Dwight has only played a couple of preseason games for the Rockets and I feel he is already breaking some preconceived notions: showing an adept passing touch, for one. However, the biggest misconception about him is still perpetuated by some Rockets fans, and most in the national media: that he has no post game. The rumblings is that he should set aside his ego and embrace his role as a PnR finisher, something he is statistically elite at. Dwight's post game has one critical flaw: it isn't aesthetically pleasing. Other than that, it is highly effective. During his time in Orlando, his post efficiency ranked in the 75th percentile according to Synergy, while battling through double and triple teams. He led the league at over 10 PPG scored in the post. This combination of volume and efficiency makes him arguably the most dominating post presence in the NBA. The Orlando Magic built an entire offense around dumping the ball to him and went to the finals. Last year, he experienced a large dropoff in post efficiency, down to 35th percentile. Some of this was from coming off injury, but also due to a bad fit with the Laker's personnel. Throughout Dwight's career, he has experienced most of his success playing next to floor spacing 'stretch 4's from Rashard Lewis to Ryan Anderson. Last year on the Lakers, Pau Gasol shot 0.399 eFG% from mid range, unable to provide the same floor spacing for Dwight to operate. We are seeing similar manifestations of these issues the last few games against Indiana. Small sample size and Roy Hibbert aside, we can already see that opposing teams will pack the paint showing zero respect for Jones/Dmo's outside shot. If this continues, Howard will continue to struggle to score in a congested paint. The solution to this isn't to turn him into Tyson Chandler. You don't just abandon the most dominant post scorer in the league. Rather, you have to surround him with the right players for him to succeed. That is why we brought Dwight here and signed him to a max contract, to build around him. Dwight is no idiot. There is a reason why he keeps demanding post touches. It is because he has experienced success with the offense ran through him and he knows what it is like. Here are some more observations on post touches for dominant bigmen: Put the right players around Dwight. Get Dwight the ball. And get out of the way. He will be happy. We will be happy. I know the stats say Dwight is this great PnR finisher. But here is something to think about when it comes to statistics: DeAndre Jordan led the league in FG%. Wouldn't it be great if he could just shoot the ball 20 times a game and lead the league in scoring? Well, there isn't 20 wide open dunks a game, so he can't. PnRs are nice, and I'm sure Dwight will do great in them. But you still have to feed the big dog. Footage of the big dog at dinner time: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GsCCrNbWo94" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eIuEYnrIeCU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wJsMfPwZ1Bw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
so then are you in favor of trading Asik for Ilyasova or Anderson? Personally I like Ilyasova better but we probably can't get him because of them having Sanders. But then even if we get Anderson are we willing to give up 48 mins of paint protection
We just need to get Dwight the ball deeper in the low post. Against Hibbert it was hard, but against many centers in the league, the perimeter players need to be more diligent trying to find Dwight deeper in the post. Jeremy Lin for starting PG (sorry, had to squeeze that one in)!
Another point about Dwight's post game is the existence of Kendrick Perkins. If Dwight was useless in the post, teams would not need a "Dwight stopper." Teams would not constantly double team Dwight in the post to get the ball away from him. Teams don't like having a useless offensive player likes Perkins or Collins just to stop Dwight Howard. Teams don't double team bad players. But yeah, spacing in today's NBA is so important. It is easier now to sink and help and that is the defensive principle taught. The Grizzlies vs Spurs series was a clear example of the new spacing problems. So a floor spreader would always be nice next to Dwight.
Dwight can be a very effective post player, but it depends on how he gets the ball. If he's stationary and outside 8 feet from the basket, its probably a low percentage play. He doesn't have the face up or turnaround jumper that was a staple for Hakeem and Yao. He also doesn't have the lower-body girth to methodically back his man down the way those guys did. His options are limited to passing the ball, or trying to drive around his opponent. As we saw against the Pacers, it becomes easy for the defense to read this. The key, I think, is to get him the ball on the move. Push the ball down the floor and see if he can catch the defense relaxing. Set a cross screen and let him catch the ball right in front of the basket if possible where he can just jump up and lay it in or dunk it. Utilize the high-low lob from the PF at the top of the key. He can be an incredibly effective weapon with his leaping ability, strength, and very good hands. We just have to play to his strengths.
A stretch four that is respectable defensively is ideal. Unfortunately, those players don't grow on trees. Unless Morey can swing another big deal, which if anyone can it is him, to bring the likes of a Ryan Anderson or Kevin Love (not completely convinced on Illyasova), we're going to have to go with the Terrence Jones/D-Mo/Casspi committee. Essentially, this means that Dwight will have to learn how to operate in limited space. He still has a lot of improving to do on the post, though I can see glimpses in his footwork. He needs to seriously incorporate McHale's up and under clear through move more than any of Hakeem's spins. Hakeem's moves can't be replicated by 99% of the centers in the NBA.
Just run around the post like Greg Smith all game long (without fouling once every 1.5 minutes), and Dwight will get 25/13 this year
We won't trade Asik until we have seen how Howard & Asik work together. I like what we have now. Besides, nearer the trade deadline; other teams will know if they are buyers or sellers. Then we'll see who becomes available.
Even when he isn't scoring and in a non ideal spot on the floor, he still commands a double team which opens things up for everyone else. Dwight doesn't have to score in the post to be effective. Even the best defensive center in the NBA not playing for the rockets needed help covering Howard. There are only two players in the league that can cover Howard straight up and one plays for the rockets and the other is about to retire very soon.
McHale has said that he is not changing his high-octane run-and-gun motion offense simply for Dwight; Dwight is the one who will have to change his habits to fit in, and not the other way around. You have two of the best PnR point guards in the league and the best PnR finisher in the league. Don't dismiss that.
Howard is like asik version 2.0 with the ability to finish at the rim. This is all what we needed it anyway. I never want to see a post move from Howard. It not needed
Dwight can be turnover prone when the spacing is great and the smart teams won't double Dwight, since historically that's been the way to go and that's on teams with not nearly as many threats on the perimeter. Teams will live with Dwight scoring a bunch -- especially if the spacing isn't great and teams can force Dwight to catch it out a little further than ideal. As durvasa said, setting Dwight up with the floor well spaced is very much important and so far the Rockets have been rather bad at doing so.
what if we run small ball just like the 09 magic LIN/PATRICK BEVERLEY=Jameer Nelson HARDEN=BIG UPGRADE OVER C.LEE PARSONS=HEDO OC = RASHARD LEWIS DWIGHT HOWARD ASIK=MARCIN GORTAT
My first instinct was to dismiss this post... but then, maybe, you know, worth a shot perhaps. I hope D-Mo/Jones develop a 3 point shot but in the meantime I see no problem trying out Casspi at the 4 during the preseason, see what happens.
Heck of a time to start a "Dwight in the low post" thread. Most of Dwight's moves against Pacers were in the low post. In game 1 he was 4 of 11; in game 2 he was 5 of 13. And don't say that it was all because of Roy Hibbert because in the Pelican's game it seemed that whenever Dwight took it to the post he was block-partied by Antonio Davis; most of his points in Game 1 were PnR, alley-oops and transition stuff. DMo has better post moves than Dwight; is a better passer and better free throw shooter. Dwight who...? Seriously, Dwight should work the low post on a regular basis only if he has a definite mismatch AND is willing to pass out (last game he didn't pass out even when tripled teamed).
In general I think this is the way to go. If you just gave him the touches that Asik had last year I would think he would get around 15 to 20 points a game. He will get a lot more touches than Asik but since the Rockets appear to be a pretty balanced team we won't have force feed him every time down the court.
No one says Dwight Howard doesn't have a post game. However, compared to his PnR finishing, his post game is pretty mediocre and definitely not effective enough to warrant his desire to apply it to a significant portion of the Rockets' offense. He shouldn't NEVER post up but his bread and butter and the team's bread and butter is the PnR.
The question should not be if he has any.... but if his post game is below average, average, good or very good. I think it is around average.
