When Dwight Howard hits the free agent market in 2012 (assuming the NBA doesn't have some type of "franchise tag" in place after the new CBA), he will become the most important free agent since Shaquille O'Neal left the same Orlando Magic organization in 1996. Yes, more important than LeBron James in 2010.
Teams that win the NBA championship always have size. Even Michael Jordan's Bulls teams of the mid-90s had some interior presence, whether it was Horace Grant and Cartwright or Dennis Rodman and Luc Longley (big body who could bang with opposing centers). The Miami Heat do not possess anybody to do that and until they do, they aren't a legitimate threat to win the title.
Wherever Howard winds up, that team immediately has the best center in basketball, a top-five defense, as well as a top-five rebounding club. He's also pretty good on the blocks with the ball in his hands now too. The Magic have started feeding him more regularly in the post, and not surprisingly, the results have been fantastic.
Month by month, his PPG averages are 21.9, 20.3, 24.9 and 26.6, while his shots per game have gone from 12.9 in November to 14.7 in February. If he got the 18-20 shots a game he should get, he could easily average 30 and 14.
In the past, Howard's been a little happy-go-lucky, but this season he's begun to call out teammates for lack of effort and started playing angry. There's no question where his focus is too: the basketball court. You never hear him talking about becoming a global icon or maximizing his business potential. Basketball is his business and he repeatedly talks about winning a championship being his ultimate desire.
Only a great swingman or point guard would be needed to maximize his potential and if other NBA stars were serious about winning, they'd be lining up to play with him. He's unselfish, completely committed to the team, always puts forth maximum effort and covers up almost every defensive liability on his team.
Right now I'd rank him second in MVP balloting behind Derrick Rose, but ask me who I'd rather have on my team and I'd take Dwight Howard in a heartbeat. Every team in the NBA would share the same view (except the Bulls).
Here's a little more food for thought: the last two teams he's lost to in the playoffs were the Lakers and Celtics, the last two champions. Eventually, other players will be saying that about his team.
Beyoncé Nelly Furtado Leeann Tweeden Bali Rodriguez Izabella Miko
No comments:
Post a Comment