Dwight's added 10 pounds, expects to shoot 70% from the line

This topic contains 29 replies, has 13 voices, and was last updated by quincey hodges 16 years, 9 months ago.

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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 6:15pm #9076

thetruth
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Dwight’s added 10 pounds, expects to shoot 70% from the line
by HeyIt’sMe on Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:37 pm
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/09/29/dwig … be-better/
There is a good reason that Boston and Cleveland — two of the three serious contenders in the Eastern Conference — added proven big men to their roster this summer. They already know what’s coming.
Magic center Dwight Howard, already the best big man in basketball, is going to be even better this season.
Howard has come to training camp with another 10 pounds of muscle on his well-muscled frame, up to 275 pounds. He also believes his 59 percent free throw percentage — his only serious flaw — will rise to 70 percent after a summer of sharpening his shot.
He expects to be both more powerful — and more accurate.
It’s why the Cavs added Shaquille O’Neal and the Celtics signed Rasheed Wallace. Both are players who have given Howard problems in the past with other teams, but both are probably too old to give him serious trouble now.
The Magic beat both Boston and Cleveland on their way to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Lakers.”[If] he makes free throws, you just can’t hammer him anymore. When he’s hitting 70 percent, he’ll be very difficult to guard. He’s pretty difficult to guard now.”
— Stan Van Gundy
“I’m going to be better this season,” he said. “We’re going to be better. We fell short last season. We just want to win a championship now.”
Howard, already the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, expects to show considerable improvement on the offensive end, where he averaged 20.6 points last season. Although Howard hasn’t shot over 60 percent from the line since his rookie season, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy saw enough this summer to think there will be major improvement in his game.
Howard shot 849 free throws, more than anyone in the league last season, because teams knew that fouling him was the best way to slow him around the basket.
“From the free throw line this year, I think 75 percent is realistic for him,” Van Gundy said. “He can shoot free throws. I’d be really disappointed with anything below 70 percent. He’s capable of doing that. And if he makes free throws, you just can’t hammer him anymore. When he’s hitting 70 percent, he’ll be very difficult to guard. He’s pretty difficult to guard now.”
Howard became just the fifth player in league history to lead the league in both rebounding (13.8 rpg) and blocked shots (2.9 bpg) the same season. With a team around him that now includes Vince Carter, along with Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson, Howard knows that dominating around the basket may lead directly to that title he is seeking.
“My problem is not post moves because you can have a million of them, and if you get double- and triple-teamed, you can’t get them off,” he said. “It’s about being smarter and knowing when to pass out of them. It’s about putting the ball in the basket, however it gets there.”
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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 6:35pm #217777

Tyrober
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if he got this free throws up there he would be amazing…not that he isnt now
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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 6:55pm #217779

d-grizzly
Participant
good to see howard’s comittment to getting better, thanks truth.
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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 6:57pm #217780

the_shamwow_guy
Participant
I might be going on a lim here in saying this but if he improves his shooting to 70% thas an extra 2 points a game which would equal 22 points a game. His increasingly good shooting percentage might show in his mid range game were he might acheive an extra 4 points a game (26) then the extra 10 pounds would add maybe a few extra post points (28). If my calculation were correct and people would proberly say i’m an idiot but i’m gonna put it out there anyways. If the magic have a similar season to what they had last year and he stays healthy and he continues to be a force on the defensive end and those stats i metion come are true then whats stoping D12 from Being MVP???
PS I’m also a bias Magic fan
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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 7:10pm #217782

thetruth
Participant
yeah right now in orlando. they been focus. we got guys willingy to share the ball, give up starting spots, stan trying to come up with diffrent rotations. im just so excited right now along with other magic fans.
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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 7:32pm #217784

sheltwon3
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26 points at game at around 60 percent fg shooting seems about right to me and you can add 14 boards to that plus 2.5 to 3 blocks.
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Posted on: Tue, 09/29/2009 - 9:36pm #217789

Diggler
Participant
Wow, did Dwight really need to get stronger? He was already pretty ridiculous last season. Dwight realizes he can’t actually turn himself into the man of steel, right?
I’m a little skeptical about Dwight’s FT %. I mean he’s been playing for 5 years already and in the most recent 4 he’s failed to break 60% from the line. 75% or even 70% might be a reach. He could certainly improve though, and he’d be significantly better if he could knock down his FTs.
Dwight will only be 23 at the start of this season. He’ll probably be better than he was last year, and he was a monster last year. He’ll probably be better in the areas that have steadily improved since his rookie season: bpg and ppg. Maybe since he’s been working at it, also his FT%. I think Dwight improves to 22 ppg, 3.33 bpg, and 63% from the line with the rest being about the same. Scary good, but shy of MVP imo. Hands down Defensive Player of the Year.
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 4:37am #217811

JoeWolf1
Wow, that’d be pretty impressive if he put it together like that. Sounds like he’s pretty hungry after the finals last year. Having Patrick Ewing on Orlando’s staff is a huge benefit for him too. I wonder if Kareem’s comments during the finals lit a fire under him.
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 6:50am #217829

doubledribbler
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I would love to see him get his free throw percentage up and I think he can do it. There were games in the playoffs last year where he was money. He’s just going to have to develop some consistency. I’m not sure if he will ever average over 25 points per game, but I think with his overall game, the biggest thing he is going to need is a dynamic scoring guard and no, it’s not Vince…not anymore at least. The one thing I want to know is if Dwight has any post moves now. Any offense that he adds with his defensive ability is going to be icing on the cake. In my opinion, as he is now, he’s a championship caliber center.
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 7:06am #217831

D Hamp
Participant
Until he learns so post up move, I will continue to say D Howard is overated!!!! I will say that 70 percent from the foul line is very possible. And adding 10 pounds makes him even more of a beast. One he gets a sinlge post move he’ll be the new Shaq. If he doesn’t get a post move, he’ll be a more athletic version of Emaka Okafur.
Dhamp…the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 8:14am #217839

quincey hodges
more athletic emaka?..lol…hes already far above emaka..he would have to get alot worst to be on emakas level(not saying emaka is bad)…he already dominates without a bunch of post moves
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 8:25am #217837

Slim
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He wil never have a good enough post moves
to score over the Yao Mings of the world
he is only 6’10 so he just ducks his shoulder in and plows through the defense
he needs
knockdown open 17 footers ala David West/AMare
David West (6’9) Amare (also 6’10)
Amar’e and in PHX averaged close to 30 in limited minutes
because he doesn’t have defense but Amar’e works on his “small forward skills” (Jim Rome)
D12 is really a super strong Power Forward
good defense but can’t space the floor like Amar’e yet
i remember in the finals
Van Gundy put him and Gortat at the 4 & 5 respectively for defense
but they could not space the floor so that’s why they scrapped that idea
it’s good that he works on Jumper but at 6’10 I don’t see him
shooting over many NBA centers
might move to the 4 ala Tim Duncan, eventually
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 8:37am #217845

D Hamp
Participant
Leyirus!!!!! Haven’t seen you on here before, but I said the same thing all summer. D Howard is a power forward, but because he’s an ox, some GM (Otis Smith?) stupidly dubbed him a center.
@ Qunicey: Man you hate on me every chance you get. Everytime I post, you come right behind me and say something negative. Lay off, scrub.
Dhamp…the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 9:04am #217850

Slim
Participant
the Magic are basically playing small ball with Rashard at the 4
and that’s why they lost the Finals
DEFENSE + rebounds = championship
gasol is a beast at the PF (7’1 265 lbs)
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 9:04am #217851

Slim
Participant
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_magic/2009/04/time-for-dwight-howard-to-find-his-inner-jumpshot.html
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Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 9:11am #217852

D Hamp
Participant
Leyirus, I agree with you. I like you style already!
Dhamp…the greatest basketball mind in the world. Next to Hubie Brown anyway.
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- Posted on: Wed, 09/30/2009 - 9:48am #217863
  
  Slim
  Participant
  Dear Dhamp,
  I regret to inform you that we have scared off everyone from this forum as a result of our well thought out intellectual argument which was splendidly substantiated with physical evidence. This is in stark contrast to the other forum members consisten and increasingly bold statements which were merely based on mere speculation and brash conjecture.
  Sincerely,
  Leyirus
  PS
  last to reach negative 1000 pts
  gets an atomic wedgie
  (:>0) = GASP!
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 1:53am #218077

TheAlchemist
I will beat you both to -1000 lol. Me, Hamp and Confidence Okeke will be at -1000 points quicker than D12 can put on his cape. I’m out, like D12’s career at center…
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- Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 5:16am #218103
  
  Slim
  Participant
  -48 pts
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- Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 5:32am #218109
  
  Slim
  Participant
  u suck birdzilla
  what happened to yor pic
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 5:27am #218105

McWinning
Participant
wow say hello to 2010s mvp.
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 5:34am #218110

TheAlchemist
what happened to Tom Okeke?lmfao
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 5:56am #218124

quincey hodges
lol..are you serious dhamp..you really think its all about you huh…if i dont agree with something you said then i comment on it if i do i also comment on it…are you that insecure that anytime i dont agree you get childish and start calling me names???..really come on now grow up..as far as what i said about howard, nothing i said wasnt right…he lead his team to the finals hes all nba and dominates without having many post moves. not one other person of importance in the nba says hes any where near the level of emaka
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- Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 6:41am #218131
  
  Slim
  Participant
  I think that he’s going to have to move to the 4 ala Tim Duncan
  because small ball (Rashard at the 4) never wins in the NBA
  agree or disagree?
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 7:49am #218134

JNixon
Participant
He’s a Center to me..I dont question that for a second. Even if he’s not, he’s so productive that you wouldnt want him to move him anyway. Howard is at his best defending the rim and the immediate basket area, him playing the 4 chasing face up guys with quickness and perimeter shooting skilss (ala Dirk, Anthony Randolph, and Pau for example) would bring out his lateral quickness limitations. So he’s not a PF at all to me. PF usually can function at decent consistentcy and efficiently at at least 10-15 ft out. Dwight’s a 5-foot guy…
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 8:57am #218143

quincey hodges
is this really a issue…i mean really has orlando or any person in the nba ever said howard could/would possibly play the four?..even on profiles it says nba position center and backup position center
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 9:03am #218147

The8thDeadlySin
Participant
Its really not an issue but there is always something to complain about with every player. it doesnt mean people are being ignorant or anything, its just something to talk about. Every player has something wrong with their game. Howard is a little short for the C position but he is talented enough to not let it affect him. Think about it, everyone has something that they should/could improve on. Howard should work on his midrange game so he can, in situations, play a little PF. Lebron should work on his post game so he can play a little PF. Paul should work on his long range game so he is a threat everywhere on the court. Rose needs to work on his range. Durant needs to get stronger. Oden needs to stay healthy. See what I mean. Its just something that Howard could do to get better. Its not a huge deal. It wont kill him or his team if he doesnt fix it, but it would help. Not a huge deal but imagine Howard with range to about 20 feet. SCARY GOOD!!!
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 9:29am #218155

JNixon
Participant
That would be a detriment more than anything, would you really want someone who’s the most physically gifted player in basketball taking 20 ft shots? I want Howard playing at the rim at all times, having him drift from the rim shooting jump shots is not a good thing when you can dominate at the rim.
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Posted on: Thu, 10/01/2009 - 10:49am #218174

The8thDeadlySin
Participant
Thats true Iggy, but look at what it did for Amare. If Howard was somewhat of a threat outside of the basket, guys would have to play him honest. I get what you are saying but I think developing range could only help Howard.
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Posted on: Fri, 10/02/2009 - 5:42am #218401

quincey hodges
yeah his post moves are his flaws..im not sure id agree with the short for the center position since its more about how long youre arms are and even these days it really doesnt matter.. if you can bang down low and play defense against bigger players then you can be 6’7 pf and be alright.
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