Charlotte Hornets: The Dwight Howard honeymoon stage is over

As the saying goes, “old habits die hard” and Dwight Howard’s old habits are starting to creep up the longer he’s with the Charlotte Hornets.

After making a strong first impression with the Charlotte Hornets, the honeymoon phase has quickly worn off for Dwight Howard. The eight-time all-star had a blazing start for the team right out of the gates but his downfalls are starting to become more evident as time goes on.

All of the problems that have followed and plagued Dwight over the years are beginning to pop up with Charlotte. His poor free throw shooting is evident and his frustration is starting to show in the form of technicals and fines. The discussion about whether a true big man like Howard can thrive in today’s NBA is also starting to arise.

When D12 first arrived in the Queen City, hopes were high because the team finally added a big name player to their roster. Even though Howard is past his prime and has been on the decline in the past few years, a reunion with Steve Clifford was expected to bring the best out of Dwight. It worked for a bit but things have stalled as of late.

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During his first six games with the team, Howard put up a surprising 15.6 points per game, 16.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He was leading the league in rebounding and had some contemplating whether or not Dwight could earn an unexpected all-star appearance. Compare that to his last seven games where his number has dipped to only 12.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 0.7 BPG. It’s also worth noting that Charlotte’s lost five of those seven.

While those numbers aren’t terrible, it shows how less impactful Howard has become, especially on the defensive end. This could be a result of opposing defenses zeroing in on him or it could be that the honeymoon high is no longer there.

Even when Dwight doesn’t match up well with the opposition, Steve Clifford has stuck with the traditional big man rather than try to bring in Cody Zeller or go small. Many teams have gone with the small ball route in recent years but Charlotte has opposed that move and seems stuck in their ways. Against top tier Eastern Conference teams like Cleveland and Boston, the 31-year old has been almost unplayable at times.

Dwight’s poor free throw shooting is also starting to rear its ugly head. This has been a problem that has troubled Howard throughout his career. He has somehow gotten worse from the charity stripe shooting a career-low 40.2%. The “Hack-a-Howard” move from opposing coaches is starting to be used more. It not only takes Dwight out of the game but it also takes the Hornets’ out of their offensive rhythm.

When things haven’t gone right for Superman this season, his frustration has been clear. He’s picked up three technicals in only 13 games, has been fined $25k for making an obscene gesture toward a Minnesota Timberwolves’ fan and has fouled out of a game in which he only played 23 minutes. And take this one as you may but he got into it with a few Cavs player and even with one fan.

This isn’t to totally bash Howard because, at times, he can be a highly effective player. He is a double-double machine and when fully engaged on the defensive end, he is a near-elite level rim protector. He brings a different dynamic to this Hornets’ team on both ends of the court because he is a bruising force that can push opponents out of the way to get rebounds and also finish in traffic with his strength.

That’s something Charlotte’s lacked in recent seasons. When he’s on, Dwight makes the Hornets a better team but if he’s off or it isn’t the right match-up, Coach Clifford needs to be willing to play Cody Zeller more because of his versatility and agility to keep up with quicker and smaller bigs.

Howard also needs to be willing to accept a lesser role which is something he’s failed to do in recent stops with Houston and Atlanta. He is not a great post-up scorer and shouldn’t be given double-digit post-up opportunities per game unless he is covered but a smaller big.

If he focuses on setting good screens and being the roll man in pick-and-roll situations with Kemba Walker, I think the team will be in a better place and it will open up the floor more for the all-star point guard to create and attack the basket which is limited when Dwight stands on the low block for entire possessions.

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While things could still get better for Howard and the Hornets, it’s clear that the honeymoon phase wasn’t going to last the entire season. Charlotte just needs to figure out the best way to utilize Dwight’s strengths while minimizing his weaknesses going forward. If this team wants to reach new heights and potentially win a playoff series, they will need the future first-ballot Hall of Famer to play a major role.