently instead of throwing guys in and out of games willy-nilly.

I said a while ago that if the team wanted to maximize its best players, it would rotate between the 1-1-2-3-5 and the 1-2-3-5-5 lineups (essentially your "Jekyll and Hyde" argument). The problem either the coaching staff hasn't instilled enough of a sound strategy that the players can execute it, or the players themselves are not executing whatever strategy the coaches want to use.

At this point, I'm leaning far more towards the former, given what we've seen even going as far back as last year. Maybe on offense you can get away with not having a set plan (i.e. "Read & React"), but it's clear that on defense this team has no idea what it's doing against something as basic as the PNR. Even when guys fight through it, half the time the rest of the team doesn't step up to back them up properly. "Fighting through more screens" is not a legitimate defensive strategy. It's like going into a boxing match and having your corner scream, "KNOCK THIS GUY OUT!" Sounds great, but is practically meaningless.

 

The starting lineup is a nightmare for spacing

Parsons/Harden/Beverly have not hit the 3 consistently, and Asik/Howard are useless outside of 5ft.

I do like the idea of a Jekyl and Hyde identity (smother them with defense initially, then turn on the afterburners with a running lineup off the bench), but right now it's not working.

 

But having the offensive lineup come in later means they are the ones there in the free throw portion of the festivities; that's not insignificant.

 

TT in 3rd:
CHA (-5)
DAL (-1)
@UTA (+12) (24 to 12)
@LAC (-3)
@POR (+12) (14 to 2)
LAL (0)
LAC (-1)

Perception versus reality. Two good third quarter TT runs out of seven.

Utah sucks and we were 10-12 on FTs during 3rd qtr TT.
Portland is very bad @ interior defense and was ice cold(1-7 on jumpers, 0-2 on layups and 0-2 of FT).

TT in 1st:
CHA (+1)
DAL (0) *foul trouble Asik
@UTA (-6)
@LAC (-13)
@POR (-4)
LAL (-12)
LAC (-10)

DAL doesn't count so only one net positive (+1) in 6 first quarter TT runs.

I'm pretty sure this isn't going to help us win a championship.

 

Wow that is not good at all.

 

I have an idea...why don't we keep it simple, use the same core as last year but replace Asik with Dwight (massive upgrade with having Asik come in as soon as Dwight sits out). If they really want to see if this TT works then start to incorporate in the middle of the game NOT at the start (preferably when we have a massive lead).

I just think maybe were trying to be too smart for our own good and complicating things

 

LOL Tell that to the Coach.

 

I just love people who provide data and are so objectively adding a whole bunch or explanations (or excuses) to skew other's perception.

Not saying you were wrong with your assessment on TT, but just an incorrect way of presenting you dada.

 

This is what I was thinking too. For it to truly work, one of the towers needs to be able to score consistently and at least pull the defense away from the other shooters. Neither Dwight nor Omer are enough of a scoring threat to make the defense stay honest.

It worked well with Sampson and Olajuwon and with Duncan and Robinson because there was their ability to score that made the TT so lethal.

Plus, I think they still haven't figured out their spacing enough to complement each other on defense, but at least that can be improved on with time; I don't know about offensive production though.

 

I don't buy it. Identity comes from winning consistently. Winning consistently doesn't come from attempting to artificially forge an identity.

Every team in the NBA is attempting to forge an identity. The ones that win consistently will have their identity recognized.

We've lost twice against the Clippers - a team against which TT was supposed to be well suited. Griffin and Jordan don't have any range, and they are not a better rebounding or defensive combo than Asik and Howard.

This thing did not look like it's going to work, and now it looks even less likely. I see the future of TT: being used to shut down teams with great benches.

This team needs a 4 with range to maximize the abilities of Howard and Harden. As simple as that. I'm starting to feel like Morey is sacrificing wins to avoid the inevitable decline in Asik's trade value. It's annoying. If we're going to run TT, the guys need to work harder on their movement and tighten up the defense. Also, someone needs to be held accountable for experimenting with this line-up (if this goes on all season) in the first 25% of Dwight Howard's career as a Rocket.

 

I added my comments because the person I was replying to said they loved TT in the third. TT didn't do well in the third against good defensive teams that's a fact.

 

Great OP!

Really got me thinking. I wasn't looking at the wide scope of a season culminating in playoff. I love the two-faced agile metamorphosis. Only hope it can work.
I'm not really sure that's actually what they mean, but if it IS the idea / the identity in mind - it's worth losing some games in the first half of the season.