ORLANDO -- If Dwight Howard wants to keep that Superman moniker -- if he wants to deliver on his promise to bring an NBA title to Orlando -- he better turn his game up another notch real soon.
Playing Shaquille O'Neal -- who is well past his prime and 14 years older -- to an uninspired standstill like he did Wednesday night won't get his team anywhere close to the Finals again.
He knows it. And his coach certainly does, too. The Defensive Player of the Year and defending rebounding champion has been rather pedestrian lately.
Cavaliers 102, Magic 93: Box Score | Tomasson: Mo Puts on a Show
Povtak: LBJ Is Done Talking About Free Agency
Povtak: LBJ Is Done Talking About Free Agency
"He (Howard) has not been as dominating defensively or on the boards in the last four or five games,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I know that has to change for us to be good. And right now, we're not a very good team.''
The much-anticipated clash of the titans -- Howard vs. O'Neal, the current against the former best NBA center -- turned into an afterthought in a game that failed to deliver any real suspense.
In a rematch of last spring's Eastern Conference final, the Cavaliers throttled the Magic, 102-93, on their home floor, looking wise in their decision to add O'Neal to their roster, even at the risk of upsetting a delicate chemistry.
O'Neal didn't do much statistically, getting 10 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 20 minutes, but he played a huge role by getting into the head of Howard, who fouled O'Neal twice in the first three minutes. Howard quickly lost his aggressiveness, and the Magic never seriously challenged.
Without Howard's aggression around the basket, the Magic are just an average team. He finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and one block in 32 minutes.
"If Dwight were playing defensively like he did last season, we'd be better.''
- Stan Van Gundy "Foul trouble makes him play tentative. We have to address that,'' Van Gundy said. "He's having trouble getting those double-figure rebounding games right now. He hasn't blocked the shots like he was. If Dwight were playing defensively like he did last season, we'd be better.''
The Cavs (5-3) can be championship contenders with O'Neal in a supporting role. The Magic (6-3) can't do that with Howard, the franchise foundation. Howard has been in foul trouble in five of the last six games. He reached double-figure rebounds in only two of the six games. He has only three blocked shots combined in the last five games.
"I know my defense, my rebounding is not where I'd like it to be,'' Howard said after the loss to Cleveland. "But it's just a phase right now. When I'm playing defense like I should, everything comes together.''
Howard led the league in rebounding (13.8 rpg) and blocked shots (2.9 bpg) last season. After nine games, he is averaging 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots. His scoring has dipped from 20.6 ppg to 18.4 ppg.
"You saw the game. I'm not satisfied,'' Howard said. "It's not all about stats. It's about winning games, and getting better. We're just not where we want to be right now, but it will improve. It's a long season. It will pick up.''
Van Gundy, meanwhile, is getting impatient. He insisted Wednesday that his team can't compete defensively with the Celtics, Cavaliers, or even the Heat, in the Eastern Conference. He made it clear that he wasn't blaming Howard -- that the whole team was struggling -- but he wanted his center and his point guard Jameer Nelson to lead the turnaround that he expects."It starts with those guys, the two returning guys, the captains,'' Van Gundy said. "It's not all on them, but they are supposed to be the leaders. It has to start with them.''
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
You could try crediting the tough physical defense by El Zyd and Shaq vs. Gortat and Howard. Fact is, most of the guys on both teams just played poorly. But if the Magic are going to play Gortat at forward, whether they start him or not, they have to add a quality back up center, even if they keep Foyle. The standard is Bynum/Gasol, backed by Mbenga and Odom (and if Gasol/Bynum hustle enough to blend together, which they haven`t tried yet this season, the Lakers may let Powell go in favor of a quality back up center, so they can go twin towers off the bench, too). To win the championship, the Celtics, Cavs, Magic, etc., have to go thru the Lakers. In the regular season, a team can go small, pretty, especially the first few games. And some pretty, small, teams have gotten off to good starts as usual, but this summer, when the Nba is in Alaska or LaBraDor, fishin`, the team with the rings will have proven it can also win big and ugly. As usual. Both the Cavs and Magic are still a muscle mountain short of a full rotation, the Cavs at starting power forward, the Magic at back up center. I`d volunteer my services, but I`d only be big enough to be a grade school center! And not atletic enough for that, either. But if a team needs a nearly blind dirty old man to oogle the dancing girls, they should know who to call! Howard doesn`t have the university educated skills yet to be a team leader. He still needs a remedial education from Pat Ewing on the fact being young and, err, talented, isn`t enough. Carter is new, but he and Lewis, whose suspension is almost over, have to lead this team this year. Though it is better coach isn`t calling them out yet. If they still aren`t leading by playoff time, this team will be one of the better losing teams in the playoffs, failing to maker the eastern finals, in third place probably, in the east. Plenty of time yet. Just as the Cavs have survived their terrible start, despite failing to get Shaq the touches, so he can pass, the team needs him to have down low. Five passers spread the court a lot wider than one does. That is where the Magic will miss Turk more than for his outside jumpers, I think. Nelson is a better shooter so far than passer.
Guess you and most of your commenters fell pretty silly now. Didn't surprise me that Shaq more than held his own against Howard who is a tremendous physical specimen but lacks basketball skills. Imagine if Wilt had been as limited as Howard.
Shaq just put one up ther for the old school players that continue "handle" the young boys until they prove its time to step aside. Kudos to him Nash and Grant Hill....
What an IDIOT! Howard is NOT ...NOT ....NOT a consistent offensive threat at this point in his career. At times, Orlando chucks up shots and forgets about him and at times he becomes too passive.
When did you watch him...Playoffs only? How in the world do you keep your job and please tell you aren't making over $50k for opinions like this. Utter rubbish and based on miniscule evidence. Moreover, this is early in the season when Shaq is fresh. Maybe, you can say this when they meet again in February.
They are missing Turkoglu in a bad way. He was thier team leader. All the offense went through him.
With Vince Carter they give up size, rebounding, a post game, defense, playoff experience, passing, etc.
And without Lewis to help out, they are seriously short handed.
Also, Nelson is too short to defend anyone. He will launch his three's, but he is just to little to play defense.
Why didn't they just stick with Alston in the Finals. The Lakers guards just shot right over the top of Nelson at will when they needed to.
The Magic are relly going to regret losing Turkoglu. That was such a huge loss for them.
This loss had nothing to do with Turk. He was a good clutch shooter. . . so are Lewis and Carter. The problem they need to, and will, address is defense pure and simple. The complete lack of defense handed that win to Cleveland. Nobody played amazing ball last night except James who always will get his points.
Once they get Lewis back, Anderson back, Carter at 100% back, get their starters and rotation for the 1st time, they will get their rhythm and teamwork going. That will also take tension and frustration off Howard who is not handling the frustration of all these different lineups and adjusting to new faces very well.
I believe sir you stated something like Shaq could not handle the much younger Howard? Hmmmm seems to me you should be eating your words. Even though neither had a stellar game the much older as you put it seemed to hold his own with Mr. Howard...don't you agree?You seem to be flip flopping in todays article Mr.Povtak!!!
Povtak- nice call on Shaq's failure against D.H. LOL! LOL! Credibility as a writer--out da window. Oh, they probably won't win against Miami, right? OOOPS! Povtak must be slovak for Arsetalk.