Could the Orion project pusher plate model be used for asteroid deflection?
Basically, the plates (or hemispherical shells) would be deployed in the vicinity of the asteroid , and the following nuclear blasts would push the asteroid-plates system on a different path. Depending on the composition of the asteroid , a direct nuclear blast in its vicinity (with no pusher plates) would be less efficient (and then there is the fragmentation problem).
How efficient would this deflection system be in relation to large asteroids (km range), and in relation to other deflection options?