Knicks Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Pursuing Dwight Howard

Pro: Efficient Offense

There’s nothing quite as valuable in the NBA as efficient offense. Defense wins championships, but teams that put up points in a quick and consistent manner are often factors in the postseason discussion.

Whether he was being phased out in Houston or featured in Orlando, one thing has never changed with Howard: he’s one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA.

2015-16 marked the first time Howard has averaged less than 15.8 points per game since his rookie season. That’d be a concerning development had Howard not shot 62.0 percent from the field—the second-best mark in the NBA.

Howard doesn’t have the most polished post game, and he remains a liability at the free throw line, but he’s as efficient as they come as a scorer at the 5.

Under head coach Jeff Hornacek, Howard could return to All-Star status. Hornacek emphasizes the pick-and-roll, which Howard excels in scoring through, and Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis can create enough space as shooters for D-12 to operate from the low block.

The free throws offset the efficiency to some extent, but three Conference Finals appearances later, Howard has managed to overcome his weaknesses when it matters most.

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