Dwight Howard's Kyptonite

At 22 years old, Dwight Howard is quickly becoming the reincarnation of Shaquille O’Neal. Upon further review, the similarities are really quite eerie. He’s averaging 23 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks a game, while leading the Orlando Magic back into the conversation of the Eastern Conference’s elite for the first time since Shaq reigned in Florida. He routinely dominates the paint by getting ridiculously easy shots in which defenders are left helpless when trying to stop him. For his career, Howard is shooting over 60% from the field, and is in the hunt to win the title of “best shooter” for the second consecutive year. Watching his highlights, it’s not hard to see why he shoots at such an insane rate: the guy seems to get all his points off thunderous dunks or easy lay-ups. Only in his fourth year, Howard has seen his scoring numbers go up each season he’s been in the league, and yet still has room for improvement.

While many would consider O’Neal as the prototypical big man who bruises his way to baskets without any finesse, Howard is proving he’s more than that. Even though he’s extremely skilled at posting power forwards and finishing with his developing hook shot, Howard is one of the gold standards of the new, athletic number four that is making its way into the Association. You know, guys like Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, or Kevin Garnett who look just as comfortable running up and down the floor as they do with the pick and roll. Howard is one of those; the man is in excellent shape, and loves playing the up-tempo style of play that is making a renaissance in the NBA. He’s quick, fast, and quite frankly not even close to what he can be yet.

But, for all the good ways in which Dwight resembles the Diesel, there is one facet of his game that makes you cringe in the same ways Shaq did. Much like O’Neal, the top pick from the 2004 Draft struggles with free throws. As dominating as both have been, their kryptonite has been the inevitable hack that defenders give when they make their way to the basket. The scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots are all increasing at a steady rate for Howard, but his percentage from the free throw line has decreased each year.

I don’t need to be the first one to tell you the importance of free throw shooting, especially when you consider that Howard gets to the charity stripe nearly 12 times a game. With Orlando becoming more and more of a threat to make a run in the playoffs, he will have the ball in his hands at crunch time, and will need to make those freebies at a high rate in order for the Magic to have success. So far in 2007-08, Howard is struggling to match his free throw percentage (61.7%) with his field goal percentage (61.4%).

The first edition of Hack-A-Howard revealed its ugly head on Monday night as the Atlanta Hawks upset the Magic and resorted to fouling Howard at every turn. Howard’s trademark easy dunks were absent. In their place were bricks from the free throw line as Hawks coach Mike Woodson smirked to himself and his players. Orlando fans better get used to this sight because it is a ploy that will continue to work as long as Howard struggles at the line.

So, Dwight, you’re a great, great player, and the sky is the limit on what you can become, but please take the time to work on that free throw shooting of yours. It will make you a truly unstoppable force.