Let Dwight Howard Lead the Way: Boston Celtics-Orlando Magic Game Five
Dwight Howard only needs to score fifteen points a night. As long as he rebounds and defends, the rest of the team can get it done.
If you watch enough NBA basketball, you hear that statement quite often.
The consensus among basketball fans seems to be that Howard has topped out on his potential. We sit through discussions about his lack of a post offense.
It seems people have judged Howard, for some strange reason, to be incapable of being a great basketball player.
That's not just wrong, it's silly.
I understand much of the Dwight Howard hate gets driven by the media. Add to that, as a small market team, the Magic often draw smaller TV audiences than other teams.
But if you watch this team consistently over the entire season, you know most of the pundits have no clue.
Take the present series with the Boston Celtics. I've been told more than once that the Magic will not win if they rely on Dwight Howard to win games.
Sometimes people just say things they heard in a newspaper or on a radio show. It makes them sound more knowledgeable.
If we look at Howard's body of work in the first four games, you will realize Howard must carry his team to win games in this series.
The Magic have only held the lead twice over four games. In both those instances, Game Two and Game Four, Howard put up at least 30 points. Boston won Game Two by four points—a game in which Howard ended with only eight rebounds.
Game Four, the Magic's only victory, Howard again hit the 30-point mark. This time he doubled his Game Two rebound total, ending with 16.
What more evidence do you need to know that Howard represents the hopes of the franchise in the playoffs?
Take last season's NBA Finals series with the Los Angeles Lakers. Magic role players missed shots more times than Andersen Verajao flops in a game. Howard held a very limited role in that offense.
At that time, Superman had skills more akin to Mighty Mouse. Howard only needed to focus on defending and rebounding. Occasionally he would be the outlet on the pick-and-roll for an easy dunk. The Magic only won one game.
That one win was the night Orlando shot lights out from beyond the arc.
Without an inside threat, identical to how Boston plays Orlando, teams could play one-on-one on the outside. You might find a double-team on Howard, but good teams willingly challenged the center to beat them. They knew he was not the focus of the offense.
Simple logic also dictates that Howard must become the focal point of the offense going forward.
There is not another player in the NBA with the physical attributes of Howard. Because of his athletic advantage, Howard only needs a minimal post-game. Just improving his footwork, and learning to start his moves off an entry pass would drastically improve his scoring.
If you doubt my theory, go back and review the career of Shaquille O'Neil. He made a living being able to back down defenders and turn.
Keeping with our logic motif, it's simple percentages, layups increase field goal percentages. Three point plays cut deficits and stretch leads. High field goal percentages win games.
Again, proof can be found in the statistics. Howard led the league in field goal percentage. Dwight Howard took a total of 834 shots this season, nearly 800 of those shots were from 10 feet or less. Orlando won 59 games this season.
Howard provided inside help on many a cold shooting night in those wins.
All the other four starters combined take an average of 16 shots per game from 10 feet or less. Give Howard half of those shots, you get 10 points more per game for the All-Star center. That puts Howard averaging 28 points per game.
Almost 30 points a night from a center in the NBA means things open up for other players. Even against a staunch Celtics playoff defense.
Howard must learn how to win in the playoffs. For the first time I can remember in his career, late in a game no less, Howard stood at the elbow directing teammates to set up the pick-and-roll. He wanted the ball in the clutch.
Head coach Stan Van Gundy must now cut the apron strings. Let the youngster the Magic drafted become his own man. He wants to lead, and he wants to win. Let him.
Mighty Mouse is becoming Superman. Now we need Superman to become a champion.
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