Atlanta Hawks: The Effect Dwight Howard Will Have
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Hawks decision to add Dwight Howard is one of the best of the off-season. He brings a lot to the team that could finally put the Hawks over the top.
The Atlanta Hawks season is getting close and for the first time over the last few seasons the Hawks made a big change to the roster. The Atlanta Hawks made big change this off-season signing big center Dwight Howard. For Howard this will bring him back home. For the Hawks it will allow them a presence and a physical presence that they have been lacking in past seasons.
The Hawks are one of the top teams in the league when it comes to outside the three point line. The problem for the Hawks has been having someone who can dominate under the basket and in the paint.
Dwight Howard can be that player for the Hawks. While his best seasons could be behind him they will benefit greatly from his abilities around the basket and he will help distract the defense away from the three point line.
Adding Howard doesn’t change the Hawks as an offense. It simply adds a new wrinkle and option to the existing threats that they already have. They will still be a team that shoots a lot of threes and goes on impressive scoring runs. Only with a great option that they can use in the paint when they need to.
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Dwight Howard is also a very good defensive player. While with the Magic Howard won defensive player of the year more than once and is a definite upgrade over any options that the Hawks had on their roster.
The only downside to adding Howard is adding a personality that is not a fan favorite. Dwight Howard has gained a reputation for being lazy and not giving every minute his best efforts. He has also been accused of being cavalier and over confident. While this is not unusual for a multi-million dollar athlete it is blown out of proportion compared to most.
Regardless of his attitude or reputation adding Dwight Howard to their team makes the Hawks a much better team.It could be the move needed to finally push them past mediocrity. The past few seasons have seen the Hawks close but always just short of making a serious playoff run.
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For Hawks fans this move is a great one, whether they like Dwight Howard as a person or a player. His talent and what he will bring to this team has to be respected. Adding Howard is the move the Hawks needed to make this off-season to help them past the first round of the playoffs in this coming season.