#TBT- Dwight Howard, C, Houston Rockets
@Hoover__26 February 18
Athleticism is the skill that, nowadays, is usually the first measure of a player’s talent in the NBA. Some players are weak athletes, others are strong athletes, and some (bear in mind, a very select few) have so much athleticism that it basically shines at every moment they are on the court. Dwight Howard is undoubtedly the third kind of athlete. He earned the nickname “Superman” with his astounding feats, and has cemented himself as one of the finest big men of our generation. However, the 30 year old Howard is on his third team, and has battled injuries in the past few years. He may not be quite the Superman of old, but Dwight has shown us that he hasn’t exactly become a “mild-mannered” center quite yet.
Howard is averaging 14.6 points, 12 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots this season, his third in Houston. That isn’t on par with what he may have done early in his career, but considering all the injuries he has dealt with (not to mention dealing with Kobe), I would say that's pretty strong. His fantasy value is still very high, despite sitting out the occasional game. In fact, Howard’s defensive rating (basketball-reference.com) is the best it’s been since his rookie year with Orlando. His true shooting percentage is also at it’s highest mark since the 2010-2011 season. Howard’s free throw percentage is really one of his only faults on the court, as he averages only about 53% from the charity stripe. That makes him vulnerable for the Hack-A-Howard technique, which has been perfected by, let me think...everyone.
This week’s #TBT is a strong center that continues to prove that despite his age, and his injuries, he can still make a splash on the court. Through everything that has attempted to derail his career, Howard has pushed through and managed to show flashes of the Superman we used to see.
Howard is averaging 14.6 points, 12 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots this season, his third in Houston. That isn’t on par with what he may have done early in his career, but considering all the injuries he has dealt with (not to mention dealing with Kobe), I would say that's pretty strong. His fantasy value is still very high, despite sitting out the occasional game. In fact, Howard’s defensive rating (basketball-reference.com) is the best it’s been since his rookie year with Orlando. His true shooting percentage is also at it’s highest mark since the 2010-2011 season. Howard’s free throw percentage is really one of his only faults on the court, as he averages only about 53% from the charity stripe. That makes him vulnerable for the Hack-A-Howard technique, which has been perfected by, let me think...everyone.
This week’s #TBT is a strong center that continues to prove that despite his age, and his injuries, he can still make a splash on the court. Through everything that has attempted to derail his career, Howard has pushed through and managed to show flashes of the Superman we used to see.