Honestly I agree. I'm really worried about having so much money invested in this guy, Harden deserves a better wingman. If Dwight would just accept that he is a terrible post-up player he would be awesome because he truly IS one of, if not the, best defender/rebounder in the league, but now 10 years into his career I don't see that happening.
He's a damn good player, and until this year was probably the best center in the league and is probably top 5, if not top 3, for the position right now (Davis is definitely better than him, not sure how I'd rank him with Cousins and Drummond). He produces good neighbors and is a defensive fiend. That said, he's definitely past his prime, and I hate when he posts up. I think he's a tad overrated, but I'm glad we had him. For me the big question is in a few years when his contract expires. If we don't have a championship yet, do you still give him the max? He probably won't be worth it in terms of production, but he could definitely command it on the open market...
Any reason why the PnR isn't the basis of our offense yet? Would help his game out tremendously since he's not consistent enough in the post.
loooool did you even watch Game 6? He was the reason we gained the league. Dude altered and blocked so many crucial shots in the last few miuntes it was amazing. I was like "Damn, Dwight really wants it. Rockets better win or he is gonna be pissed big time." Rockets lost on a shot that had nothing to do with Dwight's defense. It were Harden and Parsons who fuc*ed up.
And if you are pointing at the opp fg per game then I have to tell you that defense only works if the whole team buys into it. Harden's lackluster D and Parsons general suckiness were just too much to overcome. Not to mention Bev being sick and Lin not being able to do anything against Lillard. Add Aldridge undefendable faders and it's ball game.
I actually think Howard's defense is more overated than his offense. In the paint, Howard is a beast. Anything beyond that he's just another player. A great defender plays defense from the rim to the arc. Marc Gasol is the best big man defender in the NBA by far. The guy plays the p&r better than anyone I ever seen. He's gets up and attack the perimeter player like a pitbull. Howard attacks it like a sloth.
To be fair, McHale should've sticked through it or at least put Asik in, so we would have at least a rim protector in the final minutes.
What I don't like about Dwight is that his game stagnated after 3-4 years. He didn't improve one single bit after he peaked in Orlando. Not one single aspect of his game.
Once upon a time I made this thread: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=230353 That being said, after seeing all the way Dwight affects the game for us, I have to rescind my position. Dwight is an all time great defensive presence. He does so many things to protect the paint. He has really improved our team and we had Omer Asik, who is probably a top 3 rim protector in the NBA.
You can't make any rash assumptions based on 1 game. True, he hasn't look like a $22m post player yet since being injured. I think his knee is affecting his timing and speed. But he will be called upon to do that in the playoffs. My concern is his free throw shooting which will really be magnified in crucial situations.
The playoffs and the beginning of this season he was beasting. Even the national media was commenting how he was looking like the "old dwight". However, the recent injury does have me concerned... That being said, I think you have to play it out. You don't want to lose that kind of defensive post presence. Not to mention how many fouls he draws on opposing big's.
i still expect him to have a beast season. he's had a rough start but when he gets a rhythm going i believe he will take off. it wont be anything like his peak years in orlando but much better than his season with lakers and last season. should be a more consistent scoring option.
Dwight proves his worth in the playoffs as a defensive stopper who changes the game. We saw that vs Portland last playoffs. All our regular performers didn't cut it, Dwight went above and beyond. He's just coming back from injury as well. Not everyone needs to post up and score to win games.
Or want to move the part time glass superman while he still has VALUE. Some of us know the experation date on the milk in the refrigerator. Or some of us can see a very nice part time role player being paid like LBJ or KB and do not see the VALUE in DH. Some of us were passed when we signed him because we had a very nice full time role player for a 1/3 of the cost at the time. OBSERVERS not dumb
