Soaring Down South
Fansided

Dwight Howard Should Get More Chances Offensively

By Tyler Sellers

Jan 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) dunks the ball over Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during second half at Barclays Center. The Hawks won 117-97. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) dunks the ball over Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during second half at Barclays Center. The Hawks won 117-97. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dwight Howard
Apr 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and center Dwight Howard (12) between plays during the third quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Not the Same Player

Dwight is still having a very good year as the Hawks’ 4th leading scorer, with 13.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. I’ve heard numerous fans say that he should’ve come here as soon as he left the Orlando Magic, but truth be told, he hasn’t been the same ever since.

In his final year with the Magic, he was still in superstar mode, averaging 20.4 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. The portions of his career to follow all dropped off to a level far beneath the lofty stat lines that he did as a member of the Magic.

Immediately after the blockbuster trade in August of the 2011 offseason that brought Howard to the Lakers, the fun-loving, three-time defensive player of the year crashed and burned. Even with a lineup including the likes of Kobe Bryant and 2 time MVP Steve Nash.

That team was seen as a contender on paper, the pieces of the puzzle didn’t come together quite like Lakers brass had hoped for actually. The type of numbers Howard ran that season looked like 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.

And his decision to leave L.A. in favor of Houston didn’t revive his statistical production drastically either.

He stayed right around that good, yet not great play out of the center position. For the Rockets, Howard posted 18.3 points and 12.2 rebounds per game for the 2012- 2013 campaign. He followed that up with 15.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, then 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game (respectively), which brings us to today.

The Hawks knew that Howard’s best days had long been put in the rearview mirror when they signed him to the three-year, $70 million deal last summer.

Father time does remain undefeated and Dwight Howard is no exception. His arrival to the Hawks could’ve rejuvenated his career in a major way. And as is the case with any other sport in Atlanta, as soon as you get your hopes up is about the time that you’ll endure the disappointment.

Next: The Hawk's Most Desirable First-Round Opponents

While this isn’t at all that bad, I did expect more from Dwight this season.

 

Basketballreference.com and ESPN were used in this article 

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