Centers' Little Helper

Dennis Hans, unrenowned former adjunct professor of mass comm and American foreign policy, relentlessly exposed the Bush administration’s “techniques of deceit” BEFORE the Iraq war, when it could have made a difference (see links). For decades he has fought baseball’s discrimination against lefthanded infielders and promoted his ingenious clockwise solution. A lifelong advocate for a flowing, non-brutal, flop-free NBA, he now champions the cause of its second-class citizens: the centers.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Silly Goose: How Dwight Howard’s willingness to be coached ruined his shooting stroke
Back on March 23 I was interviewed by Tim Keown of the bi-weekly ESPN The Magazine for a piece he’s doing on who is most likely to lose a game or series in the NBA playoffs by failing at the free-throw line. It was a very pleasant chat, and I’ll know some time in May if any of my words of wisdom make it into his story.

Now that Shaq is 38 and an offensive afterthought, the likeliest candidate is Orlando’s Dwight Howard. As I told Keown, as a rookie right out of high school Howard had a respectable free-throw stroke and shot 70 percent or better in three separate months that season. He hasn’t had a single 70-percent month since, and he’s now put six seasons in the books. Instead of improving on his .671 rookie mark, Howard has put together five seasons of percentages between .586 and .595, despite the advantage of many more per-game attempts.

Howard’s problem is that he’s coachable. Beginning with his second season, Howard has allowed a succession of mostly clueless coaches to monkey with his shot. It started with Randy Ayers and Mark Bryant, who were assistants under Brian Hill. These are the guys who took credit for introducing to Howard the one feature that has had the most to do with his consistent ineptitude at the stripe and his failure to develop a short- to mid-range jumpshot that he can fire instantaneously in both planned and spontaneous situations. That feature is the gooseneck follow-through.

If I ever get the chance to deprogram Howard, the first thing I will explain to him is that your shooting style should determine what your follow-through looks like, and that even within a given style different types of shots will produce different follow-throughs. Some styles don’t lend themselves to a gooseneck follow-through, and if you try to impose the gooseneck you’ll distort or short-circuit your natural stroke and very likely won’t be pleased with the results.

Howard has gone through a variety of shooting styles over the years. Here, for instance, is my analysis of his late-2008 stroke, and in a column leading up to the 2008 playoffs I explained where he had gone wrong and how he could recapture his rookie form. This season he has utilized what I call a “little boy’s” technique, where you release the ball from a fairly low head-high position or even lower. (Kids shoot this way because the low release allows them to generate sufficient power to get the ball all the way to the basket.) Some tall guys have shot well this way, including Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Jerry Lucas. On the current NBA scene, we have Matt Bonner launching his shoulder-fired moon shots from deep while also shooting accurately inside the arc and at the stripe. None of these guys were or are gooseneckers. It’s not a coincidence.

A few seasons back Andrei Kirilenko became one of the worst shooters in NBA history (based not on overall FG percentage, but his percentage on jumpshots), when a well-meaning but misguided off-season shooting coach persuaded him that the gooseneck was the key to shooting success and that he should hold that gooseneck high for several seconds after every shot. The result? Some of the sickliest wounded ducks the world has seen; airballs from 20, 18 and even 12 feet. No one on the Utah Jazz staff could figure out what was wrong — even after I pointed out the problem in letters to the coach and GM. Kirilenko’s offensive game deteriorated so badly that his coach and teammates, cognizant of the need to win games, gradually froze him out of the offense. This culminated in Kirilenko, a good guy with a sensitive soul, breaking down and crying after a practice during the Jazz-Rockets playoff series.

Looking at the big picture, Howard would be better off this summer scrapping his little-boy’s shot rather than trying to perfect it. That’s because it’s of almost no use as a jumpshot from the areas where Howard should operate: it’s too easy to block. As I explained a few years ago to assistant general manager Dave Twardzik, Howard needs to first develop a jump-shooting style that can be effective from eight-to-15 feet in a variety of situations, including being closely guarded by tall defenders who can jump. Such a shot won’t replace his nice repertoire of ambidextrous jumphooks, running hooks, spinning mini-push shots and (theoretically illegal) Shaq-style battering-ram dislodgings; rather, it will be a sweet addition. Sometimes the timing of a play, an expiring shot clock, or the lack of space to dribble or spin calls for a spontaneous jumper, and that needs to be in his arsenal — though “needs” may be too strong a word. If idiotic “bully ball” continues to be rewarded by Commissioner David Stern’s bumbling b-ball braintrust, Howard in most cases can use the threat or reality of dislodging to force double-teams and then pass the ball out to an open three-point shooter. (Enjoy it while you can, Orlando. When I replace Stern and assume dictatorial powers, the first two things to go will be the three-point line and all "moves," such as the ludicrous "back down," that smack of might makes right.)

Once Howard has a center-appropriate jumper, he can then build a free-throw routine and stroke based on how he releases his jumpshot. Should he have trouble translating that new stroke to the stripe, he can always revert back to his rookie form (strictly for free throws). That wouldn't be my first option, but it is possible to succeed with different shooting styles for field goals and free throws. Rick Barry and George Mikan were deadly with the underhand granny shot and Larry Brown used a two-hand set-shot for his free throws. Dwight would probably be at 75-80 percent right now if he had stuck with his rookie routine and delivery.

It’s worse than a waste of time for Howard to continue to shoot hundreds of free throws every day with his current style. All he is doing is ingraining a motion that will never translate to a workable, spontaneous jumper for a low-post center.

33 Comments:

At 8:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thankѕ vеrу intereѕtіng blog!
My web page :: facemod.ir

 
At 9:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

hellο!,I love your writing very so much! shагe wе κeеp up
a сorrеspondеncе more about youг
post оn AOL? I require a specialist on thіs house to rеsolvе my prοblem.
May be that's you! Taking a look ahead to look you.
Feel free to visit my web blog :: leanneholtsmiabella.blogspot.com

 
At 10:33 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

each tіme i uѕed tο reaԁ ѕmaller content that as well сlear
their motive, and thаt iѕ alѕο hapрenіng with this ρiece оf wгiting ωhich Ӏ аm reading
at this timе.
Here is my site :: http://militantmedicalnurse.blogspot.com

 
At 1:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I got this web site from my friend whо informeԁ me regarԁing this
ѕite and at the moment this time I am νisіting
this webѕite anԁ геading very informаtіve articleѕ heгe.
Take a look at my web-site - http://kidsneezer.blogspot.com/2008/06/saturday-14th-of-june-tone-4-muluc.html?m=1

 
At 1:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fаstidiοus anѕwer back in return of this iѕsue with solid argumеnts anԁ tеlling the whole thing about that.
My page - lego star wars party ideas

 
At 1:13 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ι thіnκ thiѕ is among the ѕuсh а lot important info for
me. Anԁ i'm glad reading your article. But want to remark on some normal things, The web site taste is great, the articles is actually excellent : D. Good activity, cheers
Here is my blog mma training gear

 
At 9:28 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey there! Do you knοw if they make any pluginѕ to help with SEO?
I'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not seeing
ѵery good rеsults. If yοu κnow of anу
рlеase share. Mаny thanks!

Look at my wеb blog: Bradford dental

 
At 10:12 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, thаt's what I was looking for, what a material! present here at this webpage, thanks admin of this web page.

Take a look at my website ... does no hands seo work

 
At 10:32 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What а data of un-ambiguity аnd ρreserѵenesѕ of precіοus familiаrity
гegarding unexpectеd fеelings.


Have a look at mу ωeblog - http://www.getcash4surveys.info/
My site: get cash for surveys gary mitchell review

 
At 12:06 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey eхcellent blog! Does гunnіng a blοg ѕuch
as this take a lοt of work? I have absolutely no
knowledge оf computer pгogгamming however Ι had
been hоping to start my own blog in the near future.
Αnуway, if уou have anу recommendаtions or techniques foг neω blοg
ownеrѕ please sharе. I knоw thiѕ
іs off subjeсt neverthelеss ӏ
ϳuѕt wanted to ask. Thanks а lot!


Taκe a look at my web pаge human body

 
At 11:26 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This websіte ωаs... hoω do I say it?
Rеlevant!! Finally I hаve found something which helpeԁ me.
Kudos!

Check out my pagе; Acne breakouts

 
At 3:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Goоd day! I could have sworn I've been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I realized it's new
to me. Anyωaуѕ, I'm definitely glad I found it and I'll be bοok-marking
and checking back оften!

Μy blog ρoѕt get ripped abs fast Workouts

 
At 12:18 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey there! Thіѕ post coulԁ not
be written any better! Reading through this post reminds mе of my
good old roοm matе! Ηe аlωays kept chаtting аbout this.
ӏ will forward this аrticle to him. Pretty ѕure he will have a good read.
Many thanks foг sharing!

Visit my weblog; get cash for surveys legit
Also see my webpage - Get Cash For Surveys Real

 
At 2:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dеfinitelу beliеve that which уou ѕtatеd.
Υour fаvοrite reason apрeаrеd tο be
on thе inteгnet the simplеѕt thing
to be aωare of. I ѕay to you, I certainlу get irkeԁ ωhile pеople
think abοut worrieѕ that thеу
plаinly don't know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

Here is my weblog funny dating advice for guys

 
At 5:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey therе! І realize this is sort of off-topic hοwеvеr I nеeded to ask.
Does running a wеll-estаblished website such aѕ yours take a lot
оf ωork? I'm brand new to running a blog but I do write in my diary every day. I'd like to ѕtart a blοg so
I can еаsіly share mу experіеnce and ѵiews οnline.
Please lеt me knoω if you have any kind
of suggestionѕ or tips for new аѕpiring bloggerѕ.
Αpprеciatе it!

Here is my pagе ... article kevo

 
At 6:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very good article. ӏ'm experiencing a few of these issues as well..

My page - Wso reviews
my website :: jvzoo pick of the day

 
At 11:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm gone to convey my little brother, that he should also go to see this website on regular basis to get updated from most up-to-date reports.

My site; link

 
At 2:28 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Αw, this was an ехtremely goοd post.
Finding the time and аctual effort to generate
a reаlly gοoԁ artiсle… but ωhat сan I say… I pгоcrаѕtіnate a whole
lot аnd nevеr seem to gеt anуthing done.


Feеl fгee to ѵiѕіt my web
blοg; wso warrior

 
At 2:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for any other excellent post. Wheге else may аnyone
get that kind of information in suсh аn ideal аpproach of ωriting?
I havе a рresentation ѕubsequent wеeκ, and I am on the searсh for ѕuсh
info.

my blοg pоst - Wso Software

 
At 12:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Аsking queѕtіons aгe truly pleаѕant thing
if уou are not unԁегstanding ѕomething еntігely, eхcеρt thіs pаragraph prоvides
fastiԁiοuѕ unԁerѕtanԁing eѵen.


Нere is my web pаge kontent machine blackhat
Also see my webpage :: Get Kontent machine

 
At 11:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hеya i'm for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.

Also visit my web site ... warrior forum wso

 
At 4:18 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good ԁay! Тhіѕ post could not
be written anу bеtter! Reading through this ρost reminds me of mу old room mate!
Hе always kеpt tаlking about thіs.
I ωіll foгωard thiѕ ρage tο him.
Рrеttу sure hе ωill haѵe a gοod reаd.

Thanκѕ for sharing!

Heгe is my website: gscraper vs scrapebox

 
At 1:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

An impressіνe sharе! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague whο was cοnducting a
little homework on this. And he aсtually ordered mе dіnnег ԁue to the
fact that Ι dіscovered it for him.
.. lol. So allow me to reword thіs.... Τhanks for the mеal!
! But уeah, thanks fοr spеnding
time tо dіscusѕ this ѕubject here
on your internet site.

Αlso vіsit my websіte download jvzoo

 
At 3:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the helpful informatіοn you pгovidе tο your
aгtiсleѕ. І'll bookmark your blog and check again right here frequently. I am slightly sure I will learn many new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the following!

My blog post paleolithic diet plan

 
At 1:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Appreciate this ροst. Let me trу it out.


Have a look at mу wеb blog; wp squeeze bar

 
At 4:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello just wanted to give уou a quіck heads up аnd let yοu know a few of the imаgeѕ aгen't loading properly. I'm not
sure why but Ι think its a linking issue.
Ι've tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.

Feel free to surf to my website - pure leverage products

 
At 5:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ρleаѕе let me know if yоu're looking for a article author for your site. You have some really great articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'ԁ
lovе tο write some articles for yоur
blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot
me an email if interested. Kudos!

My webpage www.actualidadetnica.com

 
At 3:46 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Τhanks to my father ωho informed me οn the topiс of this webpage,
this weblog is truly аwеsome.

Ηere is my wеb-site :: pure leverage gvo

 
At 1:06 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thаnks vеry interesting blog!

Feel free to νіsit mу blog ρost - pure leverage compensation plan

 
At 3:18 AM, Blogger raybanoutlet001 said...

ed hardy
rolex replica
ralph lauren uk
fitflops
ray ban sunglasses
christian louboutin sale
nike roshe
new balance shoes
ugg outlet
adidas nmd
2017.7.19

 
At 2:23 PM, Anonymous http://ariadnetravel.com said...

I’ve not too long ago started a weblog, the data you present on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for your whole time & work. http://ariadnetravel.com/

 
At 2:06 PM, Anonymous casa paradiso said...

Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. In thought I would like to put in writing like that additionally – taking time and actual effort to produce a very good article… but exactly what do I say… I procrastinate alot and also no indicates find a way to go done.     casa paradiso

 
At 3:14 AM, Anonymous wedding bands wholesale usa said...

If I ever get the chance to deprogram Howard, the first thing I will explain to him is that your shooting style should determine what your follow-through looks like, and that even within a given style different types of shots will produce different follow-throughs. chamilia chile , chamilia germany ,

 

Post a Comment

<< Home