Is everyone just assuming Dwight isn't on board with what Cyberx told us? Let's see if he can even make it back first. Unless I missed something, neither the Rockets or Dwight have commented on this potential role change or his timing on a return to the lineup.
I never said Lopez was a scrub. Fact is though, a top 3 center is expected to dominate a center not even in the top 15.
In the Phoenix game (or just before it), Bull said the Rockets were trying to talk Dwight into doing more PnRs. The implication was that it would come at the expense of post ups.
I think the problem with this is the current approach is to keep feeding it to him in the post SO THAT he can get it going, implying that he doesn't find a grove without going to him even if it continues to result in a poor shot or turnover. It's understandable to go with this approach if your post player has poor games every once in awhile. Everyone has off games. There's years of data now to suggest D12 simply isn't that good in the post and his good post games are far fewer than games where he struggles in the post. Rather than trying to see if he's got it going early in the game, I think they should limit his post touches to times when it's clear he has a dominate advantage in the paint against an inferior defender.
Boy, first they trade his buddy Canaan away. Now they're gonna take away his ppost-ups too? LOL I bet Howard would counter with--"Can you tell Bev and Ariza not to miss so many damn shots as well?" AWKWARD
This is either going to really make us a better team come playoff time or will ignite another Dwightmare and sink our chances. I don't think the Rockets want to decrease his scoring - they just want him to get it in the ways he is more efficient - on lobs or putbacks at the rim. Every time Dwight has an empty trip in the paint, that's one less opportunity where Harden could get him an easier bucket or could get another player an easy bucket. Harden is the best at creating those opportunities for his teammates and Dwight needs to trust that Harden will get him those opportunities. I don't know about the Rodman type role but I can see Dwight as a better version of Tyson Chandler which is a really valuable player who got Dallas a ring. Unfortunately, given Dwight's ego I think they have to break it down in terms of how it will make him a more likable/popular player as a result. Dwight definitely seems motivated by how he is perceived so Houston needs to make that part of the conversation but whether a room full of stats guys will pick up on that is a whole other story.... If I know how Morey operates, he will likely show Dwight the stats of how he got his numbers in Orlando and then show how he is getting them now and pointing out to Dwight how he has gotten away from the things that made him a great player and limiting the iso post ups is the way to get him back into the realm of one of the top players in the league. What Dwight has lost in athleticism from his peak days, Harden can supplement by drawing defenses away from him allowing him to be more effective overall.
I believe page 1706 - basically the intel is Houston wants to have a conversation with Dwight when he returns about limiting his offensive touches and have him focus on a more Rodman type role of defensive anchor.
thats cool... I apporve. I think he should accept the pick role a bit more. and garbage baskets. its not like it will hurt i think it will get him the same amount of buckets but without disrupting the team system. no dishonor in that. look how great its working for Smith and Jones even dorsey has been ok latly
Dwight has to accept it . If he doesnt he can't play with rookies d#ck . You have to be stern no matter how much he begs and cries no PnR no roockie D . Its stern but fair lol but in all seriousness hes has to adapt if not he wont be a rocket long . With his injuries he has become less affective and not a franchise player if he listens i can see him avg 20 ,10 every game
Even when he's healthy it's true. Dwight Howard is not very good in the post, it's simply not part of his game that he's mastered. If he stuck to the PnR for his offense and got back to playing sick defense and being one of the top rebounders in the game then he'd be back to being the best big man in the league. Trying to be something he's not only hurts his team and his image around the league.
disagree. i don't see him really trying to be something he's not. he's pretty much been the same the last several seasons. really just playing through injury here and there for various seasons
Fair enough, but I think that one of the least efficient big men in the post having one of the highest numbers of post opportunities per game is a case of a player trying to be something he's not. It's no different than a 20% 3 point shooter chucking up 9 attempts from beyond the arc a game.
Agreed - he's averaging like 0.7 ppp in post ups - this includes when he was healthy last year. His dominance of Lopez last year's playoffs is smoke and mirrors - it took everyone out of their rhythm and hurt our transition defense.
