Charlotte Hornets: 5 goals for Dwight Howard in 2017-18

4. Stay out of foul trouble

We have already discussed how some players go into the game wanting to be fouled, because that’s their bread and butter. Here again, Howard is an offensive and defensive liability at the same time. Because when he’s fouling his opponent, this allows the opposing team an opportunity on the offensive end to raise its score.

One way to stay out of foul trouble is to not commit lazy fouls, like reaching in to steal the ball. First of all, Howard should always be in front of his man defensively.

Although he’s a beast on the boards, limiting blocks could be a great idea. One of the defensive strategies that Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens used during the playoffs was that he told his players not to block any shots.

Another way to stay out of foul trouble, since basketball is more of a mental game as it is physical, is not to allow other players to get in your head. If they say something to you on the court it’s only words. Trash talking has always been a part of the game, and Howard must learn to rise above it.

A player can’t help his team if he’s fouled out, or if he commits foul trouble early and has to sit during the first quarter, allowing the other team to control the momentum. If Howard doesn’t commit lazy fouls, and doesn’t allow players to get into his head, then he’ll have won half the battle.