After two months sidelined with edema on his knee, Dwight Howard returned to action on Wednesday in the Rockets close win over the Pelicans. Howard was only on the court for 16 minutes, during which he scored four points, pulled down seven rebounds and committed four fouls.
Dwight Howard vows to be a role player for surging Rockets
The Rockets’ center returned after two months on the inactive list and said he’s ready to take things slow and not get in the way.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
He was visibly winded at times and has not gotten his rhythm back, but he finally looks healthy after laboring early in the season. Both Howard and the Rockets are hoping the time off will pay off in the future as Houston prepares for the stretch run and the playoffs.
“There’s a lot of benefit spending time working on your body,” Howard told the Houston Chronicle, echoing the sentiment he expressed recently when he noted he was feeling more explosive during his latest stint in rehabilitation than early in the season.
Prior to his injury, Howard's numbers were all down from his career averages this year. He was struggling greatly scoring in the post, where he typically used his combination of quickness, explosiveness and jumping ability to make up for a limited arsenal. The injuries robbed him of that advantage and turned him into one of the least efficient post options in the league, ranking only above Andre Drummond in points per possession on those plays.
The Rockets did well in Howard's absence, with Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones and Josh Smith holding down the fort inside and James Harden carrying the team on offense. Howard is well aware of how the team has played during his time away and instead of focusing on touches he's saying all the right things about fitting in.
“I didn’t want to get in the way of anything,” he said, according to Jonathan Feigen. “I know how they’ve been playing. My thing is just setting good screens, making sure I get into the right spots. I know the offense will come. I just wanted to get my wind back.”
The Rockets can wait. They are only up one and a half games over the Clippers for third in the West, but they have proved they can win even without Howard in the regular season. There are no easy matchups in the West regardless of seeding. Houston will need Howard in the playoffs, where he averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks last year despite the Trail Blazers upsetting the Rockets in the first round. That's the player Houston wants to see, and if spending two months out can bring him back to that level, it will all be worth it.
For now, Howard will continue to play himself back into shape, scoring on pick and rolls -- where he remains one of the most efficient finishers in the league -- and providing his always-imposing rim protection. His defense, more than his offense, is what could prove the difference between a long run and an early postseason exit for Houston, especially now that Patrick Beverley might be out for the season. If he can make even minimal improvement over his early-season form, the Rockets will be extremely dangerous in the playoffs thanks to Harden’s MVP play and the team’s improved depth.
Howard might be entering a new stage in his career in which he shifts from offensive focal point to complementary star. If he’s happy with that role -- and what he’s saying lately shows he is -- he could not only extend his prime, but rehabilitate his image after the hits it took over the past few years. We will find out soon enough if he’s committed to blending in with a team that has proved can survive without him or devolve into the player that complained about not getting enough post touches once he feels fully healthy.
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