22 years old Game #1: 25pts, 22 rebounds, 5 blocks Game #2: 29 pts, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks Can he actually get better? He's already amazing, but can he improve? Are we seeing the early years of a guy that may eventually put up a 30/20 season?
He'll go down as one of the best of all-time. He definitely hasn't hit his prime yet and still doesn't get as many shots as he should. In two or three years, he'll be completely unstoppable and that's when I see Orlando racking up the titles.
I was going to make a thread. I havent seen too much, what is his post moves like? Are they just putbacks or does he have skills - because those are prime Shaq numbers he's been putting up. Are we in the process of seeing one of NBA greatest bigmen? He's 22 and averaged 20/14/2 or something and two consecutive 20-20 games in the postseason. Man, watchout - you Orlando fans are lucky
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef @ Apr 23 2008, 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>22 years old Game #1: 25pts, 22 rebounds, 5 blocks Game #2: 29 pts, 20 rebounds, 3 blocks Can he actually get better? He's already amazing, but can he improve? Are we seeing the early years of a guy that may eventually put up a 30/20 season?</div> Yes, he can get better. When you look at his age and compare it to his gameplay, I think he is already way ahead of his peers of the same age. I'm a Warriors fan, so I can really appreciate a low-post threat phenom like Howard.
He doesn't have many post-up moves. He has maybe three that he can go to consistently and then the rest are putbacks. When he can add some more skill and experience to his already amazing athleticism, he's going to be one of the best players in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if he had several championships and a couple MVP awards under his belt when he retires. He's on pace to be one of the best rebounders of all-time as well.
The time he extends his offensive game beyond 10 ft. and addresses his FT% (he's certainly done that in this series), will be when I agree that he's truly unstoppable. Until then, he's still an incredible player. And to that end, you have to wonder why his teammates ignored him so much in the 4th quarter. They almost gave the game away to the Raps and took him out of the gameplan for no real reason.
He mainly scores off putbacks/tip ins/alleyoops right now, so plays that spoonfeed him. When he learns some post moves, I see him averaging about 25 a game. I don't think his rebounding numbers will ever eclipse 15 a game, so I think he'll be averaging around 25/15 for his career. Only downside is I think his shooting% might go down once he learns some post moves and stuff, because then he would have to hit shots, not dunk/layup/tip them in.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Base @ Apr 23 2008, 12:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He mainly scores off putbacks/tip ins/alleyoops right now, so plays that spoonfeed him. When he learns some post moves, I see him averaging about 25 a game. I don't think his rebounding numbers will ever eclipse 15 a game, so I think he'll be averaging around 25/15 for his career. Only downside is I think his shooting% might go down once he learns some post moves and stuff, because then he would have to hit shots, not dunk/layup/tip them in.</div> Centers are not required to be amazing scorers. They get it when they can. Most points will be earned by the smaller guys. For centers, its all about presence. Dwight's presence around the basket is huge, and it changes the shot decisions of everyone nearby. Rebounding is not to be overlooked either - and Dwight owns the rebound.
I love how you guys are drooling over Dwight's amazing skills, and haven't even mentioned his defensive presence. I mean, if you watched any part of the game where the Raps had the ball, you'd either see A) an outside shot or B) a play bringing it in the paint, and then circling around back to the perimeter when Dwight comes around. Because they know that if they bring it down low, they'll either get the shit blocked out of em or get their shot altered trying to avoid getting swatted.
I didnt see game 2, but I saw game 1 and I did notice that his early blocks changed everything....I say Nesto flub a lay up because he was looking over his shoulder and I saw guys penetrating the lane and kicking it out instead of taking it to the basket....I guess this is what SVG had in mind when he challenged his defense at mid-season....
They were actually calling goaltending in tonight's game, but the intimidation factor was still there. Jose Calderon, in particular, seemed mindful of Dwight when he was penetrating. I counted only two times when he finished his drive for a layup instead of kicking out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Apr 23 2008, 12:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They were actually calling goaltending in tonight's game, but the intimidation factor was still there. Jose Calderon, in particular, seemed mindful of Dwight when he was penetrating. I counted only two times when he finished his drive for a layup instead of kicking out.</div> Presence. Howard makes a difference. He needs some more help though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Apr 23 2008, 12:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Apr 23 2008, 12:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They were actually calling goaltending in tonight's game, but the intimidation factor was still there. Jose Calderon, in particular, seemed mindful of Dwight when he was penetrating. I counted only two times when he finished his drive for a layup instead of kicking out.</div> Presence. Howard makes a difference. He needs some more help though. </div> No doubt. Consider the fact that he's had two straight 20 rebound games and yet his team hasn't dominated Toronto on the boards in either game (the Raptors of all teams). Imagine what it'll be like when they pair him up with a legitimate power forward.
The biggest problem is that they gave Rashard Lewis a 120 mill contract over 6 years. I think Dwight will be an awesome player, I just don't know if the Magic will be able to improve the roster much over the next 5 years due to the amount of salary already invested.
Well, with Dwight Howard continuing to emerge as an offensive presence, Jameer Nelson's improvement (hopefully), and Turkoglu's All-Star emergence, we are pretty solid as it is. Rashard did take a lot of money from us but like how Shaq was in Miami, players came to play with him. Same thing could happen with Dwight. As far as Dwight's career, I think he will avg. 27/16 in one of his seasons. He doesn't get the ball much because of our 3pt shooting but once he develops a jumpshot and more post up moves, he will dominate even more. I would like him to improve on his ballhandling so he can take it to the hole from the free-throw line if he gets it from there.
19 pts, 16 rebs, 8 blocks, 22 years old....this series should have been his national coming out party, but since the NBA decided to bury this series away from the prime showcase times, few have seen it....the farther the Magic go though, the harder it will be to hide his coronation....