245 replies to this topic

[rocketrick]

Howard can't shoot free throws and doesn't seem to want to improve that part of his game. As Miketheodio stated above, Howard hasn't even developed his go to post move. If not by now, probably never is gonna happen.

With Howard, what you see is what you gonna get. Hope his back holds up, back injuries are notoriously chronic.

[Steven]

Howard can't shoot free throws and doesn't seem to want to improve that part of his game. As Miketheodio stated above, Howard hasn't even developed his go to post move. If not by now, probably never is gonna happen.

With Howard, what you see is what you gonna get. Hope his back holds up, back injuries are notoriously chronic.

Amar'e never had a post move until this year. It's called getting Dwight to spend a few weeks with Hakeem, and that's easy just make it part of the contract.

[Freebird]

See, Howard *has* spent time with Hakeem.  This was heavily publicized during the last Orlando run with him.  Pretty much free publicity for Hakeem's School of Footwork, Inc.

 

I agree fully that Howard is the best center in the league.  Just because there is only one other center of note does not mitigate that fact.

 

All I'm saying is that a lot of folks put up with his crap when the team was winning.  Then the money/contract issues came up, and his attitude hasn't been the same since.  Or rather, people started taking note of it being less than mature.

 

I guess I'm of the mind that folks need to man up at some point in their lives, and I really don't like pouty types (just ask my kids).  He's getting paid for a job, so go earn your cash.  No one likes drama - especially when done badly.

 

As for his FTs, they seem to get worse situationally.  If you NEED a point, then there is next to no chance he'll make it.  Up by 20, and his average gets respectable.  Eye-test only, there.

 

Sorry if my stats were off - going by memory.  Not like I had the interwebs to double... check......   dammit.

 

I'm not going to quit watching if the Rox get him.  I'll probably give him the chance to prove me wrong.  But his recent history leaves much to be desired.

[Stephen]

Thought exercise:

The Rockets are playing the Spurs in SA in the Play-Offs.

What are the chances Pop employs a Hack-an-Asik strategy on a player making .477 of his FTs on the road?

 

Strangely enough,Dwight shot better on the road(.538 FT%) than at home(.454).

O shot much better at home(.621) than on the road(.477).

[Matt Maloney's Ghost]

Hakeem has worked with a lot of NBA players but I still don't see a fantastic post game from any of those guys. Howard doesn't have the touch to be Hakeem or do Hakeem like moves.

 

I actually agree with Shaq, Howard needs to learn how to get low post position where his power will overtake any defense. 

 

I just don't believe Howard can be depended on of a reliable option on offense. If the Rockets want to sign him for Defense, Rebounds, and Dunks, fine but we better have two legit scorers who can create their own shot in crunch time. Some of you will say those players are Harden and Parsons. I am not sure about Parsons, when teams begin to lock in on him. 

[thejohnnygold]

I dislike Howard--a lot!  Yet, there is no denying his talent, however crude it may be, and the fact that he will make the team better.  Injury risks?  Surely.  Free throw shooting?  A mild concern, but not a huge one.  He does have a hook shot or two in his arsenal but they are ugly, low percentage chucks at the rim more than anything else (I'm always a bit surprised when they go in).

 

Despite all of that he provides efficient scoring, rebounding, defense, and can collapse the defense to open up three point shots.  Like him or not, he will make us better.  I'd rather root for Asik (and I'm a huge proponent of keeping him even if we sign Howard), but Howard is in a class of his own.  If he is interested, we have to sign him.

[Mason Khamvilay]

I dislike Howard--a lot!  Yet, there is no denying his talent, however crude it may be, and the fact that he will make the team better.  Injury risks?  Surely.  Free throw shooting?  A mild concern, but not a huge one.  He does have a hook shot or two in his arsenal but they are ugly, low percentage chucks at the rim more than anything else (I'm always a bit surprised when they go in).

 

Despite all of that he provides efficient scoring, rebounding, defense, and can collapse the defense to open up three point shots.  Like him or not, he will make us better.  I'd rather root for Asik (and I'm a huge proponent of keeping him even if we sign Howard), but Howard is in a class of his own.  If he is interested, we have to sign him.

Agreed.

[Mason Khamvilay]

"You definitely need at least 1 elite player in the top 10-20 of all NBA players (all-star level) to win the championship." - Daryl Morey

 

We have a chance to win the championship now that we have a top 10 player (Harden, although he's not playing like one when it counts the most), and our chances increase astronomically if we have two top 10 players--I don't need analytics to know that. 

 

Despite his flaws, Dwight is a top 10-20 player--and that's a huge understatement. I thought he was the MVP in 2011, and a top 3 player in the league at the time. And unlike Harden, Dwight has proven he can play great when it matters the most (got to the finals in 2009 despite being the only top 20 player on his team). Since then he has fell off due to injury and what not, but fortunately for me I'm not a goldfish, I still remember how good he is when he's healthy and in a good situation. 

[Sir Thursday]

how does howard not have 1 go to post move? boggles the mind

 

He may not have a 'go to' move, but his post game is still very good overall and a far cry from the days a few years back where he was criticised for not having one. He's so much more than just a 'catch and finish' guy. One of the few players who has dominated Asik in the post this season. Don't undersell him - he's a far more competent and skilled offensive player than Asik is or ever will be.

 

ST

[miketheodio]

He may not have a 'go to' move, but his post game is still very good overall and a far cry from the days a few years back where he was criticised for not having one. He's so much more than just a 'catch and finish' guy. One of the few players who has dominated Asik in the post this season. Don't undersell him - he's a far more competent and skilled offensive player than Asik is or ever will be.
 
ST

I'm not talking about asik. I just think it is odd that the most dominant big man in the league isn't great at posting up.

[Mason Khamvilay]

Being great at posting up is not a pre-requisite of being an elite big man eg. Bill Russell

[miketheodio]

Being great at posting up is not a pre-requisite of being an elite big man eg. Bill Russell

with howards size, power, and athleticism? how do you not have a good post game with those attributes?

[Mason Khamvilay]

Didn't Bill Russell have those attributes? There were probably only two guys in the league stronger than Bill--Wilt and Thurmond. Despite being only 6-9 he was also one of the tallest guys in the league during his time too.

[miketheodio]

Didn't Bill Russell have those attributes? There were probably only two guys in the league stronger than Bill--Wilt and Thurmond. Despite being only 6-9 he was also one of the tallest guys in the league during his time too.

look at howards body and look at russells. 

[pharmag]

look at howards body and look at russells. 

 I concur.  Howard is built like Hakeem, which is why he got so many comparisons to him early on in his career.  However, he doesn't have the drive of Hakeem which I believe has led to where we are now.  He just relies on the fact that he is stronger than the opposing players and outmuscles them instead of combining it with a good post game to just dominate everyone.

[miketheodio]

 I concur.  Howard is built like Hakeem, which is why he got so many comparisons to him early on in his career.  However, he doesn't have the drive of Hakeem which I believe has led to where we are now.  He just relies on the fact that he is stronger than the opposing players and outmuscles them instead of combining it with a good post game to just dominate everyone.

with that muscle, all you really need is one move that no one can stop. it frustrates me, mostly because i know i would be posting up all day if i was as genetically gifted as him.

[thejohnnygold]

Hakeem never had muscles like Howard and he definitely never jumped that high....Hakeem's best assets were speed and guile.

[rocketrick]

Hakeem also respected the game, what the hell does Howard respect? The greenback I think and he wants all the glory and the rings without working for it

[Mason Khamvilay]

look at howards body and look at russells. 

Dude, when Russell entered the league he was the biggest athletic guy in the league. You can't compare players in the 60's to players today like that.

[miketheodio]

Dude, when Russell entered the league he was the biggest athletic guy in the league. You can't compare players in the 60's to players today like that.

the point is he should use it in the post.