Dwight Howard over the past 2 years has claimed the title of the most hated man in the NBA. Last season there was still enough ill will still lurking towards LeBron about "The Decision" and taking his talents to South Beach. Yet after Lebron' championship coronation and Dwight's embarrassing exit from Orlando. The pressure was now on Dwight to prove that his decision to force his way to "greener pastures" was just the first step to becoming a championship corner stone. Now we are half way through the season and Dwight has failed miserably in nearly every way a championship leader is judged. He looks disinterested and his lethargic play is down right repulsive. A three time NBA defensive player of the year shouldn't look like his shoes are made of cement when it comes to help side defense. A player of his caliber and size shouldn't disappear for the long stretches he has this season.
Now Dwight apologists will use his off season back surgery as the reason for his lethargic help side D. That Dwight is only at 70% of his athletic peak. And his numbers this year are still as impressive as any other big man in the league. That the problems for this Laker season should be laid at another's door. That Kobe's stellar offensive season has come at the expense of Dwight's touches. And Mike Browns Princeton system wasn't utilizing Dwight's talents. Neither has D'Antoni's seven seconds or less philosophy. They would leave you to believe that the blame is not Dwight's.
Still everyone has the right to be on the wrong side of an opinion, beauty of this country. Because Dwight is the player most responsible for the Lakers woes this season and the second most person responsible in the Lakers organization to Jim Buss the second generation owner. First and foremost 70% of Dwight Howard still should be one of the 3 best big men in the world. That regardless of what offensive system it should explain lack of passion and lethargic play we have seen from Dwight this year. If Dwight is going to be a great championship center that he has to learn to prosper with a dominant wing player such as Kobe. And great players learn to shoulder the criticism for their team whether they deserve it or not.
It seems that someone who a year ago was considered a top 3 NBA player, somehow never learned there is no I in TEAM. That he still hasn't discovered the secret of basketball, that it takes a team to move as one to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. And to be fair its not entirely his fault, his entire life his presence on a team meant that he was the focal point. In high school and AAU he was a god among mortals obviously the team would just fall in behind Dwight coach included. Then he was drafted number 1 overall and went to a team the coddled his every whim and brought in players only that fit with Dwight as the center piece. Now for the first time in his life Dwight is in a position, where everything isn't being choreographed around him. That for the first time he has to learn how to blend his talents with those around him as to bring out the teams full potential. Dwight Howard just seems more focused on me basketball and not team basketball.
Time is the most valuable commodity we have as human beings and Dwight Howard is wasting it. He doesn't have that many more years to build the foundation required for championships. He can't just go from team to team and one expect the right chemistry to be there waiting for him. He doesn't realize that the right chemistry is earned through time and effort put in. That its earned through sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears. At this rate there will be no rings on Dwight's fingers till he learns to sacrifice the thoughts of me and replace them with thoughts of team.
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