Glen Davis shines in the absence of Dwight Howard - NBA Update
Just when the pundits declared Orlando Magic maimed after Superman Dwight Howard’s season ending injury, Glen Davis has stepped up as their messiah. The 24 year old center-forward has averaged 15.4 points, 8.6 boards on 52.9%
shooting in the absence of Howard.
He posted 27 points and 7 rebounds against Boston Celtics on Wednesday night but Magic lost the match with 4 points, 102-98. This was their 6th game without Howard and Davis started on his place, he gave his hundred
percent and appreciated the team’s overall effort.
"There's been multiple games where we've been down and we just went away," Davis said. "I like how we fought today but, at the end of the day, we need to win the game."
The journey from 37.8% shooting before All-Star break to 52.9% cannot be undermined and Davis has remarkably improved on shooting end. Ever since he started to play as centre his performance and stats are on an upswing.
It now becomes obvious that he is a better player on the centre position. According to the NBA.com Davis is taking 44.6% shots from inside the restricted circle and 16.5% from the glass. However outside the paint his conversion
rates are 61% and 37%.
He is doing that all in the absence of Howard that clearly indicates he is more suited on the centre position. With Howard on his side he has been struggling with his shots as he was 35.9% from the floor prior to Howards’ injury.
He is a player with limited shooting range and after getting chance to play close to the basket he showed phenomenal improvement.
The improvement was evident from his scores that he tallied over the course of time (without Howard). On April 13 he netted a team high 16 points and 9 rebounds against Atlanta Hawks again without Superman. Though the game turned
out to be a complete dismissal as they were trounced 109-81 by the Hawks but Davis made his impact.
The management and the coach in particular should have learnt by now that the baby face is more suited on the centre position. He is 0.143% from the down town, most unlikely attribute for a forward. Similarly he is a liability
when it comes to the mid range safety.
Baby Face and Superman should be departed and the same was concurred by John Hollinger, ESPN analyst.
“Davis' skill-set is such that he's a poor fit alongside Howard, as Davis doesn't shoot the three-ball, doesn't have much of a handle, and can't create his own shot”.
Even though Magic are facing back to back defeats but they have secured the 6th playoff spot (Thanks to Howard) if they want to sustain in the big picture then they will have to vest more confidence in him.
As for now with 9.4 points, 5.5boards pregame average Davis is enjoying his prime in this season.
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