I have an issue with Dwight Howard

[XThe GreatestX]

He's still pretty good though I agree it's pretty sad how he never learned to do anything on offense other than dunk.

I think Charlotte might be a great fit for him. Slower pace. Probably coming in with reasonable expectations for the first time in his career. Teams kept expecting a franchise player and he's been on a cloud of delusion himself. I watched his In The Moment documentary thinking "is this supposed to make us like him?"

5 teams in 5 years should knock him off that and he'll play it like a role player now. He can still be a force defensively, on the boards, and around the hoop.

I think he will do ok in charlotte. But i thought he was gonna do well in atlanta and he didnt so who knows.

I thought they played to his strengths. Lots of pick and rolls, jump shooters all around him. He really doesnt need to be the focal point of a team. Just have enough of an impact where teams have to focus on you and than you can kick it out to the jumpshooters for open shots or take a shot.Thats all he really needs to do. The better in the post that he is the easier it is to do that

Heres the thing too. There has never been a great nba offensive player that one guy could guard ( unless it rodman/payton etc guarding you. Atg defenders). But usually If your great you always draw double teams which leaves guys open. He was never great offensively so he never had that impact

 

[Madmick]

As Dwights career appears to be winding down I look back on it, and I have a problem with it.

You know, I am sure Dwight is a nice guy. He seems laid back, a real nice guy just from an outside perspective. But to me his career has been an absolute waste.

The greatest center of all time in my opinion is Kareem Abdul Jabbar. This guy Dwight Howard during his prime years was bigger, stronger, faster, could jump higher and was literally superior to Kareem in every way, shape and form in a physical way. AND STILL he never got any better, from the time he got into the league to where we are today.

He STILL has no idea how to post up. Never bothered to learn during his prime years and has no clue even today. He was a great defensive player but in all other aspects of his game he never got better, instead he simply relied on his psychical advantages. He never became the dominating post player that he should have been simply because he did not want to. He never showed the drive to be any better and now its too late.

I'm a L.A. Laker fan and I remember when the Lakers beat a young Dwight Howard's Orlando team in the finals. I remember saying " man this guy is young but I think he can go down as an all time great center. Hes literally bigger, faster, stronger and more athletic than ANYONE his size AND theres no centers even close to him that can challenge him." But he never got any better. And his career basically went downhill after the one great season in Orlando

I think he might be one of the biggest wastes of talent I have ever seen. Great defensive player for a few years. But nothing more.

No and no.

Stronger? Yes, but that isn't particularly special given the change in American strength and conditioning (and PED chemistry + availability). More than a few centers could lay claim to that despite Kareem's tremendously underrated strength (he wasn't as strong as Wilt, but he was freaking strong...Bill Walton talked about it). Bigger? Disagree, but I must explicate, obviously. Dwight has inferior dimensions. He might have superior mass, including possibly even lean mass, the true measurement of which man is bigger, but that is carrying a ~20lb-25lb weight advantage despite a massive height and reach disadvantage-- Kareem peaked at 267 lbs. As far as "bigger", in terms of what is most relevant to basketball, Kareem had the superior dimensions.

Dwight was definitely faster. There has never been anyone in the league equal or greater in height that had his acceleration or top speed. Evidence below:



Vert? No way. Dwight could freaking soar, but he couldn't even outjump a young 315 pound Shaq. He had to be given multiple attempts in the Sports Science Lab to better an in-game record for spike reach (aka max vertical reach) still held by Shaq. That doesn't count anymore than Kevin Love "breaking" Baron Davis's 94-foot record for a made field goal in-game after Kevin was given like 6 hours of attempts in the SSL. This is for the contemporary era with full game videos and requisite camera angles across seasons, of course:



If that doesn't drop your jaw about Shaq, nothing will. There's a reason he had the most dominant prime in NBA history after Jordan. He was the freak of the freaks of the freaks. Nevertheless, if we believe anecdote, then Kareem could get higher than Shaq, and I-- for one-- absolutely believe it. If nothing else, it bears out logically given his reach advantage and his lighter weight. Well, and photos like this...

Otherwise, despite these erroneous perceptions of objective physical capabilities, I wholeheartedly agree with your OP. No player with such physical gifts has disappointed me as much with his lack of progress in terms of skill, leadership, and understanding of the game. Dwight could have been one of the greatest centers of all time. He could have challenged legacies like Kareem, Shaq, Wilt, Bill, Dream, Robinson, and Ewing. Now? He doesn't have a chance of retiring in the Top 15 centers of all time.

 

[10000 Days]

Dwight Howard is the reason why Kobe suddenly started to appreciate Shaq's alpha attitude during their early run.

 

[SoberAwakening]

He always seemed like a waste of God-given talent. Looked like a damn superhero and had the work ethic of a 8 year old.

Glad he never came through San Antonio. Pop would ship him off quick, fast and in a hurry. Kind of like what they're doing to Lamarcus "I'm mad because I'm not the star" Aldridge.

 

[Naramie]

Hakeem making Dwight looked like an old man, all stiff and shit.

 

[Frank23]

Dwight Howard is a solid Center. He has nagging injuries.

 

[XThe GreatestX]

He always seemed like a waste of God-given talent. Looked like a damn superhero and had the work ethic of a 8 year old.

Glad he never came through San Antonio. Pop would ship him off quick, fast and in a hurry. Kind of like what they're doing to Lamarcus "I'm mad because I'm not the star" Aldridge.

Aldridge as been so disappointing. I thought he made them along with Leonard a legit contender. But he was just completely nonexistent during the playoffs especially when Kawhi went down. He just completely crumbled. Motherfucker makes millions too and couldn't do shit.

 

[10000 Days]

I thought the problem with Aldridge is that he was brought to the Spurs to fit in, not to take over.

 

[XThe GreatestX]

I thought the problem with Aldridge is that he was brought to the Spurs to fit in, not to take over.

man he needs to fit in. Hes not better than kawhi. Kawhi is literally either the #2 or #3 in the world right now

 

[Madmick]

Hakeem making Dwight looked like an old man, all stiff and shit.

It's amazing how few tall players understand what Hakeem says in that video when he says, "If you can get here...it's over." That's an automatic score. If you can get that drop step that deep into the middle, and you have any ounce of skill + athleticism, nobody alive should be able to stop the score. This lack of understanding is why the back-to-the-basket game is dying.

I feel like Howard added like 2-3 legitimate footwork skills to his arsenal over his entire career. It's pathetic. Look at Shaq's progression. He was actually one of the most underrated and underappreciated footwork specialists in the second half of his career. Shaq was also one of the least appreciated interior passers.

He was such a physical freak that very few paid attention to how skilled Shaq became. He even added some genuine touch in the twilight of his career.

 

[Madmick]

man he needs to fit in. Hes not better than kawhi. Kawhi is literally either the #2 or #3 in the world right now

It's hilarious when Westbrook and Harden were in a "two-man race" for MVP, and everyone alive knows they aren't Top 4 players.

Lebron, Durant, Curry, Kawhi. Whatever.

One can't deny that Nash was the MVP during his years, if you look at +/- box scores when he was off the court, as well as overall team success in terms of W/L, but I suppose this award has never been about who is actually best, or at least is hasn't since Jordan left.

 

[Lord Commander Palis]

lmao @ Steve Trash having 2 MVPs and Snaq and Kooby only have 1. YAWN

 

[44nutman]

No and no.

Stronger? Yes, but that isn't particularly special given the change in American strength and conditioning (and PED chemistry + availability). More than a few centers could lay claim to that despite Kareem's tremendously underrated strength (he wasn't as strong as Wilt, but he was freaking strong...Bill Walton talked about it). Bigger? Disagree, but I must explicate, obviously. Dwight has inferior dimensions. He might have superior mass, including possibly even lean mass, the true measurement of which man is bigger, but that is carrying a ~20lb-25lb weight advantage despite a massive height and reach disadvantage-- Kareem peaked at 267 lbs. As far as "bigger", in terms of what is most relevant to basketball, Kareem had the superior dimensions.

Dwight was definitely faster. There has never been anyone in the league equal or greater in height that had his acceleration or top speed. Evidence below:



Vert? No way. Dwight could freaking soar, but he couldn't even outjump a young 315 pound Shaq. He had to be given multiple attempts in the Sports Science Lab to better an in-game record for spike reach (aka max vertical reach) still held by Shaq. That doesn't count anymore than Kevin Love "breaking" Baron Davis's 94-foot record for a made field goal in-game after Kevin was given like 6 hours of attempts in the SSL. This is for the contemporary era with full game videos and requisite camera angles across seasons, of course:



If that doesn't drop your jaw about Shaq, nothing will. There's a reason he had the most dominant prime in NBA history after Jordan. He was the freak of the freaks of the freaks. Nevertheless, if we believe anecdote, then Kareem could get higher than Shaq, and I-- for one-- absolutely believe it. If nothing else, it bears out logically given his reach advantage and his lighter weight. Well, and photos like this...

Otherwise, despite these erroneous perceptions of objective physical capabilities, I wholeheartedly agree with your OP. No player with such physical gifts has disappointed me as much with his lack of progress in terms of skill, leadership, and understanding of the game. Dwight could have been one of the greatest centers of all time. He could have challenged legacies like Kareem, Shaq, Wilt, Bill, Dream, Robinson, and Ewing. Now? He doesn't have a chance of retiring in the Top 15 centers of all time.

Plus Kareem is a superior actor.

 

[Madmick]

lmao @ Steve Trash having 2 MVPs and Snaq and Kooby only have 1. YAWN

Kobe has the right amount. Two at best could be argued for him on the genuine "best player in the league" basis, but 1 is probably right.

Shaq at 2 is a bit of a problem. Should be 3-4.

 

[Lord Commander Palis]

Kobe has the right amount. Two at best could be argued for him on the genuine "best player in the league" basis, but 1 is probably right.

Shaq at 2 is a bit of a problem. Should be 3-4.

No, Kobe should have 2-3.

Shaq has 1, not two and should have 2-3. Kobe and Shaq playing together nullifies MVP chances for both.

 

[TeTe]

LOL at Michael Smith saying that Coward is absolutely a HOF'er

 

[Madmick]

No, Kobe should have 2-3.

Shaq has 1, not two and should have 2-3. Kobe and Shaq playing together nullifies MVP chances for both.

No, now that I think about it, 1 is enough. Maybe too much.

 

[gspieler]

MVP's are decided in the context of individual years, not in retrospect looking back at entire careers. In those years, Nash took the Suns from on the playoff bubble, to being a 60-win team, with or without Stoudamire. In real time, those were reasonable decisions.

 

[XThe GreatestX]

Meh. Its just kinda hard

Nash has two

Shaq has one
Kobe has one

My issue with Nash is if you were going to line up the 3 best point guards from his era

Steve Nash, Gary Payton, Jason Kidd

He would be the third one taken everytime by anyone who knows basketball

I would always go
Payton, Kidd, Nash in that order

 

[XThe GreatestX]

No, now that I think about it, 1 is enough. Maybe too much.

Eh. You think?