Bold predictions for the Lakers — the Most Interesting Team in the World
By Amaar Burton
3. Dwight Howard will (somewhat) redeem himself
There is a segment of Laker Nation that will never forgive Dwight Howard for what happened during and after the 2012-13 season.
Back then, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year was still in his prime and joined the Los Angeles Lakers along with two-time league MVP Steve Nash, stacking an L.A. roster that already had Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace.
That “super-team” version of the Lakers was widely projected to win the Western Conference and set up the long-awaited showdown between Kobe and LeBron (then with the Miami Heat) in the NBA Finals.
It was a spectacular failure.
Howard put up a valiant effort in the regular season, leading the NBA in rebounding (12.4 per game) and blocking 2.4 shots per game despite playing through back and shoulder injuries. The Lakers barely squeezed into the playoffs, however.
And when Kobe went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Howard was expected to step up if L.A. had any chance of getting past the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.
Howard proceeded to not play great in the San Antonio series, the Lakers got swept and Howard was ejected in the season-ending Game 4 amidst an emotional meltdown. Then he decided to leave in free agency when the team wanted to re-sign him.
Ever since then, Howard has been vilified among Lakers fans. The vitriol grew worse over the years as Kobe made it no secret that he didn’t think much of Howard’s character.
“I just think there were two big problems, injuries and ego. What would I have done different? I would say wait until I was healthy... At times, I think wanting to be selfish cost everybody on the team.”
— Stadium (@Stadium) September 25, 2019
Dwight Howard opens up to NBA Insider @ShamsCharania on '12-'13 Lakers. pic.twitter.com/f4VpE9Ham4
Howard’s recent travels around the league — from Houston to Atlanta to Charlotte to D.C. — have brought him back to L.A. this season after signing a one-year deal with the Lakers.
Although Howard’s acquisition was in direct response to the Lakers losing DeMarcus Cousins to a torn ACL, Howard is not expected to shoulder a big load for this team.
He might start ahead of JaVale McGee or come off the bench, or he and McGee will form a platoon at the 5 spot that could be the sole material of a Shaquille O’Neal stand-up comedy routine.
Either way, no one should expect the 33-year-old Howard to be the double-double machine he once was.
Howard will be asked to rebound, protect the rim and be a reliable outlet on pick-and-rolls with L.A.’s playmakers. He appears to be in good shape, and barring injury, he should be able to fulfill his lowered individual expectations and therefore help the Lakers fulfill their higher team expectations.