This terrible pass is why Dwight Howard doesn't play point guard
NBA players still get listed by position, but those designations mean less than ever at a time when versatility reigns. It’s no longer rare to see big men shoot three-pointers, 6-10 players initiate the offense, or guards block shots. Sometimes all five players on the court will interchange roles from possession to possession with little warning. Being able to many things at a reasonable level is more important than ever.
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Still, many players will not be asked to fill certain roles. This pass from Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard in the first quarter of Wednesday night’s game against the Phoenix Suns is a good example why that’s the case:
It’s hard to know what was going through Howard’s mind on this play. He had options for an outlet pass or very easily could have held the ball up in the frontcourt. Instead, he fired a pass with his non-dominant hand at a tough angle. There is nothing to recommend about this play. It’s why centers do not bring the ball up the court with any regularity.
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The game got better for Howard — he finished with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting with 14 rebounds. However, the Hawks lost 109-107 for their seventh defeat in their last eight contests.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
