Charlotte Hornets: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18

Dwight Howard must make his free throws and defend the 3-point line

Last week the National Basketball Players Association announced the names for the best teammate on each team for the 2016-17 season. And guess who was named the best teammate on the Atlanta Hawks? None other than Charlotte’s own Dwight Howard. This award should put to rest any rumor that Howard is a head case and a difficult teammate.

Luckily, Hornets owner Michael Jordan didn’t listen to rumors and naysayers, and personally placed a call to Howard to play for his team.

Howard was an excellent pickup and should be a great help in getting Walker’s assist numbers up, because there’s no reason when Howard’s underneath the basket or on his way to the rim that Walker wouldn’t dish the ball to his man in the middle.

Howard owns the paint, and that’s his bread and butter. But he must start venturing to outside the paint, so he could also get involved in Charlotte’s pick-and-roll action.

In every season of his 13-year career, Howard has averaged a double-double. Last season he averaged 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. However, his inability to make a free throw makes Howard an offensive and defensive liability at the same time.

As I recently wrote, one of Howard’s goals should be to improve his free throw percentages. Last season he shot 53 percent at the charity stripe, and upped his percentages to 63 percent during the Hawks’ postseason. There’s no reason why Howard shouldn’t be at 60 percent next season.

It’s imperative that Howard makes strides at the free throw line, because that’s the Hornets’ main weakness going into the 2016-17 season. And as I’ve written before, he must practice those shots until his arms fall off.

Howard must defend the 3-point line

On the other end of the court, Howard must also stay out of foul trouble. He can do so by not committing lazy fouls.

Howard’s interior defense is almost second to none. But his perimeter defense is where other bigs are going to take advantage of his slowness. With this new pace and space era, centers such as DeMarcus Cousins are out there at the 3-point line attempting shots.

For example, if Howard isn’t quick enough to be in front of his man to defend the 3-point shot, he may reach in from behind, thereby committing a foul. Or his man will jump into him during the “act” of shooting.

Although Howard should never be defending James Harden, ever, we know a lot of times that situation comes up, and the ball fakes are an act. Nonetheless, that’s three free shots, and those are very costly shots that can cost a team a game.

Howard must anticipate that those centers, who added the three-ball to their repertoire, are going to be out at the perimeter attempting shots. Therefore, it’s Howard’s job to always be out in front.

If he’s too slow-footed and chasing behind his man, Howard will be a defensive liability, because that gives the offense to much time to set their plays. Thus, the key to Howard’s game next season is to make his free throws, and defend the perimeter without making costly fouls.