Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors deservedly won MVP, but no player exemplified value quite like James Harden in 2014-15. Harden led the Rockets to a 56-26 record with Dwight Howard missing 41 games, Terrence Jones being absent for 49 and Patrick Beverley being sidelined for 26.
With the Rockets’ Western Conference Semifinals matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers heading to Staples Center, Harden needs Howard to return the favor.
Houston needs more of the vintage, “Superman,” D-12.
Howard’s quietly turned back the clocks defensively during the 2015 NBA Playoffs. He currently leads all players in the postseason in rebounds and blocks per game.
In all, Howard is averaging 18.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.4 steals on 62.0 percent shooting from the field and 43.7 percent shooting at the charity stripe.
Aside from the sub-44 percent free throw shooting, this offers a glimpse of what Howard was known for before he was a polarizing figure. He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year with an odds-defying NBA Finals appearance under his belt.
More applicably, Howard was the beloved star of the show for the Orlando Magic and one of the most dominant players in the NBA.
Since his infamous clash with then Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy and the acts that followed, public perception has changed. Regardless of how the world may feel about him, however, Howard remains one of the greatest players of this generation.
Injuries have plagued him in recent seasons, but when he’s on his game, D-12 is one of the true elite.
That much was on display during the 2014 NBA Playoffs. He averaged 26.0 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game against a game Portland Trail Blazers team.
In 2015, he’s proving that he’s still a postseason warrior.
Howard’s begun to show flashes of his old self against the Clippers, averaging 23.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 4.5 blocks and 1.0 steal through two games. That’s the type of production Houston needs out of him—specifically as a scorer.
Despite shooting 70.8 percent from the field between those two outings, Howard put up totals of 13 and 11 shots.
The hack-a-Howard approach has something to do with that. He was sent to the line for 21 free throw attempts in Game 2, converting just eight attempts for a free throw percentage of 38.1 percent.
A career 57.0 percent free throw shooter in the playoffs, an 18.9-percent drop-off goes from acceptable to dreadful and detrimental.
If Howard can convert at the near 60 percent clip he’s capable, the Rockets can pull out the series victory against the Clippers.
Harden remains the go-to scorer, but Howard needs to put up more field goal attempts and convert more free throws. He’s a dominant pick-and-roll finisher who may not be versatile in the post, but has the strength, quickness and primary moves to get decent looks at the hoop.
The question is, will he be aggressive enough to lead the Rockets to victory?
As the Clippers prepare to reunite point guard Chris Paul and power forward Blake Griffin, Houston needs its dynamic duo to counter their production. Harden and Howard have that potential, and a case could be made that they’re more effective by design.
Both tandems offensively gifted, Paul and Griffin provide defense up top and offense down low, while the Rockets do the opposite. The difference: size.
Howard can protect the paint at an explosive 6’11”. Paul can defend his man at a generous and hobbled 6’0″.
Rim protection will be the key for Houston, as Los Angeles can shoot itself in the foot when it falls too in love with jump shooting. It can also thrive that way, but Doc Rivers‘ crew is at its best when it works the ball inside.
Howard performing at the defensive level he’s capable of would complicate things for the Clippers offensively—similar to what happened in the second half of Game 2, when Los Angeles scored just 44 points.
That followed a 65-point first half.
Teams will find a way to make things work in the playoffs, and that’s especially true for one with the talent Los Angeles possesses. The Clippers ranked No. 2 in points per game and No. 1 in offensive efficiency during the regular season.
With Howard, Houston can limit some of that offensive potential. The question is, will he?
Keeping DeAndre Jordan off of the offensive glass is a tough enough task on its own. Jordan was No. 2 in the NBA with 4.8 offensive rebounds per game during the 2014-15 regular season.
In two games against Howard and the Rockets, that number is down to 3.5 per game.
Neutralizing that strength can all but eliminate Jordan’s value offensively. He’s still a big target on the pick-and-roll, but teams will live with Jordan beating them that way.
It’s the second-chance scoring opportunities that kill.
With Howard back in form defensively and performing with remarkable offensive efficiency, Houston has a chance to beat L.A. In order to do so, Howard will need to complement his efficiency with aggressiveness.
If he does so, the sky will be the limit for Howard, Harden and the Kevin McHale-led Rockets.
Next: For the Chicago Bulls, it's NBA Finals or bust
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