What are you talking about??? Howard himself as I posted earlier admitted that he's inconsistent with his defensive effort and needs to improve his focus and effort.
More quotes from Coach Van Gundy
"His focus is on the offensive end," Van Gundy said. "He gets discouraged when he doesn't get the ball. I think the numbers prove that what we need him to focus on to win is defensive rebounding, but that's not what he wants to do right now and we've got a little bit of a conflict."
'When you're a great player and a franchise guy, there's more on you. He's got to accept it,' Van Gundy said Tuesday after the club's practice. 'He may not like it. He may not like the way I did it. But I've also done it before many times in private --- just he and I. I didn't think it was making an impact, so now it's out there for everybody. We'll see what happens.'
'I think Dwight wants to be a great player. I think Dwight wants to be a winner. But we're in Year 4 and he hasn't won a playoff game.'
Something tells me if Stan Van Gundy was coaching KG he wouldn't be calling him out like this.
You're funny you speak as if KG rebounds and block shots like Eddy Curry. Garnett in the past has led the NBA in rebounding and been amongst the league leaders in block shots for most of his career. KG is equally good as a rebounder and even though he's not better at blocking shots, he is more consistent.
Again this is another example of how you just can't trust numbers, it is considered that Kevin Garnett is having the best defensive year of his career but if you look his rebounding and block shot numbers are down from years past.
Where Howard has the edge on KG is on the offensive end where he is a more dominant force now, at this early stage of his career, then Garnett ever was.
Dwight Howard is still young and improving, Van Gundy is pushing him to get the most out of him. Garnett is a 32, it was stupid of you to bring up that his coach doesnt get on him, no shit. As good as Howard already is, hes still gettin better.
Dwight Howard in his 4th season is averaging more blocks then Garnett ever did.
Dwight-2.4 blocks per game
Garnett had only 2 seasons where he averaged above 2 blocks per game. In his second season, he averaged 2.1 blocks and in 2003-04 he averaged 2.2 blocks.
Once again, Dwight Howard, only in his 4th season is averaging more rebounds the KG ever did.
Howard-14.6rpg
Garnett-13.9rpg (2003-04)
I took into consideration that Gay G's stats are lower then they would be if he was still with Minnesota.
The fact that KG never averaged the number of rebounds and blocks that Dwight Howard is averaging in his 4th season, is a good argument as to why Howard is an equal/better defender.
Dwight is obviously a star, having a great season. The way Van Gundy described Howard sounds like hes exagerating, trying to motivate Dwight to continue to elevate his game, which he will.
KG is statistically not as good of a defender as Dwight, but a good argument can be made for him as well. He has helped make the Celtics into the best defensive team in the league, and they do it by playing as a team, not with stats. Does KG have more help defensivley, then Dwight?
Yes, since Kendrick Perkins came into the league I saw potential in him to become a good defender. Paul Pierce is also an above average defender. Ray Allen in the past has been known as a weak defender but even hes stepped it up. Rondo is a "stats" defender, he gets his steals but he gets beat off the dribble by other point guards. I hate to admit this, but Rondo is improving.
Would the Celtics still have the best defense if they had Dwight Howard instead of KG?
I think so, but theres no way to prove this either way.