<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Beware of Dwight Howard this year. Dude is a nightmare for opposing big men and anyone foolish enough to get in his way when he wants a rebound or a dunk. Seriously, this could be the year he ascends to his rightful place as Shaq?s successor as the league?s most dominant inside presence (Sorry Yao Ming, Amare Stoudemire and all the rest of you contenders). And with Darko Milicic feeding him from the high post, Howard could have a monster year on the offensive end, too.</div> Source I came across this blurb about Dwight Howard from one of the writer's covering the Hawks. I haven't seen Howard in the preseason, but did watch him dominate the inside during the World Championship game. Sounds like he's improved even more since the summer time and is ready to breakout this season. Do you guys think this is the year Howard elevates his game and becomes the best big man in the game, or are these expectations still out of his reach?
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Source I came across this blurb about Dwight Howard from one of the writer's covering the Hawks. I haven't seen Howard in the preseason, but did watch him dominate the inside during the World Championship game. Sounds like he's improved even more since the summer time and is ready to breakout this season. Do you guys think this is the year Howard elevates his game and becomes the best big man in the game, or are these expectations still out of his reach?</div> IMO... Dwight has already proven himself to a lot of people... he's gonna be dominate, but i don't think that he is going to score 40 points in a game... That is something that amare has done (even in the playoffs) and shaq has done plenty of times (playoffs as well). For Dwight to REALLY make a strong push for the best big man... he will have to do it in the playoffs. I wouldn't be surprised if he has an outstanding season, but doesn't do much in the postseason (Garnett). I'm not saying that it's Garnett's fault... but imagine if he was constantly tearing it up in the postseason? then the question wouldn't be if Dwight will be better than Amare and Shaq... it would be whether or not he can dominate like Garnett.... Basically... prove it in the postseason.
I think you are a lot more likely to see 20-20 games from Dwight then 35-40 point games. I think his offense will move up some as he develops some post moves and his rebounding should stay around the same. The biggest impact that I think will happen with him is defense. He played against Bosh, Brand, Jamison, and Brad Miller the entire summer in practice, not to mention all the other bigs in other countries. I think we will see some improvement, but another thing that I think he improves is his consistency. I don't think you will see a 20 15 outing followed by a 10 8 outing anymore or way less frequently. I don't believe that him becoming the best big man in the league will happen until the 07-08 season. I'm expecting around 20-21 points 12-13 rebounds and around 2 blocks for this year. Barring injury or any weird circumstances, he not only should be in the all-star game, but he could start it as more and more people hear about him and get to see him play.
Imo I think Dwight will probly have better numbers than any other big man in the league as long as we can consistantly get him the ball he is going to get his rebounds no matter what. I think Dwight will average 21pts-12.5rbds-3ass.-2blks I think his biggest improvments will be his passing and his free throw shooting (75% range) I would be very surprized if Dwight doesn't have better numbers than Shaq this year while being as or more dominant.
I think his game has evolved to where he doesnt even need the ball thrown to him, he has learned to position himself so well that he is all over the offensive boards. That alone will increase his scoring output 5-10ppg. He is a freak of nature and im glad he is on our side....
<div class="quote_poster">Chuck Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Dwight's gonna threaten 30-20 every night. </div> That would be underachieving though and kinda an easy goal for him. It's be more like threatening 30-30 every night.
Seriously, nobody can beat Shaq. That man has evolved the game for Centers. The thing is that Howard is gonna be like KG in the future, not Shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Seriously, nobody can beat Shaq. That man has evolved the game for Centers. The thing is that Howard is gonna be like KG in the future, not Shaq.</div> i dont want him to play like shaq... i think he should play his own game... in a few years dwight howard will be dwight howard, and that name be included as one of the best along with shaq.... i dont like all the comparisons between the 2. i think howard is so much quicker and more versatile than shaq... howard can work on his 10 ft jump shot too and that is something that shaq could never do (unless it's a hook)... dwight should play to his strengths and dominate in his own right... wouldnt it be nice to have discussions 20 years from now asking.... who was the best center of our time? Shaq or Howard?
<div class="quote_poster">CLos Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Seriously, nobody can beat Shaq. That man has evolved the game for Centers. The thing is that Howard is gonna be like KG in the future, not Shaq.</div> The way Dwight is gaining weight I see him being more of a Shaq type player than KG. Kg is more finese than Dwight, Dwight came into the league at 240 ibs and he is now up to 268 and still growing I see Dwight topping out at about 275-280 ibs in which case he would be more like Shaq not KG
