Golden State Warriors: Pros and Cons of Pursuing Dwight Howard
By Joe Moore
Pro: When healthy, Dwight Howard is the best center in the league
Apr 24, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) drives past San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (behind) during game two of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT
Due to back and shoulder injuries, he struggled this season. Howard has been the league’s premier center for several seasons. He has, or at least recently, had the mobility to cover pick and rolls and rotate on help defense, the strength to defend post ups, the leaping ability to contest shots at the rim and the positioning to prevent many shots from being attempted.
Offensively, Howard relies on the same mobility and athleticism. He is stronger than many defenders in the post. More importantly, he was the single best pick-and-roll partner in the league, acting as the roller.
When healthy, he has the mobility to attack the lane, the coordination to catch most passes and is one of the better finishers at the rim. With Stephen Curry’s shooting and Howard’s finishing, the Warriors’ pick and roll would be a consistent source of efficient offense. Of course, the same claims were made about the Steve Nash-Howard pick and roll before this season.