Leave Dwight Howard alone! The Hawks got a steal

[RandomFan]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/leave-dwight-howard-hawks-steal-article-1.2697026

Leave Dwight Howard alone! The Hawks got a steal 

Chuck Modiano

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, July 2, 2016, 2:32 PM

8.5 shots.

That’s how many Dwight Howard took a game last year for the Houston Rockets. Expect it to increase next year with the Atlanta Hawks who just signed him to a 3-year, $70.5 million contract.

8.5 shots.

Dwight Howard’s field-goal percentage last year was 62% - second in the NBA.

His All-Star teammate James Harden managed to hoist up nearly 20 shots per game.

If you were Dwight Howard, you would want out of Houston too.

The decline of Dwight Howard has been greatly exaggerated.

There is a horribly false narrative about a moping selfish Dwight wanting the offense “to run through him.”

Dwight’s problem in Houston was that he couldn’t get even HALF of Harden’s touches.

Do you know who received more than 8.5 shots per game in 2015-2016.

- Five separate Atlanta Hawks players – plus former Hawk Marvin Williams

- Five separate Boston Celtics – including Jared Sullinger

- Six separate Miami Heat Players

- Mirza Teletovic, Jeff Green, JJ Barea, Marcus Morris and Will Barton.

In total, 108 NBA players received more shot attempts than Dwight Howard this past year.

One hundred. And. Eight.

That’s not 1st, 2nd or 3rd option. That’s a non-option.

In Houston, Harden was both option No. 1 and No. 2, then Trevor Ariza, then Dwight.

How can it be that Howard, who shot a career-high 62%, is somehow selfish?

What kind of math is this?

Don’t ask why Dwight is complaining about shots, ask why the Suns’ Brandon Knight received more than twice as many.

Here is some more math.

Dwight Howard’s 11.8 rebounds was tied with Hassan Whiteside for 3rd in the NBA last year after glass-cleaning machines Andre Drummond and DeAndre Jordan.

Despite back and shoulder injuries that has affected his athleticism, Dwight’s rebounding has remained constant.

In his three years in Houston, he averaged 13 rebounds per 36 minutes – the very same rate of his career in Orlando.

Howard will be a major improvement in rebounding over Al Horford who will likely be lost to free agency. 

The last two years, Horford had only 8.3 rebounds per 36 minutes vs. Howard’s 13. While about a rebound can be attributed to the strong board-work of Horford teammate Paul Millsap, Horford’s rebounding rate has steadily declined since his rookie year.

Howard’s athleticism and defense have declined somewhat but his rebounding and field-goal percentage have not.

The greatest decline has been his shot attempts, and Howard’s pouting has received more attention than his legitimate reasons to pout.

Here is Howard’s decline in shot attempts since his last two MVP-caliber seasons in Orlando (we have omitted his lone Laker season where he played while recovering from back surgery).

13.4 Shots: Orlando Magic last two seasons

11.3 Shots: Rockets first season

8.5 Shots: Rockets third season

Howard’s 13.4 shots per game was a modest career high with Orlando, less than the 16 shots current Magic center Nikola Vucevic averaged last year. He would lose five total shots in Houston, two shots per game upon arrival, and three more shots that would go directly to James Harden. In their three years together, Harden would increase his shots from 16.5 to 19.7.

Howard shot 60% in his three years in Houston, consistent with the 59% he shot in his Orlando heyday.

Like his rebounding, there was no decline in his shooting percentage.

And if more shots would mean a dip from his 60%, Howard clearly deserved that opportunity.

History will mark Howard’s Houston stay as a failure, but that is terribly unfair. In a ridiculously loaded Western Conference, Houston won 54 and 56 wins, good for over 60 wins in the Eastern conference.

Last year Houston made it to the Western Conference Finals only to lose to the vastly superior Warriors. Howard’s 16.4 points, 14 rebounds in 17 playoff games followed a dominant playoff performance the previous year

(26/13.7/2.8 blocks). That series, which included a struggling Harden (38% shooting), historically ended with that Damian Lillard miracle 3-pointer.

While Howard has lost some athleticism due to injuries and age, talk of Howard’s decline has more to do with perception than performance.

Dating back to his wishy-washy Orlando departure, Howard is a graduate of the Brett Favre School of Indecision, but has paid a higher cost than Brett. In Los Angeles, despite his misuse by coach Mike D’Antoni and recovery from back surgery, he was blamed for Laker failures that multiplied exponentially after he left (and in fairness, injury to Kobe).

For others, Howard’s game itself offends their basketball sensibilities.

Like Wilt or Shaq before him, his free-throw shooting is horrific. Beyond the free throw line, when he misses, he often misses ugly. And even if he only misses 40% of the time, the aesthetics makes it feel more like 80% to a fan’s eyeballs.

Kobe can shoot 3-for-20 on a bad night, but as long as his style exudes Baryshnikov along the way, the journey is easier to digest. While less poetic than Kobe, a god awful night by Harden just doesn’t offend hoop fans like Dwight.

And then there is the matter of Howard’s lack of solid post-up game after all these years. For many, including this author who grew up on Patrick and Hakeem, this is morally indefensible. Yes - morally.

And you too Amar'e Stoudemire and rest of the so-called big men of today. But let me save my NBA “get off my lawn” rant for another day.

The common negative response to Dwight, including my own at times, is largely an emotional one.

It’s just not based on potential wins and losses.

After playing through back surgery, Howard’s decision to leave the Lakers was absolutely correct as he would have been blamed for every earthquake instead of terrible teammates. His choice to leave the Rockets was made for him by Harden’s hogging, 8.5 shots per game, and the team’s decision to hire D’Antoni. Howard is not a “quitter” but did what any other smart employee would do after not being valued by their boss. He updated his resume.

Dwight may not be the same man flying with a cape in Orlando, but he is still far closer to Superman than Clark Kent.

Dwight’s consistent rebounding and still above average defense is easily worth any max contract cost. Rebounding has been greatly undervalued in a league desperate for such skills (Knicks note: Save for injury, Joakim Noah’s 4-year, $72 million contract is also well worth it).

The Twitter-fueled notion that Atlanta “overpaid” for Dwight at $70.5 million over three years in a new marketplace that gives $64 million to Timofey Mozgov (4 years), $95 million to Chandler Parsons (4 years) and $153 million to Mike Conley (5 years) is as mathematically absurd as 8.5 shots per game.

It looks like the Hawks got themselves a steal.

The Hawks, like the Knicks, will now contend for the opportunity to get beaten by the Cavaliers.

And when that happens, we will all just blame Dwight’s character flaws as we once did for LeBron when Dwight once beat him.

Edited July 3, 2016 by RandomFan

[Plainview1981]

9 minutes ago, RandomFan said:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/leave-dwight-howard-hawks-steal-article-1.2697026

Leave Dwight Howard alone! The Hawks got a steal 

Chuck Modiano

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, July 2, 2016, 2:32 PM

8.5 shots.

That’s how many Dwight Howard took a game last year for the Houston Rockets. Expect it to increase next year with the Atlanta Hawks who just signed him to a 3-year, $70.5 million contract.

8.5 shots.

Dwight Howard’s field-goal percentage last year was 62% - second in the NBA.

His All-Star teammate James Harden managed to hoist up nearly 20 shots per game.

If you were Dwight Howard, you would want out of Houston too.

The decline of Dwight Howard has been greatly exaggerated.

There is a horribly false narrative about a moping selfish Dwight wanting the offense “to run through him.”

Dwight’s problem in Houston was that he couldn’t get even HALF of Harden’s touches.

Do you know who received more than 8.5 shots per game in 2015-2016.

- Five separate Atlanta Hawks players – plus former Hawk Marvin Williams

- Five separate Boston Celtics – including Jared Sullinger

- Six separate Miami Heat Players

- Mirza Teletovic, Jeff Green, JJ Barea, Marcus Morris and Will Barton.

In total, 108 NBA players received more shot attempts than Dwight Howard this past year.

One hundred. And. Eight.

That’s not 1st, 2nd or 3rd option. That’s a non-option.

In Houston, Harden was both option No. 1 and No. 2, then Trevor Ariza, then Dwight.

How can it be that Howard, who shot a career-high 62%, is somehow selfish?

What kind of math is this?

Don’t ask why Dwight is complaining about shots, ask why the Suns’ Brandon Knight received more than twice as many.

Here is some more math.

Dwight Howard’s 11.8 rebounds was tied with Hassan Whiteside for 3rd in the NBA last year after glass-cleaning machines Andre Drummond and DeAndre Jordan.

Despite back and shoulder injuries that has affected his athleticism, Dwight’s rebounding has remained constant.

In his three years in Houston, he averaged 13 rebounds per 36 minutes – the very same rate of his career in Orlando.

Howard will be a major improvement in rebounding over Al Horford who will likely be lost to free agency.

The last two years, Horford had only 8.3 rebounds per 36 minutes vs. Howard’s 13. While about a rebound can attributed to the strong board-work of Horford teammate Paul Millsap, Horford’s rebounding rate has steadily declined since his rookie year.

Howard’s athleticism and defense have declined somewhat but his rebounding and field-goal percentage have not.

The greatest decline has been his shot attempts, and Howard’s pouting has received more attention than his legitimate reasons to pout.

Here is Howard’s decline in shot attempts since his last two MVP-caliber seasons in Orlando (we have omitted his lone Laker season where he played while recovering from back surgery).

13.4 Shots: Orlando Magic last two seasons

11.3 Shots: Rockets first season

8.5 Shots: Rockets third season

Howard’s 13.4 shots per game was a modest career high with Orlando, less than the 16 shots current Magic center Nikola Vucevic averaged last year. He would lose five total shots in Houston, two shots per game upon arrival, and three more shots that would go directly to James Harden. In their three years together, Harden would increase his shots from 16.5 to 19.7.

Howard shot 60% in his three years in Houston, consistent with the 59% he shot in his Orlando heyday.

Like his rebounding, there was no decline in his shooting percentage.

And if more shots would mean a dip from his 60%, Howard clearly deserved that opportunity.

History will mark Howard’s Houston stay as a failure, but that is terribly unfair. In a ridiculously loaded Western Conference, Houston won 54 and 56 wins, good for over 60 wins in the Eastern conference.

Last year Houston made it to the Western Conference Finals only to lose to the vastly superior Warriors. Howard’s 16.4 points, 14 rebounds in 17 playoff games followed a dominant playoff performance the previous year

(26/13.7/2.8 blocks). That series, which included a struggling Harden (38% shooting), historically ended with that Damian Lillard miracle 3-pointer.

While Howard has lost some athleticism due to injuries and age, talk of Howard’s decline has more to do with perception than performance.

Dating back to his wishy-washy Orlando departure, Howard is a graduate of the Brett Favre School of Indecision, but has paid a higher cost than Brett. In Los Angeles, despite his misuse by coach Mike D’Antoni and recovery from back surgery, he was blamed for Laker failures that multiplied exponentially after he left (and in fairness, injury to Kobe).

For others, Howard’s game itself offends their basketball sensibilities.

Like Wilt or Shaq before him, his free-throw shooting is horrific. Beyond the free throw line, when he misses, he often misses ugly. And even if he only misses 40% of the time, the aesthetics makes it feel more like 80% to a fan’s eyeballs.

Kobe can shoot 3-for-20 on a bad night, but as long as his style exudes Baryshnikov along the way, the journey is easier to digest. While less poetic than Kobe, a god awful night by Harden just doesn’t offend hoop fans like Dwight.

And then there is the matter of Howard’s lack of solid post-up game after all these years. For many, including this author who grew up on Patrick and Hakeem, this is morally indefensible. Yes - morally.

And you too Amar'e Stoudemire and rest of the so-called big men of today. But let me save my NBA “get off my lawn” rant for another day.

The common negative response to Dwight, including my own at times, is largely an emotional one.

It’s just not based on potential wins and losses.

After playing through back surgery, Howard’s decision to leave the Lakers was absolutely correct as he would have been blamed for every earthquake instead of terrible teammates. His choice to leave the Rockets was made for him by Harden’s hogging, 8.5 shots per game, and the team’s decision to hire D’Antoni. Howard is not a “quitter” but did what any other smart employee would do after not being valued by their boss. He updated his resume.

Dwight may not be the same man flying with a cape in Orlando, but he is still far closer to Superman than Clark Kent.

Dwight’s consistent rebounding and still above average defense is easily worth any max contract cost. Rebounding has been greatly undervalued in a league desperate for such skills (Knicks note: Save for injury, Joakim Noah’s 4-year, $72 million contract is also well worth it).

The Twitter-fueled notion that Atlanta “overpaid” for Dwight at $70.5 million over three years in a new marketplace that gives $64 million to Timofey Mozgov (4 years), $95 million to Chandler Parsons (4 years) and $153 million to

Mike Conley (5 years) is as mathematically absurd as 8.5 shots per game.

It looks like the Hawks got themselves a steal.

The Hawks, like the Knicks, will now contend for the opportunity to get beaten by the Cavaliers.

And when that happens, we will all just blame Dwight’s character flaws as we once did for LeBron when Dwight once beat him.

What dumb article. The Hawks have already been getting beat by Cleveland.

Supes made the correct assessment in that Howard is the C version of Rondo. He might have some big stat nights, but he hasn't truly impacted the game in many years.

[NBASupes]

1 minute ago, Hotlanta1981 said:

What dumb article. The Hawks have already been getting beat by Cleveland.

Supes made the correct assessment in that Howard is the C version of Rondo. He might have some big stat nights, but he hasn't truly impacted the game in many years.

Like I said, this one is on the fans. I am pretty sure 92.9 will fluff up Dwight and package him as prime Dwight. Come to Phillips ya'll, we got a superstar. Get Diesel to call in everyday and talk about Sap/Howard with glee until they hit the court. 

[NBASupes]

Diesel: Dwight has more post moves than Sap and Al combined. 

 

 

[RandomFan]

2 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Like I said, this one is on the fans. I am pretty sure 92.9 will fluff up Dwight and package him as prime Dwight. Come to Phillips ya'll, we got a superstar. Get Diesel to call in everyday and talk about Sap/Howard with glee until they hit the court. 

Be careful, your Horford bias is rearing it's ugly head.

[NBASupes]

Just now, RandomFan said:

Be careful, your Horford bias is rearing it's ugly head.

That's not bias. I judge all players. Ask Hotlanta, I've always been an impact guy but you can't sell me that this washed up dude is the business. No freaking way. He doesn't have any fundamentals, Sap blocked more shots and he can't move so he puts the defense in all types of bad positions. Edy can't move well either but Edy is 7'3 and as long as the rim. Dwight isn't. I don't like, not even in the slightness. It's like every move Bud has make in the last two years have been awful. 

[ChipShot]

D12 has beaten Lebron in the playoffs. Al has not.

[pimp]

1 hour ago, NBASupes said:

Diesel: Dwight has more post moves than Sap and Al combined. 

 

 

Only post move Al has is called traveling. That little foot shuffling thing he does.

[Spursfanpeacemaker]

D12 is better rebounder than Al, but Hack- A-Dwight will be taken advantage of opposing teams..

Edited July 3, 2016 by Spursfanpeacemaker

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, Spursfanpeacemaker said:

D12 is better rebounder than Al, but Hack- A-Dwight will be taken advantage of opposing teams..

Give me Hack-a-Howard all day over Punk-a-Whoreford.  Boom.

[pimp]

20 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Give me Hack-a-Howard all day over Punk-a-Whoreford.  Boom.

What worse? A guy  that's a bad free throw shooter or a guy that never gets to free throw line at all? hmmm 

[Cwell]

2 hours ago, pimp said:

Only post move Al has is called traveling. That little foot shuffling thing he does.

or the faceup and jab step a hole into the floor for 20 seconds,  while the defender just looks at him like a dufus, leading to a miss 99% of the time move. Al was an idiot. Dude turned into Josh so much over the years. Which makes it amazing how everybody is ragging on the clown now after damn near blowing him to come back the previous days.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Cwell

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, pimp said:

What worse? A guy  that's a bad free throw shooter or a guy that never gets to free throw line at all? hmmm 

 "Hey, f*ck you pimp!  I go hard in tha paint.  Put a nice shade of lavendar on my man-cave last offseason.  Can't nobody tells me I don't put in work."

Yeah, I'll take a few possessions of hack-a over a whole game of our guy gettin b*tch-slapped and having no response.  *clap*

[Diesel]

4 hours ago, NBASupes said:

Diesel: Dwight has more post moves than Sap and Al combined. 

 

 

62%   FG%...  Does it matter?  Hell, he can catch lobs and PNR all day... Does anybody care if he doesn't have a jump hook or if he's not jab stepping everybody to death??

62% FG%...  Let's get him 15 attempts and watch him become an allstar and maybe compete for an MVP.

 

[Thomas]

5 hours ago, NBASupes said:

 

 

The three we signed him for. Paint defense, blocking shots and rebounds. Believe you missed the point of why we signed him. Dennis will keep him involved on offense.

[LamarHampton]

Apparently some of you didn't get the memo: it's time to rally around this MFer right here.

And for good reasons.He is a great defensive presence, his numbers suggest he can still be a solid offensive player, and he's the biggest FA signing at least in my lifetime. He's given  a gift to Atlanta. His contract Is very reasonable. He is the true center so many of us have been asking for.Again, it's time to rally around this MFer. And if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. Atlanta needed a big name and now needs to support that big name if for nothing else, to maybe just maybe Get another one here sooner rather than later. (Like during Dwight's tenure or within the next 20 yrs, which is how long it has been since we got Deke.) Now say it with me, "WELCOME HOME DWIGHT."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hazer]

Gonna average 17/12/2, and I can't wait to watch lob-jam city!

[Buzzard]

23 minutes ago, hazer said:

Gonna average 17/12/2, and I can't wait to watch lob-jam city!

I am guessing 16 and 12, but 17 and 12 works just fine. Al has not been our dominant big for a couple of seasons now and his decline in boards really makes no sense. He has been the starting center for those years and to average 7.2rpg is horrible.

Maybe Horford will pick it up in Boston, but D12 will make losing him, at least on the glass, very easy to stomach.

[Misha Owens]

Cheers to Dwight hope he has a fantastic season going on a limb and hoping he puts up 20/12/2

[hazer]

If Hawks shooting gurus can turn DMC into 40% from deep, they can damn sure coach up D12 to 70% on his FTs. Hack-a-Dwight won't be so bad when he's hitting 7 outta 10.

Edited July 3, 2016 by hazer