Dwight Howard is pulling a Vince Carter: less dunks, more jumpers
Dwight Howard (photo. Mannion)As many times as you’ve heard somebody say, “If Dwight Howard would develop some post moves and a jumper, he’d be unstoppable,” believe this much — Dwight has heard it 100 times more.
As the Orlando Magic open up training camp this week, The Centaur says he’s gonna take more jump shots this year and won’t be so reliant on dunking. “I gotta keep shooting, knowing that I’m gonna make some and I’m gonna miss some,” Howard told reporters. “But my teammates need me to expand my game for us to win.”
When we had Dwight on the cover of Dime #37 — last year’s NBA preview issue — he was all about improving his jumper and talked about it at length. But that same summer, I briefly got a chance to watch Dwight practice with Team USA right before the FIBA Americas tournament, and I swear not once did I see him make a shot that wasn’t a dunk; every single jumper/free throw he took in that 30-minute span failed. And over the course of the ‘07-08 season, although Dwight was a beast (20.7 ppg, 14.2 rpg, 2.2 rpg), he didn’t play like a man committed to diversifying his game beyond jumping higher and dunking harder.
I don’t doubt that Dwight Howard wants to add pieces to his game or that he’ll spend time working on those areas to become an even deadlier weapon on the court. The guy is still just 22 years old and going into his fifth year in the NBA; he has plenty of room for development, and keep in mind he’s coming from a situation in high school where he never had to be crafty and skilled when simply bigger, stronger and faster would suffice. And even if Dwight puts in his share of overtime in the gym, some guys for whatever reason just never develop a consistent jump shot (see Cleaves, Mateen). We’ll see what Dwight brings to the table this season.
September 30th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
that's whats up says:
from the title, I thought you meant he was going to give minimal effort for max money
September 30th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Jah says:
A jumper at 10 ft. range would be disastrous for the opposition. All it requires is practice, practice, practice (see “confidence” and “free throws”)
September 30th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
smity far away says:
the better he is offensively, the better he will be overall. that means the other centers of the league will have a bigger problem on their hands…
September 30th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Eric says:
He should worry about little baby hooks and using his left hand around the basket rather than jumpshots. Learn post moves like Kevin McHale.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
You can be a dominant force sansjumper (see O’neal, Shaquille) a jumper would just be icing.
September 30th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Kudabeen says:
The only shot he needs to work on is his free throws, that’s what the team needs from him. If he shoots 60% he needs more touches and a better PG to get him those touches. Hope redick is as focused as they are claiming, because he could be that dead eye shooter along with Courtney Lee to free up space on the floor.
I still think Orlando should trade Hedo and get a real starting PF or two other pieces. Having hedo and Lewis isn’t a winning combination if Hedo is going to be the most aggressive one. two 6-10 jumpshooters that don’t really get after it…not a winning combo.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Big Sia says:
VC > Dime Magazine as a staff, magazine and a mother fucking crew.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Dagomar Degroot says:
He needs to work on his footwork. Footwork, footwork, footwork. A jumper would be nice, but he could average 25+ on just dunks if his footwork improved.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Homeless J says:
What will his disparaging nickname be? a la Wince Carter.
My bet is on Fright Coward.
September 30th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Prof. TX says:
It helps that Dwight is playing in an era that is short on centers. He and Yao are clearly ahead of the rest, but I wonder how they’d do against in the time of Olajuwon, Shaq, Robinson, Mourning, and Mutombo.
Howard’s game is actually alot like a young Shaq. It will be interesting to see if he develops differently.
September 30th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Taj says:
Even if it’s not a jumper from 10-15Ft per se, but anything that will have people honor him when he gets the ball out there. Something a la Patrick Ewing
September 30th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Speaking of Pat Ewing he’s not with Orlando any more is he where is he coaching now? help me out.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
dapro says:
He needs to develop a go to post move and work on footwork
He looks mechanical in the paint at times
I don’t like hearing “Less dunks, more jumper”
He needs to mix in jump hooks, drop step hooks and baby hooks into his dunks
September 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
s.bucketz says:
i think ewing is wit the rockets now isnt he??
September 30th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Red says:
3 years the beast will be a legit “ball player”!
September 30th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Gerard says:
aight I don’t normally get down with the clowning of Dime when this is one of the websites I visit the most often, but that was funny Big Sia
September 30th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Quest is a Queer says:
Quest is a Queer!
September 30th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Saku 39 says:
At this point Dwight shooting more jumpers is like J.J. Redick dunking more - not a good idea. Dwight needs to work on post moves before he extends his range.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
dagwaller says:
Still laughint at number 1.
Big Sia, I’d love to see you defend your boy VC - I’m sure it’d be a pathetic thing to see.
But yea, I’m 100 percent with Kudabeen. Post moves? Footwork? Jumper? I’m normally with those ideas, but with an athletic freak like Howard, He really doesn’t need those things yet. I don’t know what the exact numbers are, but if he just improved his FT% by a few percent, that’s what’ll make him more dangerous. Moves, footwork and a jumper are obsolete when he can (and has shown that he will) dunk over everything near the basket.
September 30th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Big Sia says:
I was gonna comment…
but i gotta go fill Dagwaller’s mom’s dish
October 1st, 2008 at 12:08 am
heartbreaker85 says:
this is stupid.
people think that dwight is the next shaq because ‘they play alike.’
but in reality, shaq, when he came into the league, HAD LEGIT POST UP MOVES. he dunked because he was 7′0 tall. but when needed, penny or scott skiles could throw him the ball, space the floor, and let diesel back his man down from mourning to olajuwan to mutombo and robinson.
diesel had footwork. dwight has hops. dont get it mixed up.
shaq could even dish out a crossover (check youtube) if guarded by a gugliota or geiger or mccollough.
dwight doesnt need a jumper. he needs a tutor.
patrick ewing had no heart, but had good post moves and a soft touch.
October 1st, 2008 at 12:20 am
Mark says:
Is it really bad that he can’t shoot a jumper? Sure, when your free throw percentage rivals Shaquille O’Neal, that’s a problem. But really, if he gains a few more post moves, you can’t really expect much more. Nobody can really guard him anyway, so what’s the point of taking him mid-range?
Deebo don’t need no mid-range game.
October 1st, 2008 at 6:49 am
dagwaller says:
Big Sia, go ahead and comment. Like I said, it’s sad that you know you can’t, so you…fill my mom’s dish? Pure gold…
October 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Big Sia says:
Damn Dagwaller, that was a comeback for the ages..