Howard has solid numbers, boasting averages of 17.2 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, but something appears off. Olajuwon, who won NBA titles with the Rockets, has studied Howard's game. Still, even with this intimate knowledge, he pointed out what even the casual observer can see in Howard's game. Olajuwon pointed out that Howard's hesitance in the post has slowed his progress.

“The truth is that I can’t wait to get back to Houston to do more work with Dwight,” Olajuwon told NBA.com (via ProBasketballTalk). “I wish he was doing a better job.

“Dwight has always been athletic and aggressive and he still is. But when I watch him, what I see are opportunities that he is missing. When he gets the ball, he seems to be taking his time to decide what move to make, where he should go.

“There should not be a delay for Dwight. He must be able to make a faster recognition of the situations and react immediately with a go-to move. You must move right away before the defense has a chance to set up. You must be the one making the first move so that you can force the defender to always be the one reacting.

“I thought we were doing a good job with this when we were working together over the summer and at the start of training camp. But what I see now is that when Dwight gets in competition, he has a tendency to go back to all of his old habits. He’s just doing all of the things that he did before. He needs a reminder.”

In short: Howard is thinking instead of reacting.

In a recent story, Sporting News Sean Deveney pointed out a drop in post-up field-goal attempts for Howard, a stat that has dropped each season since he left Orlando after the 2011-12 season.

Howard has always been surrounded by shooters, so it isn't just that he is deferring to teammates. He is making the right passes out of the post, but, when he does look to score, he encounters more help defense and doesn't respond well. To Olajuwon's point, the help defense could be the result of Howard's slow pace on the block.

Olajuwon hopes he can help. In Nigeria to launcg a basketball initiative, Olajuwon will return to Houston during the All-Star break in February, according to NBA.com. Olajuwon sees Howard relying on old habits and he wants to remind Howard of the basketball principles they covered in summer workouts. 

“Maybe if I am there with him all of the time we can reinforce new habits and make it all feel natural,” Olajuwon said.


CLIPPERS WITHOUT BARNES


The Los Angeles Clippers will be without Matt Barnes as he recovers from a left eye contusion, acccording to the Dan Woike of the Orange County Register.

The injury happened Monday when the Memphis Grizzlies' Zach Randolph accidentally hit Barnes in the eye on Monday.

Barnes will miss games Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Thursday would have been the first time Barnes faced off with the Thunder since he was ejected after a scuffle in which he became physical with forward Serge Ibaka.

Following the incident, Barnes was ejected and sent a controversial tweet from the locker room. His actions furthered a debate about race in sports.

Barnes later apologized for his ejection and tweet.


BULLS' BUTLER WEEK-TO-WEEK


The Chicago Bulls will be without shooting guard Jimmie Butler, who is week to week because of a turf toe injury, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.

Butler suffered the injury in Monday's 86-81 win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Originally listed as questionable to return in the game, Butler came back on the court to play more than three minutes, but eventually left the game in pain.

On Tuesday, Butler didn't practice and underwent an MRI. The Bulls are set to go on a six-game road trip and will do so without Butler, who didn't travel with the team, according to the Tribune.

"He's someone we're definitely going to miss, especially with his energy and defense, and he's knocking down shots," Derrick Rose told the Tribune. "But there's Mike Dunleavy, there's Kirk (Hinrich), there's myself when I play (shooting guard.) We just have to fill in for him."

Butler provided the Bulls with consistent play at the shooting guard position, something the team has struggled to find for years. He's averaged 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 29.8 minutes this season.


KINGS WILLING TO DEAL VETS


The Sacramento Kings have a nice young crop of players in DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas and Ben McLemore, and they'd like to continue on that tract. The only way to do that is to rid their roster of veterans and pick up assets in the process. The Kings plan to do just that.

Sacramento is in aggressive pursuit of deals that would land it young players or draft picks, according to NBA.com. It is not know which players have been included in proposed deals, some of which have advanced beyond the preliminary stage, NBA.com reports.

Some veterans pointed out by NBA.com as moveable assets are John Salmons, Marcus Thornton and Patrick Patterson. Each player has recently lost his starting position to younger, less experienced players. Forward Jason Thompson was previously included in trade rumors that involved Knicks guard Iman Shumpert. One player explicitly made available is Jimmer Fredette, but there is little market for him.

At 3-7 so far this season, the Kings have struggled to find consistent production in the starting lineup. Thomas has helped filled that void off the bench to some extent, but he alone cannot do enough for the Kings.

Sacramento recently allowed the player it expected to anchor the franchise walk, when Tyreke Evans signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. They instead signed Cousins to a long-term deal with the intent to get younger. Phase one of that plan has kicked into gear.

Contributor: DeAntae Prince