May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Houston Rockets center(12) reacts after being fouled against the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Over the next couple weeks we will break down the Rockets roster by position, as they go into the 2014 training camp. This will undoubtedly not be the roster that the Rockets finish the season with, but in the meantime we’ll take a look at the starters and the depth at each position.

Other Positions

Part 2 – Power Forwards

Part 3 – Small Forwards

Part 4 – Shooting Guards

Part 5 – Point Guards

Centers (5)

Dwight Howard – 6’11”, 265, 28 years old

Dwight Howard had a huge bounce back year last year in his first year with the Houston Rockets. Howard was almost everything the Rockets could have hoped for, and the fact that he was finally healthy was a huge factor in his success. Howard averaged 18.3 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game last season. Those numbers are almost exactly what his career averages are.

His defensive numbers were just slightly below his prime years in Orlando, but we did see moments especially in the playoffs where he became Superman again, rejecting shots left and right and elevating his defensive game. Can Howard still do that he did in his younger years on the defensive end? Not likely, but now that he’s healthy he’s still a tremendous defensive force in the paint and has improved offensively.

May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center(42) during the second quarter in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Where Dwight Howard continued to struggle was at the free throw line, where he shot 54.7%. Early in the season this was a major issue as teams consistently employed the “Hack a Howard” strategy. Why the league allows this ridiculous, mind-numbing, boring strategy in the first 46 minutes of the game and not in the last 2 minutes is puzzling. But until the rule changes we must endure and so must the Rockets. To Howard’s credit he improved his percentage over the course of the year, and by year end had improved enough that opposing coaches backed off the strategy. Howard doesn’t have to channel his inner Calvin Murphy at the line, but getting up around 60% stops the strategy.

Howard also showed progress in the post on offense. We don’t know but we do suspect that his work with Coach Kevin McHale and Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon played a part. Proof could be seen in the Game 2 of the Rockets playoff series with the Portland Trailblazers where Howard had 25 points in the post in the first half of the game.

However, this seemed to throw the Rockets out of their rhythm as a running team and a team that likes to play with the ball in James Harden’s hands a great deal and the Rockets ultimately lost the game. (Although LaMarcus Aldridge going off for 43 was the biggest reason). The Rockets must find the balance between Howard in the post and Harden with the ball in his hands to be successful this year.

One of the things that the Blazers series exposed for the Rockets was the Aldridge domination. Against offensive BIGS the Rockets often had no choice but to put Howard on them until Omer Asik decided to actually play. With Asik gone they have to find some help for Howard on the defensive end. Do they have it on this roster?

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