How do you build around Dwight Howard ?

guess_wh0 · Post #1 » by **guess_wh0** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:11 pm

I was just wondering if you had to build around Dwight Howard, how would you go around doing it?

Adding great % shooters such as Nash, Allen and Okur would be one way to do it and just give up on turnovers but does this strategy back fire and put you in the mediocre range in all categories, where you're not really dominating any statistical field. Also the vision seems shaky if you want to play small ball or big ball.

DNYLkiller · Post #2 » by **DNYLkiller** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:24 pm

I just read a sweet article on this

http://givemetherock.com/2009/10/08/how ... ie-league/

rpa · Post #3 » by **rpa** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:32 pm

Someone at ESPN actually wrote a decent article on this just the other day. I'm personally in the camp that believes you CANNOT win a roto league with Dwight Howard (but you can absolutely dominate in a H2H league).

However, if you WERE to build one I'd agree with most of what the ESPN guy said but I'd condense it down to this form:
Along with Howard you need 1 of 2 things:
1) Kevin Martin as your 3rd rounder along with no other "bad" FT shooters (which means no Duncan, Okafor, Biedrins, Bogut, etc.). And then pray Martin doesn't miss much time with an injury.
2) 2 very good FT shooters with decent but not crazy attempts (Melo, Durant, Kobe, etc.) and still no "bad" FT shooters.

Personally, I think you can't/shouldn't because if an injury hits even one of the guys you have to even out Howard's FT% then you're done in that category. Also, due to his FT problems (and assuming you don't punt the cat) it's REALLY hard to win in any of the big man cats since most big men shoot poor FT percentages but having any of them + Howard means losing the cat.

Calderon · Post #4 » by **Calderon** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:14 am

You could punt FT% altogether in a h2h league. If yo uare going to punt FT%, you are going to find you will be crappy at 3's as well. A team like this would be possible.

12 teams

1. Howard
2. Igoudala
3. Smith
4. Rondo
5. Biedrins

At this point in the draft, you would be great at FG%, rebounds, blocks so if your next few picks aren't all FT% punting guys that is ok.

6. Redd
7. Diaw
8. Turkoglu

Then fill your bench out with the BPA's.

HighOctane · Post #5 » by **HighOctane** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:27 am

I've drafted Howard - Twice in 2 out of 2 of my leagues. They're both H2H, one is on this page looking for comments, take a look and criticise if you may.

What I have done is taken two stances. On one team, I've dropped FT% but plan on dominating with big men such as Al Jeff, Josh Smith, Shaq. I've also added 3pt shooters such as Mo Will, Baron Davis, Rudy Fernandez. Davis, Artest and Josh Smith will be able to help me win steals while Howard and Shaq get blocks. Therefore I should be able to dominate in FG%, 3ptm, Steals, Blocks at the very least. I made sure that the rest of my team should keep me competitive in points and assists(T. Parker, Iverson, Davis) On the whole I can see myself winning most matchups 6-3, 7-2.

On my other team I have Howard paired up with Kaman as the lonely big men who can't FT. David West and Scola are also there for rebounds. I'm depending on them to win blocks while I'm going big on points and steals with Arenas, Butler, Gay, Maggette, Brewer, and Iverson. My 4 given categories should be: Rebounds, Blocks, Steals, Points. I think this is a far riskier team but with my team going to the line a lot it may be able to offset Howard. For this lack of focus it may suffer, but only in 3ptm, TO, and blocks if Howard can't single handedly save me.

These are both 12 man h2h leagues and my track record has been pretty good. All I can say is, Dwight is worth a first round pick in H2H, but only once the Granger, Nowitzki, Durants have been picked. Obviously you'll bomb FT and TO, but his FG%, Pts, Rebounds, Blocks are far more valuable. 4 cats to 2 are won if you pick the right team to complement him.

longfellow44 · Post #6 » by **longfellow44** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:43 pm

The thing is you can draft him early but don't build around him. What you need to do is to then draft a core of guys who are do everything types and finish your draft with specialty players that can help on your problems.

Something like this would be fantastic.

Howard R1
Joe Johnson R2
Aldridge R3
J Nelson R4
Salmons R5
E Gordon R6
Hawes R7
Love R8

I'm not sure if I've got everyone in the appropriate rounds but these are the types of players that you should go after to be able to win with howard as your 1st pick. Most of them put up good #'s in several cats. Basically these type of players allow your 1st pick to be anyone with any positives or negatives. After about 8 rounds though you get to find specialty players to make sure you can have a fighting chance in any sub par cats or to make sure that you simply dominate. Getting a guy like Fernandez would help with your 3's at this point or getting a guy like Dalembert for blocks to make sure you win it. The point is a draft like this would allow you to be solid in all cats without letting Howards negatives cost you any categories.

plonden · Post #7 » by **plonden** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:59 am

rpa wrote:Someone at ESPN actually wrote a decent article on this just the other day. I'm personally in the camp that believes you CANNOT win a roto league with Dwight Howard (but you can absolutely dominate in a H2H league).

I've seen it done in one of the most competitive leagues I participate in. The manager punted FT%, came away middle of the pack in TOs and DOMINATED the rest of the categories. It only works in the most competitive leagues (as managers are usually bunched together and you don't have a bunch of inactive teams skewing TOs) and is unbelievably difficult to pull off. You need to plan very carefully and execute the plan perfectly to work.

But I agree, it is usually suicide in roto.

Post #8 » by **Electric Slim** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:12 am

We only play 8cat w/o TO's in my league, so I would take Howard at #5. I took him last year at #5 and it worked out brilliantly.

Post #9 » by **Stanford** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:12 am

I would never draft Dwight in a roto league. But if you're taking him in the first round of a roto league, you must get Kevin Martin. If you don't you're doomed. You need a guy to make a huge dent in Dwight's negative FT%; drafting good FT% (meaning either under 83ish %, or under 5ish attempts) guys the rest of the way isn't going to do it.

In a H2H league, the strategy is simple; tank FT%, adjust your rankings and go from there.

Post #10 » by **AshyLarrysDiaper** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:17 pm

DNYLkiller wrote:I just read a sweet article on this

http://givemetherock.com/2009/10/08/how ... ie-league/

Seems that the players that this article suggests you take in order to compliment Howard in a Roto league are the ones you'd seriously consider passing on (or at least devaluing) if you drafted Howard in H2H. Turns out to be a nice little guide for both formats.

I'm almost convinced I'm gonna go the Dwight Howard route this year. He typically falls to the early second round in my H2H league, and if I can get him there, that's too much value to pass on. After that, I'll look to take Rondo in the 3rd, Baron Davis in the 5-6 range, and Joakim Noah (who's gonna be a beast this year, incidentally) in rounds 6-7. Does that seem like a sound plan to you guys?

bobobolas1 · Post #11 » by **bobobolas1** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:49 pm

I had no time to read all those comments altough i will.

I add a good idea. You should be able to pick Corey Maggete very late in the draft. His FT% might not be the greatest but he Makes like 7 FT each game with a +80%. that helps a lot to be a 9th round or sth like that.