Atlanta Hawks 2016-2017 Player Preview: Dwight Howard
Strengths
While Howard is certainly not the dominant force that he once was in Orlando, he is still a good NBA center with several valuable attributes.
Rebounding
On the glass, there aren’t many that are better than Dwight Howard.
At 6-11, 265 pounds, Howard is a load on the inside and a great athlete for his size. Rebounding comes so naturally to him because of is physical domination and inside positioning, filling a major need for the Hawks.
Atlanta has been pushed around on the inside by the elite teams, notably Cleveland, and Howard should play a role in helping in that department.
Interior Defense
While his quickness limits him on the perimeter, Howard is still a very solid paint protector.
His shot blocking ability is no longer elite, but is still solid. In the Eastern Conference, his match-ups with opposing centers will favor him more than in the West, where the run-and-gun style of play is more prominent.
More from Hawks News
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic makes special dedication after FIBA win
The Hawks are also a team that was terrific defensively last season and has a variety of great defenders. Howard’s paint presence will be welcome and he will be in a much better situation defensively than he was with Houston.
Inside Scoring
Howard’s offensive game is limited beyond the paint, but is very good on the interior.
Due to his size and physicality, Dwight can bully opposing big men in the paint. After posting a career-high field goal percentage last year, Howard appears to be improving his shot selection and awareness on offense. It can also be argued that Howard’s low post game is better than that of Al Horford, who relied on face-up and pick-and-pop situations.
In the pick-and-roll, Howard will provide an element as a roller that the Hawks have not seen. He is dangerous in catching lobs or simple bounce pass when attacking the rim hard. This will give young point guard, Dennis Schroder a nice weapon at his disposal.
Next: Weaknesses