The hope is that a healthy Howard which is far from a guarantee at this point will return closer to his years of defensive prowess. It may be possible, but it is also a very optimistic wish at this point. The final critique that I will analyze is the hardest one to support or refute. Many players around the league have began disrespecting Howard during games because Howard has earned the criticism that he is too soft because he often smiles and laughs too much during games.
Yes, he smiles a lot on the court and I can understand how that may frustrate other NBA players, but I see it as Howard enjoying himself on the court, playing the sport he loves. For those reasons, I still consider Howard to be underrated coming in to the season.
His presence alone on the court can still change a game, and if Howard focuses on the pick-and-roll and rolling to the rim more often, he will be even more effective on offense. What do you think? Is Dwight Howard overrated or underrated?
Recent history unambiguously demonstrates that elite big men aren't essential to winning titles and that those who help most share little in common with Howard. Even Kevin McHale once noted to Rockets. Throwback centers like Roy Hibbert and Marc Gasol will occasionally inspire nostalgic reaffirmations of size and its playoff ramifications, but the question isn't just whether you need big men—it's whether you need ones like Dwight.
The Miami Heat suggest otherwise. Miami has cashed in on two of three finals appearances even as Chris Bosh increasingly plays more like a spread-4 than a real center. The San Antonio Spurs ' Tim Duncan has always done a fair amount of his scoring from the baseline and high post. Miami's previous Western Conference opponents boasted centers like Tyson Chandler and Kendrick Perkins, fine players in their own rights, but defensive specialists to be sure.
Dating back to , only a handful of centers played starring roles in helping their teams to the finals: Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal and Howard himself. Ewing and Robinson made their appearances later in their careers and were surrounded with help. Olajuwon was still dominant, but he also had that legendary mid-range game. In over 20 years worth of historical referents, only Shaq stands out as a model for what Howard could be—a truly dominant big man who scores almost exclusively within 10 feet of the basket.
Shaquille O'Neal averaged over 30 points per game in three postseasons, all deep runs of at least 13 games. To put that in perspective, the most Howard has ever averaged in the postseason was 27 in —a stretch of just six games. He posted just over 20 points a game during Orlando's title push, a better sample of his playoff production. In their finest years, O'Neal and Howard put up similar defensive numbers in the playoffs, and they both rebounded at remarkable rates.
The difference is that Shaq regularly took games over as a scorer. That he did so with Kobe around is all the more impressive. Whereas Howard has averaged just That kind of ridiculousness just isn't in Howard's DNA. Houston fans should be proud to now have one of the league's very best defenders at a position where defense changes games. They'll rest assured that between Howard and Omer Asik, the Rockets will out-rebound opponents more often than not. And we'll all think of the Rockets as contenders—whether they really are or not.
Fans again have hope, a belief that the Rockets matter. They'll get a good show, too, one way or the other. Enjoy our content? But he did a little with the Lakers. The San Antonio veteran Tony Parker was far from being too good. He makes his way to the Top 5 overrated players of All-Time.
Some find him lucky to be drafted by Spurs and Popovich initially. While analysts predicted Tony parker to replace Tim Duncan , things did not turn out as expected.
From , he was negative n BPM in the playoffs. That is a pathetic stat players wish to wipe out from memory. His offensive ratings never went over per possessions. He hardly contributed to the great team he played with. Coming to one of the best point guards, Steve Nash was a teenage sensation. His astounding moves, clear visions helped him find the players and dish out passes.
People love his offensive game. But one cannot comply with his kind of game. He had a great vision no doubt but he could not spot an open man on court. Pressure defense would easily turn possession from his.
He was just expected to excel which he clearly could not. Other than a couple of good seasons, he was not worthy. Sign in.
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