I still don't understand the hate lumped on Asik. Diva? Malcontent? The guy wants to play. Should the alternative be that we applaud guys that are happy to sit on the bench and collect a very large check that do nothing for it? Look at that Raef LaFrentz. What a stand up guy he was, being WILLING to collect 13 million and do nothing. I wish we had more athletes that would sit on their ass and collect the check instead of wanting to start for their teams. The guy wants to play. How is he faulted and mocked for that?
Did you feel the same for Mighty Mouse, when he was benched in the end of the 4th? The problem isn't that his motor wanted to start. It was he demanded he should start and made it public. He didn't play to force Houston's coaching staff to keep him in the game. Instead he sulked and whined like a good merlot!
To force them to keep him in the game? He's behind Dwight Howard. That's like Thomas Robinson forcing us to bench Aldridge for him. But if we just signed Aldride as a premier free agent this offseason. He's not an idiot, he knows they're not keeping Howard on the bench for him, and it's clear they can't play well together.
Its fine if Asik wants to start, but he should do whatever he can to help the team from the bench until he gets that opportunity. Batum wanted to start when we had Wallace here but he still played hard off the bench. Sitting out games as Asik has hurts the team, complaining about a backup role when most the players on a team are backups hurts the locker room. Asik is being paid $25 million to play basketball, the coaches job is to put him in a role that best helps the team and Asiks job is to perform. He is not performing that role.
How many games has Asik just willingly sat out on his own accord? Where he went to the team and said you know, I just don't want to play today, thanks. The started him the first 8 games, and when they realized that wasn't working, he went from starter to getting 4 minutes in an OT game the next night, and then a couple of DNP-CDs. It's one thing if it's a scrub player, you take that. I know he's getting paid, I mentioned that. I want someone who wants to play, not someone who's content getting 15 million to play 4 minutes a night.
I don't think he's been a model player, by any means, but I also don't see him being a malcontent and a diva necessarily, and I think because of Lopez's strong play, the opinions in here of him seem to have taken a drastic negative shift. That's not saying I want him over Robin. I don't. In fact, I wanted Robin this offseason over him.
Asik got a DNP because Asik asked to be held out of games. He was able to help the team on the court but refused to do so. Malcontent means you are "dissatisfied and complaining or making trouble" which is exactly what Asik is doing. What does a player have to do to be a malcontent in your book, physically choke a coach?
I have said this before - Morey and Rockets are going to be very disappointed in the return they get from Asik, and the longer he stays there the worse the return becomes.
do you really want to pay a guy 22-23 mil bench rotting when you can at least get a few assets and get rid of him?
Obviously the bar is low. They can let him rot and wait until next season to trade him. Obviously they aren't gonna get what they want. Players like this deserve to be taught a lesson. Asik bitching like this will only drop his value. When his contract is up, his value will be at a all time low. Let him sit there and have to face his teammates everyday. He will be in his 30's before he can walk.
I'd say Houston could wait to trade him, but his contract becomes significantly more expensive next season. It's much more manageable right now, so they really need to deal him before the deadline. There's no chance they're getting someone like Batum though, and I highly doubt they get a lottery pick. Asik is good, but he's not a star. Morey needs to be realistic.
Should be interesting on how much Asik will be playing tonight. You have to think that eyes will be on him.
LMAO!!!! Yeah I know I can get that way sometimes. I was just brought up to honor loyalty and respect. I think Asik has disrespected the fans and team in Houston
