Slow Frontcourt when Asik trade pushes through..

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I want to credit the guy who told me this when I was concerned about a Monroe-Sully pairing.

Mahc (I spell it like that) Gasol and Zach Randolph worked well in Memphis. Athleticism is not always THE thing.

Please don't tell me you are comparing Marc Gasol with Omer Asik in terms of talent...

Gasol and Randolf worked well together because both are exceptinally good players and borderline All-Stars.  Asik is nothing even remotely close to that.

Im not comparing them talent wise. Im comparing their quickness (or lack thereof).

They worked well defending despite not having elite big man athleticism. They're just tough, bruising and go for the boards. Offense should not be a problem as Sully now has legitimate 3 point range, so there's no need for clogging the paint for Asik who probably has no range.

The "slow" part gets noticed on the defensive side, in which again, if Mahc and Z-Bo (who are not fast guys) can handle it, so can Asik and Sully. And it's not like Asik is slow too, his footwork is solid on PnR's, he rotates well and challenges every shot. Bigs can be as quick as they want against us, they would still have to worry about Asik protecting the paint and both him and Sully being tough outings on the block for rebounds.

[Yenohb]

If the rumored Asik trade will push through and Humphries leaves through free agency next summer..

Who will guard the Kevin Loves, the Blake Griffins, the Dirk Nowitzkis, the Paul Millsaps of the League?

Sullinger, Olynyk, Faverani and Asik front court won't cut it.. Too slow with regards to on-ball defense IMO..

Your thoughts?

The same can be said if the proposed Bass and Lee trade is reversed about Lopez, Hibbert and Aldridge. The current Cs dont have the length to match up with these players.

Team defensive principles will alow Sully and Asik to handle the quicker hybrid post players you list above. As other have mentioned Gasol and Randolph are the PF and C on an elite defensive team and neither are any quicker then Asik and Sully.

One thing I will add is that with the likely loss of Humph next season I would expect DA to add a quick 4/3 type player to the big man rotation. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Vitor moved in a trade and Iverson brought over to be the 5th big next year.

That's a good point, also from Fafnir. I was thinking the same way with regards to the need of a 4/3 type of quick bigman that we can get on a cheap deal or through the draft, Is Romero Osby a viable option?. Also in the draft lots of tweeners SF\PF are available like Aaron Gordon(long shot) Montrezl Harrel etc. I prefer that we cover all our bases defensively. Having a 4 that can defend down low and having no problem switching defensively with the Lebron James and Carmelo Anthonys of the league would be a great help IMO.

[PhoSita]

If David West and Hibbert can be a dominant defensive frontcourt, Sully and Asik could be pretty darn good, too.

Stevens likes his team to play super slow anyhow.

[LooseCannon]

If you're worried about Asik-Sullinger being a slow frontcourt, I'm pretty sure Sullinger is the weak link in that regard.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Regarding the concerns people have about Asik, I keep going back to Perk, and I'll do so once more: Perk is the slowest man in the history of the NBA, and still Boston won a title with him.

So I'm not worried.

[SparzWizard]

Regarding the concerns people have about Asik, I keep going back to Perk, and I'll do so once more: Perk is the slowest man in the history of the NBA, and still Boston won a title with him.

So I'm not worried.

But Boston won a title with Paul Pierce, KG, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo with him as well! 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Regarding the concerns people have about Asik, I keep going back to Perk, and I'll do so once more: Perk is the slowest man in the history of the NBA, and still Boston won a title with him.

So I'm not worried.

But Boston won a title with Paul Pierce, KG, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo with him as well! 

Well, yeah. My point was that having a slower-than-molasses center isn't a death knell.

[D.o.s.]

Dwight's in the other conference, now, too.

[vjcsmoke]

If the rumored Asik trade will push through and Humphries leaves through free agency next summer..

Who will guard the Kevin Loves, the Blake Griffins, the Dirk Nowitzkis, the Paul Millsaps of the League?

Sullinger, Olynyk, Faverani and Asik front court won't cut it.. Too slow with regards to on-ball defense IMO..

Your thoughts?

Simple answer.  Did Kendrick Perkins win any foot races?  Nope.  And if he had been healthy for the finals against the lakers we might be talking about 2 championships under the 'Big 3' instead of just one.  Asik is a 5.  He guards 5 position players.  Sully is a 4, he guards 4 position players.  Not hard to figure out.

[j804]

I want to see Asik play. I hope he plays against the Clippers tomorrow the Rockets supposedly want to get him back into the rotation.

If talks get going again and he looks great (not just tomorrow) offer them the unprotected.

[the_Bird]

If this deal ever happens.....

Asik's not going to win any 40-yard dashes but he moves his feet quite well for a big man.  He's got plenty of athleticism for his role; if he didn't, he wouldn't be the elite interior defender he is.

On the offensive end, the single best thing that we could do, if we want to be an aggressive, push-it-up-the-court running team, is to add a guy like Asik.  Can't run the fast break without a rebound and a good outlet pass.

[Celtics4ever]

Well, yeah. My point was that having a slower-than-molasses center isn't a death knell.

Agree, it isn't like Oly is Carl Lewis exactly either.   Shaq wasn't Usain Bolt.