Dwight Howard struggling to get used to minutes restriction
The Houston Rockets have learned how to get by without star center Dwight Howard, and they're probably stronger for it.
It's adapt or die in the NBA, and while Howard missing 40-plus games might have seemed like a death sentence for the Rockets at the start of the season, they've adapted better than anyone could have predicted.
Under the burden of added responsibility, James Harden reached new heights. With the assurance of full-time starter's minutes, Donatas Motiejunas blossomed into a rock-solid two-way center. Everyone on the roster stepped up in some way to help fill the Howard void. The Rockets are 52-24 and sit second in the Western Conference.
Now Howard's back from his most recent absence - a 26-game layoff - due to persistent right knee issues. He's on a strict minutes restriction, which holds him to under 20 minutes per game and keeps him out of one half of all back-to-back sets. So, while the Rockets try to reintegrate him, Howard is trying to adapt to his new limitations.
"It’s tough playing three, four-minute stretches and then coming out of the game," Howard said after Thursday night's win over the Dallas Mavericks, according to the Houston Chronicle's Jenny Dial Creech. "There are points where I feel like I am just about to get going, then coach says 'you’re on a minutes restriction and have to come out,' so it is tough."
Howard played 18 minutes in the game, registering eight points and seven rebounds. Rockets coach Kevin McHale said he's happy with how Howard has looked, but acknowledged that it will take some time yet before the eight-time All-Star returns to his pre-injury form.
"Twenty minutes goes by really fast," McHale said. "But he is really active. He looks pretty good. I mean you can’t not play basketball for two months and come out and be in a great rhythm. He still has to get his rhythm back."
Howard believes his quickest route back is a slackening of his playing-time restrictions.
"I need to be able to play more minutes," he said. "I think the more games I play, the more they will change that restriction. Tonight was 20. Hopefully the next game I can go 28 and go from there.
"It’s really on me at this point. It’s about how I feel and how I am playing. I just want to be patient and sure I am ready to go for a long playoff run."