Omer Asik played a weird game Friday against the Hawks, to say the least.
We'll start with the stat line: 19 rebounds, zero points. That has happened just eleven other times since 1990, and I'm sure you could have guessed the man responsible for the majority of those games. Dennis Rodman finished with zero points and at least 19 rebounds a grand total of seven times. They say points aren't everything.
Putting all that aside, let's focus on a completely different, infinitely more ridiculous thing that Omer did in this game. With the Rockets up by just three points and in need of a put-away basket, Asik trotted up the floor behind everyone else, and right when Lin appeared to want to set up a play, Asik stopped.
He then bent over and — to my amazement — he began to tie his shoe. In the middle of the game, right in the middle of open play. What.
At that point, Zaza Pachulia could have jumped Lin and forced him into a trap that could have perhaps resulted in a turnover for the Rockets and a chance to equalize on the fast break for Atlanta. This was a legitimately possible outcome.
But that's not what happened. You know why? Because Asik managed to successfully tie his shoe laces in the heat of a basketball game. In all of three seconds. He and Lin then went to work on a pick and roll that didn't work in Houston's favor, but it at least didn't give the Hawks a chance for a steal and a fast break.
It looks harmless now, but in thinking about the potential consequences had Pachulia taken the opportunity to go for a trap, I honestly do not think it is a stretch to say that Asik's shoe-tie could have really, actually cost Houston a chance at a win. Really.
Oh, Omer.