Dwight Howard News: Pro Sports Daily

Magic vets to Derrick Rose: Be smart when attacking big men

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March 12

Orlando Sentinel

"Vince Carter shook his head when remembering the time he barreled into Shaquille O'Neal, much like Derrick Rose crashed into Dwight Howard in the first quarter of Thursday night's game. Carter learned his lesson on how to do that. Did he get hurt? "Yeah. Yeah," Carter said. "And he didn't move." That's what happens when a little(ish) guard hits a big man at full speed. Thursday's collision was the second of its kind between Howard and Rose this season. Howard knocked Rose down in February, committing a hard foul on the point guard and injuring his hip. Thursday night, Howard did less, but Rose landed hard and sprained his wrist. Without their most potent player for the second, third and ..."

Derrick Rose's kryptonite is Dwight Howard

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March 12

Orlando Sentinel

"Better keep Derrick Rose away from Dwight Howard. Howard was, and still is, hazardous to Rose's health. The Chicago Bulls point guard hurt his left wrist Thursday night after he drove into the lane, collided in midair with the Orlando Magic center and crashed to the Amway Arena court in a loud thud. Rose sat out the final three quarters of the 111-82 Magic victory. Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said that Rose has a sprained wrist and will have an MRI exam today. "As a big man, you never try to hurt anybody when they come down the lane," Howard said. "Me and Derrick are cool. He's a great player, a great person. You never want to see him get hurt. But I always tell him, 'When you come down ..."

Howard says Rose injuries not his fault

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March 12

Chicago Sun-Times

"Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard wasn't exactly remorseful after knocking Bulls point guard Derrick Rose out of another game with a hard foul Thursday. After knocking Rose to the court for the second time in about a month -- Rose suffered a bruised right hip Feb. 10 at the United Center and a sprained left wrist Thursday -- Howard was asked about the second hit after the Magic's 111-82 victory. 'He went up, and he fell,'' he said. ''That's all I remember.'' In fact, Howard sort of blamed Rose for both falls. ''As a big man, you never try to hurt anybody coming down the lane,'' Howard said. ''Me and Derrick are cool. I think he's a great player, a great person. You never want to see him ..."

Time to give Howard some puppy love

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March 11

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"A rather dapper-looking Dwight Howard — the ascot was a nice touch — started barking in the locker room after the Orlando Magic whacked the defending NBA champions Sunday afternoon. "Woo-woo-woo," I'm a puppy dog," Howard said after beating the L.A. Lakers. "Woo-woo-woo." It was a funny — and pointed — dig at some critics like, ahem, George Diaz, who recently suggested that Howard needs to "become the alpha dog, not the tail-wagging, happy-go-lucky puppy." A lot of people — columnists, NBA Hall of Famers, Joe in the 27th row — have gone Dog Whisperer on Howard, suggesting he isn't fit to be the pack leader because he's just too warm and fuzzy and amiable. Howard's comeback has been to ..."

Dwight Howard has more breathing room on technical fouls than previously thought

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March 9

Orlando Sentinel

"Dwight Howard isn't quite so close to an automatic one-game suspension after all. The NBA informed the Orlando Magic communications staff on Monday that the all-star center has accrued 13 technical fouls this season, not the 14 team spokesmen thought after Howard picked up a technical Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Lakers. A league official informed Magic Vice President of Communications Joel Glass on Monday that a technical foul Howard committed on Feb. 8 against the New Orleans Hornets had been rescinded. Magic General Manager Otis Smith had asked for a review of the technical, and NBA Executive Vice President for Basketball Operations Stu Jackson determined that the tech ..."

Is Pippen right about Howard's inability to dominate?

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March 9

Orlando Sentinel

"Dwight Howard has been playing with great passion and purpose lately. But he still can't shake the "nice guy" label. Former Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen has joined the ranks of the un-impressed. "He's a very special player but I don't think he's going to win a championship until he gets another superstar to play alongside of him," Pippen said recently while visiting Orlando. "A guy that's very consistent and has that drive, that's what it's going to take. I don't think that he can carry a team to a championship." "He's not that great of a scorer, he's not a good shooter and he's not a good foul shooter. So in the latter parts of the game, as big as he is and as much athleticism as he ..."

Dwight Howard believes he's found the formula to slow down Brook Lopez

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March 5

Orlando Sentinel

"New Jersey C Brook Lopez ranks as one of the best young big men in the NBA. He'll have another chance to prove it when the lowly Nets host Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic tonight in East Rutherford, N.J. Howard has dominated Lopez so far this season. In fact, Howard may have found the formula for slowing Lopez down. "He's one of the bigs who can really shoot the ball," Howard said Thursday. "He's a big body. The thing with him is you have to move him, run him, beat him up and down the floor and be aggressive. By doing all that stuff on the offensive end and pressuring him on the defensive end usually he gets tired a little bit faster than a lot of people. So, you take advantage of ..."

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic breeze past Golden State Warriors

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March 4

Orlando Sentinel

"The highlight of an otherwise uneventful night was "The One Man Fastbreak," started not with a pass, but a block. Dwight Howard blocked a shot so hard off the backboard late in the first quarter that the ball ricocheted to J.J. Redick, who was a few steps from the half-court line. Redick drove in for a layup on the other end. "Used to do that all the time in high school," Howard said. "They used to give me an assist for it." Howard was just joking, but the play reflected how the Orlando Magic toyed with what passed for the Golden State Warriors in an 117-90 rout Wednesday night. The injury-racked Warriors dressed just eight players and resembled a D-League squad because, well, three of ..."

Dwight Howard manages just 7 points, 5 rebounds, but Orlando Magic win

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March 1

Orlando Sentinel

"Marcin Gortat filled in for Dwight Howard. So did Rashard Lewis. So did Vince Carter and J.J. Redick and Jameer Nelson and maybe the beer vendor. Everybody who played -- all 10 of 'em -- scored at least one point and grabbed one rebound. The Orlando Magic replaced the foul-troubled Howard by committee in a 96-80 victory against the Miami Heat on Sunday night at Amway Arena. The Magic (40-20) paid back the Heat (29-31) after losing to them twice this season -- and paid back Howard after he had carried them through 59 games. "We told Dwight afterwards that we certainly owed him. ? He's been carrying us," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "He had a frustrating night with calls and virtually everyone ..."

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard should be favorite to repeat as defensive player of the year

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February 26

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said that C Dwight Howard should repeat as NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Howard leads the league in rebounding and blocked shots for the second consecutive season. "I don't know how he couldn't get it again," Van Gundy said. "When you're that dominate on the defensive boards, you're taking away second chances. You're leading the league in blocked shots. He defends his position well. He's a very good pick-and-roll defender. "There's just not a lot of weaknesses with him on the defensive end of the floor. I would be disappointed and surprised — assuming that the next 24 games continue the same trend — if he were not Defensive Player of the Year again." The last ..."

Media should take off its LeBron James blinders and start giving Dwight Howard some MVP love

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February 26

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

""Alpha dog pedigree, sidekick mindset." — ESPN's Bill Simmons on Dwight Howard "He should be the 21st century's Wilt Chamberlain. No NBA big man has Howard's athleticism and power. Yet, despite the protestations of Howard's apologists, he continues to underachieve for a man of such significant physical presence." — CBSsports.com's Mike Freeman on Dwight Howard "Become the alpha dog, not the tail-wagging, happy-go-lucky puppy." — Orlando Sentinel's George Diaz on Dwight Howard "Has a rabid alpha dog eaten the eyeballs of Simmons, Freeman and Diaz? These guys obviously are covering games while blind." — Me Seriously, you know what's amazing? That three columnists all criticized Howard within ..."

Magic ride perfect night from Dwight Howard to beat Rockets

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February 25

Orlando Sentinel

"Before the game, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard was looking for some wood to knock. He had been asked about breaking the franchise-record for consecutive double-doubles. Surely, it would come hours later against the Houston Rockets. "Don't jinx me!" he said, playfully. Howard overcame foul trouble to break the club record with 30 points and 16 rebounds, posting his 19th consecutive double-double in a 110-92 victory against the Rockets on Wednesday night. Howard's modern-day nemesis, Shaquille O'Neal, set the Magic's club record with 18 in 1993. Howard also made all 11 of his shots. Point guard Jameer Nelson had 17 points with nine assists and Vince Carter added 16 as the Magic (39-19) ..."

Dwight Howard named Eastern Conference player of the week

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February 23

Orlando Sentinel

"The NBA has named Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard its Eastern Conference player of the week. The league made the announcement moments ago. Howard averaged 28.0 points, 16.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game in Orlando's last three games."

Browns' Rob Ryan has a super time supporting Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal against Magic's Dwight Howard

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February 21

Cleveland Plain Dealer

columnist Bill Livingston

"Talkative is what the football Ryans are. It comes with the heredity, says Rob Ryan, one of James David "Buddy" Ryan's football-coaching, diabolical defense-devising, trash-talking twin sons. It comes with the environment too. Ryan is the defiant, bravado-filled defensive coordinator of the Browns. "You have to be a little touched to play defense and maybe even to coach it," said Ryan. It even comes with the changing seasons because, although the Super Bowl is over, there's always basketball. Into Sunday's simmering "Battle of the Supermen" between the Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal and Orlando's Dwight Howard, Rob Ryan happily jumps -- his eyes coolly appraising the combatants, his heart ..."

Van Gundy defends Dwight Howard against local and national criticism

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February 21

Orlando Sentinel

"Stan Van Gundy on Saturday took issue with a recent Orlando Sentinel column in which the argument was made that Dwight Howard needs to be meaner for the Orlando Magic to maximize their potential. In the column, George Diaz urged Howard to "become the alpha dog, not the tail-wagging, happy-go-lucky puppy." The piece appeared in print on Thursday, the day after Howard scored 33 points, collected 17 rebounds and blocked seven shots in a win over the Detroit Pistons. "I like George a lot," Van Gundy said. "I'm like, 'Has he been watching us?' He thinks Dwight's the problem with our team? I would say that's probably not the case, and for it to come out after he gets 33, 17 and seven, I was ..."

Dwight Howard dominates Detroit Pistons in Orlando Magic's win

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February 18

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic began their playoff push ? by pushing back in a 116-91 victory Wednesday night against the feisty Detroit Pistons, an old nemesis. Nobody messes with J.J. Redick or his team, ya see. J.J.? Mr. Tough Guy? "I like our team trying to be physical back at them," small forward Matt Barnes said, alluding to Redick's scrape with Pistons guard Ben Gordon late in the fourth. "Early in the season, teams were trying to out-tough us and punk us, but I slowly see a change. Even J.J. got into it tonight. So that made me smile. We're not going to be dirty, but we're not going to be pushed around." Barnes leveled Jonas Jerebko in the third quarter to draw a Flagrant 1 foul (which he said ..."

Howard erupts for 33 points as Magic buries Pistons

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February 18

Detroit Free Press

"Even if the Pistons can acquire some frontcourt help before today's trade deadline, it's doubtful it would have helped with Dwight Howard on Wednesday night. The All-Star center put up one of his most dominant games ever against the Pistons at Amway Arena with 33 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocked shots, as the Magic pulled away in the fourth quarter on its way to a 116-91 victory. One of the knocks against Howard is that he can be passive in looking for offense. But that wasn't the case Wednesday night, as he looked to attack the rim and his teammates looked for him with lob passes. "(Ben Wallace) and (Jason Maxiell) competed the whole time and worked hard," Pistons coach John Kuester ..."

Howard, Van Gundy and the Magic's assistant coaches have returned to reality after the NBA All-Star Game

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February 16

Orlando Sentinel

"Forgive Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy and the Orlando Magic's assistant coaches if they suffered from a case of reverse culture shock late Monday afternoon. They spent Sunday night at the NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium, literally the biggest stage in basketball history. "Oh, it was incredible," Van Gundy recalled. "When you first walk in, you just go, 'Oh, my God.' You're looking at the size of the screen and everything else. It was phenomenal. Then, when you walk back for the game, and there's all those people in there? Yeah, phenomenal. It was an awesome sight." Less than 16 hours later, Howard and the coaches stood on their practice court at RDV Sportsplex for a Magic team ..."

Dwight Howard's high school teammates offer revealing portrait of NBA All-Star

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February 14

Orlando Sentinel

"Sheryl Howard always wanted a house filled with children. She wanted 10 children and if all of hers had survived, that's how many she would have had. Instead between her first child and her second, she miscarried seven times and it broke her heart. "'You actually say, 'What's wrong? Am I woman enough to have babies?' she said softly. That's why the second child she gave birth to, Dwight Howard II, was special right from his first days on earth. Although she only gave birth to three, years later her home still filled with children. Boys, specifically. Basketball players, more specifically. And as her son Dwight grew into the best high school basketball player in America, at a school so ..."

Dwight Howard, father see God's plan playing out in his life

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February 14

Orlando Sentinel

"God's plan is something the people at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, those around Dwight Howard as he grew up and Howard himself, believe in strongly. "God had put everything in place," Dwight Howard Sr. said. "[Dwight II] was born December the 8th and he was premature. Had he gone full term and been born 22 days or 23 days later, he would've been in another school year, he would've been with another class. "He might have been with the class that said no more high school kids the first year. A little bit earlier he would've been with LeBron … it was just the destiny of God. The destiny of Dwight and God's will in his life." The Orlando Magic center believes that, too. "God opened ..."

Shaquille O'Neal's outburst perplexes Orlando center Dwight Howard

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February 13

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Magic center Dwight Howard says he's not trying to cause any trouble.All-Star Weekend is supposed to be a break from the regular-season rigors, though it rarely is. And on Friday, Howard couldn't escape the events of Thursday night in Cleveland, when his Orlando Magic lost to the Cavaliers. More to the point, Howard couldn't get away from the statements Cavs center Shaquille O'Neal made about him. After he held Howard scoreless for the final seven minutes of the Cavs' 115-106 victory, O'Neal voluntarily ripped open some old wounds with Howard and his affinity for Superman. It wasn't really about comic book characters, but more about egos and respect as O'Neal clearly feels like Howard ..."

Shaq takes his whacks at Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy

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February 13

Orlando Sentinel

"Magic C Dwight Howard was annoyed by Cleveland C Shaquille O'Neal's comments after the Cavs' victory against Orlando on Thursday night. O'Neal, who took digs at Howard and Magic coach Stan Van Gundy last season, picked up his barrage again. He again took Howard to task for stealing or borrowing his title of " Superman." "You tell me who the real Superman is," O'Neal said. "Don't compare me to nobody. I'd rather not be mentioned. I'm offended. "You're all giving away titles, it's crazy." LeBron James said, "The whole Superman thing kind of bothers him." Shaq also tweaked Howard and the Magic for using double-teams against him at times."

Much-hyped Shaq-Howard battle falls short

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February 12

Akron Beacon Journal

"When Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard stood at the free-throw line in the second quarter Thursday night, the Cavaliers' always clever scoreboard elves posted a photo of a University of Michigan player striking the Heisman pose. It drew only a smattering of boos. Perhaps the fans at Quicken Loans Arena didn't need a gimmick to remind them of the Howard they most recently love to hate. It was Dwight Howard who dashed the Cavaliers' championship dreams last season in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. The then-23-year-old center dazzled with the best game of his four-year career with a 40-point, 14-rebound performance to send the Magic to the Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. ..."

Against Orlando's Dwight Howard, the Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal takes the cape

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February 12

Cleveland Plain Dealer

columnist Bill Livingston

"The Cavaliers traded for Shaquille O'Neal with his height, bulk and Superman arm tattoo mainly to break the spell of the Orlando Magic. Ever since LeBron James left the court in Orlando in a sulk after the sixth and last game of last season's Eastern Conference finals, which is when Dwight Howard turned into the Man-Child of Steel and sent the Cavs home for summer vacation, Cleveland has been looking for a way to neutralize the inside-out game of the Magic. So there Howard was, the "impostor" Superman, in O'Neal's term for him, looking levelly in the eyes of LeBron's Big Sidekick as the pair stood in the center jump circle Thursday night at The Q. This wasn't the pretense of dislike in the ..."

Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal speaks out on Superman 'impostor'

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February 12

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"There's only one Superman in the NBA, according to Shaquille O'Neal, and he doesn't play in Orlando. Despite those Superman commercials on TNT and ESPN featuring Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard, the original Superman is alive and well and living -- and thriving -- in Cleveland. He's doing so playing straight up against his opponents, without the benefit of double teams. "When I was coming up and there was Pat Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon], I never doubled anybody," O'Neal said after helping the Cavaliers dismantle the Magic, 115-106, Thursday night at The Q. The Cavs extended their winning streak to a franchise-record-tying 13 straight games. "You tell me who the real Superman is. Don't ..."

Hey Howard: Stay in the game

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February 12

Orlando Sentinel

columnist George Diaz

"Last season, the Magic were Cleveland's daddy. This season, parental rights have been terminated. After owning Cleveland last season, the Magic have lost their winning touch against the Cavaliers. They've lost twice in as many matchups. Their 115-106 loss Thursday night reflectswhat happens when a team has a chippy attitude against an opponent. Cleveland has something to prove. The Magic are simply trying to hold serve. They aren't doing a very good job of it. Once again, a greater share of the blame falls on Dwight Howard. Superman can't perform any feats of wonder sitting on the bench. He got in foul trouble in the first matchup this season, getting two quick fouls facing The Original ..."

Nine gold medalists added to U.S. national team roster

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February 10

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) joined six others from the reigning Olympic champions who are among 27 players on the U.S. national team roster. The players chosen Wednesday will be candidates for this summer's world championships and the 2012 Olympics in London. Also returning from the team that ended the Americans' eight-year gold medal drought in major competitions are: Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) and Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)."

Dwight Howard moves closer to a one-game suspension . . . but not as close as commonly thought

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February 10

Orlando Sentinel

"Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard continues to move perilously close to a league-imposed suspension — but not quite as close as commonly thought. In the NBA, a player receives an automatic one-game suspension once he accrues his 16th technical foul of the regular season. The league issues an additional one-game suspension for each two additional "Ts" thereafter. A player's technical-foul count restarts once the playoffs arrive. Howard picked up a technical foul Monday night in the Magic's victory over the New Orleans Hornets. But while the league's Web site on Tuesday listed Howard as having 13 techs for the season, the all-star center in fact now has 12 of them."

Magic star Dwight Howard keeps piling up technical fouls

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February 7

Orlando Sentinel

"Turned off by the hours and hours of animated non-stop chatter leading up to the Super Bowl? Then maybe you might want to watch something other than. … the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics today. Arguments are set to begin at 2:30 p.m. These two teams yak more at officials than in your typical local town hall meeting. PETA doesn't launch this many protests in a year. When the Magic and Celtics get together, you actually feel sorry for referees, what with all the caustic complaining from tip-off to final horn. Divorce attorneys ought to officiate them. If the NBA really wanted to punish Tim Donaghy, authorities would make him work every Magic-Celtics game. And today, there's even more at ..."

Dwight Howard expects to attend soccer's 2010 World Cup

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February 6

Orlando Sentinel

"It appears that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will continue his jet-setting ways this upcoming summer. Howard has revealed that he expects to attend a portion of soccer's 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The all-star said adidas, a company he endorses, wants to send him to the event to serve as "a sports reporter." "I'm planning to go, yes," Howard said after the Magic lost to the Washington Wizards on Friday night. "Most likely I'll be there." Although Howard said he plays a soccer videogame on occasion, he acknowledges he doesn't know much about the world's most popular sport. When asked whether he's a big supporter of the United States' team, he volunteered that he doesn't know the ..."

Hawks have a Dwight Howard Problem

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February 5

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"The Hawks obviously have ambitions beyond the second round of the playoffs, but they have a Dwight Howard Problem. They can't guard him. The Orlando center scored 31 points and had 19 rebounds in a 104-86 victory against Atlanta last week and Rashard Lewis, the Magic's swingman, pushed a needle in the Hawks. "They don't have anybody who can guard Dwight inside," Lewis told the Orlando Sentinel. It was a taunt that could resonate throughout the rest of the season. The Hawks, no matter how good they may become, face a wall they cannot climb. So do the Hawks have a short future in April? Mike Woodson, whose team entertains Chicago Friday night, has more than 20 years of NBA experience as a ..."

It's Dwight's night as Howard leads Orlando Magic's rout of Atlanta Hawks

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January 31

Orlando Sentinel

"Mere percentage points separate the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks in the Southeast Division standings. But when you throw Dwight Howard into the mathematical equation, the teams seem miles apart. Howard and the Magic emphatically answered the latest challenge by the rising Hawks, squashing them 104-86 on Saturday night in front of a sell-out crowd at Amway Arena. Howard scored 31 points and grabbed 19 rebounds as the Magic won their sixth consecutive game against the Hawks, including three this season. Orlando (31-16) recaptured first place from Atlanta (30-16) and lead the Southeast by 1/2-game. The Hawks had made up ground and vaulted to the top during the Magic's slump earlier this ..."

Hawks still can't solve Magic's Howard

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January 31

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"There was so much out there for the Hawks to take. With a win against the Magic on Saturday night, they would increase their Southeast Division lead over Orlando and their lead over Boston for No. 2 in the Eastern Conference. Coach Mike Woodson would coach the East All-Stars, and a 3-1 record in a tough week would further establish the Hawks among the East elite. Instead, Dwight Howard took it all away. The Hawks couldn't stop the Magic's All-Star center in the decisive third quarter and lost 104-86 at Amway Arena. It was the Hawks' third loss in three games against the Magic this season and sixth consecutive overall. Orlando (31-16) regained the Southeast lead by one-half game over the ..."

Dwight Howard finds his rhythm on offense against the Boston Celtics

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January 29

Orlando Sentinel

"For three quarters Thursday night, it looked like Dwight Howard would end up with another disastrous offensive night against the Boston Celtics. But everything changed in the fourth quarter. Initially limited by early foul trouble and Boston's rugged interior defenders, Howard came alive in the game's late stages. He scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and helped lift the Orlando Magic to a 96-94 comeback victory over the Celtics at Amway Arena. "That's the best he's played against their big guys in the low post," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "I thought that he looked tremendous down there, and we kept going to him in the fourth quarter because he was playing so well. I ..."

Orlando Magic's big man sucks air from Charlotte Bobcats

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January 24

Charlotte Observer

"How important is Dwight Howard to the Orlando Magic? "How much is breathing important?'' Charlotte Bobcats guard Stephen Jackson replied, and his analogy was particularly apt following the Bobcats' 106-95 overtime loss to the Magic - Howard sucked the air from the Bobcats' lungs. Seven-footer Howard's 10 points might not have meant much, but his seven blocked shots and 20 rebounds controlled the game. It's no coincidence Jackson and Gerald Wallace shot a combined 8-of-29 from the field, or that Wallace didn't score until the fourth quarter. The Bobcats (21-21 and losers of two straight) were so frustrated by what Howard does - and what, to Wallace, the referees allow him to do - that ..."

Dwight Howard dominant at the line in Orlando Magic's win over Sacramento Kings

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January 23

Orlando Sentinel

"As Dwight Howard finished dressing in the locker room, a commercial spot for Valentine's Day flashed on the big screen. "That's my movie," Howard beamed. "Lot of stars in it." Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba and Anne Hathaway, among other A-listers, appear with Howard in the romantic comedy. Well, maybe it's the other way around. It was one of two movies that Howard made this summer. Apparently, contrary to some critics, he also squeezed in some work on his free-throw shooting, and some makes between takes. Howard hit 10 in a row and finished 11-of-12 from the line in the Orlando Magic's 100-84 rout of the Sacramento Kings on Friday night at Amway Arena. Howard has been looking like Larry Bird ..."

Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard elected an All-Star Game starter for the third season in a row

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January 22

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard now knows for certain how he'll spend Valentine's Day. He'll be the starting center for the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas. The league announced the final results of fan balloting on Thursday night. Howard received 2,360,096 votes, almost three times as many votes as his next closest competitor at the position, Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal. "I'm just happy to be able to represent my team and my organization in the all-star game," Howard said. "I'm going to continue to work to get better. I strive to be the best player I can be, and one of the best players to play. Playing in the all-star game, just being around the other ..."

Magic's Howard gets back at Hibbert, leads win over Pacers

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January 21

Indianapolis Star

"Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert knew Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard would be pumped up to face him Wednesday after what happened in the previous meeting between them. Howard exacted a measure of revenge by dominating the Pacers' second-year center in the Magic's 109-98 victory. Howard had 32 points and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes. He went 16-of-24 from the free throw line. He is shooting only 59 percent from the line this season. "That was probably one of my worst games in my two years," Hibbert said. "I have to take my hat off to Dwight, who played very aggressively from the start. I knew from the start they were going to go to him." Howard came in focused after Hibbert had 26 points, ..."

Orlando Magic's problems start with Dwight Howard and Vince Carter

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January 20

Orlando Sentinel

columnist Mike Bianchi

"You want to know what the problem is with the Magic? It starts with this quote : "It's like we're going through the motions. Just because you went to the Finals last year, you can't go out on the floor and expect teams to lay down. We got no heart." The problem isn't the quote itself because somebody needed to say it; the problem is the guy who uttered it. The comment came a few nights ago from small forward Matt Barnes, a scrappy, hard-working journeyman who is apparently disgusted with the loafing, lackadaisical attitude on his new team. With all due respect, why is Barnes the one stepping to the plate and showing the leadership this team is starving for on and off the floor? Why isn't ..."

Dwight Howard: No dunk you

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January 19

Orlando Sentinel

"As expected, C Dwight Howard isn't competing in this year's slam-dunk event during NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas at Cowboys Stadium. Howard told the Sentinel in December that he would likely decline and his name was not on the league's official roster of dunk competitors Monday. "I want to win basketball games, not dunk contests," Howard said after the Magic's shootaround on Monday in Los Angeles. Howard won the 2008 slam-dunk contest, flying through the air while wearing a Superman cape. He was runner-up last season, edged out by Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks. "It is a show. I'd rather see other people do it. When it comes to all-star games…have fun," Howard said."

James, Howard and Adelman are the frontrunners for league awards at the season's halfway point

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January 19

Orlando Sentinel

"The Orlando Magic played their 41st game on Monday night, which means the NBA regular season has reached its midpoint. What better time, then, to look back on the first half of the season? Most Valuable Player: LeBron James. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is averaging 29.6 points per game and is making a career-high 51.1 percent of his shots. More importantly, he's carried the Cavs to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Runners-up: Kobe Bryant, Lakers; Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets. Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic center is struggling offensively, but he remains the most dominant defensive player in the game. He entered Monday as the league leader in ..."

Where's Superman? NBA defenses have caught up to Dwight Howard's limited offensive game

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January 17

Orlando Sentinel

"During the NBA Finals last June, a reporter asked Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to evaluate Dwight Howard. "He's still offensively kind of raw," Abdul-Jabbar said then. "He doesn't have a go-to move yet. He needs a little bit more work on a variety of offensive moves so he can't be predictable. Right now, he's kind of predictable." Now, seven months later, little has changed about Howard's offensive game. The Orlando Magic star still lacks a reliable go-to move. He continues to make the vast majority of his shots within a few feet of the basket. He remains a liability from the free-throw line. Those limitations have become glaringly apparent in recent weeks. The Magic have lost seven of their last ..."

Dwight Howard, Lakers' Andrew Bynum 'just different,' Phil Jackson says

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January 17

Los Angeles Times

"Lakers center Andrew Bynum has a nice repertoire of offensive moves. He has a smooth, still developing offensive game. Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is a more physical, low-post offensive player. His game is about dunking. On the surface, it appears as if Bynum has a more advanced offensive game than Howard, who is generally considered the best center in the NBA. Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, however, doesn't put much stock in that theory. "It's a difference in just their physical makeup," said Jackson, who gave his team Saturday off. "I think 'Drew has great hands, great shooting touch, [but] doesn't have that strength and quickness that Howard has, that physical makeup." Bynum and ..."

Dwight Howard roars to life as Orlando Magic crown Kings

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January 13

Orlando Sentinel

"Center Dwight Howard looked as if he were trying to pick up a few more all-star votes at Arco Arena. Howard scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead a fourth-quarter comeback as the Orlando Magic opened a four-game West trip with a 109-88 victory against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. The Magic trailed by as many nine points and were behind by two heading into the final period. They then locked down the high-scoring Kings, holding them to 10 points while scoring 33 and hitting 12-of-18 shots (66.7 percent). Orlando, thanks to Howard, won the points in the paint battle, 52-26. The Kings had been averaging 47 in the paint. This was anecdotal evidence that you ..."

Hawks' Smith dishes on friendship with Howard

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January 10

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Before the Hawks tipped off against the Orlando Magic on Saturday, Hawks forward Josh Smith shared some lesser-known details about his friendship with Magic center Dwight Howard. "We went to the same preschool together," Smith said. "I've known Dwight since we were in diapers." Before they played together on the Atlanta Celtics AAU team, they were competitors. "Believe it or not, Dwight was a point guard at first," Smith said. "When we were like 11 or 12, he was a point guard. He ran point for his team." Once they became teammates, they often played up an age group. Said Smith, "It helped us out playing up and being able to play against guys who we thought, 'Man, he's 30! He's got a ..."

Dwight Howard tries to put the Magic's recent swoon into perspective

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January 6

Orlando Sentinel

"How does a defending conference champion with its full complement of players lose to a lowly, injury-ravaged squad like the Indiana Pacers? Is it that tough to win on the road? Perhaps the loss — not to mention the loss Saturday night to Chicago — is just a bump in the road that is bound to occur over an 82-game season. Or maybe it's a symptom of something much worse. Dwight Howard told me the problem isn't that the players aren't playing hard enough. He said they're playing tight. "We expect so much out of each other that sometimes I think we want to do too much," Howard said. "I would say it's like when you grab sand too tight; you tend to lose all the sand. If you just hold it in your ..."

Dwight Howard responds to Kendrick Perkins' comment that Howard doesn't like opponents to be physical

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December 28

Orlando Sentinel

"Why were the Boston Celtics able to limit Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard to five points on just seven shot attempts in the Magic's Christmas Day defeat at Amway Arena? Celtics coach Doc Rivers said afterward that his team didn't do "anything special," but Celtics C Kendrick Perkins offered a less delicate answer. "You've got to play him physical. You watch other teams around the league, they pretty much let him set up shop," Perkins said, according to The Associated Press. "You've just got to go in and be prepared to go to war. You've got to fight him first, hit him first. . . . He likes to be physical, but he doesn't like anyone to be physical with him." Howard was asked to respond to ..."

Dwight Howard responds to Kendrick Perkins' comment that Howard doesn't like opponents to be physical

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December 27

Orlando Sentinel

"Why were the Boston Celtics able to limit Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard to five points on just seven shot attempts in the Magic's Christmas Day defeat at Amway Arena? Celtics coach Doc Rivers said afterward that his team didn't do "anything special," but Celtics C Kendrick Perkins offered a less delicate answer. "You've got to play him physical. You watch other teams around the league, they pretty much let him set up shop," Perkins said, according to The Associated Press. "You've just got to go in and be prepared to go to war. You've got to fight him first, hit him first. . . . He likes to be physical, but he doesn't like anyone to be physical with him." Howard was asked to respond to ..."

Feeling of déjà vu in Raptor defeat

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December 17

Toronto Star

columnist Dave Feschuk

"In the Raptors locker room the other night, Jarrett Jack, the Toronto point guard, spent a few moments admiring a piece of Chris Bosh's wardrobe. It was an undershirt – otherwise known as a tank, a singlet, a wifebeater. But Bosh was draped in an off-white model that looked better than the usual discount-store stock. "Where'd you get that sandpaper wifebeater?" said Jack. "That (shirt's) taupe." The shade of Bosh's garment could have also been described as beige, cappuccino, biscuit, tan. And the point of the anecdote? When you write about the Raptors, it's always useful to think of different ways to say the same thing. Wednesday night's blowout loss to the Orlando Magic, 118-99, was ..."

Dwight Howard's coach, teammates, rise to his defense

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December 15

Orlando Sentinel

"Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said the Pacers' gameplan was to "foul the hell out of Dwight Howard." They sure did. And they fouled him hard. In the third quarter Troy Murphy grabbed Howard around the neck and shoulders and after the whistle, Howard turned and swung his left arm out toward Murphy. He didn't make any contact, but both players were assessed a technical. "It's out of hand what they're letting people do to Dwight," Van Gundy said. "And if you're going to let people continue to hit him around the head and grab him around the neck, look, I don't care, those are flagrant fouls, they need to be called. I don't care who you are, you're only going to take that for so long. It's ..."