<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Magic rookie Dwight Howard, 19, said he was "upset" he wasn't involved more in the offense after Sunday's game against the Miami Heat. He also expressed his frustration on the court to a player the 6-foot-11, 262-pound Howard literally looks up to. He was given some sage advice. Hang in there "young fella," Heat center Shaquille O'Neal told Howard. "I told Shaq that I was kind of upset that I didn't get the ball," Howard said. "He told me to keep working, that my time would come." Howard had just three shot attempts and scored seven points -- all seven coming at the free-throw line. If there has been a bright spot for Howard in his evolving offensive game, it is his free-throw shooting. He was 7-for-8. A 62 percent free-throw shooter, he has made 24 of his last 29. "Ten minutes of shooting before practice," Howard said. "That's helped. I just try to lock in now."</div> I noticed that D12 didn't have a big impact in this game as I thought he would.
When given the ball Dwight seems like he can produce. He's top ten in the league for shooting percentage, and I think he's capable of maintaining that. He just needs to realize that theres so many other offensive options on the team this year and he's just going to have to sit back for a while. His time will come and in the meantime he just needs to continue rebounding and blocking shots.
Howard modeled himself on Garnett - Now garnett in his rookie season averaged little over 10 pts and 6 rebs, and averaged on 30mins w/ 40 starts. Howard is already ahead of that with more rebounds and a few more minutes. Both were roughly the same age! Now I take heart in that, and if you look @ garnets rookie season he was taking alot of shots, averaging under .500 and took over 700 shots in the season (made under 400 of them), howard hit 85 of his 165 so far. So looking good. Howard next season will have grown a bit, put on some weight (in muscle) and will have had a seaon to work on his paint style, FT and shots, and we might well be looking at another garnett figure, maybe only throwing up 17-20 pts, but still, add that on stevies, hill's and mobleys 20 + other scorers from the bench. 22 games in is way to soon for him to be "annoyed" at his scoring situation. Although I am a believe that we should go to Howard alot more, because he simply can score 20 a night if we do plays around him. It does bring to light Johnny's decisions on the plays though
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">When given the ball Dwight seems like he can produce. He's top ten in the league for shooting percentage, and I think he's capable of maintaining that. He just needs to realize that theres so many other offensive options on the team this year and he's just going to have to sit back for a while. His time will come and in the meantime he just needs to continue rebounding and blocking shots.</div> Wow. Top ten in FG %. He's only a rookie!! I hope he does well this season.
Yes he is only a rookie but man, he is out shining almost all the other rookies this year. He has a very bright future ahead of him
I understand Dwight may be frustrated, but the least he can do is be humble and let the game come to him. Dwight Howard is a rookie, and he isn't the first option on his team so he has to understand that this may happen to him a few games of his rookie season. He shouldn?t worry because he is going to have a long career where in the future he may be getting the ball 85% of the time his team is on offense.
This isn't a good sign. Hopefully he doesn't hang his head and continue to complain. Hopefully he will grow on this and learn that he needs to work harder to become the offensive threat that he wants to become. He also has to realize what Ice said and that we already have a lot of scorers, we need him to focus on rebounding and blocking shots. I do think that Johnny Davis has to realize that this kid is going to be special, so listen to his demands. Give him about 10 shots a game. 3 shots a game is pathetic for Davis to give this kid(hell Kasun got 3 shots in 25 less mins). Make up some plays to run for him and let him develop. He's not going to develop without getting the ball in game situations. Yes he will go through some growing pains and will shoot some 2-10 nights, but let him work through it. You will see some flashes with a couple 8-10 nights shooting. Just give him more than 3 shots a game is all I'm asking. Don't screw the team up Johnny.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting magicdamo23:</div><div class="quote_post">Howard modeled himself on Garnett - Now garnett in his rookie season averaged little over 10 pts and 6 rebs, and averaged on 30mins w/ 40 starts. Howard is already ahead of that with more rebounds and a few more minutes. Both were roughly the same age! </div> Actually KG averaged 10.4 points in 28.7 minutes his rookie season. Dwight is been playing more minutes this season then KG did his rookie season, but he averages better rebounding number than KG could have ever dreamed of as a rookie. This is in part credited to the fact Howard starts while KG didnt, but he is performing very well for him self. In his rookie season KG attempted 735 shots that entire season so far this season he already has 215 shots more than half the attempts he did his rookie year, and we are only a quarter into the season. Shots come as players develope thats how it goes. Shaq is known for giving people advice and props. He has done it for Tmac, Pierce, Wade, and now Howard no surprise Shaq is like the God Father of the NBA these days after all he has done in his time, and how he has always been right about players when he complements them or advices them. So that is a good sign.
Here's my view on this: As many of you already pointed out, we have a lot of scorers and at this moment Howard isn't needed as a scorer but as another defensive and rebound guy, especially as long as Cato is still out, so he needs to concentrate on that rather than on scoring. Playing against one of the best big man these days is never easy and I think Davis decided that in this game, Howard doesn't get too many shots so that he wouldn't be frustrated if he didn't get it done or more likely Davis thought that we don't get it done in the paint and that our shooters have a better chance at winning this game for us. Also, Howard had two early shot attempts, the first one (only 55 seconds in the game) was blocked by Shaq and the second one only 45 seconds later he missed. Yes, Howard needs to get some more plays run for him but first, take it one step after the other and not yet against the best big men in the league and second, we need him more on the defensive end and for offensive rebounds as long as Cato is out.
Howard is young and inexperenced in the Nba even though sometimes it doesnt show. He will get his play called soon he needs to take it slow now and learn that he has shooters that if they miss his there for the rebound. He is tall and unlike most tall men find his own spots when running pick in rolls or just lack of defense. Also what they need to do in playing smaller teams is get it to him his free throws are much improving and he needs to learn to take it hard to the hole and force a three point play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Cash-Money:</div><div class="quote_post">So ho was playing for him I thaught MAgic had no depth.</div> I do not understand your question, but the Magic are one of the deepest teams in the NBA this season. they have depth at every position which showed when Mobely went down earlier in the season, and although e does not do as good a job as Cato, Battie is showing the Magic have depth by putting up good numbers as a starter. The Magic are a solid team at every position on the court from point to center. They have no wholes in there game, but right now if I had to pick a weak link position for us it would be the Center position because although Battie does well as a fill in with Cato out we have no one to back up Battie, but Kasun who is young and inexperenced.
