The Inner Workings of a Creator

The unreliable Saint Cayetano totally spit the bit last night. I've managed, though, to find some cold comfort in the possibility of Stephen Curry running the Garden floor in a Knicks jersey. These incredible FreeDarko animations of Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose, which they put together with adidas and, reportedly, Jurassic 5's Chali 2na, are also doing their part to keep my spirits high. 





If you haven't already purchased FreeDarko's Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac, well, you're about as useful to me as Cayetano imbroglione. Or the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Deconstructing Dwight

Like a lot of people, I haven't been particularly impressed with Dwight Howard's offensive game, particularly in the playoffs. Sure, he's an absolute beast, with shoulders approximately the size of my waste, but his offensive game is still limited to put backs, dunks and other high-percentage shots. Despite learning at the broken-down knees of Patrick Ewing, one of basketball's greatest jump-shooting centers in the history of the league, Howard can't play with his back to the basket, or more than 8 feet from the rim. Kendrik Perkins has done an admirable job of shutting him down on the low blocks, and, at times, even outmuscling the hulking Howard out of position, or forcing him into some terrible shots. 

I find it funny, then, that Howard wants the offense to run through him. It's simply not his game, and any attempt to accommodate Howard's odd request does a disservice to Orlando's otherwise fluid and better-than-average offense. Plus, it gives them almost no shot of winning. The guys at 7 Seconds or Mess agree with me. 

If you want to call Dwight Howard dominant, then point out the parts of his game that make him so special. He'll clean that glass for you and dunk it in the process. He'll swat Rajon Rondo's floaters away like a gnat. But don't try to prove to anyone watching closely enough that Howard deserves more opportunities to assert himself in the post. You'll look as silly as his running hook.

They even put together a snazzy video to back up their points.  

Line of the Night

45 points. 19 rebounds. 8 blocks. 1 steal. Dwight Howard.

Line of the Night

23 points. 22 rebounds. 6 blocks. 4 assists. 1 steal. Dwight Howard. 

Line of the Night

23 rebounds. 21 points. 6 blocks. Dwight Howard. 

Line of the Night

24 points. 17 rebounds. 5 blocks. 1 assist. 1 steal. Dwight Howard.

Line of the Night

31 points. 16 rebounds. 3 assists. 3 blocks. Dwight Howard.