On ESPN and sports headlines, I keep seeing the question, “What’s holding Dwight Howard back?” Only to be followed with statistics about Howard’s back-to-the-basket game versus his pick-and-roll game. Howard is three times more efficient at the pick-and-roll game than he is with his back to the basket, but they run six times the number of back-to-the-basket plays as they do pick-and-roll? Kevin McHale says he’s trying to implement Dwight in the post more, and that’s why he’s not as productive. I have a different theory. His name is Terrence Jones.
Over the past two weeks, here is Jones’ stat line: 11 PPG, 9 RPG, 1.9 BPG on 9.6 attempted field goals with just 1.3 turnovers per game in 27 minutes. Let’s compare these to good ol’ Dwight: 15.4 PPG, 13.3 RPG, .7 BPG, on 9.3 attempted field goals with a whopping 3 turnovers per game in 31 minutes. The difference in the point totals? Free throws. Jones goes to line twice a game as opposed to Howard going to the line over 9 times a game. Now don’t get me wrong here, by no means am I saying that Terrence is better than Dwight, but you’ve got to at least take note of it. In Orlando, Dwight’s power forward was Ryan Anderson, a guy who loves to hang around the 3-point line and who, for his career, averages around 5 RPG. Once he moved to L.A., his rebounding averages dropped to 12.4 per game, and everyone made a huge fuss about his efficiency. Needless to say, 12.4 RPG is a great statistic, and his 13.3 RPG is second in the NBA. So his rebounding isn’t the problem. However, if Terrence Jones wasn’t at power forward or if anybody else was at power forward, I could see Dwight up around 15-16 RPG, so there’s one limit. Also, Terrence Jones has actually been getting more shots off than Howard and been quite efficient. So while everyone is looking at Howard down low, don’t forget that over the past month Jones is getting just as many shots up as Dwight, and in less minutes.
So why should I pick up Terrence Jones if Dwight Howard is the dominant center on the Rockets?
Here’s why, in short. Jones can score the ball, and more importantly, he can finish around the rim. Off the pick-and-roll, face up, back-to-the-basket, anywhere, and he can shoot the three. He’s averaging about one three a game this season, which is great from a big man. Dwight Howard attracts so much attention down low and on the pick-and-roll that it opens up opportunities for everyone, especially Jones. He gets more shots and better shots because so much focus is on Howard. Terrence Jones can flat out play defense, too. He can guard his man straight up and play help side defense, and is a strong shot-changer and shot-blocker at the power forward position. Last but not least, he plays efficiently. He’s shooting over 50% from the field this year and loses only one possession a game to turnovers. Pick this guy up if you can.
I’ve said since the beginning of the 2012-2013 NBA season that the Houston Rockets are a power forward away from a championship, and in my opinion, they’ve found him.
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