Both. It's not hard to realize Dwight is just an average post defender. Yao isn't the only guy that has his number on both ends. This is why I continue to believe he's one of the more overrated if not the most overrated player in the game.
I did watch the series. Not every game though. And I didn't watch it because I wanted to see how every player on the floor plays, but because it was a fun series between two Eastern Conference powerhouses. I don't have the time to watch every game and analyze every detail about every single player like others do.
"I hope some of you realize by post defender, I mean 1 on 1 individual defense. He's quite poor there, If he wasn't. There shouldn't be a reason why Nazr Mohammed outscore him on Saturday." You put forward the argument that if Dwight Howard was not a poor defender, we would have scored more points than Nazr Mohammed. The implication being that "points allowed" is a relevant measure in assessing a center's post defense. Try to stay consistent. Also, you may want to calm down, or you may blow your cover (again). I know very well that your status should not be "member".
Yes it is relevant, but I'd prefer watching the game over looking at a bunch of 82games stats. Difference between Howard and Perkins is Perkins gives much tougher looks while players typically just shy away from Howard because of his reputation. If you don't believe me, go ask Jeff Van Gundy. Why would he say Marcin Gortat is the better individual defender? Is he praising him? No, he's saying Howard just isn't that good at defending 1 on 1 and it's true. Go find a different argument besides a bunch of stats, you probably stress yourself out.
Also, Mohammed scored 12 points in 24 minutes against Howard. For the season, Mohammed averages 12.3 points for every 24 minutes of action. So I don't see how one game of an opposing player getting his season-average numbers should prove anything.
Combination of being surrounded by 3 point chuckers and not having any post moves of note when he does get touches.
If its "relevant", than it is worth noting. And that is all I said: "It is worth noting ...". Stop picking dumb fights with other posters. I thought you learned your lesson from last time, but I guess not. JVG considers Gortat to be a very good defender. That he considers Howard to not be at that level does not mean he thinks Howard is a poor individual defender. I hope you're dislike for statistics does not also extend to a dislike of basic logic.
No, he's not poor. But he's just average. So It's ok to be out-scored and to be contained by Mohammed now? Sorry, but nobody should be able to stop him in the first place. You can't think of a single star player other than Howard that's that stoppable.
I remember many years telling people just PURELY off stats if Jayson Williams (the ex power forward when he was bench scrub), that if he ever got significant playing time he'd be a monster rebounder. Sure enough he got his chance and challenged Dennis Rodman for the rebounding title. Stats can reveal useful tidbits if you look at them right. You could make the case about Yao last year, saying his scoring and rebounding was way down and he's regressing. When he was the same ol' steady Yao playing like he always has, even better sometimes.
If you want to shift your argument from Howard's post defense to how stoppable he is, that's fine. I would agree that the Bobcats game speaks much more to Howard's lacking offense than his defensive skills.
Give me a player that Dwight has ever shut down, actually, you rate his post defense, since you seem so cocky about your stats.
Do us all a favor and name 15 better post defenders than Dwight Howard. If you have time to post countless times in your precious thread, you have time to do this. It's very convenient for you to use the "eyeball" argument when stats don't back up your bias. Just so you know, there are several of us that watch a lot of NBA basketball, perhaps a lot more than you do and disagree. Also, be careful when you disdain people who use stats as "nerds" because that is a pretty dumb thing to say if you want to be taken seriously. I just went back and read your first couple of posts. I don't know what Howard did that makes you dislike him so much, but take a chill pill and a deep breath. To conclude he has regressed is just silly. You have nothing to back it up other than your "eyeballs" which see things the way you want them to. VC is the main cause of the Magic's problems because he can't adjust his game. There is a reason the Magic often play better when he's not active. Now that the spotlight is burning down on him he's doing what he does best: Gag and choke when the pressure is heaviest. If doesn't get his shooting together, the Magic need to bring him off the bench. I guess they thought Rafer was gone.
I think he's more or less an average post defender. Leaning to above average, though. I would not describe him as "quite poor", as you did earlier. I also think you made an interesting point earlier when you wrote: "Howard is probably the best player in the NBA at impacting the game without scoring". He's up there.
Chuck Hayes, Yao Ming, Kendrick Perkins, Pau Gasol, Joel Przybilla, Kevin Garnett, Brendan Haywood, Tim Duncan, Tyson Chandler, Joakim Noah, Marcin Gortat, Shaq, Kenyon Martin, Nene and Nazr Mohammed. There's fifteen for you. And thank you for giving me a well-thought out analysis on Howard's struggles this season, I erased in the quote though, Sorry about that.
WHaaaat? Hakeem already had a turnaround jumper when he entered the NBA that just needed refining and more consistency, he was already a go to guy in the post which elbowed Ralph to the PF spot and more to the perimeter. Hakeem was not just a defensive player when he entered the NBA, he already had post moves which just needed refining. And then he added more post moves and the spins and fakes later on. Just because Hakeem improved his offensive arsenal every year doesn't mean anyone can just lump in someone like DH and say the same can happen to DH. This is Captain Obvious material, but Hakeem's offensive progression is the ultimate best case scenario for DH. The reality is that DH does not have the natural footwork nor has put the dedicated practice time to develop even half the post up moves like Hakeem (comparing both players' first 5.5 years in the NBA). And even though he's big and quick, he's not the freak of nature like Shaq was where Shaq outquicked slower defenders and backed down smaller defenders with regularity (understand it's before the zone defense rule change also). In a nutshell, comparing DH's offensive progression to Hakeem's is laughable.
Are you high? Of course AGE has a lot to do with it. When Duncan and Haleem were rookies, they were already 24 years old, so after their 6th year in the league they would already be in their 30's and nearing their decline. On the other hand DH came into the league when he was only 18, and now in his 6th year he's at the same age as TD and Hakeem when they were rookies. You can't go around saying he's already reached his peak because he's been in the league for 6 years, he still has a decade to learn and improve himself. Or are you saying Scola still has ridiculous upside because he's averaging a near double double in ONLY his sophomore year?
How about Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry, both of whom are older than Howard and both of whom have shown way more improvement than Howard in the last year, who has shown none? Or how about Danny Granger, who is older than Howard, go from a bit player to an All-Star in the ages of 22-25, when Howard is showing no improvement? It's year 6 for Howard in the league, and for the last 3 he hasn't improved. I think it's very plausible that he has plateaued. Age has less to do with potential than years in the league and the improvement shown each year.
Man, you and me must be brothers from another mother. Howard has a nice night tonight though, but I would say mainly because he hit his free throws and he had a lot of open looks.
