[ESPN] How Dwight Howard gives Houston two vastly different looks

Is there really any evidence at this point that shows that Casspi has been that bad of a defender, and his presence has been the catalyst for the defensive drop off?

I would contribute most of the poor defensive stats with the second unit to how much easier it is to score on the Rockets when they are "smaller" with Casspi or Parsons at the 4 due to pace, but the overall point is.... they are outscoring opponents, and the big lineup isn't.

That's sort of the point of the game right???... score more points than the other guy?? Either way its not their anchor in the middle that's the problem with their defense anyways which isn't noted here anywhere.... perimeter defense is where the problem lies.

As for the Asik trade/non-trade/rotation game-

Id like to see the team add one of the young bigs to the rotation for a few games, and move Asik to the bench permanently in all honesty. You're kidding yourself if you think playing him as a starter is making a difference to anyone but Omer.

The only negative would be other GM's might think the Rockets are giving up on the Twin-Towers and throw more low ball offers out. Still.... there are starting points to any negotiation. You dont HAVE TO accept the trade if its not adequate value.

GM's know they are low-balling if they are, and they know Asik's true value. Also it just might increase his value if teams know he's going to get moved and want to jump on it ASAP to secure his services if there appears to be multiple offers on the table.

So I guess my overall point is- The twin towers thing is sort of a joke, and the sooner the team is able to put a stable lineup together, the better off this team will play. A trade will come along soon that makes sense where Morey has to pull the trigger.

 

I am going to need you to read this paragraph.

 

Agreed, Carl, it's the point differential that counts. Obviously the sample size is small, but it appears that Casspi is functioning quite credibly as a poor man's Ryan Anderson alongside Dwight. That's why I've changed my stance and think if they trade Omer for a 4, a key factor will now be the target player's ability to play backup 5. Thus, they probably won't go for a stretch 4 (since stretch 4s typically can't defend the paint as a 5).

But I definitely want to see them give the TT lineup more time.

 

If we were going to do the Anderson for Asik trade, it would have already happened. Anderson is playing as an expensive backup to Davis (he's injured now but that's what they were doing in the preseason), and if you're playing Jason Smith and Greg Stiesma at C so you can keep Davis at PF, why the hell wouldn't you want Asik?

Either the NOP FO is just completely stupid and doesn't think Asik is as good as he is, or the Houston FO is serious about keeping Asik around and seeing if it can work.

 

Yeah, but is Ryan Anderson really that much of a better defensive player than Casspi? Enough so to make a difference? I just don't see it personally. He is a negative on the defensive end of the court. I'm sure Blake Griffin would be shaking in his high tops as soon as we put Anderson on him instead of Casspi.

 

New Orleans can always increase their offer. The Pelle's can offer their 2016 1st rounder & multiple 2nd rounders as well as Anderson. I know the Rockets aren't necessarily worry right now about young talent in 2016, and they need to focus on winning now, but dont lose forget about the Lowry trade from last year.

I wouldn't be shocked at all if Morey took a deal for Asik which included assets like this one that he knew for sure would hold great value to ALL 30 teams, and then later put together another package centered around a slew or draft picks for another player.

 

I think the other critical key is the LOW 3 pt shooting percentages. Those have nowhere to go but UP. The Rockets perimeter players are much better 3 pt shooters than they have been through 5 games and increased percentages alone will aid the offense and make the TT look like a better match-up.

The author points out that "spacing" with the TTs DOESNT seem to be the problem..so this means that the shots from outside are simply not going down. Once that improves, watch out TTs plus kick-out 3 points raining down and the offensive efficiency will jump.

--its also only been 5 games. No one here can realistically expect the TT experiment to have proven itself by now. Asik and Dwight are learning new roles (in essence with Dwight playing the 4) and I agree with the other posters that the Rockets don't need to showcase Asik, everyone already knows he is an elite defender and one of the top centers in the league.

I think this is about keeping your best players on the floor (Asik is arguably 3 or 4th best on the team) and seeing how it plays out. As long as the rockts are winning 4/5 games, I'll take the 'iffy" TT experiment any day!

Finally , since the Rockets are WINNING, we get rid of Asik so quick? Allow him to adjust first of; next, having 48 mins of elite rim protection is so more important than having a stretch-4 (as we saw last year when Asik went to the beach) and lets just go for broke this year. Asik can easily get 25 min a game, requiring only 6-10 min of TT. I think the Rockets can manage that. If he is unhappy after a successful season and deep playoff run (and..and..who knows?) then trade him next year.

 

Why 2016?

 

Parsons slow 3pt shooting slump is contributing to this effect. Once he hits his stride we will be fine.

 

Ultimately, the goal is to always have Asik or Dwight on the court so that they don't melt down on defense. The ability to give teams different looks can also drive other teams crazy. The Rockets have a very nice problem to deal with. I do wish we could see a little more of DMO or TJones to see if they can play.

 

Casspi is a 53% FT shooter? The heck. He does have a weird shot though. It looks like he's only using power from his wrists or something.

 

2014 is already owed to Philly from the Holiday trade, and you can't trade consecutive 1st rounders.

 

Random note, I like Lin with Greg Smith on the 2nd unit with Casspi and Garcia.

 

They made a mistake. They meant Asik.

 

Gotcha.

 

On that, When they showed his shot chart on the Grantland preview Parson was red hot from the top of the arch and the corners and was not shooting well from the wings. He seems to be shooting from the wings a lot this year.

 

I didn't see where he said that. He said "Howard has found room to operate alongside Asik" and "While that percentage is sure to progress to the mean, the limited attempts are problematic for a team that has built its offense around the 3-pointer."

With 2 bigs usually within 8' to 10' of the rim it makes it easier for teams to cover the corner 3's. I haven't looked @ shot charts yet but I would bet that we're shooting fewer corner 3's when TT is on the floor so we're taking more less efficient 3's.

 

Btw interesting trend so far with the ft% of our TT guys Howard with 56.3% (59.1% in the last 4 games) and Asik with 71.4%

I'll hope that trend continues

 

Our big lineup seems more like a case of, it's better than any other alternative for those 12 mins or so a game

 

If Asik could actually catch a bounce pass, or hold on to a layup our offensive and assist numbers would double! He must have the weakest hands in the NBA.