Dwight Discussion: Griffin for Dwight?... Naaaa (1011)

well the free throw issue won't fix itself but his on/off thing he's got going on will. those selected good games he's had will be much more frequent. the guy in orlando could go 40+ at 100% on both ends and not be as exhausted as he gets from like 8 minutes of doing that here.

his lift is close, his stamina is a month away i'm guessing. once that's back at least he'll be consistently productive.

the FTs are a price to pay. lebron had his 4th quarters, Shaq had his free throws, wilt had his free throws

the physical anomalies usually have a flaw

Weezy wrote:

last stand wrote:

Weezy wrote:Honestly, if Dwight walks and we get the cap room, we didn't really lose much if you ask me. We only gave up Bynum for him, Bynum isn't even playing, who knows if he will this season even. I like Howard, but the guy is way more inconsistent than I thought, and his free throw shooting is so freaking bad you can't have him on the court when the game is close in the crucial moments because he could literally cost you the game. Not sure how a franchise player for a championship team can be someone that can't even be depended on to close games because he can't make a free throw to save his life. Not really a big fan of his personality either, despite what he says I see very little fire to win in him. So if he walks, being the Lakers, we look elsewhere, I wouldn't be that upset.

lol your tune is going to be so different when he doesn't get exhausted so easily.

I hope it is different then, I'd love nothing more. That said, like I said to somebody else, is his FT shooting going to stop sucking, is he going to stop being a liability at the end of games because of it when he's 100% again? I don't see a bright future with a franchise player that can't be even in the game in the crucial last moments, especially during a playoff or Finals game. If I remember right, Howard missed some big free throws against us in the Finals in 2009 too.

The big furry mammal in the corner.....

Howard is a lot of things and a lot of them good, but I've never seen him as the number one guy on a championship team.... Centers don't fill that role in today's NBA and one that is flawed in a fundamental needed to close out close games that even more the case.

Howard needs to straighten his elbow on his free throws at the release, and raise his elbow through the shot. His FT is so easily correctable. I know he hired that guy from the Olympics to help him shoot FTs better, but it is not working. He is not grasping the mechanics of having a consistent FT shot. Go look at Kobe's free throws, the elbow is straightened at the release, the elbow rises through the shot and so consistent.

I wish I can have like a few hours with Dwight to just fetch him the ball, and point out what he is doing wrong on the FT. There is no way he should be shooting below 50%. He is fairly decent form, and it is correctable what he is doing. I don't doubt that once he grasps what is needed, he can shoot 80% easily.

Well why wouldn't he? Why would he want to stay with a team that's been a 2nd round exit the last 2 seasons and looks like they won't make the playoffs this season? Especially a team that chose Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson?

Part of the reason why he wanted to play with D-WIll in Brooklyn is because he considered the Lakers to be an aging team. Well, Nash's injury and Pau's performances certainly hasn't helped to change that POV.

^A large part to consider though is money. A lot of players won't outright say it, but money IS a big factor in where they go. If Howard decides to leave LA, he'll not only be leaving a lot of money on the table, but also the amount of opportunities to have in places like Hollywood. And about the championships, where will he go that he has a better chance? Atlanta? Dallas? Those places aren't exactly know for being great places for players to play and win championships. I really don't have any qualms about Howard leaving, and also that quote was really taken out of context considering he was most likely interviewed the day they played Orlando, and was most likely talking about why he eventually wanted out of there.

he will only leave for hawks if they can get cp3 too. cp3-d12-horford would be good core.

juninho wrote:he will only leave for hawks if they can get cp3 too. cp3-d12-horford would be good core.

Crazy how we nearly got that to happen, we actually had CP3....BUT ANYWAY!!!!

revgen wrote:Well why wouldn't he? Why would he want to stay with a team that's been a 2nd round exit the last 2 seasons and looks like they won't make the playoffs this season? Especially a team that chose Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson?

Part of the reason why he wanted to play with D-WIll in Brooklyn is because he considered the Lakers to be an aging team. Well, Nash's injury and Pau's performances certainly hasn't helped to change that POV.

If this is another 2nd round exit year, I honestly don't see why he wouldn't bolt to Brooklyn. The only real chip the Lakers have is that he can get a bigger contract, though I'm not sure by how much. But Brooklyn ownership would find a way to negate that difference.

I think the cache of playing for the Lakers has eroded under the prospect of jimmy running the franchise completely. Magic's view of not being confident in jimmy was surely heard by the marque players.

dwight needed to be benched at in the 4th when they were doing hack-a-dwight, im damn sure the fact taht dwight didnt sign that extension is why.


i honestly think dwight is the cancer, not pau. i much rather have pau in the post and grind his troubles out that have that stupid ONE post move and that stale hook shot.

KBJelleyBean24 wrote:^A large part to consider though is money. A lot of players won't outright say it, but money IS a big factor in where they go. If Howard decides to leave LA, he'll not only be leaving a lot of money on the table, but also the amount of opportunities to have in places like Hollywood. And about the championships, where will he go that he has a better chance? Atlanta? Dallas? Those places aren't exactly know for being great places for players to play and win championships. I really don't have any qualms about Howard leaving, and also that quote was really taken out of context considering he was most likely interviewed the day they played Orlando, and was most likely talking about why he eventually wanted out of there.

Atlanta will have the capspace to offer him and CP3 max contracts. They'd basically have a young core of Dwight, CP3, and Al Horford. And a backcourt of Jeff Teague and Louis Williams too. So he'd basically be able to play in his hometown and play with players his age. He won't have to worry about going through a rebuilding period here in LA after Nash, Kobe, and Pau retire or move on.

if he doesnt want here than let him go, this guy has no skill sets. all he has is athleticism


as i fan i was a bit insulted this guy didnt want to sign an extension, who does this guy think he is

LooN3y wrote:if he doesnt want here than let him go, this guy has no skill sets. all he has is athleticism


as i fan i was a bit insulted this guy didnt want to sign an extension, who does this guy think he is

Why would he sign an extension when he can sign for more years and more money at the end of the season?

Why sign an extension for a team that can't even get over the .500 mark 17 games into the season?

GoldHammish wrote:

The Rock wrote:He'll make the most money here. His best chance to compete for a championship is here. Teams that are in championship contention already dont have $ to offer and Dallas is barely an 8th seed

As it stands, we are barely an 8 seed.

this is so early. If we're still this way come January February then yea we're screwed

revgen wrote:

LooN3y wrote:if he doesnt want here than let him go, this guy has no skill sets. all he has is athleticism


as i fan i was a bit insulted this guy didnt want to sign an extension, who does this guy think he is

Why would he sign an extension when he can sign for more years and more money at the end of the season?

Why sign an extension for a team that can't even get over the .500 mark 17 games into the season?

ok forgot about the extra money, but the fact that the team cant get over the .500 mark, hes part of the team, hes part of the reason why the team is where it is.


i can tell in his body language, that he's a whiner and the fact that he didnt sign the extension gives hesitation from brown and danotni to bench him in the closing minutes if needed (hack a dwight. yea body language isnt much to go off by but just they way he acts he hacts like he earned something, that hes already a great laker, that we're blessed to have his presence when he see his pathetic performance from the freethrow line costing us games (obviously not hte only thing)

i wouldnt be surprised, behind closed doors, the reason why pau is out on the perimeter ALL THE TIME, is because he whined about touches and being down low and proving to people he can play back to the basket.

pau was the number one option down low for a while, even with bynum who had a much better skill set (which changed later and bynum was the number one post big, but how good did that work out?)

dwight just needs to get the lobs, P&R, and take care of garbage points, and get those points with baby asssits. this guy should not be posting up as much as he is

1) I don't see Dwight doing anything differently here than he was doing in Orlando. Defense. Check. Rebounding. Check. Missed FT's. Check. Unless you can tell me something specific about Dwight that he's not doing here that he was doing in Orlando, I'm not going to care about his "body language" or that he's a "whiner". As far as I'm concerned, other than him recovering from back surgery, we got what we paid for.

2) Pau was shooting jumpers last year when our previous center was here. Nice try. No cigar.

3) Pau was not the number 1 option down low last season. He hasn't been for 2 years now.

4) Dwight at least puts the other teams in foul trouble when he's in the post. Meanwhile Pau gets manhandled by the likes of Carl Landry and Al Harrington.

revgen wrote:1) I don't see Dwight doing anything differently here than he was doing in Orlando. Defense. Check. Rebounding. Check. Missed FT's. Check. Unless you can tell me something specific about Dwight that he's not doing here that he was doing in Orlando, I'm not going to care about his "body language" or that he's a "whiner". As far as I'm concerned, other than him recovering from back surgery, we got what we paid for.

2) Pau was shooting jumpers last year when our previous center was here. Nice try. No cigar.

3) Pau was not the number 1 option down low last season. He hasn't been for 2 years now.

4) Dwight at least puts the other teams in foul trouble when he's in the post. Meanwhile Pau gets manhandled by the likes of Carl Landry and Al Harrington.

^^ I agree with you on all your points except the free throwing Revgen. I know you have been irritated by people harping on that particular point, but the guy is a career 58% and he's shooting about 47% with the Lakers which simply does not cut it. If he gets back up in his career range it's acceptable, but this sub 50% is garbage. It seems to be more a mental thing than his form, so maybe being in a new place with new expectations is messing with him. Or maybe he's just off in that department as well because he's recovering.

I don't know, but he's got the regular season to rectify it. If he doesn't get it together we aren't going to go far in the playoffs. You can't have him as our 2nd best player and main foul magnet missing all those free throws in tight games during the playoffs. If he does we're screwed. I don't think anyone expects him to get up over 60% from the line (I know I don't), but he's got to at least improve from where he's at.

If he is going to miss that many free throws, his shooting percentage better go up by 10%+ to offset his minus 10% free throw shooting. I think Dwight is at his prime right now, I think two more years he wont have his speed anymore, I wonder how he is going to get his offense then.

revgen wrote:1) I don't see Dwight doing anything differently here than he was doing in Orlando. Defense. Check. Rebounding. Check. Missed FT's. Check. Unless you can tell me something specific about Dwight that he's not doing here that he was doing in Orlando, I'm not going to care about his "body language" or that he's a "whiner". As far as I'm concerned, other than him recovering from back surgery, we got what we paid for.

2) Pau was shooting jumpers last year when our previous center was here. Nice try. No cigar.

3) Pau was not the number 1 option down low last season. He hasn't been for 2 years now.

4) Dwight at least puts the other teams in foul trouble when he's in the post. Meanwhile Pau gets manhandled by the likes of Carl Landry and Al Harrington.

Only difference I see is stamina. That should improve with time

jOeyB7000 wrote:

denimPortugal wrote:

Dwight Howard says desire for championship could lead him away from Lakers
By Steven Muma on Dec 3, 8:46a 5


Dwight Howard wants an NBA championship above all else, and that means he could be willing to leave Los Angeles if a better opportunity presents itself.


Dwight Howard came to the Los Angeles Lakers because he felt he had a better chance to win an NBA title with that team. But the Lakers stumbled out of the gate and sit at 8-9 overall, in third place in the Pacific Division behind Golden State and the Clippers. That start had Howard suggesting recently the he might be willing to leave Los Angeles if he thinks he's more likely to win a title somewhere else.

"So I want to do it the best that I can and I’m going to take everything in I can to get what I can out of the NBA. Which, for me, is winning a championship," Howard said. "So if I have to play on another team or do whatever I have to do to get one, that’s my goal. This is my passion, so I’ll continue to fight."

Howard is averaging 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this season. The Lakers return to action against Houston on Tuesday.

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2012/12/3/3 ... ship-magic
Oopsss...

From what I've been able to gather regarding this quote and article, it has been taken WAAAAAY out of context.I don't have links to the original article, but that quote was taken from an article regarding why he left the MAgic and had nothing to do with the Lakers.

Edit* Here's a video link to the interview where this quote was taken from:

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/denton-dw ... ave-part-2

Sensationalism at it's best.

yeah, if you read the whole yahoo piece, the author of that one basically says "it's likely he was talking about the move from orlando, but we can all hope it's about la..." then proceeds for about 2000 words as if the comment was definitely made about la.

people like that are why there's been such an erosion of respect for journalism in the internet age.

oh, and as much glee as the media might have if howard were to walk, weezy's right: the lakers would have lost bynum for nothing anyway and been in the same boat had they not made the trade. so, not as big a deal as people would like to think.

i don't share weezy's evaluation of his game, though. i think he's a top-2 nba player in terms of overall value, and the lakers should be hellbent on keeping him, even if it means getting rid of everyone else to do so.

as for improving ft shooting: sure, it would be great. i'm not holding my breath, and shaq's rings say things could turn out ok regardless.

Just imagine if we kept Bynum. Oh boy that'd suck. We'd basically have no season

abeer3 wrote:
as for improving ft shooting: sure, it would be great. i'm not holding my breath, and shaq's rings say things could turn out ok regardless.

Two huge differences, one is that Shaq when he was with us scored nearly 30pts per game and hit his ft when it counted. It seems when it counted most, Howard's ft get even worse.

Dwight is more like a shaq and Ben Wallace hybrid than shaq.

Shaq was arguably the most dominant physical force the game has ever and probably will ever see

What if he walk away after this season. What we can do if that happen?? I was just looking at FA in next summer and there is no some important players to sign. Paul, JR Smith, Josh Smith are one of them but except Paul there is no players with real worth. If this happen we can sign Josh Smith and JR and put Gasol on C. I am sure if lakers lost in 2nd round dwight will walk away , I am sure that will happen.