After the game he addressed this improvement and embrace on getting easier shots off it finally and using it to their advantages
Dwight Howard broke down how he and Steve Nash played the pick-and-roll well
"We did a good job of Steve waiting on the screens and I was able to set good screens and was able to roll hard," Howard said. "After setting a couple of hard screens, Steve was able to come off and hit some jump shots. That opened everything up. Once Steve hit some jump shots, it's tough for guys. They have to make a decision. They either have to let Steve get hot as he continues to shoot the ball or they have to step up and allow me to get dunks?"
This is great news from Howard's end but why the sudden change?
Steve Nash.
Unbeknownst to the media Steve Nash took it upon himself to have a heart to heart with Dwight about working with him on the pick and roll and forgetting what everyone else had said, as Nash puts it, he made it very apparent how important it is for BOTH of them
As KevinDing reports on their little heart to heart
Big-time Nash words about Howard: "We talked coming out of the All-Star break that he and I have really got ...
to find a way to be a tandem. He has to find ways to free me up, and therefore I am going to find ways to free him up -- and really become a team and a tandem together, put a lot of pressure on the defense and make the game easier for our teammates. We are going to work at it. It is still a work in progress, but the last two games before the break he really committed to running pick and rolls, setting good screens, rolling hard.
"And I think tonight you either saw me free for jump shots or him going down the paint for fouls or finishes. It has to be a big part of our offense."
Since their heart to heart, Dwight has set harder screens, is rolling faster to the basket, has been setting double screens and off ball screens for Nash. It seems Steve broke through.
As long as Dwight doesn't give a darn if people say all he can do is set screens and finish dunks then it helps us. Who cares if they say that? They can't stop it, so what's it matter?
It seems Nash has hammered this point home and since then we've seen a different Dwight, on and off ball.
Let's hope it remains consistent, but for now kudos to Nash for bringing it up to Dwight and kudos to Dwight for taking it to heart and playing hard!
