Dwight Howard

[23]

What do you think?

Why is this fella not a legit 20/10 player this year?

The guy only barely averages 10 shots a game...10!

He's like the 4th highest shooter on the team, barely. Is this how ORL set to win?

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Dwight Howard

It's really surprising that he doesn't get more looks... he doesn't have that many moves sure, but he draws a lot of fouls and still finishes much of the time because he's so athletic and strong. Sucking at the line is his downfall... but honestly, Shaq got fed the ball every night of his life and was horrible from the line. Young Shaq > Dwight, but still, the point remains.. even if he only makes 1 of 2, that's still a point per possession and when you add the and-1s he gets somewhat often, the times he makes both shots, and the problems that foul trouble causes for the opposing team... it's still a net positive and better odds that a jumper in general.

[23]

Re: Dwight Howard

Yeah he gets to the line 10 time but only averages 18ppg

The Magic are a wacky team. The next ft shooter is like 4fta per game

Dwight is nowhere near Shaq's level. Its not even about the ft shooting

No way they can win a ring like this

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Dwight Howard

Doesn't help that he has the post game of a high school kid.

Maybe not that bad, but it's severely lacking.

[Gibbz]

Re: Dwight Howard

Feed him the ball. It's that simple.


I think he has such a goofy demeanor that he won't jump onto his teammates about getting him the ball more like some of the elite big men throughout the NBA's history.

[DW3]

Re: Dwight Howard

Doesn't help that he has the post game of a high school kid.

Maybe not that bad, but it's severely lacking.

No his post game is really that bad. Heck his pre-game ritual moves are better than his post game!.....Ok all joking aside, he needs the ball! he also needs to spend more time refining his post game. he should be further along by now.

[KG]

Re: Dwight Howard

That's just BS about his post game. It's not as bad as people think. Everyone expects him to have Hakeem's arsenal at his whim. It's the same BS argument about people wanting him to have a face-up game, what for?

He probably does need more touches but he impacts the game in so many ways. Combined with the way the Magic's offense is set up, he fits perfectly.

His #'s are down a little but he's still hovering around 20/10 on a pretty deep team with offensive options.

3rd best record in the league and playing better ball as the playoffs approach. They are as legit a contender as any in my eyes.

[Kruza]

Re: Dwight Howard

That's just BS about his post game. It's not as bad as people think. Everyone expects him to have Hakeem's arsenal at his whim. It's the same BS argument about people wanting him to have a face-up game, what for?

He probably does need more touches but he impacts the game in so many ways. Combined with the way the Magic's offense is set up, he fits perfectly.

His #'s are down a little but he's still hovering around 20/10 on a pretty deep team with offensive options.

3rd best record in the league and playing better ball as the playoffs approach. They are as legit a contender as any in my eyes.

Co-sign. Aside from looking robotic while doing some of his post moves, there's nothing wrong with Dwight Howard or his numbers. The Magic as a team simply has more varied offensive options and more ballhandlers than the usual playoff team featuring a star center so they do not have to force feed him the ball throughout a game. Plus the Magic offense is coached to primarily play "outside-in" way instead of the traditional "inside-out" way, which explains the extremely high number of 3-point shots they take.

Kruza

[Dice]

Re: Dwight Howard

The one huge flaw in Dwight's game is his passing out of the double team OR reading the defense.

The Magic knows that when he gets the ball in the post, 9 times out of 10 he's going to get an extra defender. So when and how that extra defender comes, Howard still cannot make the right pass or decision. And most of the time, his passes out of the double team results in a turnover. As evident of his 1.7/3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio. And also remember, he's second in the league in turnovers.

This was Shaq's problem when he first got into the league. Then after a few years, he learned to make simple passes out of the double team. But it wasn't until he learned the triangle offense from Phil Jackson that he started to read the defense when the double teams started to come.

So I would probably conclude that his mishandling of the rock might be the cause of his limited touches.

[youvalss]

Re: Dwight Howard

I think Dwight got to the highest level last season, and this season his game started declining. Unless he does something to change it, he's going downhill...
Or maybe the perception of Howard needs to be changed: Not a dominant centre, but a legitimate centre with great defense and athleticism.

[KENYON06]

Re: Dwight Howard

I think it's just how the Magic play. I don't watch every Magic game, but when I do I see a few things. The first is that unlike Shaq, he plays a bit farther from the basket. He's does a lot of perimeter screen and rolls and when he sets up, he doesn't get real deep position like Shaq did. Shaq would try to pin his man under the rim for an easy quick finish. The way Dwight sets up, he has to use more moves, and it is easier to double team that way, so he will be more passive. Add in the rules nowadays and he can't really power through people without getting called for it. Also, it may just be me, but when I watch Magic games, the guards miss him on A LOT of easy opportunities at the basket too.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: Dwight Howard

Yeah, if he's right near the basket, they've got to get him the ball. He sucks at establishing position though, mainly because (as Barkley famously stated) he "has no butt" and is all upper-body strength, which does next to nothing for bullying people down in the post.

[55]

Re: Dwight Howard

So, you're complaining that the league leader in rebounds and blocked shots only averages 18 points per game? Spare me...

[P2K]

Re: Dwight Howard

Not a superstar. It's that simple.

Whether anyone thinks it is BS or not, Dwight's post game could travel over the Bermuda Triangle, get lost forever and would not be missed. At all. That killer whale in the news a few weeks ago has better moves than Dwight Howard. Dude was quick with his and used the brute strength he was blessed with.

And I agree with Dice. What killed Howard against the Lakers was his sucky post game and had no idea what to do with the ball when he had it, especially when doubled. Very disappointing.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: Dwight Howard

Not an offensive superstar. It's that simple.

Fixed that up for ya.


With his outstanding FG% and ability to put opponents in foul trouble, Dwight's offense is more than enough to balance out what he does on the defensive end of the floor. He individually affects the game more than anyone else on the defensive end by a long shot. He blocks shots, alters shots, creates fouls and finishes defensive plays by rebounding at the very highest level. His team is stacked with offensive talent, but Dwight makes the most of the few touches he gets.

No question, he needs to continue to grow to reach his personal potential, but if you look at both ends of the floor, Dwight impacts the game as much as anyone.