Howard is not now and never will be a good low post threat. I blame a lot of that on the rule changes. He is allowed to get beat up in the post. But the fact is Howard can not back anyone down like Shaq. He doesn't have any go to moves like Hakeem. Can't shoot like Duncan or Yao. He fumbles the ball and get’s it stolen. He tries to force his will and gets called for charges. He gets blocked too easily by anyone with size. He gets stopped and goes for poor hook shots too often. Howard is not now and never will be a force on the block. Every time he dribbles more than a few times his chances of scoring drop tremendously, Every time he holds the ball more than a few seconds his chances of scoring drop tremendously. What Howard can do is quickly move around a player and score. Score on the PnR. Score on alley oops by drives from Harden, Parsons and Lin. Score on offensive rebounds and quick put backs. Howard will never be confused with Tim Duncan as a cerebral player. Almost all of Howards offensive game is dependent on his athleticism. The problem with going into Howard is he is a blackhole. We have an offense that thrives moving the ball around. Run quick, score quick and pass up good shots for better shots. Last season Harden didn't have faith in that system and preferred ISO'ing late. Harden has improved immensely in that area. Now the problem is Howard. In the low post he is a turnover waiting to happen. When he dribbles more than 3 times down low or holds the ball for 4 seconds it is less than 40% anything good will come of it. Turnovers, blocked shots, stupid missed hook shots from more than 6 feet are all bad results from his offense. I’m not advocating no touches for Howard. I still believe in run down court for the quick score. If it’s not there attack the basket with Harden, Parsons and Lin and then when all else fails dump the ball into Howard. But do it in that order and if not is there kick it out and let Harden Iso. That’s my order. If we are to win in the playoffs it won’t be riding Howard on offense. It will be riding his defense and the teams offense and mostly on Harden closing. As much as Howard wants to participate in that less is more in his case. When Howard gets the ball he has to make a quick move if it's not there dribble quickly toward the basket if doubled pass quickly to anyone open. DMo use to wait for him in the corner but he quit doing it because Howard never passed to him. Howard trying to force something to happen in the middle is almost as bad as Lin picking up his dribble in the paint. I know I will get flamed for this but I wish Howard would play more like DMo on offense (of course without the threes) . Make hard screens and quick PnRs, move the ball around more and concentrate much more on. Do that and he helps this team more except Howard has not changed much over his career. I don't see much change going forward. I think McHale needs to monitor Howard more closely on offense. Start out the game feeding him the ball. If he gets off to a good start keep feeding him. If he doesn't stop feeding till the end of the game. Again this is all in the order of run first, attack second, dump low third and ISO fourth. And all of this can be done in 10-15 seconds leaving time for Harden to ISO if need be.
Nah, I agree. As good as Dwight has been, it bums me out thinking of how the Rockets could be even better and more fun to watch if he'd just commit to playing the P&R.
I agree with you. Howard knows it too, so he's actually trying harder on low post, because he knows he needs to get that in his game, or the moment his athleticism drops, his values drop. However, aside from a fist full elite post defenders, Howard's post game is sufficient enough to be used as an alternative to increase the offense variety. The major problem I see though is how he handles double team situations. He doesn't get rid of the ball quick enough and it often results in TOs when they double on him.
Spoiler I agree. We all agree, I think. Well, wait. If half of those missed shots of his went in, we win that game. You can't deny that sometimes he is unstoppable.
I agree. Actually fine with him getting the ball in the post. But his TOs in a double-team situation is very high. He's averaging the same TO rate as his Orlando days, but as a secondary offensive option. If he's going to learn a post game, then he also has to learn when to follow through and when to pass out of the post.
I disagree. There's a reason Miami was fronting him on the post, and generally trying to take away that facet of our game. If the champions respect his post game, I'd say you're wrong.
I disagree. There was a while where he looked very dangerous from the post, specifically against Portland.
I mean, you can't have a blanket statement just saying he will never be a good low post threat. But I agree he isn't a good post player.
It's not that black and white. He struggles against the bigger, and stronger centers. But his low post offense is GREAT against 90% of the league. He just needs to adjust and learn what works and what doesn't against his bigger opponents. He needs to use his face up game and use his speed against the likes of Adams and Perkins instead of trying to back them down.
Are you implying that he is not better than a healthy Yao Ming? If he is not a good for low post threat, and can not shoot a jump as we all know, then he is just a defensive specialist and a pick and roll offensive player? I do not think that he is not good at low post, just not a good as others you listed.
I think the team has been trying to help him develop in the low post, but once the bullets start flying for real in the playoffs it will be a steady dose of PnR with him. DD
I've actually seen improvement in his post play since he came into the league. Although that's not saying a whole lot. Amazingly enough he's still relatively raw since he was just out-athleting folks for so many years. I think he's serviceable in the post. He can create serious match up problems for some teams which is always a good thing. I do absolutely agree he's much more dangerous on the pick and roll. However it's all gravy when you compare it to what we had (have) in Asik. You never saw double teams from the weak side or guards dropping down to strip Omer. He always got played straight up unless he was point blank. The simple threat of Dwight getting it going in the post gives us more of an edge on offense, not to mention that he can catch a pass and finish above the rim. I'll take it, flaws and all.
The champions are only vulnerable because they have no post defense. That's their kryptonite. And let me rephrase this, Howard more times than not can't beat double teams and can't beat some bigs. My point is when those situations occur he has to become aware of it and do something different. I am not sure he will ever get it. Don't mix this up. I am not advocating Howard is not a plus on this team. I am not advocating Howard over Asik. Perhaps I should have used a different title but I think we have a shot to win it all this year. But for that to happen certain things need to happen. Some of those things are out of our control like Lin's back but Howard making quicker decisions in the low post is something I think he can do. And feeding Howard less when he is struggling in one on one matchups and passing it quicker when doubled teamed are things I think/hope he can adjust to. If he can do that it will help this team more. Not asking for an improved offensive game. Just quicker decisions. If he does that and Lin stops picking up his dribble in the lane that will help this team go a long way. That's all.
He's good in certain matchups and occasional postups. No he's not a good low post option to build your offense around, especially in playoff. We have to feed him the ball down low, because that's what we promised recruiting him last summer. Actually more PNR with him and Harden/Lin/Parsons is potentially what we need to be a true contender. Sooner the better. The ideal offense should start with Lin/Howard PNR to get the offense flowing, and quickly move the ball around to start multiple PNR with Harden/Parsons as initiators. If we do that succesfully, there'll be no ISO ball and nobody can stop us. Lin/Harden/Parsons can all shoot/pass/attack off PNR(Lin shoots better in PNR off dribble).
Howard ranks 103 in PPP in the post. Not great, but I believe that there are strategic reasons why McHale has the offense go through Howard early in the game. Also his FG% in the post is the same as LMA's overall game. It is just the turn overs that are a killer.