Reverse Tim Duncan - The Dwight Howard Thread

[Chapelchilla]

There is lot of moaning about Dwight going on in here but the actual problem is no Batum or MKG in the line up. Hopefully that is remedied in the next 2 weeks.

[Braggins]

I agree with MA. I'm overall at least somewhat happy with Howards play. I think there have been a lot of positives, but also plenty of negatives. His effectiveness in the PnR after our first few games has been encouraging, but we still need to make tweaks to how we utilize him.

To the people calling for Cody to start. I totally get where you are coming from and I agree that Cody is the better option, but benching Howard just isn't really an option. Trading for Dwight and then benching him would be like trading for a grenade then pulling the pin out and expecting it to not blow up in your face.

[HornetJail]

I agree with MA. I'm overall at least somewhat happy with Howards play. I think there have been a lot of positives, but also plenty of negatives. His effectiveness in the PnR after our first few games has been encouraging, but we still need to make tweaks to how we utilize him.

To the people calling for Cody to start. I totally get where you are coming from and I agree that Cody is the better option, but benching Howard just isn't really an option. Trading for Dwight and then benching him would be like trading for a grenade then pulling the pin out and expecting it to not blow up in your face.

I like having Howard start- he can set the tone by blocking shots at the rim or getting a couple big dunks early, but I want him to get the bulk of his minutes vs 2nd units. Cody needs more time with the starters, and should be closing games unless there's an Andre Drummond, DeMarcus Cousins, or Hassan Whiteside on the other side.

[Chapelchilla]

I agree with MA. I'm overall at least somewhat happy with Howards play. I think there have been a lot of positives, but also plenty of negatives. His effectiveness in the PnR after our first few games has been encouraging, but we still need to make tweaks to how we utilize him.

To the people calling for Cody to start. I totally get where you are coming from and I agree that Cody is the better option, but benching Howard just isn't really an option. Trading for Dwight and then benching him would be like trading for a grenade then pulling the pin out and expecting it to not blow up in your face.

I like having Howard start- he can set the tone by blocking shots at the rim or getting a couple big dunks early, but I want him to get the bulk of his minutes vs 2nd units. Cody needs more time with the starters, and should be closing games unless there's an Andre Drummond, DeMarcus Cousins, or Hassan Whiteside on the other side.

I agree. Dwight can wear the starters down a bit and get them in foul trouble early. Pull him after like 6-7 minutes to get Cody some early running the floor time. Cody should be the closer too.

[predators]

Its like some people didn't know Dwight really sucked at shooting free throws. His advanced stats will always suck because of that. He would be an all timer if he could shoot FT as well as Zeller.

[HoopsMalone]

This idiot scored 6 points while using NINETEEN possessions on shots and turnovers. That's essentially going 3 for 19 from the field.

What is it going to take to make people realize he is KILLING us? We aren't going to stop losing until we bench Dwight. He's far too negative to possibly overcome each night.

If we'd kicked out to Frank for NINETEEN three pt attempts and he hit even 2 of them we would have matched the results we got feeding Dwight. If he goes 4-19 we got an easy win on our hands.

WHAT A JOKE. cliff's gotta go

[King Ken]

This idiot scored 6 points while using NINETEEN possessions on shots and turnovers. That's essentially going 3 for 19 from the field.

What is it going to take to make people realize he is KILLING us? We aren't going to stop losing until we bench Dwight. He's far too negative to possibly overcome each night.

If we'd kicked out to Frank for NINETEEN three pt attempts and he hit even 2 of them we would have matched the results we got feeding Dwight. If he goes 4-19 we got an easy win on our hands.

WHAT A JOKE. cliff's gotta go

As an Atlanta fan, I told the base that he's a 26-28 player that has to start for his confidence and even finish for the same reason but the bulk of his minutes should be v. backups. Not starters. Too many flaws at this stage where his strengths can't overcome them.

[316Hornets]

This idiot scored 6 points while using NINETEEN possessions on shots and turnovers. That's essentially going 3 for 19 from the field.

What is it going to take to make people realize he is KILLING us? We aren't going to stop losing until we bench Dwight. He's far too negative to possibly overcome each night.

If we'd kicked out to Frank for NINETEEN three pt attempts and he hit even 2 of them we would have matched the results we got feeding Dwight. If he goes 4-19 we got an easy win on our hands.

WHAT A JOKE. cliff's gotta go

It isn't like Zeller is lighting the world on fire either. Maybe you should give it a rest. We're only 12 games in and you've been talking sht about Dwight the whole time. Do you expect him to just automatically pick up the offense the first game and excel without Batum or MKG? It's a tough situation and I think his past success gives him a reasonable timeframe to turn it around without the fanbase shouting insults to him on a constant basis like you've done through the majority of your posts.

[fatlever]

sums up my thoughts

Read on Twitter

[fatlever]

we're closing games with the 2015 clogged toilet offense, which results in Kemba hero ball. Batum will help. Having Cody over Dwight would help, since Cody at least can help Kemba get free.

[HoopsMalone]

This idiot scored 6 points while using NINETEEN possessions on shots and turnovers. That's essentially going 3 for 19 from the field.

What is it going to take to make people realize he is KILLING us? We aren't going to stop losing until we bench Dwight. He's far too negative to possibly overcome each night.

If we'd kicked out to Frank for NINETEEN three pt attempts and he hit even 2 of them we would have matched the results we got feeding Dwight. If he goes 4-19 we got an easy win on our hands.

WHAT A JOKE. cliff's gotta go

It isn't like Zeller is lighting the world on fire either. Maybe you should give it a rest. We're only 12 games in and you've been talking sht about Dwight the whole time. Do you expect him to just automatically pick up the offense the first game and excel without Batum or MKG? It's a tough situation and I think his past success gives him a reasonable timeframe to turn it around without the fanbase shouting insults to him on a constant basis like you've done through the majority of your posts.

Weird thought here but maybe I'm the one who is right...

[catch20two]

we're closing games with the 2015 clogged toilet offense, which results in Kemba hero ball. Batum will help. Having Cody over Dwight would help, since Cody at least can help Kemba get free.

...and if Kemba get free it opens things up for the rest of the team via drive and kick opportunities if Kemba can’t get a good look off penetration.

Dwight hasn’t shown the ability to consistently set good screens without frequently committing a offensive foul whenever he doesn’t slip the screen overall.

I like what Dwight brings to the team but when opposing defenses clamp down on Kemba and go into the Hack-a-Dwight strategy we’re totally at a disadvantage as a team. I feared Clifford riding Dwight too much instead of playing situational lineups and that’s exactly what’s happening.

Clifford and Dwight aren’t totally at fault here tho. Kemba missed some decent looks from midrange and beyond the arc down the stretch as he’s been in a slump but opportunities are scarce for the rest of team when Kemba isn’t able to penetrate and get opposing defenses scrambling to free others.

[Diop]

we're closing games with the 2015 clogged toilet offense, which results in Kemba hero ball. Batum will help. Having Cody over Dwight would help, since Cody at least can help Kemba get free.

...and if Kemba get free it opens things up for the rest of the team via drive and kick opportunities if Kemba can’t get a good look off penetration.

Dwight hasn’t shown the ability to consistently set good screens without frequently committing a offensive foul whenever he doesn’t slip the screen overall.

I like what Dwight brings to the team but when opposing defenses clamp down on Kemba and go into the Hack-a-Dwight strategy we’re totally at a disadvantage as a team. I feared Clifford riding Dwight too much instead of playing situational lineups and that’s exactly what’s happening.

Clifford and Dwight aren’t totally at fault here tho. Kemba missed some decent looks from midrange and beyond the arc down the stretch as he’s been in a slump but opportunities are scarce for the rest of team when Kemba isn’t able to penetrate and get opposing defenses scrambling to free others.

this sums it up for me. Dwight is valuable to this team, I like him starting to set a physical tone and to save Zeller from getting beat up, but I think Zeller should be getting at least half the minutes and be used at the end of the game.

[mrknowitall215]

Clifford need to draw in the reins he's allowing Dwight to play with. I have no idea why Dwight is allowed to dribble up the court, shoot midrange jump shots, turn the ball over frequently in the post, miss free throws, and still get consistent touches. With that said, overall I've actually liked the contributions that Dwight has given to the team and I don't think he's been the root of the Hornets' current issues at all, but I've been observing some things in-game that could lead to a slippery slope that'll be their downfall if they aren't careful

I know Clifford has his stubborn hard-on for playing lineups based on a time restraint he preset hours before the game even started, but I don't think Dwight should be closing games for a multitude of reasons, especially when he has a solid backup center like Cody in the fold

[Diop]

I remember hearing Big Al saying how Clifford wanted to restrict his touches to deep in the post, Dwight should be given the same restrictions.

Maybe they can sort this out over the season, Dwight strikes me as the type of guy you probably have to give him a chance to stuff it up just to prove his limits. (yes I know he's been doing this his whole career)

[yosemiteben]

Read on Twitter

[HoopsMalone]

that was great

[Hornet Mania]

Seems like we're all generally in agreement, Dwight should start and play half the minutes at C with Cody coming off the bench and taking the other half including crunch time. The biggest obstacles are clearly Cliff and/or Dwight's stubbornness.

Judging by the video above I think we've got a solid chance of selling Dwight on the idea if we simply frame it as he and Cody making a serious run at the NBA's Tag Team Championship. We can even spruce it up a bit for him, craft a couple belts that whoever is sitting on the bench gets to hold (the easy photo ops are pure Dwight bait) and a cool intro music for the one subbing into the game. If we make the intro music good enough Dwight might even prefer to be the 6th man just so he can come out to it first.

Now that just leaves Cliff...

[HoopsMalone]

One thing is for sure Dwight should NEVER be in the game when we are in the bonus. Cliff's decision to leave him in against Boston may have cost us that game.

I'd like to see Dwight get quick burn at the beginning of each quarter {PARTICULARLY THE 2nd and 4th with the bench!) when he can be used to draw fouls and establish a defensive identity. Then go to the bench for the remainder (unless we're not in the bonus yet with 2 mins left then there's a solid argument for him to help get us there by drawing one foul).

Cody is simply too good of a player to have him wasting away on bench units. Whereas a PNR between Monk/Dwight or an iso with Lamb as dwight crashes the glass is not THAT bad of an offense for a 2nd unit.... Similarly, having Dwight in the game defensively when we can't score will help prevent teams from going on big runs against us.

Think about it... if monk is busy going 1-8 FG, then even a dwight postup or FT attempt is a better alternative. We don't want to waste all these possessions while Kemba is on the floor though. Kemba is an offensive force. We should be doing everything we can to AID kemba not HAMPER him.

Look at James Harden since they got rid of dwight and put offensive talent around him instead... look at steph curry... if you had steph curry would you be looking to pair him up with Dwight Howard? Why are we doing this with Kemba?!

I feel like im taking crazy pills. THe formula for winning in this league right now is to be a great offensive team with good enough defense.

Sure, the celtics are having some initial success by being a great defensive team... but we are not that. Clearly. We are sacrificing our offense completely to have a neutral defense. That's the formula to win 33 games.

[King Ken]

One thing is for sure Dwight should NEVER be in the game when we are in the bonus. Cliff's decision to leave him in against Boston may have cost us that game.

I'd like to see Dwight get quick burn at the beginning of each quarter {PARTICULARLY THE 2nd and 4th with the bench!) when he can be used to draw fouls and establish a defensive identity. Then go to the bench for the remainder (unless we're not in the bonus yet with 2 mins left then there's a solid argument for him to help get us there by drawing one foul).

Cody is simply too good of a player to have him wasting away on bench units. Whereas a PNR between Monk/Dwight or an iso with Lamb as dwight crashes the glass is not THAT bad of an offense for a 2nd unit.... Similarly, having Dwight in the game defensively when we can't score will help prevent teams from going on big runs against us.

Think about it... if monk is busy going 1-8 FG, then even a dwight postup or FT attempt is a better alternative. We don't want to waste all these possessions while Kemba is on the floor though. Kemba is an offensive force. We should be doing everything we can to AID kemba not HAMPER him.

Look at James Harden since they got rid of dwight and put offensive talent around him instead... look at steph curry... if you had steph curry would you be looking to pair him up with Dwight Howard? Why are we doing this with Kemba?!

I feel like im taking crazy pills. THe formula for winning in this league right now is to be a great offensive team with good enough defense.

Sure, the celtics are having some initial success by being a great defensive team... but we are not that. Clearly. We are sacrificing our offense completely to have a neutral defense. That's the formula to win 33 games.

You might be one of the more smart fans on RealGM. Most posters are dumb, but you are pretty smart. I agree with what you wrote in regard to the Hornets and Howard.