- I had to cut this morning’s post short as I had to prepare for a presentation. But you knew I had more thoughts. First, on Omer Asik: the man has been brilliant defensively, shutting down the paint, as he was all season. Without him, this team wouldn’t even have a chance. But he has atleast 5 plays at the other end of the court each game that make you want to throw something at your television set, whether it be an uncaught pass or a blown layup (or that new “hook shot” he’s unveiled of late where he actually throws the ball at the glass in hopes of it going in.) There has been a sentiment from some that a summer pursuit of Dwight Howard is unnecessary; “why do we need Howard? We have Asik.” I hope you understand after watching last night why I laugh when reading those statements. Howard gives you everything Asik does, defense, but with finishes at the rim. This team’s offense would become significantly improved with that swap.
- Watching how much better Houston looked last night with two-ball handlers next to Harden made me think back to the report from Marc Stein, around the deadline, that Houston would pursue a trade for Eric Gordon if it came up short in its chase of Howard. I liked the thought, but we debated it relentlessly here in our forums with some feeling that ultimately, ball dominant guards cannot co-exist (Lebron/Wade be damned). After watching last night, I’m again really liking the thought. I just feel ultimately, the point of everything is to get as much talent as you can, put it together, and make the other team stop it. If you can get another elite shooting guard on the cheap, you do it. You don’t just hold off on the premise that “you already have a shooting guard.” You get this guy and you make them stop you. And I think having Harden and Gordon together would make this team extremely difficult to stop. Let’s face it. Elite power forwards aren’t growing on trees. We’d love to have one. But if we can’t get one, I don’t think it makes sense to turn away from an elite shooting just out of some sentiment of needing to fill a conventional lineup card. Would the Hornets take Lin for Gordon? You could then either start Gordon together with Harden in the backcourt, or start them both Beverley. Point being: it’s going to take a lot to beat this OKC team over the next decade. We have to make them react to us.
- So many teams have made foolish decisions on the basis of playoff emotions. Hell, the Rockets rewarded Matt Maloney and Matt Bullard with ridiculous long-term deals for that very reason. The Rockets need to be careful, and I know they will. Beverley’s looked great, but let’s keep in mind, he also hasn’t been scouted. Let’s not just necessarily conclude that he should be the starter next year with Lin pushed out. (Though I’m beginning to really have doubts whether Lin is the guy for this team.) I’ll say though, that other than all of the abstract stuff he showed last night, the big positive in his favor is his league minimum salary. Moneyball101: anytime you can replace a more expensive guy with a far cheaper guy and get back similar, or better, production, that’s a good thing. If you can plug Beverley in and not miss a beat, then logic dictates using Lin’s $8million cap figure elsewhere, like say, towards Eric Gordon’s max salary. Of course, the big variable there is that we have no real way of knowing just how many foreign joint ventures Les Alexander has been able to embark upon just due to having Lin on the team.
- Toyota Center would have been rocking had the Rockets pulled it off last night. It will be rocking regardless….but sort of an uneasy “glad to be here but this’ll be over quick” kind of rocking. Had they closed off that remarkable run with a victory, yesterday, I think people would have really begin to think, “Hmmm…this could get interesting.”
- I think it’s so ironic that a 2-3 zone is what brought Houston back, considering, they have, you know…Kevin Durant and Kevin Martin. But I think a big part of that was just Westbrook making poor decisions. Notice how Oklahoma City quickly put the game away when they actually gave Durant the ball again. And therein lies the key to beating OKC: make Westbrook force the issue. If Durant gets going, its over. But Westbrook is liable to shoot them out of the game at any moment. This is why Beverley’s head games are key.
- On that point: remember last year I lamented that the Rockets didn’t have any tough guys on the team and several of you responded that you only wanted choir boys? I think Game 2 shows you the importance of having a mix of characters. Remember: there’s a huge psychological aspect to sports, in general. If you show the opponent that you will allow them to, for instance, step on your face, with no retaliation….you will continue to get walked over.
- On Saturday: the Thunder will have prepared for the zone, so don’t think it’s a strategy Houston can go to from the get-go. They’ll do it in spurts, but it’s not a total solution. A solution is hitting your 3′s.
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