I think Asik should continue to start. I seen Rockets PF getting owned before due to lack of size and i don't want to see that. The Rockets can always go back and change the lineup later on as the game progress as they did against Portland. But the starting lineups should always have Howard and Asik.
LMA just kinda camps out from midrange so it's not a terrible matchup for him. He's not gonna body you down low.
I like Casspi starting at the 4 and bringing Lin and Asik off the bench. I think it makes the Rockets a more balanced team. Lin can run the pick and roll with Asik and Asik can anchor the defense.
I sort of agree with Jabberwock here. I don't think Casspi cares at all coming from the bench. He seems to love playing meaningful minutes for the team regardless if he starts or not. I think he is a great addition to the Rockets roster and may get even a more critical role in McHale's system, but it does not have to be as a starter. One of the great things about Casspi's game right now is that he does not even seem to think about his stats line. He only want the team to win. Maybe that is the reason why he plays so well? I noticed that his PER just passed the 20 line and his stats are better in every category even when compared to his good rookie year. Deal of the year for Morey.
Excellent point. If Casspi were moved to a starting spot, he might start pressing the way Chandler's pressing now. I like how he's being used. I could see Garcia possibly getting some starts at the 3 if Parsons slumps continues, just to see what happens.
More and McHale know Asik needs to start or else he'll pout as he did when the Rockets first acquired Dwight. Asik must be traded for a true PF.
Thanks! I was upset when people were killing Casspi before he even set his feet on the floor. I was convinced that he will produce. So far it looks very good. Basketball is a game of 48 minutes and every minute is important. The bench is much more important than people seem to realize. Maybe Casspi will be the natural starter after 40 games. Then he starts. The Rockets are a very analytical entity. They will go through these scenarios and come up with the best answer.
The defensive change when Casspi went in for Asik in the 3rd quarter of Portland was very ugly. I don't want to spend a season watching that. We're 4-1. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
what we are really doing is showcasing Casspi to include him with or without Asik in the next big trade.
Good point. The difference would be starting in a hole, and then catching up with the small lineup, or starting evenly matched, and then staying even with the big lineup. In the end the results might be the same, with the added benefit of keeping Asik happy/trade value up. Although, I do think there is a psychological impact to having to come from behind time after time as opposed to staying even the whole game. It has to take a toll. Also there is the question of 'fit'. Beverley is starting because he fits better with Harden, and there isn't any question that Casspi fits better next to Howard. The difference between the comparison is that Lin is about equal to Bev, while Asik is much better than Casspi, though. To the TT's credit, if we only look at the West's contenders(the only teams that matter), TT does match up well to start the game: Duncan/Splitter Ibaka/Perkins Griffin/Jordan Lee/Bogut Gasol/Randolph Although we can get away with going small vs Splitter and Ibaka, as last year's playoffs showed us. Also Memphis isn't really a contender.
In all 5 games we've played so far, the TT experiment got us into a deficit in the 1st quarter, only when McHale made substitutions (Casspi for Asik) did we regain control of the game.
