Sources: Dwight doesn't see himself as a Rocket next year

I think my biggest issue with Howard is this:

You can't go through that spiel and then complain about not being featured, you accepted that role.

 

God bless you for having the patience to want to watch Clint play.

Out of every player on this roster, he drives me insane. I have to remind myself over and over that he is raw, young, offensively limited and lacking in confidence, but even so, all of the missed passes, stone-hands moments, missed dunks, being bullied and missing nearly every shot around the rim makes my eye twitch.

Okay, some of that was a bit of embellishment, but I cannot watch Clint without counting to ten.

When he has his good moments, it's a breath of fresh air, but when Clint is off, he's off.

I can't criticize his free throws too much, as all of our bigs are terrible from the line.

I like Clint because he's on the Rockets, but I really, really have a difficult time watching him out there.

He'll get better...it's the sophomore slump as you mentioned.

But....I would take Kelvin Cato over Clint right now.

 

It sounds like you're talking about Dwight this season. Everytime Dwight gets the ball in the post it's just horrible and embarrassing to watch. Atleast Clint is a rookie and we're not paying him 23 mil.

 

Capela has regressed significantly this season. Last season, he looked very promising. I felt that he was very fluid and natural on the court. Somehow, all that disappeared. I hope this is just the so-called sophomore wall which he will outgrow soon. Or maybe this season is just too toxic for a young guy like him.

 

Oh...me too!

Because I want my lottery pick back.


Clint Capela is a flash point for understanding how the game of basketball is played and how important a paint and rim protector is. At this stage of his career Capela is a defensive disaster in the middle....especially when you leave him shanghaied in there with 4 smalls. He CANNOT, I repeat, he CANNOT stop anything at the rim right now when he's out there in the middle by himself. And frankly, I have my doubts how much it's ever going to click with him. Put him a defensive help role, defending a 4 and helping a true center in the middle and he's a lot better when he's got an anchor behind him or when he can help off in the middle.

But being the man in the middle????? Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. He simply gets abused. That's a recipe for the lottery. Which frankly, I'm in favor of this year.

 

Hmmmmmmmm

 

Clint C. is already cray good for a young guy like that. Better than I thought.

He needs just more tutoring from guys like Akeem and other good bigs

 

The Rockets have one of the worst defenses in the NBA. If getting Capela more experience and minutes, and he proves to not be able to improve there, so be it.

Mind you, he's not nearly as bad as you make out - the eye test and analytics prove that out, but clearly he isn't a defensive wizard in there yet. Not to mention his 0 years of being taught how to play good tea, rotation and positional defense by a legit NBA coaching staff.

I do not want him defending a 4. He is a center, and defending 4s puts him out of position too much.

Moreover, the notion of the center as the defensive anchor is WAY, WAY, WAY less important. Bigs have to play big still, no doubt, but versatility defensively is way more important.

Capela's not great there either yet, but he still has athleticism and youth on his side.

I'd much rather see Clint given time to develop now.

Dwight is no longer an asset to this team... well, to clarify, he won't be for much longer. Clint still is, be it as a member of this team next year, or as a legit trade chip.

 

That sounds like a description of Dwight this year.

 

Well, Harden showcased Dwight.

 

Good job, good effort

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tremendous hustle by Dwight Howard getting back with game on the line! <a href="https://t.co/neYTMNHATd">https://t.co/neYTMNHATd</a></p>&mdash; Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) <a href="https://twitter.com/World_Wide_Wob/status/712468547914567681">March 23, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

Dwight will take heat for his effort here, but this play ultimately falls on Beverley's shoulders. Instead of following his man, Roberson, back, he cheats forward to gamble on getting a steal. Dwight doesn't even really see Roberson until it's too late.

You could pick many better examples from tonight's game where Dwight didn't contest shots at the rim when in position to do so. Either Dwight has lost all his athleticism or team chemistry is so fractured he is refusing to try to protect the rim in retaliation. I suspect it's likely the latter. But, we won't really know until we see Dwight play elsewhere next season.

 

So what's his excuse for getting burned by his man on inbound plays 2 games in a row in the 4th quarter in a tight game? If that was Harden there would be Internet vines and 5 threads on this forum. Am I wrong?

I still see value in dwight sure he's still a good player but if you want to win a championship he can't even be your 3rd best player imo and that's my point. I respect his defensive IQ I respect what he used to be but the NBA is not played the same way it was even 3 years ago.

If you can't shoot you better be a monster like deandre Jordan he's the only player who imo can't do anything but be big down low and you know what it works because he's still atletic and can power the ball home thru contact which dwight just can't anymore.

Our defense is worse than what it really is because of transition defense more than anything imo. People want more dwight pick and roll but it won't work because unlike even Capela he can't take the pass at high and make two dribble decisions.

His game is just to old school for the NBA and while I agree we might miss his defense next season if he's gone we will gain in a more fluid diverse offense. The rockets still have to many minutes in games were we don't score for 4-5 min staright. Even tonight from the 2 min mark in the 1st to the 8 min mark in the 2nd we scored 4 points!!!! 4 freakin points.

That has more to do with our season than anything else. To many wasted possesions were we can't even buy a bucket and a lot of time it's because we're trying to involve dwight.

 

No doubt but he needs to play like that all season or atleast 75% of it so we can make The playoffs and have a high seed. It puts to much pressure on harden to save the day and be the offense which in turns burns him out by the playoffs. Dwight is the highest paid player and supposed to be a face of the franchise and our 2nd superstar.

Show up dude score 25 points a night and play dwight Howard playoff defense. He needs to go thru defenders and dunk it home like he did his first year here, and if he can't do that then he needs to admit it the fans need to admit it and we need to move along and find a better 2nd option which we have been trying to do the last 2 offseasons so I think everyone in the org. Knows he can't be The 2nd best player on a chip team.

I don't even think he can be your 3rd best player on a contender anymore he's just not that guy anymore. He's a 10-12m a year guy imo that's his value but he will be paid the max by somone but it won't be the rockets.

 

Sounds like Dwight. Constantly getting abused in the paint. Dwight is done.

 

Clint has really great athletisicm and quick jumping ability . He is probably a better shot blocker than Dwight at this point . He does lack understanding , but that will have to come through playing . Offensively , he is about as good as Howard and sets better screens while not being as good of a finisher.

 

Howard was 7 for 8 tonight.

Harden blames Howard for not getting the pass

""I threw it up for Big Fella to just go get it and hopefully make a play," Harden said. "He could lay it up or kick it out to Jet. It just didn't end up that way.""

 

That's why Howard is sick of this crap. He gets blamed for everything.

The guards are supposed to get back. But Bev is always trying to get an offensive rebound or a steal instead of getting back on D. Harden just likes to stand around and frail his arms to pretend defense.

What team tell their Center to be the main guy to get back on D?????

Stupid Guards need to stop padding stats with offensive rebounds and steals attempt

 

Woot? He showed in the Rising Star Challenge this spring what kind of handles he has.

He could go coast to coast and finish with authority.

Kevin Cato over him? I guess you would regret instantly. He just need more years, game experience

 

Exactly , it wasn't even his job to be the 1st one down but he was tracking it the entire time.

Lazy ****ing guards.