Orlando Pinstriped Post reports that Dwight Howard is working with Hakeem Olajuwon to develop his post game.
Nearly two weeks ago, when word surfaced that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard would spend some of his offseason training with 2008 Hall-of-Fame inductee Hakeem Olajuwon, the whole situation felt surreal. Magic fans had expressed their wish for Howard to learn from Olajuwon, via message boards and blog comments sections, for years.
And last night, Howard caused a bit of a stir, which included the usual bevy of negative comments from some of his followers, when he posted a photo of himself with the legendary center.
Howard’s post game has progressed somewhat since he’s entered the league. He still has very little touch, but he looks comfortable when he takes his little jumphook with either hand. The problem is accuracy (and touch) and that comes with repetition.
But Howard has always been more of a bodybuilder than a basketball player. He does not have the natural grace of Olajuwon. He’s big, strong and mechanical, not unlike Shaq in his early years. Eventually, Shaq developed a couple of post moves and he became unstoppable. With practice, Howard can do the same thing.
A relationship with Olajuwon (which should have started five years ago) is a good first step. But sometimes it takes an event to make a player realize just how far he has to go, and the Magic’s loss to the Celtics in the playoffs — when Howard’s post game was a virtual non-factor — seemingly gave Howard the reality check he needed.
He’s never going to turn into Tim Duncan, but if he can become Dwight Howard with a couple of go-to post moves, that will be plenty.
