It's funny how people on the Garm say, thank God we have Asik. But with Beverley out its "oh no, now that scrub Lin has to play". Just saying.
It's not even a remotely comparable situation. Losing Dwight hurts the Rockets' the most on the defensive end and rebounding, something that Asik could fill in for. Dwight's offense could be compensated for, especially with Harden on the court. Lin on the other hand is not as good a defender as Beverley, and he has a history of inconsistencies and disappearing for stretches of games.
Lin has been pretty good for the last few games. And unlike what people think, he's not a bad defender. Not as good as Bev but definitely not a liability.
You really should just start eating your dead crow right now. You have no idea what you are talking about.
I rather Dwight sit and get healthy if his ankle is really bothering him. I much rather have a rested and healthy Dwight come the playoffs than I tired Dwight with a hobbled ankle. I feel like we can roll with the team from last year and still be in the 4 spot. Get healthy Dwight, were going to need you.
TV announcer for the Clippers has become a real douche once the Clippers started to Win again. Has his catch phrase Lawler's Law, first team to 100 usually Wins the game.
jtr, not sure whether you know it: The OffRtg and DefRtg from the NBA's stat page are different from e.g. the ORtg and DRtg from basketball reference. I don't know why they decided to do that, but the NBA simply uses the team's defensive rating during the player's time on the court (that's shown when you scroll over the column), so that's not necessarily a good indicator of a player's defensive abilities.
Do you need a tissue? Howard's impact would have been greater had Asik been moved for almost any warm body. Basically plugging him in for Asik and doing nothing else, and Asik basically not contributing all year has limited the improvement. The team was going to improve anyway due to youth and the fact that Harden had his first training camp/preseason with the team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kevin McHale said Dwight Howard will not play tomorrow night.</p>— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/statuses/450680238448459776">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Howard is listed as day to day and will be traveling with the team to Brooklyn and Toronto.</p>— Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/statuses/450680691097743360">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> And a Greg Smith "update"--not really Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I asked McHale about Greg Smith's progress. All he said was 'Greg Smith will not play tomorrow.'</p>— Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/statuses/450683636925227009">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I hope this is not setting up to be another epic ending fail by a Kevin Mchale coached team in the month of April.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard had more fluid drained from ankle last week, but said he's "not worried at all" that he'll be 100 % again this season.</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/statuses/451035397997735936">April 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard: "It was best I get the fluid out and just rest. I’m not worried.”</p>— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jonathan_Feigen/statuses/451035588616278016">April 1, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
problem is, he's decent in a game or 2, but stink it up the next game or 2(especially playing a good team).... we all know, hopefully even the LOF will admit, asik's a better backup 5 than lin's backup pg.