I know Dwight is getting roasted for poor free throws and some late game turnovers or bricks, but he is making every bit the big impact people thought would happen after he came to Houston from LA. His last 3 games he is putting up, per game: 21 points 16 rebounds 5 blocks It doesn't get better than that. Dwight is dominating inside, picking up every rebound, playing good interior defense (at least in the paint), and also getting multiple high percentage shots every game. Another positive is that his historical free throw percentage is at least 10 points higher than he's shooting this season, so a regression to the mean indicates he's going to shoot free throws eventually.
The team has seemed to play better with Terrence Jones at PF. Jones rebounds, plays good defense, has some range in his J, is quicker, and helps with offensive spacing and P&R defense better than Asik. Asik has been basically buried the past few games, and if I had to choose a player whose writing is on the wall it would probably be Asik being traded before end of year.
Rockets lost twice and barely beat Raptors in 2 OT. If it doesn't get better than that, Rockets will have a very bad season.
That's not on Dwight though. Across the roster guys are giving up critical TOs and passing up shots. I think everyone is forgetting how young this team is. Its not a situation like Miami where the Big 3 had been in the league for awhile as the premier players on their respective squad. Our guys are finding their place in the league and with each other. Give'm some rope.
Dwight is doing a lot, agreed. But, most of those numbers are gained in the first half. The second half of games, he has been almost ineffective outside of rebounding and blocking shots. But its not his fault, at least not entirely. He is commanding double teams and the other team has been packed. We must start hitting our threes. Dwight is doing his job, our perimeter guys need to start passing the ball around and hit shots they should hit. They will and once they do, our offense will be more explosive than ever before.
parsons, Garcia, caspi perimeter defense is the problem. They are all to slow to guard most other wings
Dwight is playing well other than FTs. We didn't sign him for end of the 4th quarter offense. If Harden was healthy he would've had the ball in that critical play where Dwight got a TO.
Entry Passes Once the Rockets learn how to throw a post entry pass; I see things getting much easier for him. Its obvious this team is still getting acclimated to having Dwight down low and WHEN and WHERE he likes to recieve the ball. Give it time.
Shaq and Barkley ripped him a new @$$hole. I can't argue against them. Arguably two of the best post up players to ever play the game. They just made their presence felt under the basket every possession. Howard needs to learn how to force his way down there and not be pushed out of the paint by guys like Bargnani. I never really paid attention to Howard much in the past, but was he always like this?
Let chuck and Shaq rip into him all they want. He's looked great defensively and on the boards. If this team didn't have him they would be the worst team defensively in the history of the NBA. The rockets never needed him to be Hakeem in the post. They have Harden to be the man offensively late in games. Dwight has looked great for the most part and will only get better once they start learning how to play with him more and more as time goes on. Plus the go-away from the TT is going to help him offensively a lot. Jones is just now figuring out his role in the linup as well. If they can bring in another pf who can stretch the floor just wait... This team will take off.
Well, so far Howard has been like an athletic Omer Asik with much better hands. I don't think this is a bad thing. I just think maybe we are forcing the issue too much with the Dwight post-ups, if it is not in his skillset. Right now, we are wasting possessions that could be used on more efficient plays, like a 3 or a drive by Harden, Lin, or Parsons.
Dwight has been great this season. He had his worst game offensively of the year today, but it's really frustrating to watch Dwight make a strong move for once and get called for an offensive foul because of a flop. Shaq powered through players all the time the same way, and it was never called on him. Very frustrating.
