How Dwight Howard can bring the best out of the Charlotte Hornets

With an eight-time all-star big man now in the mix, will Dwight Howard help get the best out of this Charlotte Hornets’ team in 2017-18?

Let’s admit it, ever since the Bobcats came onto the scene in 2004, it’s been a difficult road with more downs than ups. The franchise has surely gotten robbed of the first overall pick twice due to the lottery in both 2004 and 2012. Getting Emeka Okafor instead of Dwight Howard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist instead of Anthony Davis.

These are two pretty big drop-offs from first picks to second picks. The Hornets have continuously sought for a consistent big man that can hold down the paint on defense and space the floor on offense. We have seen what we can do with skilled centers such as Tyson Chandler and Al Jefferson getting to the playoffs with these skilled men in the middle. Unfortunately, Chandler lacked offense and Jefferson lacked defense as well as staying in shape.

Howard is a five who can hold his own on both sides of the floor. It is easy to judge Dwight on his past few years but I’d like to take this back to the basics on what really matters. The Hornets are forwarding to a team built similar to the San Antonio Spurs.

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This includes high basketball IQ, good ball movement, highly motivated defensive efforts, and smart shot selection. It is difficult to guard “Superman” down low with his nearly seven-foot, 265-pound frame and his broad shoulders.

We saw how Jefferson’s low post moves led to many opportunities on the perimeter in his time in Charlotte. Howard, who lacks the spiffiness of Jefferson’s post moves, uses the strength and athleticism that Jefferson lacked to get low in the paint in pick and roll situations. Getting low in the paint will lead to double teams which means that opposing teams’ defenses will collapse into the paint leaving space on the perimeter for shooters. This will leave the likes of Kemba Walker, Nicolas Batum, Marvin Williams, Frank Kaminsky, and Malik Monk with more than enough time to release their shots and get even more open looks than they would have without the eight-time all-star.

Each of the Hornets key players have a lot to prove this year. There is a chip on all of their shoulders. Returning players determined to play better after a disappointing season, Howard and Michael Carter-Williams are hoping to get their careers back on the right track while Monk and Dwayne Bacon to show why they should have been picked earlier.

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The biggest concerns I have with this upcoming season is the possibility of injury and hack-a-Shaq towards Dwight Howard. Supposing the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers will be the top two teams in the conference, the East has many teams that could battle for the third seed. If we are looking at a healthy team this year, Charlotte could put together a strong season and achieve a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.