Dwight Howard: ‘I have to demand the ball’

After dropping Game 1 to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Houston Rockets have gone back to the drawing board in an attempt to find a game plan going forward. Dwight Howard’s input on the situation is for Dwight Howard getting more touches on the insde.

"After making just 9 of 21 shots with a 1 of 6 start on Sunday, he said he needs to demand more touches inside.“We have to play inside out, play their bigs and make it a long night for those guys,” Howard said. “I have to demand the ball, get it and go to work.”via Dwight Howard ‘I have to demand the ball … and go to work’ | The Houston Chronicle"

For Dwight Howard, touches weren’t the issue. In fact, his touches does more detriment to the offense than it does good. Since getting drafted in 2004, Howard’s game has never been offensive-eccentric. He controls the game by defending the paint and opening up the floor via pick-and-roll. The more he posts up, the more Howard allows the defense to settle instead of open shots being created for his teammates. It’s how Stan Van Gundy optimized him in Orlando and how Kevin McHale refuses to.

But demanding the ball is the “right” thing to do. At least from the eyes of a public fan base who expects superstars to do any and everything to stop their team from losing. Missing 12 shots wasn’t good, but demanding 20-more isn’t going to help his team. Him diving through the lane on the pick and hitting his free throws will do more.

Game 2 of Rockets-Trail Blazers is tomorrow at 9:30 P.M. EST.