After going 9-of-12 from the free throw line in a game last week thanks to some Beyonce, Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard has reverted back to form. In his last three games, Howard is a woeful 14-of-39 from the charity stripe. Several teams have busted out the Hack-a-Dwight strategy late in games, and Howard's poor free throw shooting cost the Rockets a win against the Los Angeles Lakers and nearly lost another one against the Toronto Raptors.
Howard is allegedly a good free throw shooter in practice, but once the lights come on, he's just a mess. The big man has an explanation for that, saying he simply thinks too much when he's at the line during games, according to Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle:
"I get in the game and I think so much that I tend to miss. The best thing to do is to let it go. If I make it, I make it. If I don't, it's not the end of the world. Even if I do miss, I will be out on the other end, playing defense, getting rebounds, blocking shots and paying back for fouling in that way."
At this point, Howard simply doesn't want to talk about it anymore. But if the terrible shooting continues to be a major problem, it's not going to just fall by the wayside. Howard's going to have to block out all that noise and become at least respectable at the line, otherwise, it could cost the Rockets down the road.
Perhaps Howard should try singing some Rihanna in his head at the line, instead?
More from SB Nation NBA:
• Andrew Wiggins, the NBA draft and hype machine whiplash
• Flannery: The Celtics are finding an identity
• Prada's Pictures: Houston's defensive issues go beyond Harden
• Sunday Shootaround: Anthony Davis is already here
• The Hook: It's all coming together for Kevin Love