Worried about Dwight

[TheREALBrooksThompson 157]

First the guy gets criticized for laughing too much during games and looking like he actually has fun playing basketball, now he's being criticized for looking like he doesn't have fun playing basketball. Meanwhile, his performance has been pretty consistent.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but I tend to care more about what the players are actually doing on the court than how they look when they do it. So far, Dwight hasn't disappointed me in that regard so I'm not concerned.

 

I also would like to apologize in advance to gobucsmagic. My post disagrees with yours, but please don't get mad and call me names. I mean no ill will toward you.

[Secretly Space Jesus 670]

quote:

Originally posted by gobucsmagic:

quote:

Originally posted by Drunk on Mystery:

quote:

Originally posted by gobucsmagic:

Eff you *****

 

Well your counterpoints are subtle, but I can respect your bold attempts to refute my previous points using logic, reason and facts. Kudos to you, sir!

 

I guess I just prefer not to bury my insults inside a bulleted post. Like I said before, my concern has NOTHING to do with his stats, its his body language (head down, not interacting with teamates in huddles, etc.) and disengagement that concern me. I've read enough to see I'm not the only one concerned with this, so I'll just let it die.

 

Except that you ignored and/or villified everyone who posted that they disagreed with you. Hell, you did it to WPMagic, and in the process you made it clear you stopped reading after his first sentence. It makes it incredibly hard to take you seriously, especially when I'm guessing you still haven't, and likely never will, bother to look up what Duncan thinks of FIBA rules and international play. Typically, when a large number of people placed in a similar situation react in the exact same way, you start to realize that there might be a trend.

 

Honestly, what did you want: us to apologize for disagreeing with you? What the hell makes you think you've earned ANY respect from the people on this board, much less so much respect that we, as posters, should be humble in the presense of your awesomeness? That you've yet to provide a single counterpoint to any argument brought up against your original post, with the exception of course of "eff you *****", merely accentuates how little validity your original post had.

 

 

As for the "He's not interacting with his teammates" argument is so laughable it's almost not worth mentioning. Because he's not the focal point or the vocal leader of the team he's at fault? Because he's not risking injury by diving into the stands in a game against ANGOLA he's at fault? Playing with no energy? He had 14 points and 2 blocks in 14 minutes, and was the only American player playing defense the entire game. The same was true against China. As for the rebounding, it's been mentioned already, but long shots equate to long rebounds. Again: FIBA IS A PERIMETER ORIENTED STYLE OF PLAY.

 

As for the complaining about officiating, yes he does it too much, but seriously, FIBA officiating is atrocious. I'd be complaining far more than he is.

[Natmayo 0]

Im concerned and im not. I would like to see Dwight cut down on the interaction with the refs, but as DOM put it, FIBA refs make ours look like Harvard Grads.

 

But DOM is right, FIBA is all about perimeter shooting. Big, physical guys are somewhat neutralized by the long rebounds and the rules.

 

If Dwight didnt improve at all, and gave us the same 21/14/4 like he did last year, Im a happy guy and we will go far. Id like him to get a consistant jumper, but im fine with Dwight Howard, his attitude, and his level of play for his age.

 

He will mature, he will improve. Everything in his career so far has shown that.

 

Hes light years above what he was 2 or 3 yrs ago. I dont have any worries

[gobucsmagic 13]

quote:

Originally posted by Drunk on Mystery:

quote:

Originally posted by gobucsmagic:

quote:

Originally posted by Drunk on Mystery:

quote:

Originally posted by gobucsmagic:

Eff you *****

 

Well your counterpoints are subtle, but I can respect your bold attempts to refute my previous points using logic, reason and facts. Kudos to you, sir!

 

I guess I just prefer not to bury my insults inside a bulleted post. Like I said before, my concern has NOTHING to do with his stats, its his body language (head down, not interacting with teamates in huddles, etc.) and disengagement that concern me. I've read enough to see I'm not the only one concerned with this, so I'll just let it die.

 

Except that you ignored and/or villified everyone who posted that they disagreed with you. Hell, you did it to WPMagic, and in the process you made it clear you stopped reading after his first sentence. It makes it incredibly hard to take you seriously, especially when I'm guessing you still haven't, and likely never will, bother to look up what Duncan thinks of FIBA rules and international play. Typically, when a large number of people placed in a similar situation react in the exact same way, you start to realize that there might be a trend.

 

Honestly, what did you want: us to apologize for disagreeing with you? What the hell makes you think you've earned ANY respect from the people on this board, much less so much respect that we, as posters, should be humble in the presense of your awesomeness? That you've yet to provide a single counterpoint to any argument brought up against your original post, with the exception of course of "eff you *****", merely accentuates how little validity your original post had.

 

 

As for the "He's not interacting with his teammates" argument is so laughable it's almost not worth mentioning. Because he's not the focal point or the vocal leader of the team he's at fault? Because he's not risking injury by diving into the stands in a game against ANGOLA he's at fault? Playing with no energy? He had 14 points and 2 blocks in 14 minutes, and was the only American player playing defense the entire game. The same was true against China. As for the rebounding, it's been mentioned already, but long shots equate to long rebounds. Again: FIBA IS A PERIMETER ORIENTED STYLE OF PLAY.

 

As for the complaining about officiating, yes he does it too much, but seriously, FIBA officiating is atrocious. I'd be complaining far more than he is.

 

Actually I only commented strongly against those who posted wise *** comments rather than telling me why I shouldnt be worried or why they are not worried. I got two posts in a row right off the bat like that and I responded.

 

Since that time I apologized to WPMagic (his original post was simply "trade him for Darko and Crittenton") and he later added "in all seriousness...".

 

I apologize if I've offended anyone (excluding DoM who has been a ***** from the start), I was hoping for a healthy conversation/debate and for the most part thats what I've gotten.

[Marc Acres 3:16 418]

Ok so back to the topic now.

 

I am of the opinion that FIBA rules make the game so little fun to play for big guys that play in the post that they have to view it as more of a job. My only concern with the Olympics is that we win the gold and Dwight does not get hurt, other than that it is just entertainment for me.

[EnFuego 1]

quote:

Originally posted by gobucsmagic:

I said before, my concern has NOTHING to do with his stats, its his body language (head down, not interacting with teamates in huddles, etc.) and disengagement that concern me.

 

I could make the point that your description of Dwight is almost identical to any objective description of Tim Duncan throughout his career. Demeanor is indicative of something, but determining what it is, is pseudo-science.

 

I'm not concerned about his demeanor so far and his performance has been just what the coaches wanted out of him.

[Levation1331 0]

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16:

Ok so back to the topic now.

 

I am of the opinion that FIBA rules make the game so little fun to play for big guys that play in the post that they have to view it as more of a job. My only concern with the Olympics is that we win the gold and Dwight does not get hurt, other than that it is just entertainment for me.

 

I agree, the key thing relating to Dwight in the Olympics is that he doesnt get hurt. His performance in China will not cement his legacy in any way.

 

His body language could stand to improve, but I'm more concerned about the free throw shooting. Somebody needs to tell him to stop taking so long to shoot each free throw, it is killing his rhythm. He holds the ball in shooting motion for way to long before releasing.

[Sinister Grin 3]

I am also not feeling his free throw shooting. Maybe it is the ball? It also seems like if someone breathes on him too hard he looses the ball. He doesn't seem to be trying that hard as I see him standing around on rebounds and just not going after the play unless its running through the lane for a dunk.

 

I think everyone knows Dwight needs to mature and be more assertive but I feel that will come sooner than later.

 

I say as long as he doesn't get hurt and we win the gold it's all good... does he look slimmer to anyone else?

[~O~ 565]

What forum members don't remember is that Dwight/Lebron/Chris Bosh are nearly the same age. At one point of the year..they are the same age. Yet, there still is a gap in maturity between Dwight and these other superstars.

 

Being to "Young", a "Kid", and "Inexperienced" doesn't give you an excuse to live up to a mature age similar to that of James and Bosh.

[30Assists 342]

quote:

I am of the opinion that FIBA rules make the game so little fun to play for big guys that play in the post that they have to view it as more of a job.

As both DoM and Mark have said, the international rules REALLY hamper big men: see how the key is a huge rhombus? Yeah, pushes the big men out.

 

Since the game is more aimed at perimeter and small-ball players, Coach K probably just told Dwight to go out there and play D. Team USA doesn't really need any more scorers, right?

 

Dwight's just being Dwight: he knows how to play defense, he'll hang around for the offensive follow-through, but he also knows that Coach K isn't drawing up plays for him.

 

He's also 22. Can't stress that enough.

 

He's fine, I think.

[Big EB 0]

I don't know what you're talking about Dwight looked way better today than he has in the other games, he even had 2 blocks

[God hates Magic fans 0]

quote:

Originally posted by gobucsmagic:

I'm watching the Angola vs. USA game and for the third straight game Dwight's play, activity level, and just overall body language is just horrible. I don't know if he's tired of not getting the ball, or intimidated by being on a team with this kind of makeup, but he is definitely not engaged and not playing with any fervor or energy. He's not even rebounding!

 

Is anyone else noticing this and is anyone else as concerned as I am? I just see a guy who looks a little immature and is pouting, rather than putting his stamp on the game with hustle and energy. Likewise, I'm annoyed that Dwight NEVER gets a loose ball below his knees and I've NEVER seen him hit the floor for a loose ball for team USA or the Orlando Magic.

 

I'm not trying to dump on Dwight, but he is our franchise and we can only go as far as he takes us. IMO he has a long ways to go maturity and intensity wise if he ever wants to be an NBA champion. Just my observations and two cents...

Who cares? these prelims are worthless quit trying to overanalyze every little thing.