Dwight Howard's 08-09 Stats 20.6 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 57% FG, 59% FT, 2.9 BPG, 1.4 APG, 3.4 PFPG, and 3.0 TOPG Dwight Howard's 09-10 Stats (This season) 17.2 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 59.8 FG%, 60% FT, 2.5 BPG, 1.5 APG, 3.6 PFPG, and 3.5 TOPG. It's very obvious that Dwight has regressed this season at least compared to last season. I had said last season that Dwight Howard had reached his peak last season, a couple of other people agreed with me and a lot of other people laughed at me. It seems like I'm the one who's getting the last laugh here. Although, Howard is getting 3 less shots than he is getting last season. The price for that being paid is that his FG% is 2 percentages higher. I honestly believe that the NBA has just figured him out along with his entire team. That and I believe that Hedo Turkoglu made his life easier, at least compared to what Vince Carter is doing. I also noticed that earlier in the season when Brandon Bass was getting a decent amount of playing time, Howard couldn't buy himself a shot and I thought that was awfully pathetic. I find it pathetic how he needs 4 shooters to spread the floor for him in order to score. I said that was going to be a problem with the Magic as well, that they would be a conventional team. They still kind of are with Carter replacing Turkoglu. Carter is a 6'6 prototypical size of a shooting guard, while Turkoglu is a 6'10 un-prototypical size of a small forward. I think his offensive game is what it is. He'll never be a 70% FT shooter, he can practice all he wants his touch is flat out terrible. As great of a personality Dwight has and as great of a person as Dwight is, I truly believed he reached his peak last season.
It's called I love chucking 3's and ignoring our dominant all star center. Signed, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, JJ Reddick, Jameer Nelson, Michael Peitrus and white chocolate.
Carter hasn't played as many minutes this year as Turkoglu did for them a year ago. It could be interesting to look at what Howard's numbers are specifically when he shares the floor with Carter.
I don't get it. Blocks, TO's, and rebounds are <i>slightly</i> down. But free throw and field goal percentage, allow with assists are slightly <i>up.</i> His points are down 3.4 per game, but as you have mentioned he is getting 3 less shots per game (remember he makes 60% of those) in 1 less minute. Also it's only halfway through the season, those small margins can easily change. I really liked the idea of a Vince and Howard combo at first but it seems like they are in the wrong part of their careers.
Actually, to be honest with you. I've seen games where even when he got the shots and he still missed them because he's unable to create them. What the Orlando Magic intend to do is basically the same thing we (Houston Rockets)did in 1995. They are trying to run their offense through their center and make him kick it out when he gets doubled. Here's the problem, He's not getting doubled, he's not making good passes when he does and he can't score unless he's completely more athletic and physical than the defender. Dream would do all of that and he would do it all great.
He has no shot except for when he is under the rim. If he could get the range that Yao has he would be unstoppable. But yea he's not having a down year. Just what happens when you are surrounded by shooters.
So howard is taking 3 less shots and is averaging 3 less points per game? Simple math tells me if he is shooting 60% for the yr, if he was getting those 3 shots, then that would equal 3 more points correct? 3 more points equal 20ppg,correct? How is that figured out?
Turkoglu was a playmaker; Vince is a chucker. Turk being a playmaker meant the defense put less focus on Dwight; Vnce being a chucker means the defense lets Carter takes the jumpshots
Which would you guys rather say is the initial reason for Howard's regression, the replacement of Hedo Turkoglu with Vince Carter or the league just understanding how to defend Howard now after the playoffs last season?
Makes you wonder why he's not getting those shots, and why he's shooting 60%. He can't score unless he's at the rim or he has a short hook shot, and thus he won't get too many attempts, even accounting for the free throws. It's true that his guards are not helping but if he could score even at 10 feet like Shaq he'd get a lot more shots up. His turnover rate is also way up, which doesn't help the cause. I think in year 6 we need to take off the "potential" tag on Howard's offensive skill. It is what it is and probably will not improve much. He's not a dominant or great offensive player and probably never will be. Now he's become a great defender and looks to stay that way for awhile, so he's still a great player.
Turkoglu. He was the one who created a lot open looks for Howard off of screens. Magic miss him. Carter is not the same kind of facilitator.
Every time I watch a Magics game they are constantly chucking transition 3s. Either that or Howard gets called for ticky tack offensive fouls.
I think at this point Tmac would be a lot better for that team than VC, VC just chucks all day and misses all day, he rarely makes any attempt to get howard involved like Turk did
yes! lol magic need to go back to that inside out game and run the offense through dwight. and vc needs to become more of a slasher that can draw defenses in instead of another 3 point shooter.
You forgot to mention that he's taking 3 less shots per game. That adds up real quick. I don't think he's fully peaked yet. He just turned 24 about a month ago. He's gonna get better.
Actually at the end of the first paragraph I said, he's been taking 3 less shots per game. I think he's a good playmaker, but he's not a good playmaker for finishers. Like he's good at creating open looks for 3 point shooters not players around the rim. Turkoglu was more willing to pass in much more situations even the 4th. Carter is a player that wants to be the closer in the 4th and he won't let anybody touch the ball in order for him to do so. I agree 100%.
Actually a little better scoring efficiency, but less shot attempts and more turnovers (especially more bad passes). It appears like its a combination of him getting less touches and seeing more double teams.
