Josh Smith, Jason Terry and Corey Brewer want to return to Rockets

Dwight is able to hit ft's at a high clip and even 3ptr's in practice. McHale said it in his last interview. It's not that he can't do it, it's mental and an in-game problem. If he hasn't been able to mentally focus by now I just don't see it happening. It's the same reason I think he can't post up during the game. He's dominate otherwise in almost every other facet, but he just doesn't have the focus needed for a shooters touch.

 

Prigioni is set to make about $1.73 million next year, but only $440k of that is guaranteed. That means, as you suggested, he can be used in trades with teams looking to dump salary, with the acquiring team then able to waive him and only pay him $440k. The Rockets might need to throw in some cash to offset that partial guarantee, but that shouldn't be too big a problem. Houston still has $800k in cash allotment available for this season (although, depending on what other moves they make, I wouldn't mind seeing Les spend that money on another foreign stash pick like they've done with Llull, Aldemir and Gentile) and will have $3.4 million in cash to use starting in July.

 

cliche.

 

His big hands, long arms, huge shoulders and chest, and his height all negatively affect the mechanics of his shot. The fact that he can reliably hit the hook shots he's making is pretty remarkable.

He's a genetic freak, but his physical gifts come at a cost when it comes to shooting. Just like you can't design a shotgun that is as accurate as a sniper rifle but still acts like a shotgun, you can't coach a Dwight into a Dirk. Diminishing returns, it's the reason why everything in life has a weakness.

 

Big hands, long arms, huge shoulders and chest, and his height are all EXCUSES. There have been many, many ballers who were bigger, longer, and just as muscular as Dwight that shot their free throws above 70%.

It's not a legit excuse. Dwight has NEVER learned how to shoot the ball properly. NEVER. And that's on him and his inner circle of coaches/advisors.

 

Many? Name five 70%+ free-throw shooters with similar physiques who have averaged more than 10 points a game in the last 20 years at the center or power forward position.

Some people believe in unicorns, too.

 

So short-sighted. Brew and Josh are headband of bros. If it were not for these guys, the season would have ended in L.A. More chemistry, health, DMo + PG, we are gonna kill the warriors next year.

 

Karl Malone - career 74.2% FT; Lakers [2003-04] = 74.7% FT, 13.2 ppg
Kevin Willis - career 71.3% FT; Raptors [1998-99] = 83.9% FT, 12.0 ppg
Hakeem Olajuwon - career 71.2% FT; Rockets [1998-99] = 71.7% FT, 18.9 ppg
Chris Webber - career 64.9% FT; Sixers [2005-06] = 75.6% FT, 20.2 ppg
LaMarcus Aldridge - career 79.6% FT; Blazers [2014-15] = 84.5% FT, 23.4 ppg

 

Its nots Dwight mental focus, its his mechanics. They are awful


Thats like asking why a guy like Lebron who has improved many areas of his game can barely raise his FT % to 73-79 threshold and Lebron also changes his form 3-5 times during the season.

 

I wouldn't mind replacing all these guys. Taj Gibson, Sergio Llull and Mike Dunleavy. Terry can stay.

 

Dwight can't shoot free throws or jumpers and that's not his fault. You can't just make a person into a good shooter or else everyone in the NBA would be one. I'm sure Dwight practices on his free throws, but usually by the time youre a couple seasons into the NBA then you'll know whether you're a good shooter or not. There have been some rare instances where guys magically learn how to shoot, but that is very rare.

For example Lebron is probably one of the hardest working players in the league yet he's still a 75 percent FT shooter. There's no reason why he shouldn't be at least an 85 percent ft shooter, but he isn't. I feel like if Lebron and Dwight both went to college then they both likely would have been better free throw shooters. Coincidentally Lebron probably would have been drafted by the Magic if he waited a year lol.

You can't just make a guy into a good free throw shooter if it wasn't built into his game at a young age. Why do you think Klay and Steph are such great shooters? Their fathers taught them from an early age how to shoot. Dwight never had someone to teach him and by the time he did it was already too late.

I do agree that Dwight should be shooting at least 60 percent though, but even then it's still pitiful. Practice isn't the same as a game.

 

Big hands is an excuse. A lame excuse. Both for shooting and especially for post moves. Post moves is very hard to learn. Players should have this fundamental at a younger age learned. At most at the first years of the carreer. Its too late for Dwight to learn now post moves.
Fts on the other hand is more mental.
Shooting is one skill that can be easilly improved and the mechanics if not completely broke can be corrected while the player is already in the league. Post moves and handles not so.

 

I want to see more Dmo and Jones, less Smoove. Tired of Smoove's turnovers, poor free throw shooting, and horrific shot selection. I respect him and i'll always be grateful for his no quite attitude; and you're right, some of those three's went in and we moved on to Golden State, but Dmo and Jones will keep getting better, and Smoove ...well he is what he is. If your hopes live and die on a Josh Smith 3, you are in trouble.

 

Karl Malone was listed at 6'9" at 250 lbs, with a standing reach of 9'2".

Kevin Willis was 7'0" at 245 lbs, 8'6" standing reach.

Hakeem Olajuwon was listed at 7'0", 255, 7'2" wingspan.

Chris Webber was 6'9", 263, with a 7'3.5" wingspan.

LaMarcus Aldridge draft numbers are 6'11", 235, with a 7'4" wingspan and a 9'2" standing reach.

Dwight Howard draft numbers are 6'10", 240, with a 7'4.5" wingspan and a 9'3.5" standing reach.

Dwight has a greater wingspan and standing reach than all the players you listed, even though they're all about the same height (we know Hakeem was really 6'10"). Of all the players, only Malone had the overdeveloped shoulders and chest like Dwight. Malone, Webber, and Olajuwon arguably played at a higher body fat percentage than Dwight as well. Excluding Willis, they all had phenomenal body control for their size, but only Hakeem was known for playing vertically like Dwight, and only Hakeem played center.

 

Only Karl Malone had somewhat similar muscular physique that could have limited his shooting abilities but still Malone was a bit shorter than Howard. The rest of those guys there although the same height were not the same muscular build.

 

JET on radio:

(Where does this season rank for you?) It was a great year, great experience being in the veteran leadership position. It was fun. We had a great group. I had a great time playing with them. We won the Southwest Division. Making it to the Western Conference Finals with two marquee starters out was a huge accomplishment for that group.

(How did you handle being the big brother to Harden? What did you say after game five?) I told him let this game, this series & this season motivate you next season. He's so young in his development. It's all about progress. He had a decent playoff run but we want to win a championship. Him being a leader took that hard. Long summer for him. We've all been there. ... Hopefully he has a great year next year.

(How much of a challenge is it chasing Steph & Klay?) Huge challenge but one you love. The way they play is how ball should be played. They are not a great defensive team but the way they play offensively drives their defense. ... Steph is MVP for a reason but it has to do with Steve Kerr's system and his teammates, they make him great.

(What do you feel like LeBron and company will do to try and slow him down?) You definitely want to take a play out of the Bad Boy's playbook but better do it early. He's one of the greatest shooters I've ever seen. Throw multiple defenders at him. The ultimate game plan is to make him play defense.

(You've gone against LeBron, what do you make of him now in a fifth straight Finals?) He's pushing greatness. The last six to seven years, the run he's been on is phenomenal. He continues to grow. He continues to give his teams a realistic chance to win a championship. How he's doing it is impressive. He doesn't need 40-50 points. He'll come out with a triple-double, he does it with leadership. He's coaching that team. When you have a leader like that, you'll always have a chance to win.

(Player who is that smart who likes running things with a new coach.) No disrespect but if you put me in a suit over there with Lebron, I'm on my way to winning a championship. Special players, you gotta give him the keys to the car.

(Rondo) Rondo is one of the great basketball minds. You gotta loosen the reigns and let them be who they are.

(His ups & downs with Carlisle early on) It was like that early on but the Rondo situation, it took myself & J.Kidd a year and a half to get use to the system and terminology and his vision for what he wanted. Rick is one of the best to ever do it.

(Feel you've been around long enough that you've bridged eras? That the game has changed?) The game has changed with the rules. The rules make it a jump shooting league. The way they call fouls is ridiculous. Shooters love it. I like high percentage threes.

(39% on threes this year for you.) When you got Harden who commands attention, you're going to get your fair share and in McHale's system, we'd rather take threes than twos. I like mid-range shots but they want threes, early and often. If not threes, get to the basket. If you miss, Dwight will be right there.

(Finals Prediction?) Better team will win and I believe Golden State is the better team. Best team always wins.

 

Looks like someone finally figured out what is even the point of Pablo Prigioni.