Call him the Man of Aluminum, who could be headed for the scrap heap if he doesn't do something to recycle himself.
Dwight Howard once was the Man of Steel when he played for the Magic, leading the team to the 2009 NBA Finals. He had a five-year run in which he averaged more than 13 rebounds and two blocked shots per game, and he averaged more than 20 points per game in four of those five years (the other season -- 2009-10, Howard scored 18.3 points per game).
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But injuries and a lack of expanding his game have taken a toll on the current center of the Rockets. And if Howard can't learn to adjust his game based on his injuries, Superman may find himself out of the league rather quickly, according to The Boston Globe.
"Now 30, Howard is slowing down, bothered by years of back and knee issues," Gary Washburn of The Globe reports. "He doesn't have the offensive effectiveness of past years and his durability has waned. So, what happens when physically gifted players lose a step, are no longer able to soar as they once did or defend above the rim?"
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Former NBA power forward and current NBA analyst Chris Webber supplied the answer.
"I wouldn't just say this for Dwight, I'd say this for all players, me personally, I learned it from Karl Malone. You cannot stay in this game without skill," Webber told The Globe. "Because after five years in this league you will no longer be the most athletic at your position. It's impossible. That's including injuries. You have to have more skill, you have to create value for those times you're on the court.
"You have to think the game through and just be that much more efficient. You won't get the number of looks you have anymore. Mentally, you have to change and hopefully your skill set will allow that. If not, the game will pass you by."
Howard is averaging 12.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for the Rockets this season, numbers that are close to his rookie season in 2004-05 of 12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
But Howard shot 67.1 percent from the free-throw line as a rookie. He's shooting 50.3 percent from the line this season.
Webber gave some suggestions for the Houston big man as to how to tailor his game to his physical limitations.
"You have to maybe help defensively a little bit earlier since you can't go up and get the blocked shot," he said. "Some guys start taking charges or some guys just get out [farther] on the floor since they can't move laterally anymore, maybe develop an 8-foot jump shot. You can learn how to make a move without dribbling because now you can't just dribble by everybody anymore.
"If I'm [Howard], I'm trying to offensive rebound a little bit more. If I'm him, I'm running right down the middle of the lane on a secondary break, posting up in the middle, and turning for a jump hook because you're going to foul me. I'm going to put myself in positions where you have to get me the ball, and when I get the ball I'd be stupid to pass it back out. There's ways, and he's one of the best big men in the game still. He should be the second-most-targeted player on that team."
But if Howard doesn't commit to altering his game, either his paychecks may be hit hard, or they may disappear completely.
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