Sixers: Dwight Howard playing his best basketball at right time

Following his championship run in LA last season, many were confident Dwight Howard could contribute in Philadelphia. The degree to which he has benefited the Sixers — especially of late — has still managed to come as a surprise.

Howard is not his old self. He’s a more limited defender than he once was. He can no longer domineer possessions in the post offensively. Even so, Howard has reinvented himself as a quality role player who understands his job and embraces his role as a leader.

Now, with only four games left on the schedule, Howard is playing his best basketball of the season. Over his past six games, the 35-year-old is averaging 11.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 17.2 minutes per game. That includes three double-doubles over that span. He’s getting hot at the absolute right time.

The Sixers will need Dwight Howard to hold up and show out in the playoffs.

Howard will inevitably see a reduced role come playoff time. Joel Embiid will spend more time on the floor, and Doc Rivers may experiment with more small-ball fives (i.e., Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris) depending on how the matchups shake out. That said, even if Howard’s role is small, it will not be unimportant.

We have seen poor backup centers shoot Philadelphia in the foot before. Think back to Greg Monroe in the infamous Toronto series. Sure, Kawhi Leonard went supernova, but in Game 7, the Sixers were -9 in the two minutes Monroe played. The Sixers lost by two on Kawhi’s quadruple-doink.

The Sixers cannot afford cripplingly poor play whenever Embiid sits. Whether it’s for two minutes or 20, the Sixers need a player who can adequately hold down the fort — on defense, especially. Howard his proven his mettle in that regard.

Fouls are a problem, but in a limited role, Howard can typically afford to dish out a few unnecessary blows. He is still a capable rim protector and hulking presence who deters hyper-aware guards from journeying too close to the rim. He is also the best rebounder in the NBA on a per-minute basis, as Daryl Morey will happily remind you.

Howard cleans up misses and limits the opponent’s possessions. He can also clean up the offensive glass, rim run, and make himself available on entry passes. Howard is aging, and I worry for his utility in a hypothetical Nets series, but he was at least situationally important in the Lakers’ championship run. Monroe was not situationally important to the Sixers. Neither was Amir Johnson, nor frankly Richaun Holmes. Howard is the best backup center Embiid has ever had for a price tag below $20 million.

The Sixers will lean heavily on Embiid this postseason, but Howard will need to contribute his recent level of play in order to maximize Philadelphia’s chances — even if it’s only for five minutes a night.