Houston Rockets: Life Without Dwight Howard

In a tolling 82-game NBA season, it is rather common for a team’s injury-list to pile up as the season runs its course. Nevertheless it is somewhat unlikely for it to get filled mainly with starters.

This is the curious case of the Houston Rockets which, for the better part of the 2014-15 season, have been without their defensive anchor and co-leader Dwight Howard, starting point-guard Patrick Beverley, and rising-star forward Terrence Jones for the better part of the season.

As of Dec. 8, second-string power-forward Kostas Papanikolaou and second-string small-forward Fanscisco Garcia join the list.

It is also common for a team who’s suffered such injuries to their starting lineup to fall off their conference’s standings, consequently falling out of contention, rather quickly. However, this is not exactly the case for the Houston Rockets. Even missing some of their biggest stars, they still have the Western Conference’s — and the league’s — second-best record as they trail only the almighty Golden State Warriors.

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Out of all their absences, the most significant one seems to be Howard’s. Howard, often dubbed as one of the team’s “cornerstones” along with James Harden, seemed to have been back to his Orlando Magic form for the first 10 games of the regular season.

In those games, Howard averaged 18.8 points, 11.3 rebounds per game. Also, in 10 starts he posted the second-best Defensive Rating of his 11-year career, 95.

Unfortunately for the Rockets, 10 games into the regular season Howard suffered a right knee injury and has been out ever since.

With no timetable for his return, (according to Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen) we look at what life has been for them without arguably the most talented physical presence in the NBA.:

OFFENSE

With

With Dwight Howard healthy, the Rockets offense was averaging 98.9 points per game against a stretch involving a big chunk of the NBA’s peanut-gallery (defensively) — Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers (twice), Minnesota Timberwolves, and the shorthanded Oklahoma City Thunder.

Also, in games in which the Rockets have been able to use Dwight Howard, their offense shot .430 from the field and .349 from beyond the arc.

Without

Without Howard, the Rockets offense has averaged 98.8 points per game (minus-0.1) and they’ve defeated four playoff-bound teams in the Western Conference — Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Phoenix Suns.

Also, in games in which the Rockets haven’t been able to use Dwight Howard, their offense shot .390 from the field and .299 from beyond the arc.

DEFENSE

With

With Dwight Howard, the Rockets have held opposing offenses to 91.3 points per game in .415 from the field and .296 from beyond the arc.

Also, Howard held opposing players, from less than 10 feet from the basket, to 53.6% shooting.

Without

Without Howard, the Rockets have held opposing offenses to 97.5 points per game in .443 from the field and .291 from beyond the arc.

His replacements, Tarik Black and Donatas Motiejunas, have held opposing players, from less than 10 feet from the basket, to a combined 57.35 percent shooting.

OVERALL RECORD

With

With Howard, the Rockets had a 9-1 record.

Without

Without Howard — and a rather complicated overall schedule — the Rockets are 7-3.

The Houston Rockets’ season has not be shaken, at all, by Dwight Howard’s absence, so far. However, it is highly unlikely for the Rockets, if he continues to miss more time (as he’s apparently going to), to keep up with this unprecedented start to a season.

Dwight Howard is likely to miss Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

Next: Houston Rockets: Top 5 Games Thus Far