2004 Summer League Dwight Howard footage

HeyIt'sMe · Post #1 » by **HeyIt'sMe** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:48 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMK4UXr3XrU

Good stuff.

magicfan4life05 · Post #2 » by **magicfan4life05** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:50 am

great find

he was a beast in the makin'

HeyIt'sMe · Post #3 » by **HeyIt'sMe** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:55 am

His FT stroke was so much better looking back then and in his rookie season. He also had somewhat of a handle. I wish he could get those two back somehow.

magician09 · Post #4 » by **magician09** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:02 am

HeyIt'sMe wrote:His FT stroke was so much better looking back then and in his rookie season. He also had somewhat of a handle. I wish he could get those two back somehow.

I was going to write the exact same thing. I'm not sure why they tried to change it because it looks a lot more natural than the robotic way he shoots FTs now.

If you watch the McDonald's All-American game you see Dwight's full repertoire of skills... He was leading the break and everything in that game.

magicfan4life05 · Post #5 » by **magicfan4life05** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:08 am

do you guys think it has something to do with the magic basically telling him to play center early on in his career?

sometimes I wonder how much his game would be different had they let him kinda have the reigns early on and have his way on offense back then and just feed him the ball early on and see what he could do....if he wanted to face up...low post...or what...sometimes I feel when he's in the low post his reactions aren't instinctive but more mechanical/robotic moves...

So i guess I just always wondered had he played his "natural" position at the time which was PF, would his offense be more advanced than now?? especially since you can tell he had some great forward moves in that clip...that jumper is silky smooth and his handles were impressive...(and to be honest that was like 5 years ago and those moves kinda looked better than now :oops:

)

It's been said before, so I'll just say it again: does anyone recall his first big man coach, cliff ray, once said Howard would be best suited as a PF to utilize all his skills?? He basically said (paraphrase) it'd be a crime if they made him play center...

I remember brian hill and johnny davis would tell him dont play around on the perimeter, get in the paint, just rebound and defend/block shots, espcially johnny davis's infamous quote "if you want the ball, go get it" as he pointed to the glass...he never ran any plays for him

btw that jumpshot he banked off the glass was kg/tim duncan esque...

HeyIt'sMe · Post #6 » by **HeyIt'sMe** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:19 am

Clifford Ray did state that it would be a mistake to make Dwight into a C because he had outstanding PF skills.

x- · Post #7 » by x- » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:24 am

That's why it's crucial to have a good coach at the beginning of your career. If SVG woud have been Orlandos head coach in 2004, Dwight definitely would be a much better player by now (see Amare offense with even better defense).

magicman123 · Post #8 » by **magicman123** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:52 am

damn he got huge...

LBPTarHeel27 · Post #9 » by **LBPTarHeel27** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:19 am

That jumper was sick. I know sometimes he will take it and get a little lucky...but that one looked solid, confident, and fundamental.

If he could get that touch...wow.

Magic.City.23. · Post #10 » by **Magic.City.23.** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:00 am

That's why its summer league. The speed of the NBA is on another level.

NEM · Post #11 » by **NEM** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:46 am

damn, he got jacked!!!

rshepard1985 · Post #12 » by **rshepard1985** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:39 pm

that court looked so small for some reason...lol. Dwight and Nelson on a summer league team. Wish I watched those games instead of the past 2 years!

AdamTheGreek · Post #13 » by **AdamTheGreek** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:34 pm

That Kasun-D12 front court must've been cool to watch.

NEM · Post #14 » by **NEM** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:46 pm

btw, idk if anyone else noticed, but jameer has also gotten bigger since he was drafted

MagicHolland · Post #15 » by **MagicHolland** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:58 pm

I'd like to add this video to the discussion since there's a more clear picture of his jumpshot back then. The added muscle made him chance his form and since he's able to just overpower people I guess he has not put in the work to get a reliable jumpshot..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCax1WTUO78

LOL "This screw???"

Post #16 » by **craig01** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 5:13 pm

HeyIt'sMe wrote:His FT stroke was so much better looking back then and in his rookie season. He also had somewhat of a handle. I wish he could get those two back somehow.

Actually, his release point mechanics were fundamentally poor back then. His shooting structure has improved significantly this year, but he struggles at the line with keeping his engine (legs) in sync.

His jump shot back then was fundamentally unstructured. His release was flat, elbows were chicken winged. Recipe for failure there.

Howard obviously grew up without applying good shooting mechanics, and is now forced to fight that battle for a long long time.

Last Guardian · Post #17 » by **Last Guardian** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:33 pm

craig01 wrote:
HeyIt'sMe wrote:His FT stroke was so much better looking back then and in his rookie season. He also had somewhat of a handle. I wish he could get those two back somehow.

Actually, his release point mechanics were fundamentally poor back then. His shooting structure has improved significantly this year, but he struggles at the line with keeping his engine (legs) in sync.

His jump shot back then was fundamentally unstructured. His release was flat, elbows were chicken winged. Recipe for failure there.

Howard obviously grew up without applying good shooting mechanics, and is now forced to fight that battle for a long long time.

I think he is just saying it looked more natural, which it did. There is no right way to shoot. Shawn Marion has the worst looking form I have ever seen but he is a career 82% free throw shooter. Reggie Millers form is pretty bad and he is considered one of the best shooters ever.

Anyway, the Magic clearly wanted this big dominant center in the style of Shaq, so they wanted Dwight to get bigger and focus less on skill. You look now and think, probably a good idea. But I think Dwight would have been even better as a PF if they let him develop from that position.