Really, I've seen horrible calls on both sides. Glen Davis didn't foul Nelson. But,I'm sure there have been some calls on Orlando that weren't fouls. Also, both teams didn't play very well. The Celtics had some horrible possessions, and Orlando couldn't grab a rebound to gain some momentum. They kept giving up the easiest rebounds and loose balls. Hats off to Orlando. Go back to Orlando and get an easier win, and all of a sudden this is a series again.
Anyway, Dwight Howard is nothing more than a premier defender if he can stay out of foul trouble and he is nowhere near an elite center.
lolz. Don't know what I said. Just telling you the truth. Everyone knew he got the nickname Superman from his stunt at the Slam Dunk Contest. Also, you're basketball IQ is very low. No where near an elite center? Yea ok. Try convincing that to everyone else.
I actually agree with you for once. I see no progress in Howard offensively since Ewing started mentoring him.
But he's not.....really. He is a great defensive center, but he has no post game. Watch highlights, if he isnt getting ally oops,put backs, or open lanes he has no game.
Yea, I don't see him improving offensively, either. But to say he isn't an elite center is just dumb. We know what we get with Dwight. The most intimidating big man in the NBA. Arguably, the best defender in the NBA. You can't single cover him all the time. He demands double teams. And even though he doesn't drop 25 a game, he can still drop 18-20. Add that to his defense, and you have an elite center.
And still drops 18-20 points a game. And I think you under estimate Dwight's post game. It isn't great, but he doesn't only score on oops, put backs, or open lanes. The games I watch, Dwight is decent in his post game. He defenitely needs a lot of work to improve, but he can score in different ways.
Actually I do. When Ewing took over he didnt have that baby hook or the drop step turn a round. He will never be as fluid as Ewing was because hes too muscular in his upper body which I think will always prohibit him from being as flexible as you need to be to make those moves but hes definitely shown a ton of improvement. Hes also shown he can occasionally hit from 12-14 feet out on a jumper which he NEVER did his first few years in the league.
That's interesting. That's exactly what I was telling my friends today. I didn't know it was possible, but Dwight Howard is just too big in the upper body. Not only does it effect his post game, but I think it effects his Free Throw shooting as well.
The Celts haven't doubled him much the whole series, and they are up 3-1. There is more to being an elite center than scoring and defending. Compare him to Hakeem, The Admiral, Ewing....even Shaq in his prime. The difference is that these guys made guys around him better. Its no secret that Kobe supposedly the best player in the NBA has never been able to win an NBA title without a great low post presence. I fixed definitely for you. Maybe I do...but he is still unproven.
So what in your opinion constitutes an "elite center"? He has led the league in rebounds per game three times, blocks per game twice, and double-doubles twice. He is the youngest player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounding and blocks. he led the league in FG% this year at over 61% while averaging 18PPG/13RPG/3BPG. What about that is not elite?
They haven't double teamed him, and he dropped 30 in game 2 and 32 tonight. I know he was shut down in game 1 and game 3, but a lot of credit goes to Perkins.
Its inconclusive.....with the lack of true competition at the Center position, IMO, he needs some better competition to prove he's elite. I mean, not to me, but to the general in public. Wilt had Russell, Kareem had Parrish. Shaq had Zo and Ewing had Hakeem....who does Howard have? Bynum? The lack of real centers in the league hurts him.
What affects his free throw shooting is his arc. Big men like him, shaq, Wilt, early Ewing, have trouble arcing the ball properly. Part of it is probably from the fact they are used to shooting from close in and the trajectory of their ball is off. If you watch tapes or saw live games of those players you'll see they tend to line drive the ball as opposed to getting any kind of arc. David Robinson, Ewing from about year 4 onward, Olajuwon always got a very good arc in their shot. But if you remember when Ewing shot free throws he had that hitch. That hitch wasnt there his first few years; it was developed to ensure he got a follow through and to ensure he extended his arms all the way. As far as Dwight goes he's unique in that he has a very strong yet narrow upper body. Its a different body type then Ewing or Robinson or O'Neal had/have. He's much more muscular and that can lead to a loss in agility not in running the floor and cutting but moving in a smaller space; i.e. playing with your back to the basket with an oncoming double team. Olajuwon, Ewing and even O neal played well in small spaces. Olajuwon used his creativity and agility to maneuver his shots. Ewing and Zo were pretty good passers out of the doubles or had a variety of go to moves to turn to. O Neal just did it with brute force. Dwight is still a pup in a lot of ways in terms of really having a go to offensive move but he really combines O'neal and Ewing's games a bit. My one criticism is that he isnt assertive enough and doesnt demand the ball on offense. When its crunch time the best players always want the ball in their hands.
Our generation is spoiled by the fact that we saw so many great centers. Wilt had Russell but Russell was 6'9". Wilt was 7'1". And those were the two tallest players for many of those years until guys like Moses Malone, Parrish, and Wes Unseld came along. This is how it normally is for centers, there's a few elite ones (Howard, Bosh, Stoudemire, Gasol) but it just so happens that in this generation 2 of those 4 are average defenders, and one (Bosh) just isnt a great shot blocker. By the way, happy birthday dude. I just saw you turned 33.
Yep that hitch was horrible but it was necessary. He was a mid 60's FT shooter until he developed that hitch. with the hitch he was generally mid-high 70's and got to the low 80's at times.
I have to say the last 3 mins of the 4th and OT was the sloppiest I seen the Celtics play in the playoffs.
Late but still appreciated. I would also like to point out that without Nelson, Howard is less effective. Reminds me of when Chandler played with CP3.
I heard on ESPN radio today that Ewing was surprised he has not been offered a HC gig in the NBA. To me that is no surprise, especially after watching Sparano and Co for 2 yrs now, the key to upwards movement is developing players as that makes things clear to Ownership that Admin doesn't have to rely on the check book. Watching Dwight Howard for 2 yrs now, what exactly has P Ewing made his bones on? Dwight Howard is still the same player offensively he was 3 yrs ago, his game is crude even with Ewing on the Staff.
Didn't post it here because confidence was not high... but I bet the Magic for ****s and giggles..mainly because of boredom. LOL The Magic played a decent game (minus Vince...he just sucks)..and mainly..SVG did a great job with his rotations...to the point where Doc Rivers had a brain fart and kept Perkins out through crunchtime.
Thats just not true. He isnt some dominant post player. He does need more growth. But to say he has no post game is just a flat out lie. Game 2, he had a fantastic game from the post. Last night, he has some hooks from both blocks. How about the jab step and running hook he did against Garnett last night? Does he need to get better? Yes. But he has improved a lot from what he was when he came into the league, and is making strides every year. Smaller strides than I'd prefer... but he is getting better offensively. I mean, hes scored 30+ points twice in this series already.
I'm not sure how you could come to that conclusion. Do you remember what his offensive game was like 3 years ago? He had no left hook, and no right hook. He had no nothing. It was dunk, or nothing... He has made some big strides. I'd prefer him making more than hes made, but hes definitely made strides...
part of having an offensive game for a big man is gaining position. Howard is great at that. His offensive game is "limited". But it has come a LOOOOOONG way. My contention last year when we had this debate..and my contention NOW is that it will not go "further". THIS is what he is. You can't add "touch". So all he CAN add is a spot up jumper. Will he?
When you watch his game, one doesn't see Pat Ewing's coaching in it. Heck if just added a fade away ala Ewing he would be a beast to deal with if his shot was any good.
Michael Jordan can coach me...and it won;t mean that I will play like him. Ewing's fade away and post game is a bridge too far for Howard. Ewing had one of the all-time great post games. In fact...the last guy to actually make REAL strides with his post game was Alonzo Mourning. ZO had THIS exact offensive game that Howard has when he came in. He added hooks with both hands...and a spot up jumper and made himself into a viable offensive threat.
Wow. I've lost two straight games. First time that's happened in the playoffs this year. Going with Lakers -1.5 tonight. I think coach Jackson will make the right adjustments to stop Amare and attack the zone.
Throwing elbows is not a post move! Seriously, McHale was a dirty punk but he had awesome footwork and a soft touch. Howard doesnt have either from what I have seen, though his footwork is ok. Footwork though is a question of wanting to learn so you could do worse then McHale to teach him. Still its gotten better since Ewing took over. He ill never have Ewings touch and probably not his range.
I would love to see the Suns take this series after listening to Colin Cowherd fillate the Lakers for weeks on end, he basically said that the last Suns win "didn't matter". Cowherd is such a massive, massive tool..
Looks like 3 straight losses for me. I'm gonna need these teams to play the way they did earlier in the series. I'm still surprised to see Orlando favored for game 5.
