Dwight Howard News: Pro Sports Daily

Bench comes up big as Orlando Magic hold off Detroit Pistons

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November 7

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic have a deep bench, but this is stretching it to ridiculous proportions. They finished an 110-103 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night with just eight players after power forward Ryan Anderson became the latest to be miss time. Anderson limped off the floor at Amway Arena early in the third quarter after spraining his right ankle and is listed day-to-day. The Magic already were without starting shooting guard Vince Carter (sprained left ankle), back-up point guard Anthony Johnson (personal reasons) and, of course, power forward Rashard Lewis (suspension) on their active roster. Center Adonal Foyle is recovering from knee surgery. At one point early in the ..."

Shots fall in home return as Orlando Magic scorch Phoenix Suns

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November 5

Orlando Sentinel

"Sometimes the worst thing for players about the NBA marathon schedule is that there's always another game. And sometimes the best thing for players about the NBA marathon schedule is that there's always another game. In World Series parlance, they can't wait for that next at-bat after a strikeout — or in this case, a flame-out. Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson were eager to jettison the memories of Motown out of their minds from the previous 24 hours. They all erased the taste on Wednesday night at Amway Arena in a collective comeback, helping the Magic beat Phoenix 122-100 and hand the Suns their first loss. For once, this was a blessed back-to-back bounce-back after the ..."

Howard, Anthony named Players of the Week

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November 3

NBA.com

"The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 1. Howard led the Magic to a 3-0 week, including two road wins, averaging 21.7 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. The 6-11 center posted point-rebound double-doubles in all three of Orlando's games, including a 20-point, 22-rebound performance on Oct. 30 at New Jersey. Behind the league's leading rebounder, the Magic is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1993-94. Anthony led the Nuggets to a 3-0 week, averaging a league-best 37.7 points on .536 shooting from the ..."

Lee: Everything's all Dwight

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October 31

New York Post

"Courtney Lee has looked at Dwight Howard from both sides now. And no matter where the view comes from, Lee's assessment is that the guy is great. "Yeah, man. Playing with him, it's a bonus," said Lee, who went to the Finals with Howard as a member of the Magic last season then saw Howard give a 20-20 effort to beat Lee and the Nets, 95-85, last night. "Playing against him is a negative bonus. He distracts a lot of shots. He caught a couple of my shots. I left them pretty high. Not playing and practicing against him for a while, I forget how athletic he is and how high he can jump.""

Vince returns, but Howard steals the show as Nets fall

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October 31

New York Post

"The NBA schedule maker planned a reunion party for Vince Carter at the Meadowlands last night, as the Nets' home opener featured Carter and the defending Eastern champ Orlando Magic. But Carter didn't stay around very long. Unfortunately for the Nets, neither did Brook Lopez. Even worse, Dwight Howard did. "Howard had such a profound impact on that game defensively," said coach Lawrence Frank, whose Nets fell to 0-2 through a 95-85 defeat that was sculpted by Howard with a 20-point, 22-rebound, four-block masterpiece. "That's why the guy is defensive player of the year. Not only did he do what he did to Brook, he did it to our whole team." Carter, traded on draft night after nearly five ..."

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard tries to keep calm despite constant smacking and hacking

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October 23

Orlando Sentinel

"First, there was Hack-a- Shaq. Now, there's Smack-a- Superman. Teams are fouling Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard when he has the basketball near the basket and looks like he's ready to shoot. Howard concedes that he sometimes fights frustration when teams employ the tactic. "I think I've just got to play through it," Howard said. "Coach, he allows guys to do the same thing in practice, so I've just got to get used to it. It's tough, because you've got people hanging on you, pulling at you, slapping at you, whatever, the whole game. You try to stay calm, but sometimes you just want to react. But you've got to do what's best for the team." Howard is shooting 50.7 percent from the free-throw ..."

Marion, Howard practice together for first time

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October 23

Dallas Morning News

"Shawn Marion and Josh Howard went through practice Thursday, the first time they've been on the court together in training camp. Whether one or both will play in the preseason finale tonight in Houston remains to be seen. But it was a welcomed sight for the Mavericks, who have not yet had their preferred starting lineup available. "Today was a beginning and we've got a long road ahead of us - a lot of games," coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've got to figure out a formula when that group does finally get on the floor in real games. Today was constructive." Marion has played just two preseason games and only one in its entirety. He had sat out the last 10 days of practice to let the calf ..."

Dwight Howard on target with his 'shoes shot'

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October 15

Orlando Sentinel

"C Dwight Howard took off his basketball shoes and tossed them into the stands after the Magic's preseason win against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night in Wichita, Kan. Guess who caught one of the souvenirs? Dwight Howard's father, that's who. "I sold it," laughed Dwight Howard Sr. "Nah, I gave it to somebody in the stands." What were the chances, huh? We mean of the younger Howard actually hitting a target that far away."

Could Dwight Howard fly off to Hollywood like Shaquille O'Neal?

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August 19

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"Don't lie. Admit you're just a little worried about Dwight Howard's burgeoning fame. Acknowledge you are at least a tad bit bothered by young Dwight's desire to not only be the most dominant basketball player on the planet but to also become a famous movie star, TV personality and entertainment giant. Come on, don't deny it. This painfully reminds you of yet another former Magic big man who fell in love with the idea of making movies and hanging out with the stars, doesn't it? That, of course, would be Shaq, who ended up bolting Orlando for Hollywood the first chance he got. Dwight, by the way, was in Hollywood the other day and was caught on camera by the entertainment Web site TMZ.com. ..."

Howard living it up this summer, but focus is still on his game

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August 5

Orlando Sentinel

"NBA players usually slow down during the offseason. Dwight Howard, on the other hand, is living a whirlwind. Over the last seven weeks, the Orlando Magic's all-star center has visited Vancouver, B.C., for an EA Sports function. He has traveled to Hollywood to prepare for a cameo in the upcoming film Valentine's Day, which features Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba and Jamie Foxx. He's even pitched a reality show called Dwight Across America. "I've been all around the country, but it's been fun," Howard said Tuesday during a break from his basketball camp at UCF. "This is one of the best summers I've had in my whole entire life." And there is more travel to come, including a trip to China for ..."

Dwight Howard must become even more dominant but without losing his smile

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June 19

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"It nags Dwight Howard everywhere he goes. It will nag him during the summer breeze of '09 and into the fall's chill. It has its own annoying soundtrack, complete with a robust chorus. The voices are in his head: Dwight needs to improve his game. Dwight needs to hit his free throws. Dwight needs to develop a short jumper. Dwight needs to be able to go left. Dwight needs. Yada-yada-yada. Everybody gets a whack. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar calls him "predictable." "Until he gets a go-to move, he will continue to struggle and his teams will continue to fall short," says a recent article on bleacherreport.com. "How do you feel about missing those two free throws that y'all could have won?" the Dwight ..."

Star player lacks star treatment

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June 17

Florida Today

columnist Peter Kerasotis

"Stan Van Gundy is surprised. A little annoyed. But mostly surprised. All during the NBA postseason, and even now, the Orlando Magic head coach found it hard to fathom why Dwight Howard isn't coveted for the national spotlight, as are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and even, to a degree, the Boston Celtics. Yeah, Kobe is the game's greatest player. And LeBron is, well, LeBron. The Celtics, of course, are the league's most storied franchise. But, c'mon. What's Dwight Howard? Some chump? No, the answer is that Dwight Howard is charismatic and marketable, a dominating presence, and simply the best center in the game today, not to mention the foreseeable future. "Was it annoying? Maybe a little," ..."

Coach unhappy with criticism of Howard

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June 15

Florida Today

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard entered Sunday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals with 20 double-doubles in the playoffs, a mark that only Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone have achieved in NBA history. But you'd never know that Howard has been that dominant based on the criticisms given to the Magic's star by the national media, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said Sunday. Van Gundy was irate that Howard was predominantly flogged for missing two free throws at the end of Thursday's Game 4 instead of being applauded for his Finals record nine blocked shots and also his 21 rebounds. "For whatever reason he hasn't been treated fairly," Van Gundy said of Howard. "I ran ..."

Future still bright for Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

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June 15

Miami Herald

"Stan Van Gundy did what he usually doesn't do Friday, the day after his team's devastating, series-shifting overtime debacle in Game 4. He called a meeting -- not for preparation, but for examination. ''I wanted to see them,'' said Van Gundy, whose Orlando Magic team missed free throws and defensive assignments en route to losing its hearts. ``I wanted to look in their eyes.'' Van Gundy saw what he wanted to see, what he thought he would see: a group of resilient players who recover so much faster from moments of anguish than their coaches do. If it was reassurance Van Gundy wanted, though, he should have looked deeper. Into their DNA. As close as this NBA Finals series was to being ..."

Dwight Howard, Magic unable to redeem themselves

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June 15

Los Angeles Times

"During the Game 5 pregame festivities Sunday, there was a montage of the Orlando Magic's playoff run playing on the scoreboard above the Amway Arena court. Included were all of Orlando's moments of triumph and survival on its way to the NBA Finals, set to the backdrop of Van Halen's classic rally track "Right Now." It was a fitting song choice. It was also the theme of Magic center Dwight Howard's motivational speech to his teammates during a team meeting the day after a heartbreaking overtime Game 4 loss that put Orlando in a 3-1 series hole and on the brink of watching its championship dreams end. After missing two late free throws that could have secured the win in regulation and tied ..."

Dwight Howard improves free-throw shooting

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June 11

Florida Today

"Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard is a career 56.8 percent free-throw shooter and he struggled through a regular season this year where he shot just 57.2 percent from the stripe. But Howard has been a dramatically better free-throw shooter in the playoffs -- and it hasn't happened by accident. He has made it a practice of late to return to the Magic's practice facility late at night when Orlando isn't playing to work on his free-throw form. He has friends and family members rebound for him and he cranks up the music while he shoots one free throw after another. "I just continue to shoot. Every day I try to get at least 300 free throws up," Howard said. "It's all confidence. I was a ..."

Delayed entry - Bad NBA idea is getting schooled

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June 11

Denver Post

columnist Mark Kiszla

"If the NBA Finals have taught us anything, it's that attending college to learn how to play basketball is somewhere between vastly overrated and downright stupid. Exhibit A: Dwight Howard. Exhibit B: Kobe Bryant. "I don't think going to college would have helped me," Howard said Wednesday. At age 23, Howard is convinced learning on the job in the NBA turned him into Superman quicker than eating pizza in a college dorm room. Maybe he has a point. Howard owns an Olympic gold medal, drives a Rolls-Royce and takes home an annual salary of $13.8 million to his 11,000-square-foot mansion. "Well," I suggested, "you're obviously richer for being here . . ." Faster than a speeding bullet, Superman ..."

Lakers expect Dwight Howard to rebound

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June 6

Los Angeles Times

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard fielded a dozen similarly themed questions from reporters a day after his low-wattage start in the NBA Finals. To paraphrase practically all of them: Where's the power, Howard? Why so slight, Dwight? If Howard is the muscle of the Magic, there wasn't a lot of flexing in Game 1 on Thursday. The Lakers often employed a patient, slow-moving double team in which they waited for Howard to begin his post move with a dribble before sending a player to help. Sometimes it was Lamar Odom. Sometimes Trevor Ariza. Even Derek Fisher dropped down to help defend Howard once or twice. In basketball parlance, it's called double-teaming "on the bounce." In the box score, ..."

For Dwight Howard, Lakers' Game 1 blowout of Magic is no laughing matter

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June 5

New York Daily News

columnist Mitch Lawrence

"Smile, Dwight Howard, you're in the NBA Finals. As if anyone had to tell Orlando's superstar center to lighten up and have a good time in his first championship series. Howard brought his arsenal of dunks and shot-blocks to Staples Center on Thursday, along with the widest smile seen on a Finals court since Magic Johnson used to light up the place every June. But as the rout of the Magic in Game 1 was unfolding, Howard was seen with a very different look on his face in Staples Center. Instead of his trademark smile, he had a look of total disbelief as he sat on the bench in the fourth quarter during the Lakers' 100-75 blowout win. The Lakers simply had too much Kobe Bryant for Orlando, ..."

Lakers' Andrew Bynum does a job on Dwight Howard

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June 5

Los Angeles Times

"Andrew Bynum, the one with the still-smarting knee and the curiously shaky game, played Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to a relative draw, more than enough to allow the Lakers to win Game 1 of the NBA Finals with ease, 100-75. Bynum was averaging only 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in the playoffs before Thursday, but he had nine points and nine rebounds despite fighting foul trouble throughout the game. He was aggressive from the start, dunking off a feed from Pau Gasol, making a 12-footer and scoring a layup off a rebound in the first four minutes. He was part of the reason Howard shot so poorly -- one for six. "He had some times out there that I thought he played [Howard] really well," ..."

Superlative? Not Magic's Howard on this night

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June 5

L.A. Daily News

"Orlando center takes just six shots - and makes only one - against Lakers. The Lakers didn't need a superhuman effort to guard Superman. For the majority of the game, the Lakers gaurded Orlando's Dwight Howard one-on-one, and the strategy was a raging success. Andrew Bynum took the first crack at guarding the Magic center, and Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom defended Howard, too. Howard walked into Staples Center unable to hide that gargantuan trademark smile before Game 1, but it didn't last long. Howard made just one field goal and scored the rest of his 12 points at the free-throw line. Howard took only six shots and missed five of them but added 15 rebounds as the Lakers pounded Orlando ..."

Howard can't make 3-pointers, but inside-outside game makes Orlando scary

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June 4

L.A. Daily News

"Pau Gasol nearly spit out the sport drink he was guzzling after practice Monday. "Dwight Howard...shooting 3-pointers?" Gasol asked, perplexed. It was a simple misunderstanding. See, Gasol thought someone had asked him about defending Howard shooting 3-pointers, instead of dealing with the 3-point shooters who surround Howard in the Orlando Magic lineup. "Oh, I got it now," Gasol said, relieved. "I thought you were saying Dwight's shooting 3s now. If that's the case, holy cow, how the heck do you stop that?" Fortunately for the Lakers, it hasn't come to that, although the unpleasant task of defending Howard and the versatile Magic is no easy task. Orlando's blueprint is so simple, but ..."

Between Magic center Howard and former Lakers center O'Neal, who is the real Superman?

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June 3

L.A. Daily News

"They sound a bit like two bickering 8-year-olds in the backyard, bed sheets tied around their necks. "I'm Superman!" "No, I'm Superman!" It's not a game of make-believe; it's the NBA, in which two of the game's biggest stars - Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal - have staked a claim to the meaningless but highly symbolic nickname. What's happening here is quite clear, and it has nothing to do with a cape or spandex. Howard is the heir to O'Neal's throne as the league's most dominant big man, but O'Neal isn't ready to give up the seat. O'Neal has verbally tweaked Howard for months, essentially calling him a Shaq imposter, but with four more victories, Howard will be able to take a step out ..."

Magic's Superman Dwight Howard not yet an NBA superstar

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June 2

Orlando Sentinel

"One movie's theme music is played more often inside Amway Arena than any other. It is, of course, the familiar refrain from the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, and it blares over loudspeakers whenever Dwight Howard throws down a dramatic dunk or initiates a thrilling three-point play. In Orlando, Howard is considered the real-life incarnation of Superman. But, nationally, that doesn't make him a superstar. At least not yet. The NBA Finals, which get underway Thursday in Los Angeles, will give the Orlando Magic's 23-year-old center the greatest national exposure of his burgeoning pro career and his best opportunity yet to reach the rarefied superstar status of Kobe Bryant and LeBron ..."

Magic center Dwight Howard: If fans want me, I'll stay in Orlando

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June 2

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic all-star center Dwight Howard, publicly addressing his long-term future for the first time, told the Sentinel on Monday that he'd love to finish his career in Orlando. As long as Orlando wants him, he says. "It is an interesting question," Howard said. "You know what? I'll be here as long as the fans want me to be here. They have a lot of do with it." Howard, 23, is a five-year veteran and has four more years left on his $85-million contract. "I tell my friends this: I want to stay here. It will be based upon the city. We want the support of our fans. That's what carries us, that's what inspires us, that's what keeps us motivated. "You want to feel loved. That's the biggest ..."

Dwight Howard: Superman to superstar?

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June 2

Los Angeles Times

columnist Josh Robbins

"One movie's theme music is played more often inside Amway Arena than any other. It is, of course, the familiar refrain from the Christopher Reeve "Superman" movies, and it blares over loudspeakers whenever Dwight Howard throws down a dramatic dunk or initiates a thrilling three-point play. In Orlando, Howard is considered the real-life incarnation of Superman. But, nationally, that doesn't make him a superstar. At least not yet. The NBA Finals, which get underway Thursday at Staples Center, will give the Orlando Magic's 23-year-old center the greatest national exposure of his burgeoning pro career and his best opportunity yet to reach the rarefied superstar status of Kobe Bryant and ..."

Lakers begin work on conquering cape fear

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June 1

Los Angeles Times

"The "beast" is 6 feet 11, 265 pounds, his physique like that of a Greek god. The beast is quick, athletic, powerful and dominant, a force unlike any other in the NBA. The beast is Dwight Howard -- also known in many circles as "Superman" -- who now has become a target the Lakers must contend with and contain. The beast and his Orlando Magic teammates will be here Thursday to play the Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Staples Center. Howard widely is considered the best center in the league, a work in progress still, but yet such a talent that the Lakers will develop a game plan they hope can keep him from controlling the game. "He is a beast inside," said Lakers assistant coach Brian ..."

James knows Howard likely to be a permanent Eastern obstacle

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May 31

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Dwight Howard and LeBron James have gotten used to spending their summers together. Will it become an annual occurrence in May, too? James is 24 years old, Howard is 23 and they are the centerpieces of two of the best teams in the NBA. The Eastern Conference finals is the first time that the two have played against each other in the playoffs but it certainly seems as if this could become a trend for many years. "I think it will be," James said. "His team is going to continue to grow, and I know my team will continue to grow. I think the their staff will continue to put guys around him, and we will continue to put guys around me so we'll always be contenders." James and Howard already ..."

Howard leads dominating effort in sealing East title

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May 31

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"It's time to put the puppets away. There will be no LeBron James-Kobe Bryant NBA Finals. The reason is frank and cold, especially for Cavaliers fans. The Orlando Magic are the better team and they are also the Eastern Conference champions, a trophy they earned Saturday night by displaying all their impressive attributes in a final gigantic smack to the Cavs, 103-90, at Amway Arena. In retrospect, the worst day of what looked for months like a charmed season was back on May 13, a day they didn't even play. That was when the Magic, about as bad of a mismatch from personnel to philosophy that the Cavs could dreamed in a nightmare, beat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 to face the Cavs in the ..."

Dwight Howard must take the next step toward superstardom

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May 27

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"Get used to it LeBron. Get used to it Kobe. Get used to NBA. This could be the beginning of your worst Dwightmare. One more win. One more win over the Cleveland LeBrons and Dwight Howard will finally begin to be treated like the superstar he is. One more win. This is the only way the NBA will know that maybe it is marketing the wrong superstar. This the only way Nike will know it should have locked up Dwight years ago, put him in that puppet commercial and instructed the world to witness his greatness. Are you kidding me? After Tuesday night's nail-biting, heart-palpitating 116-114 Magic overtime victory shoved the Cavs to within the brink of playoff elimination, Phil Knight isthisclose to ..."

Dwight Howard vs. LeBron James is a battle of the NBA's rising stars

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May 20

Orlando Sentinel

"Since August, Magic center Dwight Howard and Cleveland Cavs small forward LeBron James actually have been together more as superstar teammates than superstar foes. Beginning tonight, the scenario changes. They both want the same thing — and only one can have it: A trip to the NBA Finals. Dwight and LeBron played eight Olympic games together en route to helping Team USA win the gold medal last summer and in one NBA All-Star Game, in February, for the Eastern Conference. Counting three regular-season meetings, Game 1 of the conference finals marks just the fourth time they've played each other since last season. But postseason encounters could be a regular occurrence for years, considering ..."

Cavaliers likely to employ multiple looks to slow Magic's superstar

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May 20

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Dwight Howard is truly a center, as everything the Magic do revolves around his strengths. He's a first team All-NBA player, an Olympian and the Defensive Player of the Year. There is no one in the NBA at his position who can run and jump like him and that obviously creates numerous problems when playing against the Magic. Not unlike with LeBron James, there's no one way to defend Howard perfectly. But also like with James, there are some things that can be done to limit his impact. Here's a look at the methods that have been effective in handling Howard in the past and are likely part of the Cavs' game plan heading into the Eastern Conference Finals: Mix up the double teams. Choosing to ..."

Measuring Dwight Howard's Rise Tweet by Tweet

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May 19

New York Times

"Upon finishing a television interview after Orlando's resounding victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 7, Dwight Howard, the Magic's star center, gave a shout-out. Not to Mom or Dad, but instead to the dedicated fans following him on Twitter. As he walked back to his locker room, Howard, who famously Twittered from his hotel room during a one-game suspension against Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs, said that his Twitter flock had grown from 9,000 to more than 200,000. This is a true sign of the times. But in an era of a million distractions, what has been intriguing this season is watching players like Howard mature. They are taking their profession seriously and ..."

Heart and muscle is all Dwight

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May 15

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"Dwight Howard called for the ball. Dwight Howard got the ball. Dwight Howard shot the ball. Dwight Howard rebounded the ball. Dwight Howard — a personally determined and nationally denounced Dwight Howard — dominated the ball. And when this slogging slugfest was finally over, the Magic — a k a Team Bounce Back — had pummeled the world champion Boston Celtics into submission and taken a beautifully ugly 83-75 season-saving victory in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal Thursday night. This game, this night, this series was all on Dwight's muscular shoulders — just where he wanted it and just where he put it. He's the one who called for the ball. He's the one who second-guessed ..."

Howard lets game do talking

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May 15

Boston Globe

"Dwight Howard's lack of touches was the big story heading into Game 6. The energy and effort he displayed in helping to extend the series to a deciding Game 7 will be the story line going into Sunday's game. "He badly, badly, badly wants to get this done," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "When it doesn't go well, sometimes, that frustration will boil over. [Last night] what boiled over was his effort." Following the disappointing loss in Game 5, the three-time All-Star criticized his coach for a game plan that he thought didn't involve him enough in the fourth quarter when the Magic squandered a 14-point lead. In Game 6, Howard backed up his big words with an even bigger game. "He knew he ..."

A big rebound game for Howard

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May 15

Boston Globe

columnist Bob Ryan

"He's pretty big, that kid. Dwight Howard may only have one half of an offensive move, but he's 6 feet 11 inches and he weighs 200-whatever and he's undeniably athletic, and there was never any doubt he was going to bring it in this game. "I guess Dwight Howard was right," said Doc Rivers. "My gosh. He was unbelievable." Whether Dwight Howard was "right" in anything he said following the Orlando team meltdown in Game 5 was not really the issue. The fact is he didn't wait for someone to get him the ball last night. He just waited until one of his teammates' innumerable clangers came somewhere in his rebounding zone, which is approximately 23 feet high and 37 feet wide. Howard corralled 10 of ..."

Orlando's Superman kills team chemistry in a single bound

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May 14

Jacksonville Times-Union

columnist Bruce Lipsky

"After the Orlando Magic pulled off one of the greatest choke jobs in NBA playoffs history Tuesday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, an exasperated Dwight Howard wasted no time publicly using Stan Van Gundy for target practice. Howard went all mini-T.O. on the Magic head coach. He blasted Van Gundy for not getting him the ball and questioned his substitution patterns in the fourth quarter, when Orlando blew an 85-75 lead by not making a field goal in the last five minutes. In many respects, Howard was spot-on with his scathing criticism because he never touched the ball in the low post as the Celtics erased that 10-point deficit. The Magic played way ..."

Dwight Howard's Superman hype means little if the Magic flame out in the NBA playoffs

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May 14

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"So which is it, Magic men? Are you soft like a baby's bottom, or solid like those narcissistic musclemen flexing biceps at Bimbo Beach? We find out tonight. The people's betting line — check those blog posts — is on the Charmin. Say what they will, Orlando's players are crushed by back-to-back playoff defeats against the Boston Celtics. They are woozy and ready to be counted out. Here's one reason why: The Celtics are 32-0 when up 3-2 in a playoff series. It's a coin flip whether the Magic should call for the smelling salts or for a tall order of Bloody Marys. Even so, there aren't enough of them in the world to cure the morning-after hangover following Orlando's meltdown Tuesday night in ..."

Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard make nice as the Orlando Magic gear up for Game 6 against the Celtics

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May 14

Orlando Sentinel

"Even before they met on Wednesday to hammer out a truce, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy previously had talked about the possibility of the all-star becoming unhappy enough with Van Gundy to get the coach fired one day, following the lead of some NBA franchise players. League history shows that the beginning of a feud with a superstar can end in a coach's exit. See Penny Hardaway and Brian Hill, circa 1997, in Orlando. According to those close to the organization, Van Gundy basically told Howard he didn't care if he could run him out of town. He was going to keep coaching Howard and everyone else with an edge and try to make him the best player he could be. So it was ..."

Magic center Dwight Howard calls out Coach Stan Van Gundy after Beantown Meltdown

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May 13

Orlando Sentinel

"After a bitter Game 5 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, Magic all-star center Dwight Howard questioned Coach Stan Van Gundy's strategy and why he got only 10 shot attempts, making five. "I would just say it's tough to win all season when you play inside-out with people who got you off to a good season. I think I'm capable of scoring in the post," Howard said after the Magic blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 92-88. "I don't' want to say it's all about offense. But when you have a dominant player, let him be dominant." Howard didn't get a shot in the last six minutes. "I have to do it defensively where I have to be more aggressive and offensively I have to get the ball. ..."

Dwight Howard's criticism means Stan Van Gundy now has job insecurity

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May 13

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"Three All-Star appearances, an $85 million contract and $20-million-a-year in endorsements. But it wasn't until last night's Beantown Meltdown in Boston that Magic center Dwight Howard officially became an NBA superstar. He second-guessed his coach. That has never, ever happened before -- at least publicly. And you know what that means? It means Stan Van Gundy's job a lot less secure today than it was yesterday. No, I don't think for a minute that it's inevitable Van Gundy will lose his job if the Magic lose the series with the Celtics, I'm just saying it's never good when the team superstar starts second-guessing the team coach. In fact, when it comes to a battle of wills and wants in the ..."

NBA honors Howard

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May 7

Florida Today

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, winner of the 2008-09 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, became the first Magic player to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team on Wednesday. Howard collected 55 points overall, including 27 first-team votes, edging Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (53 points overall and 24 first- team votes) as the leading vote-getter. Also selected to the first team were forward LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (47 points), New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul (36 points) and Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (35 points). Howard led the NBA in rebounds (13.8 a game) and blocks (2.9 a game), becoming only the fifth player to lead the league in ..."

NBA suspends Dwight Howard for Game 6 of Magic-Sixers series

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April 30

Orlando Sentinel

"In his five NBA seasons, the arms of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard's have grown from just lanky dunking tools into massive components of his dominance inside the paint. But it's one of his elbows and not his swelling biceps that now have the Magic standing on an uncertain foundation heading into a possible closeout playoff game tonight at Philadelphia. Howard's 24 points and career-playoff high 24 rebounds propelled the Magic to a 91-78 win and 3-2 series lead over the Sixers on Tuesday night. A first-quarter elbow he threw at the Sixers' Samuel Dalembert, however, also earned him a one-game suspension from the league Wednesday that he will serve tonight. That combined with another ..."

NBA suspends Sixers' biggest foe

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April 30

Camden Courier-Post

"Samuel Dalembert said he knows what would have happened if he had thrown the elbow instead of Orlando's Dwight Howard. "Forget about it," the Sixers center said. "I'd probably get a banana boat and get sent back home to Haiti." Howard wasn't sent to Haiti, but as far as the Sixers are concerned, he'll seem just as far away after the NBA suspended him without pay for tonight's Game 6 in the first-round playoff series. The Magic lead the series 3-2 after their 91-78 win over the Sixers in Game 5 Tuesday. The Sixers are facing elimination. They need to win in order to force a decisive Game 7 in Orlando Saturday. Howard will be eligible to return if that game is necessary. The Magic will also ..."

Howard won't play vs. 76ers tonight

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April 30

Philadelphia Inquirer

"Dwight Howard is gone, Courtney Lee is gone.And with their absence, so goes any pressure on the Orlando Magic; it has shifted onto the shoulders of their first-round playoff opponent: the 76ers.Tonight at the Wachovia Center, in Game 6 of this back-and-forth series, the Sixers will face elimination, but also bear the weight of expected victory after Howard was suspended for one game because of an intentional elbow to Sixers center Samuel Dalembert's head in Game 5."I'm very disappointed, but I have to respect the NBA's decision," Howard said in a statement. "I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I have complete faith in my teammates that they will come out and get the job done [tonight].""I ..."

Magic's Howard suspended for elbow, will miss Game 6

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April 29

USA Today

"Orlando center Dwight Howard's elbows ended up sidelining two Magic players for Game 6 against Philadelphia on Thursday.The NBA suspended Howard one game without pay for a right elbow delivered to 76ers center Samuel Dalembert's head with 9:15 left in the first quarter of Game 5 in Orlando's 91-78 victory Tuesday. Later in the first quarter, Howard jumped to block Willie Green's shot, and when Howard came down, his left elbow smashed guard Courtney Lee in the face and fractured his sinus. Lee will also miss Game 6. The Magic own a 3-2 lead against Philadelphia in the best-of-7 series, and Howard scored 24 points and grabbed 24 rebounds in Game 5. On the play that led to the suspension, ..."

Magic's Howard suspended for Game 6

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April 29

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has been suspended for Thursday's Game 6 against Philadelphia, NBA Executive Vice President Stu Jackson announced. Howard received a technical foul in the first quarter of the Magic's 91-78 win Game 5 over the Sixers Tuesday night for throwing an elbow at Samuel Dalembert as the pair fought for position underneath the basket. Tuesday's technical was Howard's second of the playoffs, having received another for arguing a call in Game 2. He had 14 technical fouls during the regular season. With Howard out, the Magic are expected to start either Marcin Gortat or Tony Battie in his place on Thursday. The Magic lead the series 3-2. Sixers' Coach Tony DiLeo and ..."

Howard out for Game 6

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April 29

ESPN.com

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has been suspended for one game without pay for Tuesday's first-quarter elbow to the head of Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert. The NBA announced the suspension Wednesday afternoon. The league announcement stated that Howard will serve his suspension Thursday night in Game 6 at Philadelphia. The Magic lead the series three games to two after their 91-78 win. Video replays clearly showed Howard swiping at Dalembert's head. A subsequent Howard elbow that made unintentional contact with teammate Courtney Lee has left Lee with a fractured sinus that has already ruled the rookie guard out of Game 6. In a radio interview Wednesday morning with WIP in ..."

Howard makes Magic unstoppable in Game 5

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April 29

Florida Today

columnist John Denton

"It took five long games of sometimes brutal, downright offensive basketball, but finally the Orlando Magic looked Tuesday night like the better team and the team playing best in this first-round playoff series. Both seemed like a given going into the playoffs what with Orlando's 59 regular-season victories and Philadelphia staggering down the stretch. But the first four games of this series between the Magic and 76ers featured about as many swings as an Arlen Specter political campaign. Finally, some separation between the two teams arose in Tuesday's Game 5 at Amway Arena, and it was primarily because of the will-breaking, all-around greatness of Magic franchise center Dwight Howard. Once ..."

Howard's wayward elbow knocks Magic teammate out of Game 6

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April 29

Florida Today

"Orlando Magic rookie guard Courtney Lee suffered a fractured sinus cavity in Tuesday's Game 5 and has been ruled out for Thursday's Game 6 in Philadelphia. Lee suffered the injury in the first quarter when he was accidentally hit across the face by an elbow from teammate Dwight Howard. Howard leaped over Lee to block a shot and inadvertently landed on Lee. Lee stayed down for almost two minutes and did not return to the game. He was hospitalized briefly Tuesday night and underwent two C-T scans. Lee may or may not accompany the team to Philadelphia for Game 6. J.J. Redick and Mickael Pietrus split time in place of Lee. Redick, the second half starter, had five points and two assists in 30 ..."