The Poll to End All Polls: Best Frontcourt Pairing

Wow that's a tough poll .... and I think you left off a few combinations.

Obviously Howard is better than Asik - Asik is the "poor mans Howard" ...


If you could swing it , a combination of Howard Love or Howard LMA would be as good as it gets .... hard to choose between the two but I don't think it realistic to get any two of those players.


I don't think Asik & Dwight are a good combination because their games are so similar .....


Love & LMA .... while those two have dramatically different games , I find it hard to separate the two when it comes to overall impact.


Asik Love would be a pretty balanced pair .... Asik LMA would be great defensively and average offensively


Dwight & J Smoove .... the consideration here is how does Smith compare to Love and LMA - I think both are superior players to Smith but is the difference enough to make of for the difference between Howard & Asik (I really question how much better Howard actually is - He is better , but how much ?!)


I think another thing that has to be considered is the offensive system .... Asik / LMA offensively ... Just doesn't see to mesh anymore than Asik / Howard.
While Howard / Smith or Asik / Love would both seem to work offensively. I think that's what it boils down to .... so the bottom line is a simple question: Is the difference between Love and Smith greater than the difference between Asik & Howard.


Howard is better than Asik on both ends of the court .... Love is the superior offensive player , Smith is the superior defensive player. Love is the better rebounder while Smith is better in the open court .... wow tough decision.


Give me Asik & Love .... begrudgingly.

 

No poll needed for that. The Asik reference solidifies that this is really about the best front court pairing for the Houston Rockets. Thus, the GARM is the right place... unless you are referring to it not being anywhere on Clutchfans. If so, touché. It's not a very polite notion, but I understand.

 

Marc Gasol & K Love

 

Some 2012/13 tape of Howard to help with your considerations. Remember, he was injured through most of this. End part has defensive block shot plays. I think Howard at PF like the Laker's system when they went on that 28-12 run is pretty scary, especially his PNRs. But Asik is no Gasol and can't pass out of the post like Gasol.

 

Sorry, link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYO8Bawzmzg

 

A Dwight Howard-Ryan Anderson would be a much more effective tandem than a Dwight-Smith combo. Much cheaper as well.

 

I'm convinced.

 

The thing is he's 6'11" but plays a lot bigger.
I was surprised at how good his post play was and dribble drive move to the basket.
From this forum I expected him to have zero post moves and drive like grandma.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TYO8Bawzmzg?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

3 answers with Asik in it, 1 without, why?

 

Are you asking me about Asik? I'll answer anyways.

I love Asik. I think he can become a top 5 center in a few years. I'm really torn as to whether he can play next to Howard. My initial response, like most people here, was "No Way!" he's just gonna clog up the lane and is we're better off trading for J.Smith.

Then I watched a BBALL Breakdown video with Coach Nick and he said Asik and Howard could play well together. He also pointed out how the Lakers moved Howard to the outside, using his quickness to set PNRs for Kobe and Gasol played low post. I then watched a lot of film on Howard and how he started as a 6'11" PF and how quick and athletic he was.

Now, I'm really torn as to whether Howard can play PF next to Asik. I'm mainly going with my heart (cause I don't want to trade away such potential like Asik) but my brain tells me we are better off with a stretch 4.

So yes, I've been to-ing and fro-ing on what combination is best. I wish Howard and Asik could work. The thought of twin towers... ala Olajuwon and Sampson is awesome.

 

He has a couple basic post moves .... but he's not a guy you are going to run your offense thru like Hakeem , Shaq or many of the other great centers of the past.


I think because of the way the game has changed over the past decade to a more peremiter oriented game , and the fact that most players have neglected the post game in favor of a perimeter oriented game .... we just cant compare centers today to those of the past .... the game has passed the old school center by.
Players with the athleticism of Hakeem are now stretch PF's who can shoot from3pt range .... while the center spot is left to bigs with little athleticism and shooting range / touch like Howard / Asik / Noah.

 

Agreed. Seems like the sessions with Hakeem might have worked. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mArHU1ewSog

 

Ryan Anderson is too one dimensional and streaky. He tailed off big time in the 2nd half of this season, and when his shots started missing, he couldn't really contribute much in other aspects of the game (a bit of rebounding here and there but not much else). Would be good as a 6th or 7th man though.

 

I think Houston's system really needs a 3-point bomber like Ray Allen to spread the floor.

Someone like Anderson coming of the bench could definitely work, or dare I say it... bring Steve Novak back.

or even better resurrect Robert Horry (just an example), a player like that would be a perfect fit for this team at the 4.

 

Wow. thanks for that video TJ VS TR. Made my day.
The Dream still looks like he can ball!!!

Interesting how Dwight said "its not about power, I'm an undersized center just like hakeem, its about quickness and strength"

I always thought Dwight was a power center like Shaq, but I forgot that actually he is undersized and quick and started as a PF. I watch the video again, and sure enough Dwight is beating everyone with quickness and jumping ability.

I also saw the jump hook hakeem was teaching him. That is an integral part of his game now. I am confident, with Hakeem as his "master" there is hope for this young Jedi to develop a post game.

Dwight should come to Houston and honor Hakeem's legacy and help us win a title. Its destiny!

 

~lol~ Cheers!! :grin:

We were having a discussion on this topic in this thread:

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=238451&page=3

 

Asik + Kevin Love wouldn't work due to injuries and another is we don't need to have a front court with all white guys if we are in championship mode keep it diverse with at least one brotha at power forward or center just my opinion.

 

What about Rafer Alston and a clone of Rafer Alston?
COME ON, GUYS, I'M SERIOUS. HE WAS A STREETBALL LEGEND.

 

Unless you care about defense.

 

My question is... can Ömer and Dwight coexist?