Houston Rockets

Dwight Howard is riding his best double-double roll in years

Published Jan. 13, 2016 3:17 p.m. ET

Jeff Caplan

Dwight Howard might never again be Superman, but if he can get anywhere close, the Houston Rockets can be a different team than they've shown in the first half of the season.

Howard appears to be trending in that direction. In Tuesday's win at Memphis, the 6-foot-11 center had 17 points and 14 rebounds, giving him his sixth consecutive double-double, his longest stretch of double-doubles since 2013.

In those six games, Howard has picked up his offensive production considerably, averaging 21.2 points, a full seven points higher than his season average. He's shooting 68.7 percent (46 of 67) during the stretch, bettering his 61.5 field-goal percentage on the season.

He's showing improved quickness down low, such as this spin move against the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol.

Howard has also increased his rebounding during the six-game stretch from 12.0 on the season to 14.2, and has is averaging 2.0 combined blocks and steals.

Howard's happiness and health levels are always tough to gauge. There was a report earlier this season that he's not happy in Houston or playing alongside ball-dominant guard James Harden. There are whispers that Houston needs to trade Howard before he can walk out on them for nothing.

Whatever the case, if he can continue to keep producing as he has of late, the Rockets have a great chance to make a run up the Western Conference standings and land in the top four -- where most expected them to be all along.