Is Dwight Howard still Superman?

[Southpaw]

He just completed his 5th year in the league. He gets the rebounds he is supposed to get and not much more. His range is dunk. He has no post game. Very mediocre free throw shooter. He does block shots.

What does Patrick Ewing do as his personal "big man" coach? My guess is , not much.

 

[Mathew81]

All I know is that I lost a lot of A$FN picking him to outscore Gasol.

 

[goldseraph]

He's 23... he's really 'supposed' to lead the league in rebounding and blocks? Sounds pretty super to me. And his offensive game is coming along, he's never gonna score 28+ ppg but yeah of course he could improve his FT shooting and offensive repertoire. If you want to know what Ewing is doing, check out Howards' post-up turn-around bank off the glass and his running hook in the lane. He wasn't doing either of those a couple years ago. It takes time to turn a guy with zero offensive skills into a go-to post up guy in crunch time. Let's wait til he's at least 25 to rip into one of the league's best centers.

 

[slinslin]

He is a glorified 7-foot Ben Wallace.

 

[Southpaw]

He's 23... he's really 'supposed' to lead the league in rebounding and blocks? Sounds pretty super to me. And his offensive game is coming along, he's never gonna score 28+ ppg but yeah of course he could improve his FT shooting and offensive repertoire. If you want to know what Ewing is doing, check out Howards' post-up turn-around bank off the glass and his running hook in the lane. He wasn't doing either of those a couple years ago. It takes time to turn a guy with zero offensive skills into a go-to post up guy in crunch time. Let's wait til he's at least 25 to rip into one of the league's best centers.

So, who shall we compare Superman to if he is one of the leagues best centers?

 

[Louis]

He's 23... he's really 'supposed' to lead the league in rebounding and blocks? Sounds pretty super to me. And his offensive game is coming along, he's never gonna score 28+ ppg but yeah of course he could improve his FT shooting and offensive repertoire. If you want to know what Ewing is doing, check out Howards' post-up turn-around bank off the glass and his running hook in the lane. He wasn't doing either of those a couple years ago. It takes time to turn a guy with zero offensive skills into a go-to post up guy in crunch time. Let's wait til he's at least 25 to rip into one of the league's best centers.

Agreed.

Right now he is Tom Welling. But he is well on his way to being Christopher Reeves.

 

[Bufalay]

He is a glorified 7-foot Ben Wallace.

Without needing roids.

 

[Southpaw]

Without needing roids.

Are you sure. I have been wondering, for awhile, when the HGH/Roid thing was going to bust wide open on the NBA.

 

[Ryanwb]

Wasn't Superman a self anoited moniker? It's akin to putting "studman" on your license plate.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

What does Patrick Ewing do as his personal "big man" coach?

Teach him his cornucopia of low post moves?

 

[Ryanwb]

Man, if you combined the skills of Amare and Dwight Howard you would have an unstoppable force

 

[82CardsGrad]

Still too early to tell... What's certain is that unlike so many other "Super" centers, he has not had a true allstar supporting cast - particularly a stud guard.

As for the roid thing - can anyone really say with a straight face that they believe so & so is clean in any professional sport??

 

[HooverDam]

As for the roid thing - can anyone really say with a straight face that they believe so & so is clean in any professional sport??

Can anyone really say with a straight face that they care?

 

[82CardsGrad]

Are you sure. I have been wondering, for awhile, when the HGH/Roid thing was going to bust wide open on the NBA.

Can anyone really say with a straight face that they care?

I was responding to the post above...

 

[goldseraph]

can we not derail this into a steroids thread... yes at this time Howard is a defensive superstar, not a complete superstar. He is obviously more skilled offensively than Ben Wallace, shoots a better FT% too. He also is 23 where Ben was like 30 during those Piston runs.

Howard said after the game yesterday that he works on his game every day, and because of Olympic Team duties this will be his first summer in a while that he can just rest and work on his game. If you want to believe this guy isn't going to improve on offense and all-around over the next 5-8 years, you're free to the opinion, but I disagree and don't understand the hate.

 

[DeAnna]

Man, if you combined the skills of Amare and Dwight Howard you would have an unstoppable force

LoL, you read my mind!

 

[Mr. Boldin]

He's 23 years old, won defensive MVP and was the first player in how many years to lead the NBA in blocked shots and rebounds. What more do you want him to do right now? Just as any other young big man in the NBA, his low post moves will come around and he will eventaully begin to step out from the basket and expand his game, give this kid some time.

 

[Darth Llama]

The first thing the need to do is drop the "Superman" thing. Shaq was super man long before Howard, he needs to get his own thing. What's next? Magic Kobe? Air LeBron? Get your own thing, it' lame to just copy someone else.

Howard is a very good player, the problem was people comparing him to Shaq. It makes sense since both led the Magic to the finals as young centers, but as good as Howard is, anyone that think he compares at all to Shaq has forgotten how good Shaq was when he was young. Howard is a very solid defensive player and rebounder, but he's never going to be a big scorer. Howard is the best center in the league because there are no other really dominant big men. If given a choice though, I would rather have a healthy Yao Ming.

 

[Southpaw]

can we not derail this into a steroids thread... yes at this time Howard is a defensive superstar, not a complete superstar. He is obviously more skilled offensively than Ben Wallace, shoots a better FT% too. He also is 23 where Ben was like 30 during those Piston runs.

Howard said after the game yesterday that he works on his game every day, and because of Olympic Team duties this will be his first summer in a while that he can just rest and work on his game. If you want to believe this guy isn't going to improve on offense and all-around over the next 5-8 years, you're free to the opinion, but I disagree and don't understand the hate.

If you are calling others out for too much hate, can you be called out for too much man love?

Howard set himself up for the criticism. He called out his head coach for not using him correctly. Well, when Van Gundy used him "correctly", Howard was exposed. Gasol abused him. BTW, did anyone notice how many times Gasol beat Howard down the court, while Howard was busy looking for a ref to complain to about those fouls they weren't calling.

 

[devilalum]

Why don't we just start a thread that says every player that doesn't win Finals MVP is not really good?

 

[Darth Llama]

Why don't we just start a thread that says every player that doesn't win Finals MVP is not really good?

Because that would be ridiculous. People aren't saying he's not good, just over rated. If you can watch his play in the Finals and think he's as good as billed, then fine, but some people will disagree. LeBron wasn't finals MVP either, but no one is questioning his talent. His team lost despite his stellar effort. Howard cannot say the same.

 

[Southpaw]

Because that would be ridiculous. People aren't saying he's not good, just over rated. If you can watch his play in the Finals and think he's as good as billed, then fine, but some people will disagree. LeBron wasn't finals MVP either, but no one is questioning his talent. His team lost despite his stellar effort. Howard cannot say the same.

Exactly.

 

[devilalum]

Because that would be ridiculous. People aren't saying he's not good, just over rated. If you can watch his play in the Finals and think he's as good as billed, then fine, but some people will disagree. LeBron wasn't finals MVP either, but no one is questioning his talent. His team lost despite his stellar effort. Howard cannot say the same.

Why don't we just start a thread that says every player that doesn't win Finals MVP is "Overrated!"

I would trade the whole Suns roster for Dwight Howard.

 

[goldseraph]

ok hes overrated, are you happy? He's only really really really good instead of really really really really good.
This thread is dumb.

 

[Chaplin]

Howard said after the game yesterday that he works on his game every day, and because of Olympic Team duties this will be his first summer in a while that he can just rest and work on his game. If you want to believe this guy isn't going to improve on offense and all-around over the next 5-8 years, you're free to the opinion, but I disagree and don't understand the hate.

Sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?