Dwight VS Perk?

[LB3533]

Dwight Howard really lacks polish in the low post, but I think fans or critics and experts are really discrediting the defensive job Perkins is doing out there.

Dwight made 5 FGs and missed 5 shots. I believe 4 of those made shots by Dwight were either from offensive rebounds or off a nice dish and pass by a Magic penetration.

Rarely did Dwight ever actually score by his own post move.

I am pretty sure all of Dwight's misses came when he was trying to score on his own accord, either against Perk or Baby.

I am casting my vote for Perk as the Team MVP of our playoffs so far. But as far as NBA Playoff MVP, it's Lebron then Rondo.

[idrinkdetergent]

I would add to that, Howard has post moves? all i ever see is a turn and then a running hook at the rim that half the time hits the backboard and lands in BBD or Perk's hands.

[nickagneta]

During halftime of last night's game Sir Charles said the Magic were going to win because they just had better players and that Dwight Howard was the best player on the court.

I almost choked.

I wouldn't have Howard as being in the top 13 players in the league as I would want everyone of the following players on my team right now before I would want Howard on it.


Kobe
LeBron
Garnett
Pierce
Paul
Duncan
Wade
Yao
Nowitzki
Williams
Roy
Amare
Durant

That's not to say in 5 years he won't be the best player in the league but right now he is a very limited offensive player that has trouble creating his own shot and who gets most of his blocks from helping out on the weak side and very seldom, at least in this series and games I have seen, is blocking the shot of the person he is covering. Baby went over him twice with Baby hooks and Perk has been able to score on him whenever he has gotten his position.

And we're talking about Baby and Perk here, not Amare, Shaq, Duncan, Yao, or some of the other large quality big men in the game.

Fact is that Perkins has played Howard to a virtual standstill and is only barely getting the best out of that matchup. And Perk is playing him one on one while most teams double down Howard. In order for the Magic to get anywhere Howard has to dominate and, right now at least, he can't and he can't especially in the one on one matchup vs. Perk.

[Thruthelookingglass]

I wouldn't have Howard as being in the top 13 players in the league as I would want everyone of the following players on my team right now before I would want Howard on it.

Kobe
LeBron
Garnett
Pierce
Paul
Duncan
Wade
Yao
Nowitzki
Williams
Roy
Amare
Durant

True, nickagenta, there are plenty of others. 
Without regard to potential but current game, I'd have Rondo and Billups on my list.  These guys are game-changers in a way that Howard is not and not just b/c they are point guards.  And overall I think Gasol has much more game even if he isn't nearly as athletic.  Last, it may be the homer in me, but I think if I were choosing a team I'd take Perk over Howard too.  It's close.

[Donoghus]

When Perkins is getting proper defensive position on Howard, this matchup has really turned to almost a standstill.  

Perk is strong enough to fight back and hold position (for the most part) when Howard backs down on him.  What this does is force Howard to create his shot farther from the basket thus making his hook or short jumper less reliable.  

Not sure how many guys in the NBA can effective fight back Howard from a pure muscle/strength standpoint but Perk is doing a heckuva job.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Baby does a geat job on Howard too when he's guarding him straight up. Howard punishes him on offensive rebounds and when Baby is helping others... but otherwise, Baby is quite effective in giving Howard difficult shots. Not to the degree of Perk, but still pretty good.

[Who]

Kendrick Perkins has done a great job on Dwight Howard, and has always done an excellent job on him.

This is a great matchup for Perkins ... and a bad matchup for Dwight.

[ManUp]

Baby does a geat job on Howard too when he's guarding him straight up. Howard punishes him on offensive rebounds and when Baby is helping others... but otherwise, Baby is quite effective in giving Howard difficult shots. Not to the degree of Perk, but still pretty good.

Yeah, his low center of gravity, strength, and quick feet helps keep Howard away from the paint.

[Snakehead]

I can't believe everyone is acting as if Howard is Shaq-like in the low post too.  Should the Magic have really been getting him the ball at the end of the game?  So he could take more terrible running hooks?  It does discredit Perk as well, who really does a great job against him.

The Behind the Box Score on Ball Don't Lie is great today for picking apart this issue.

[Fafnir]

Baby went over him twice with Baby hooks and Perk has been able to score on him whenever he has gotten his position.

And we're talking about Baby and Perk here, not Amare, Shaq, Duncan, Yao, or some of the other large quality big men in the game.

With Baby's shear size if he is properly setting for that hook you can't really block it. He has to get in deep and then bump you before he goes up with it, but if he does both of those things its not a shot you can stop. Besides I don't think Dwight Howard thinks much of Baby as a player, he probably isn't worried about anything Baby threw up in the post.

Perkins is the best post defender in the game right now. He gives everyone from Yao to Gasol trouble when he's playing smart ball. Only foul trouble holds him back.

On your larger point Howard would be the first young big man I'd want on my team right now. Yao is too injury prone, Amare is a head case who doesn't play defense, and no one else is even close.

Dirk/KG/Duncan are better overall right now, but they won't be in another 2 years at the most.

[Celtic]

Perk has consistently beat Howard to spots, you can see it every time he does his garbage one move hook shot, he is surprised that Perk is already there. He is fairly predictable so Perk doesn't bite for anything and just goes where Dwight always goes, Howard tries to pretend it's a foul but it's just good D. Kendrick is one of the top 5 defensive centers in the NBA, and maybe the best one on one center. Howard is an excellent help defender, but when it comes to guarding his man, he takes a lot of plays off.

[acieEarl]

I wouldn't have Howard as being in the top 13 players in the league as I would want everyone of the following players on my team right now before I would want Howard on it.

Kobe
LeBron
Garnett
Pierce
Paul
Duncan
Wade
Yao
Nowitzki
Williams
Roy
Amare
Durant

True, nickagenta, there are plenty of others. 
Without regard to potential but current game, I'd have Rondo and Billups on my list.  These guys are game-changers in a way that Howard is not and not just b/c they are point guards.  And overall I think Gasol has much more game even if he isn't nearly as athletic.  Last, it may be the homer in me, but I think if I were choosing a team I'd take Perk over Howard too.  It's close.

No question Perk has played well against Howard and pretty much shut him down offensively, but to say I'd take Perk over Howard is crazy. Howard lacks the low post move but he is a great defender and the best rebounder in the game.

Bottom line is Perk is underrated and while he's not Howard he's got a similar game and matches up well against him.

[Amonkey]

I have said it before, Howard's game depends on mostly athleticism, as in you just place the ball in the vicinity of the basket and Howard can get it and dunk it.  What Perk has been doing that is great is placing his body between Howard and the board and pushing him AWAY from the basket.  Everytime he does that, the field goal percentage of that shot becomes increasingly lower for Howard.

This is a great difference between Howard and Al Jefferson.  I am not saying that Jefferson is better, but he's got so many post moves that it would be impossible for Perk to defend him.  Perk could try placing the body between the basket and Jeff could take a step back and shoot, or do the spin towards the basket, pump fake then tear drop.  He would have Perk constantly guessing.

[bballdog384]

I can't believe everyone is acting as if Howard is Shaq-like in the low post too.  Should the Magic have really been getting him the ball at the end of the game?  So he could take more terrible running hooks?  It does discredit Perk as well, who really does a great job against him.

The Behind the Box Score on Ball Don't Lie is great today for picking apart this issue.

I dont think that he was just complaining about his lack of shots. A big part of the Magic offense is the inside out game. If you pass it in to him, then it opens up the court for everyone else. Also there were a couple of pick and rolls where he wasn't that open, but he prolly could have slammed it home. Its just how their offense works, and they went away from that in the fourth quarter.

[Kwhit10]

The only thing Howard can do offensively is dunk and grab the occasional offensive rebound.  Perkins and sometimes Baby just push him out beyond the paint circle and he tries his running hook which he can't make.  He has no shot other than dunking on people.