The issue isn't exactly man-to-man defense(which Howard sucks at), but is rebounding and shotblocking. Howard gives you 0 of either at the center spot, it's just a terrible idea.
The Juwan-hate here gets out of control sometimes. I can agree that he is overpriced, he doesn't need to be a starter, and he shouldn't be on the floor with Yao, but sticking the guy at the five against your reserve center during the regular season is not the most idiotic idea in the world. It's not like we are going to unload Howard anytime soon, so we might as well find helpful ways to use him and I think he can give us some good minutes hitting jumpers from the high-post and putting a body on slower low-post players.
Howard playing 5-10 minutes of back-up C is just fine. He will be playing back up centers. Most of the back up center minutes go to uncordinated 7 foot oafs or slower wide body power forwards just like Howard. We lose less with Howard playing back-up centers than we do versus mobile PFs. The league has gone speed/smaller, Howard has a solid 250/260lbs base, and a lot of knowledge of the low post game, he is more exploited versus speedier guys. A Yao-Deke-Howard combination at C is the best in the league, no worse than second anyway (Shaq/Zo). We have far more pressing needs (proven shooters, stablizing guards) than back-up center.
I agree. There are way too many Juwan Haters out there. Yes the guy has lost some skills as he has aged. Yes he has a huge contract that he signed (how many of you would tell your boss- hey, I don't deserve that raise, just keep the extra $). It's a business and Juwan and his agent got him a great contract and the Rockets gladly accepted it as a part of getting T-Mac. Also, I know it got reported that Juwan stole those shades but was he ever convicted? I still find that hard to believe b/c he is also the same guy that donated a nice chunk of change to Deke's hospital. A few years back during the NBA strike, I went to the Gallery Furniture charity game and Juwan was the only guy after the game that stayed and signed autographs. All the other players felt like they had just done their part by playing. Juwan was talking to the kids and shaking hands with all of us. Anyways, as for Juwan playing the 5, he has indeed played some center for the Wizards. Unless we get someone else to back Yao up, I think that he is our best option.
I don't hate Juwan. I hate Juwan playing 30 mpg alongside Yao. If we can't trade him he should get 10 mpg MAXIMUM playing behind Yao, not beside Yao.
All of those things are admirable qualities in a man, but not in an NBA player necessarily. I don't hate on Juwan, I just resent the fact that his contract prevents us from getting a better PF to help us. That hurts the team just like BSura trying to come back on a bad wheel and bad back instead of manning up and retiring, injured, last year.
I do not hate Juwan - just his contract length. I do hate how weak we are at the 4 -a position that should support our fine young center - Yao Ming. REcall on this board how Mo Taylor or Rudy Tomjonovich have been villified - now that is hate.
I could envison it being easier for Juwan to guard the weak centers in today's NBA than the mobile PFs. His lack of speed will not be as much of a liability, if he can use his knowledge and experience to assert proper positioning and leverage on opposing centers. And he could be fairly effective scoring in the post on the opponents' second teamers. The main problem is that he could not stop penetrating guards like Deke could. It's not the centers that will have a field day when Yao is out; it will be quick guards like Tony Parker, etc.
Everytime you start hating on Juwan or his contract, just remember this: TMac + Juwan >>>>>>>>>>>>> Steve Francis + Cato Perspective man ...keep perspective.
In some matchups I would like to see Chuck Hayes get the 10 minutes at C and 10 more at the 4 which keeps him on the floor for 20 minutes. Against the Suns he helps us with speed, rb's steals and allaround peskiness and disrupting the Suns - which we need to find a way to do. There may be some matchups where Juwan's admitted better midrange game and offense against slow plodding 2nd string centers might be better matched. But then Hayes might be even more disruptive against those C's with his quickness - and if the other team tried to exploit what they saw as a mis-match Hayes would be the better defensive disruptor. It remains to be seen if Chuck has improved his shooting this summer....
Now this is a really good point and one I neglected to consider. But, then again, Howard can at least hack away and give us some hard fouls, because as it stands we don't have another real shot-blocker in the paint who can do what you suggest. I still wish there was a world where we could deal Howard for a true combo post-player who can crash the boards, defend the paint, and give up fouls, but that dream land passed once I awoke.
The four is one of the toughest positions out in the NBAm especially out West. Look at who he plays as a starterat 4 night in and night out: -K Mart -Duncan -Garnett -Odom -Brand -Gasol -Jermaine O'Neal -Chris Bosh -Carol Boozer -Dwight Howard -Shariff Abdur-Rahim Compare that to him playing center, especially as back-up: -Shaq -Big Z -Brad Miller
