Charlotte Hornets: 5 goals for Dwight Howard in 2017-18
1. Become an offensive threat
In order to have a complete overall game, Howard must strive to become an offensive threat. Players fear him on the inside, but no one is worried about him once he’s outside the paint.
Howard must start instilling fear into his opponents, such that when they see him about to attempt a spot-up jumper they don’t begin to laugh. Rather, they start double-teaming, so that Howard can be more involved with Kemba Walker during pick-and-roll situations.
If Howard learns how to shoot the ball, he will then become a limited stretch-5. I’m not stretching it to the 3-point line, but at least eight feet from the rim. If he is able to accomplish that, then he will be able to open up the floor for his team.
In that regard, he can be more like Cousins and Horford, who are perimeter shooters, and draw attention to himself. In turn, that stretches the floor for Charlotte offensively.
Howard can no longer be a one-trick pony in this era where players are knocking down threes just as easily as layups. We all know Howard as Superman, but even Superman could do other things besides fly.
Howard has to get the basic basketball fundamentals down, and that includes being a threat on the offensive end. Of course he will always be there for the alley-oop from Walker. But the Hornets also need Howard outside the paint, drawing away defenders, so Walker and Nicolas Batum can do what they do — knock down long twos.
If Howard can learn to move from underneath the rim and be more involved in Charlotte’s offense, then that’s a recipe for success. He needs to get out from under his defensive comfort zone, and be more of a help to his teammates outside the paint.
I know that may seem like an arduous task, but if Howard just puts in the hours, it’s a feasible goal.
Huddle up Howard, let’s run it back again. Make your free throws, stay out of foul trouble, defend the 3-point line, work on your jump shot, improve perimeter defense, knock down short jumpers and become an offensive threat. Accomplish these goals and you will become an effective two-way player in this modern era.
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More importantly, not only will you become an All-Star once again, but you’ll play an instrumental role in bringing the Charlotte Hornets back to the playoffs.