Any updates on Dwight? (UPDATE: Dwight to return on Wednesday in New Orleans)

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Looks like Dwight Howard is getting close to playing and did some work with the team in practice today.</p>&mdash; Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/577538817734774784">March 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kevin McHale said Dwight Howard got some practice work with the team. He didn't have a timetable for when he returns.</p>&mdash; Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/577539473593925632">March 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>James Harden said he thought Dwight Howard looked good in practice today. Coach McHale said Howard did a lot of what the team did today.</p>&mdash; Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/status/577539292374781952">March 16, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Spoiler

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/0TJFn3Gva1/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones putting in work.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A video posted by Calvin Watkins (@calwatkins) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-03-16T18:44:30+00:00">Mar 16, 2015 at 11:44am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Spoiler

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/0TJaylBdMB/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">@dwighthoward and @terrencejones1 practicing on Monday.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A video posted by Jenny Creech (@jennydialcreech) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-03-16T18:47:23+00:00">Mar 16, 2015 at 11:47am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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So, this week or next week for sure?

 

I do like the above if both James and Dwight are on the same page. It seems Dwight genuinely cares for James to win the MVP and isnt just putting that for show. Dwight just wants to go out there and help win.

I do like that the team is looking at the long term and the real goal. It doesnt help if Dwight comes back a week early and the Rockets get HC only for Dwight to re-aggravate something for coming back too early and not be there for the playoffs. The guy has always come back quickly due to the pressures of media or himself wanting to help the team and its never worked out well.

Its really just two additional weeks - I would rather have him do that and get back into 'game shape' the last two weeks of the season and into the playoffs. As long as the Rockets stay ahead of the clippers, mavs and spurs they should still get HC. Maybe if they get on a small streak and portland falters a bit they could jump back up into the 3 spot.

 

https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/status/577541690963189760

Vid of Dwight doing Drills with T-Jones at practice to

 

^today (m

 

Anyone see that video of Dwight Howard taking shots at Lebron's hairline?

 

Jones looks more fluid in his moves. Maybe it's Dwight being easy on his knee, but he looks robotic compared to Jones.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard said he's &quot;pretty close&quot; to returning. Jokingly said. &quot;It's a secret&quot; when asked if he knows when he'll return.</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/578270521734791168">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard says when he returns he will not take part in back to back games.</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/578271855116603394">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard: &quot;When I get back I want to help my team dominate.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/578272547973652481">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard says he is &quot;really close&quot; to coming back.</p>&mdash; Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/status/578271379239280640">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard said his knee is achy and has no pain. He will be on a minutes restriction and won't play in back to backs.</p>&mdash; Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/calvinwatkins/status/578273099302334464">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dwight Howard: &quot;I feel a lot better actually. I had a good eight weeks of training and really working on my body.&quot;</p>&mdash; Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) <a href="https://twitter.com/jennydialcreech/status/578275327002079232">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Kinda figured but still, damn.

 

Dwight knee is achy but has no pain. He wants to help the team dominate, but not in back to back games and not for too many minutes.

 

Only 3 more back to back sets in the Regular Season, and no Back to Backs in the Playoffs.

 

We only have 3 b2b's left, and there won't be any in the playoffs.

 

So he could be back in this week?

 

If Dwight doesn't play in B2Bs, that means he'll sit out for the games at Toronto, at Dallas, and at Charlotte. Although it wouldn't surprise me if he didn't play at home against Sactown instead so he'd be available for that Dallas game.

This also means that he won't get 10 games in before the end of the season like the team wants unless he returns no later than next Monday at Indiana.

 

It would be nice to have him against Denver.

They don't really have anyone that can guard him.

 

No back to backs is fine

When the playoffs roll around there are no back to backs anyways, he will help us get wins and make the back to backs a lot more winnable with his help for 1 of them.

 

Just get back Dwight, that's all I'm worried about. I'm only with the B2B. Playoffs is the bigger story.

 

Taking a look at those 3 remaining B2B sets (@WAS and @TOR, vs SAC and @DAL, and finally vs NO and @CHA), I would, IMO, rather have D12 playing @WAS (ABC game), @DAL, and vs NO.

The reasons for these 3 games is because: I want revenge against WAS for the L against them in Dec.; I want to win the season series vs the Mavs 3-1; and because we have lost twice to NO already and if we can beat them and keep them out the Playoffs, that pick we have from them would be a lottery pick.

 

I just got a reeeeeally traumatic flashback...

 

IMHO, it would be better for him to play the 2nd game of the B2Bs. He'll bring the energy when others are fizzling out.