Dwight Howard has found an uncomfortable seat on the bench for most of the fourth quarters of this Hawks playoff series.
The starting center has played sparingly down the stretch of each game against the Wizards in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The Wizards lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 after a Game 5 win in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
The Hawks host Game 6 on Friday with the hope of a win that would force one final chance to steal a road game. Game 7 would be played Sunday at either 1 or 7 p.m.
Howard has played a combined 16:32 fourth-quarter minutes in the series. He sat while the Hawks trailed late in Games 1, 2 and 5. He sat while the Hawks held sizeable leads in Games 3 and 4. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has used the phrase “gut feel” several times during the series when questioned about Howard’s lack of playing time late.
This may not be what many envisioned when the Hawks signed Howard to a three-year, $70.5 million contract this summer to improve the team’s rebounding and defense.
Budenholzer said Thursday that health has not been the reason for the lack of playing time. He explained that the Wizards present problems, both on offense and defense, that often mean the Hawks have better matchups without Howard.
“Lots of times that decision and the difference, whether it be Ersan (Ilyasova) or (Mike Muscala) or we even played four small guys with Paul (Millsap) (on Wednesday) night, (is) you just become a team with a lot more space,” Budenholzer said. “More guys who are driving, driving into space, more shooting, playing faster, moving people more. There is just a greater pace and a greater space. Sometimes, we’ve been down.
“At one point (Wednesday), we were down nine with seven minutes to go. You may need to make a run, you may need to make a spurt, with a couple of open 3’s, a couple transition layups, some baskets out of the half-court getting to the basket, some cleaner looks. You may not be able to grind out in the more traditional situation. That’s kind of the gut call in a few of the games.”
In his limited fourth-quarter minutes, Howard has combined for four points and three rebounds.
Budenholzer has put an emphasis on his team’s transition defense from the start of the series. The Wizards were one of the top teams in the NBA in fast-break points. They score off turnovers. They score off missed shots. They have scored off made baskets in this series with guards John Wall and Bradley Beal and available wing shooters. When the Hawks have limited the Wizards in transition, they have won.
The Hawks’ defense, even without a rim protector, has been reason to go without Howard, too, according to Budenholzer.
“It’s more about the offense and more space, but our transition defense is critical to us, too,” Budenholzer said. “They are putting a lot of pressure on us going back the other way. At times, it’s asking a lot of Dwight. He’s putting a lot of pressure going to the offensive boards and get second- and third-chances.
“Then the effort and the urgency it takes to get back and cover on the other end. And they are usually spreading out with (Otto) Porter and (Bradley) Beal on the wings. They play a little smaller and you have to chase around and make extra rotations defensively. Sometimes, the different lineups help in those areas, too.”
Howard admitted it was “frustrating” after he did not play at all in the fourth quarter of Game 2. He played less than two minutes in Game 5. He also said he supports his teammates.
“I believe in our team,” Howard said. “Whoever Coach puts on the floor is who he feels is the best at the moment. I trust my guys.”
While the Hawks haven’t won in Washington — a must if they are to advance to the second round — they have been close. The three losses have come by a combined 19 points. The two wins at home have come by a combined 28 points.
The Hawks have their backs against the wall in an elimination game Friday.
“I think there is an understanding going into Game 6 that all the things that we’ve been talking about from the start of the series until now, there is no more time to talk about it,” Budenholzer said. “Actions are going to have to speak for themselves. We are going to have to rise to the occasion.”
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