Really? Dwight is just to be here for defense? If so and it works then that is great. I thought he was brought here to be more than just a Tyson Chandler type player that passes the ball out. If Dwight is doing everything he was brought here to do, then it proves my point that Dwight wasn't the answer to our previous problems because it isn't resulting in more wins. I actually think that Dwight is doing fine, but that doesn't mean he is changing the game so much that it is resulting in wins. I keep hearing that he is like Shaq and it's O.K. if he misses free throws etc because Shaq did and so therefore it's O.K. if he does.
1) Tyson Chandler has never averaged 14 PPG. Dwight is giving us nearly 20 a night (and possibly more, when Nash gets back, because of all the P&R action he'll see.
2) Chandler never attempted more than 5 FTA/G in a season. Howard doubles that.
3) Chandler doesn't draw double teams and kick the ball back out, nor is he always intentionally fouled because he's so close to the rim.
4) Only twice in his career has Chandler grabbed double-digit boards.
----------
Howard and Chandler are two different beasts, and I
never said all Howard was here for was defense. In fact, in many posts before, I stated that he gets teams in foul trouble quicker than anyone (including LeBron) with the ball in his hands. He demands defensive attention from more than just one player, most of the time. He gives you nearly 20 points on some of the highest percentages in the NBA, with OR without help.
That's not just defense.
He does not bring what Shaq brought so his shortcomings such as FT's can not be over looked. What was he tonight from the line, 3 of 12 or something like that? I'm sorry, but when fans say Shaq missed free throws, etc and we still won championships it's not the same. Howard is not that great dude. I don't see him being any better for us than a player like Tyson Chandler could be for us. Dwight is supposed to be "Superman" and I just don't see it..
He isn't Shaq, but he's far from a Chandler. Calling him that is an insult. Chandler is lucky Howard fell to injury last season, or else he would not have won DPOY...and furthermore, again, Chandler's offensive game is nowhere near Howard's, simply because Tyson has to be spoon-fed his points, or he needs to grab o-boards. Dwight just needs the ball, simple as that.
Howard is shooting 48% from the charity stripe as of right now. Shaq was under 50% seven times in his career, shot 48% once in LA and once in Orlando (and additionally, a season of 49% in LA in 2004).
Of course, Shaq was more offense...but his defense was bad, especially P&R, and unlike Dwight, back on offense, he took up space...sometimes too much. The only benefit we had with him on defense is that he was in the lane...but teams solved that problem quickly, by pounding us with P&R. Howard can defend it...and Shaq was one of the worst P&R centers in the NBA at that time.
Both are efficient. Howard and Shaq linger(ed) around 57-60% from the floor all season long.
Both are excellent rebounders. Shaq has never touched 14+ RPG, while Dwight has in a season (two seasons, actually).
Dwight is closer to Shaq than he is Chandler.
Do you seriously see us winning a championship with Dwight as our leader? He's supposed to be the man when Kobe retires right? That's all I've heard. I don't see it. I'm sorry, and it's not a slight on Dwight. I just have never seen what everybody else seemed to see. He is not a top 5 player in my book, yet he does no wrong when it comes to his play with most Laker fans. .. It scares me dude. I seriously don't see it...
How is Dwight not a top five player? Aside from LeBron and Kobe, it's hard for me to stick anyone ahead of him. Maybe Durant, if I'm flipping a coin and being biased. That's three. CP3 is the only other guy, and he has yet to lead any team anywhere significant. Melo isn't there. Wade is playing like he's 35 right now. Duncan is off and on nowadays. Nobody else comes close.
P.S. The one thing that really gets to me is all the hate Pau gets and how he should be traded and that he sucks so much and yet Howard gets a pass. The last I saw, Pau helped us to 3 finals appearances and 2 final championships. Howard hasn't done squat and yet everything he touches turns to gold. To me it's pathetic and uncalled for. Yes he had 3 defensive players of the year but he has yet to do for us what Gasol has done yet he is blameless. I will never get used to that until Howard does the same. It's a cheap shot toward Pau, not to everybody else apparently, but to me it is... Howard is still ring less, lest we forget...
Gasol helped us win two rings in 2009 and 2010. So did
Lamar Odom. Do you want Odom back? Just two years ago, Odom was arguably an all-star, best sixth man in the NBA.
In fact, Odom was a Laker longer than Gasol...since 2004-05. Doesn't mean squat.
BTW Real Deal, you have great arguments. I respect your arguments and opinions. You have real insights toward the game. I will take and accept a lot of heat toward my arguments when it comes from you than I would toward other posters that just call names and leave it at that. I see why you have so much respect on this site. You are a great poster... Not that you need or care about my respect, I give it to you...
I appreciate it, but the sole reason why I put up these forums in 2008 was to create a community that could disperse and share basketball knowledge, and not necessarily just the Lakers. I do what I can to cover bases, and to argue both sides. I'm simply telling you, right now, that I can't find a single argument that lays a lot of blame at Howard's feet...nor any reason to say that he's not performing well enough for us right now, given the current state of this team (new offense, Nash and Blake injured, Dwight nursing a sore back, new coach that doesn't necessarily like post players, sharing the ball with another superstar scorer).
Kobe and Howard in P&R action isn't going to be tough to defend when the rest of the team can't hit the backboard with the ball. Once we put the ball in Nash's hands for the P&R, teams will have to keep Kobe in range, which means they won't be able to defend it as easily...and that's when things get interesting with our trio (Gasol is no longer included as a fourth star, until he steps up).
You can expect people to put you on blast for still having Bynum as your favorite Laker in your user details...but it's really noticeable when you're blasting Howard almost every other post, especially in game topics. Not only that, but you were doing it so much during the summer, people were anticipating your return once we started hearing Drew was out until December or January. I'm not handing suspensions out to anyone, including you, hoping that all of you can handle the back-and-forth jabs, as long as they aren't too personal...you've delivered your share, also, although it feels like you're getting hit with more only because Bynum is now in Philly, and few like him anymore.
When you go and ask people that criticize Gasol why they aren't blaming Howard, you're doing that while most of us are wanting Gasol amnestied. We don't care. You ask it when he gets blocked twice, gives up a layup, comes down and misses a dunk, goes back on the other end and gets a blocking foul. First thing we do is see your name.
If you would show more interest in everyone else, rather than just Howard, I'm sure things would change.
