Recently, Dwight Howard said that he wants his game to evolve. He said that he would like to become a player similar to Kevin Durant. Howard suggested that this will help him to play until he is 40 years old.
A player should not model himself after another player. Each player has a unique skill set. Every player has a skill set that helps him to contribute to a team. Howard's skill set is different than Durant's skill set.
Howard is an interior player. He does not have perimeter skills. He can score down low close to the basket. He can set screens for the pick and roll. He can roll to the basket to get a pass or a rebound. On defense, he can protect the rim. He can block shots. Additionally, he can get offensive and defensive rebounds.
If Howard wants to improve his game, he should practice free throws. He has been a subpar free throw shooter for his whole career. If he could improve his free throw shooting ability, he could help Washington during the upcoming season.
Howard's belief that he should evolve his game comes from the direction of the NBA. For a while now, the NBA has marginalized the role of the center or power forward. The role of the back to the basket center or power forward has been phased out by a league obsessed with perimeter play. This is unfortunate. There should still be a role in the NBA for a back to the basket center or power forward.
In today's NBA, teams believe that the lane should be unclogged so that perimeter players can drive into the lane for a basket or to draw a foul. If players do not get a shot, they can pass the ball back out to the perimeter. Teams think that the back to basket center or power forward clog the lane, which makes it difficult for a guard to move unencumbered towards the basket.
However, the back to the basket front line player can get scoring opportunities or draw a foul just as well as a guard can. A front line player can hit a jump hook, make a layup, or pass the ball back to the perimeter if a scoring opportunity does not exist. Making room for an interior threat on offense gives a team more diversity. It gives the team another scoring option. It makes no sense to phase out the back to he basket player.
As the NBA has marginalized the role of the back to basket player, centers and power forwards have felt pressure to develop a perimeter game. They have felt pressure to shoot outside shots and develop three point shooting ability. However, this is not their natural strength. It is never good to ask players to deviate from their strengths. A good team utilizes each player's strengths and minimizes each player's weaknesses.
In the past, the back to the basket player was more respected. George Mikan, Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Bob Lanier, Hakeem Alujawon, Robert Parrish and other centers were valuable part of a team's game plan and offensive approach. They had their back to the basket as they roamed the paint and called for the basketball. They were assertive offensive players who understood their roles. They utilized their strengths and did not deviate from their role. It would be good if the NBA could incorporate more of this into the modern game.
Howard's trainer also suggested that he wants to lose weight so that he can get up and down the court quickly. This is understandable and would be a good way to improve his game. The game is fast paced, and players need to run up and down the court quickly. Players need to be athletic and nimble. They need agility and flexibility. This kind of improvement or evolution is understandable and advisable. However, Howard's basic game should not evolve or change.
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