10/21 PRESEASON GAME 5: Rockets vs Mavericks Game Thread

[MKL]

So physical for a preseason game. Mavs trying to make a statement?

[MaxRider]

OMG HARDEN MISSED 21 PTS GAME by 2 pts

[Tomas_11]

Harden with 7 TOs

[MaxRider]

Harden with 7 TOs

he has problem passing to howard in the post
he did it too slow and pass it to the wrong hand
enough time for dalembert to time it and tip it away

[Ribalding]

Some thoughts:

1. Our greatest fears about playing Howard with Asik look to have been 100% correct. When they were on the floor together, tonight, all Rockets offensive flow/ball movement ground to a dead halt. Period. Horrible spacing, forced passes in the paint, etc., etc.
2. Sure, the rebounding was awesome when they were on the floor together. But rebounding isn't so important when the opposing team can drill un-opposed 15 foot jumpers all night long. ...which Dallas did.
3. Perhaps the combo will work against Memphis. They have two bigs who stick close to the basket. But against everybody else...lets say tonight was a less than auspicious beginning.
4. The saddest part of every year is the last few preseason games when marginal guys try to prove their worth by doing stuff they're not good at. Tonight was no exception. Poor poor Greg Smith. That was brutal. It was like watching two kids with Downs Syndrome try to pick out a china pattern.

The good news?

I have a vision. Or maybe it's more of a hope. It's a speech I hope McHale gives in the near future:

"Guys, we suck with Howard and Asik on the floor together. You guys are both terrific players. But you play the same game. Sorry. You're both old school centers. I dig that. Trust me, I do. But neither of you can shoot or pass or move with anything approaching lateral speed on the perimeter. Them's the facts. BUT...I have a solution:

We. Never. Play. You. Together.

Hardly ever. With a few rare exceptions, you two will never play at the same time. BUT THAT"S NOT A BAD THING. Neither of you will get worn down during the regular season. You'll each average 26 minutes a game. If one of you's banged up on a particular night? No biggie. The other one picks up the slack. And when the playoffs come around?! Woh Nellie hold on to your bloomers! You're both gonna be rested and ready to dominate! How cool is THAT!?

You guys are gonna be rested, ready, hungry, and our offensive flow will never take a dip because I made the horrible mistake of playing you together. And we'll be able to rotate defensively for 48 minutes a night! Almost gives me a stiffy to imagine it. Win/win, right? We score 48 minutes a night, we defend 48 minutes a night, Greg Smith gets to smoke tons of herb while banging inexpensive midtown hookers, and we cruise into the playoffs with the two best centers in the league. RIGHT?"

If he gives that speech, we're golden.

Otherwise...

[inquisitive]

asik didn't look gassed last nite, but he sure looked like a guy playing in his 1st preseason game. i think the d12/asik combo still too early to tell...asik's first game period much less together with d12. i do think they will only be used depending on matchups and not every single game.

[inquisitive]

Harden with 7 TOs

dude has some lazy passes especially that one on the fast break when he was trying a half ass pass to d12(?) and got it picked off. lin and harden need to work on improving their entry passes to d12 .

[Durant Durant]

my 2 cents. time to trade Asik for Ryan Anderson while Asik's value is up. for sure his numbers will plummet by this season's trade deadline. Asik will only serviceable as backup C which he doesn't want. besides, some of Howard's best years as C was with Ryan.

[Nebula1]

my 2 cents. time to trade Asik for Ryan Anderson while Asik's value is up. for sure his numbers will plummet by this season's trade deadline. Asik will only serviceable as backup C which he doesn't want. besides, some of Howard's best years as C was with Ryan.

I agree about trading Asik eventually, but first I'd like to see how it goes with him backing Howard since that's a powerful combo and second I think his value is higher than Ryan Anderson.

Asik will retain his value as the season goes along so I don't see any reason to rush a trade.

[MaxRider]

my 2 cents. time to trade Asik for Ryan Anderson while Asik's value is up. for sure his numbers will plummet by this season's trade deadline. Asik will only serviceable as backup C which he doesn't want. besides, some of Howard's best years as C was with Ryan.

we need a backup center more than a starting stretch PF
Asik-Anderson trade will only help Pelicans not the Rockets
i think Pelicans fans don't want pay a backup PF 8.3M
i don't have problem paying backup C 8.3M

yesterday game is only a small sample and a bad one
we will get a better look at next two games where we face Spurs (Duncan+Splitter) and Grizzlies (Gasol+Randolph)

[moofs]

Damnit. I'm going to have to write up a post on defensive impact now.

[Durant Durant]

^^ last time I checked Asik wants to start that's why he wanted a trade. anyways, I dunno if he changed his mind recently. besides Pelicans have no starting C, and Davis wants to play PF, Ryan fits well with Howard. Asik and Howard game is one and the same. you can only grab that many rebounds. Dwight even gave Casspi the death stare when he tried to grab the rebound when he was getting it leading to a turnover for example. Dwight needs a stretch 4 (ad nauseum).

[moofs]

^^ last time I checked Asik wants to start that's why he wanted a trade. anyways, I dunno if he changed his mind recently. besides Pelicans have no starting C, and Davis wants to play PF, Ryan fits well with Howard. Asik and Howard game is one and the same. you can only grab that many rebounds. Dwight even gave Casspi the death stare when he tried to grab the rebound when he was getting it leading to a turnover for example. Dwight needs a stretch 4 (ad nauseum).

Not pro-, con-.
Or at least that's my expectation. We'll see if the data agrees at the end.

[MaxRider]

^^ last time I checked Asik wants to start that's why he wanted a trade. anyways, I dunno if he changed his mind recently. besides Pelicans have no starting C, and Davis wants to play PF, Ryan fits well with Howard. Asik and Howard game is one and the same. you can only grab that many rebounds. Dwight even gave Casspi the death stare when he tried to grab the rebound when he was getting it leading to a turnover for example. Dwight needs a stretch 4 (ad nauseum).

it was a lost in translation or whatever you want to call it
he basically unsure what his role is going to be with additional of Howard
Howard/Casspi thing is because Casspi is trying to stat pad his reb
Howard was in total position and don't tell me Casspi can't see that
you don't see Howard give the same stare to Parsons and Lin when they going inside for reb
he just need to play more with Howard
one problem i see when both are playing is they are unsure who should go grab the rebound or who to close out the lane
once they work that out i'm pretty sure they can co-exist

[inquisitive]

^^ last time I checked Asik wants to start that's why he wanted a trade. anyways, I dunno if he changed his mind recently. besides Pelicans have no starting C, and Davis wants to play PF, Ryan fits well with Howard. Asik and Howard game is one and the same. you can only grab that many rebounds. Dwight even gave Casspi the death stare when he tried to grab the rebound when he was getting it leading to a turnover for example. Dwight needs a stretch 4 (ad nauseum).

the players are still getting to know each other. it takes time...it could take the whole season before the chemistry is there.

[MKL]

Asik wants to play around 30 minutes a night. That can only happen if both Asik and Howard are on the court at the same time. If the Howard+Asik combo doesn't work, Asik will most likely ask for a trade. Asik is worth $8 mil a year as a backup center, but Asik is worth more than his contract being one of the best centers in the NBA. Asik will get paid around 12 mil/year on his next contract, but he needs starter minutes now.

[MaxRider]

it's too early to make a call
they only play one preseason game together and against Dallas is bad matchup for them
give them more time
even if they can't co-exist on the court at the same time
i don't see reason to trade Asik this season
unless we are getting a player in return that is really helping us

[Durant Durant]

Faried is available though I think it's the same banana. the next game should be the final audition for Asik. it's time to let the real starters play ala Chicago Bulls. the question mark should be gone by game 1 of the regular season else it'll be a long November.

[MaxRider]

first Anderson and now Faried
i rather have Ilyasova

[willywazza]

I'm loving Jeremy Lin's passes to Dwight!

I can see a nice partnership going on.