Dwight fights to stay cool, dodge Ts and keep Magic in hunt
Dwight fights to stay cool, dodge Ts and keep Magic in hunt
The question was about whether a one-game suspension has subconsciously typecast Dwight Howard as a loose cannon who will now draw extra scrutiny from referees. Whether Howard will now be seen as a problem child, a player unable to control his emotions. where to buy cheap NBA Jerseys?ujersy is a good choice.
Stan Van Gundy kept a straight face, somehow mustering the kind of diplomacy he ordinarily prefers to avoid.
"The question makes sense," Van Gundy replied. "But that would indicate that our referees are actually looking for him. And I know our referees would never do that."
Three....
Two....
One....
A smirk of sarcasm.
"I tried," he said, giving in to his inner SVG.
Let's call Wednesday a first step. Howard served a one-game penalty for excessive technicals Monday in a home loss to Portland, then came back Wednesday in Sacramento, unable to promise it will be his final suspension of the season. His coach is backing off only slightly in his attempt to make people understand Howard's plight in the nightly mosh pits. Van Gundy dialed it all the way down to facial expressions Wednesday, a big step for someone who just compared David Stern to a world tyrant.
But then Wednesday, Stan Van talked about his All-Star center and a quest for sainthood. It's a critical quest because Howard's availability for every game is important as the Magic try to catch Miami for third place in the Eastern Conference -- or hold off Atlanta for fifth -- in the final 17 games. And every other technical will cost Howard another one-night suspension.
"He knows the deal, and he's been really, really good over the last couple of months," Van Gundy said. "His problem, and the reason he had to sit out the game, was what went on in November and the early part of December. From the middle of December on, he hasn't picked up many technical fouls at all. But he got himself into a situation in the early part of the year. To his credit, he made the adjustment and he's been much better with the referees. recommend directory: James #23 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA White Jersey Size 48.
"He's obviously now going to basically have to be a saint the rest of the way, because it's every two, he's sitting out. We'll see what happens, but he's certainly aware of what's going on."
Oh, he's aware all right.
"Guys who have been on other teams who are on our team now told me that was their team's game plan," Howard said. "To frustrate me and to get me off my game and that way the rest of the team is done. So I've just got to keep my head."
Physical play will continue to be an issue. "I think for the most part my emotions have been good -- that was like the first tech I've gotten in a while," Howard said of Friday's T that gave him 16 for the season and triggered the automatic suspension.
"It's not because I'm cussing out guys or cussing out refs. It's because of fouls. Guys are fouling me after the play. They continue to hit. It's not like I'm a bad dude or anything. But I don't think that people understand if you're getting hit in the face, if you're getting hit the whole game, you can't do anything about it. Sometimes you're going to have a moment where you get upset.
"I can't change how I play, at all," he said. "The way I've been playing all season has been cool with me. I just have to watch some of the moments where I know that teams are trying to frustrate me because if they get me frustrated then the rest of the team is going to be looking at me. If the leader is frustrated, then everybody else is frustrated."
Howard is the No. 2 rebounder and No. 9 scorer in the league and Orlando's backstop on defense. He needs to star in the lineup, for the Magic's sake. He just can't say for sure he will.
"The way things have been called some nights," Howard said, "I don't know." recommend directory: WILLIAMS #2 Cleveland Cavallers New Style NBA Jersey.
Wednesday, he avoided a T but fouled out with 1:01 remaining and the Magic protecting a 102-99 lead over the Kings. Orlando held on for a 106-102 victory in the start of a five-game trip. Howard managed just four baskets and eight attempts en route to 16 points and 15 rebounds in 40 minutes at Power Balance Pavilion. He mostly made nice.
It wasn't a great showing against an opponent throwing wounded big men at him. It beat what he did the previous game, though, and that was what mattered. He completed the first step.
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