Tuesday 28 August 2012

Dwight Howard to the Lakers


So the Dwight Howard problem has finally come to and end, he's going to the Lakers.  I think I speak for all NBA fans when I say: FINALLY!


The Lakers have managed to pull of another blockbuster move (first Shaq, then Gasol and now Howard) and have added the best center in the league to their roster.  But what effect will this have on the team?

Nash:  Nash is and has been one of the best point guards in the NBA for a number of years.  He's getting older, but with age comes experience and there are few in the NBA more experienced in playing the point guard position than Steve Nash.  Being the pick and roll master that he is, we can look forward to a lot of pick and rolls with him and Howard, and hopefully a few lob passes along the way!

Bryant: Kobe now has ANOTHER big man to play alongside  (Shaq, Malone, Gasol & now Howard).  This should do wonders for him!  No superstar in history has had the opportunity to play with such as many superstars as Kobe Bryant.  It would be nice to see Kobe's assist numbers increase this year, considering he has arguably the best two big men in their respective position in the league at his disposal.

However I think the number one influence that Howard has with Kobe will be off the court.  Bryant is used to being the face of the Lakers, and now with Howard, who is a HUGE personality, there may be a hidden conflict as to who is the face of the Lakers.  We saw such a dual in the early 2000s with Kobe and Shaq and we all know how that turned out.  Hopefully things will be different this time.  If Bryant is able to share the ball, whilst shooting efficiently (one can hope) we should be in for some good basketball (and maybe a championship or 2).

Metta World Peace:  I don't think that the introduction of Howard will have much effect on MWP.  Peace did shoot a dreadful .296% from the 3 point line last season.  Howard's offensive presence (combined with the attention Gasol, Nash and Bryant will receive) should lead to more open 3 point shots for the 2004 defensive player of the year.

Pau Gasol:  I believe Howard's presence will have a bigger effect on Pau Gasol than anyone else on the Laker team.  Gasol is used to being the first option out of the big men on offence.  Even towards the end of Andrew Bynum's career as a Laker when he was putting up 20 and 20 in games, Gasol was still the primary option.  Now with Howard will we see more of a Kobe and Howard game?  Gasol may start to feel like the child who is picked last when teams are being decided.

In 2008 Shaquile O'neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns.  While many hoped that this trade would create a more dominant front court for the Suns, it led to the paint being too clogged and thus affected Ama're Stoudmire greatly.  We saw the number of dunks and points in the paint drop for the power-forward.  I feel that this could be repeated in the 2013 season with the Lakers.   In addition we may see Howard 'eating' up all of Gasol's rebounds and blocks, which would lead to Gasol mentally not feeling involved in the team.  Unlike Howard and Bryant, Gasol is a 'quiet' player.  By that I mean he isn't usually on the highlight reel.  Howard on the other hand is, could his constant dunks, blocks and showboating lead Gasol to feel mentally isolated?  I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

Overall: Howard is the best defensive center in the league.  His presence on the defensive end of the court will help the Lakers a lot.  Mishaps caused by Nash, Bryant and Metta World Peace on the perimeter will be covered up this year by Howard swatting layups into the fourth row.

On the offensive end his post-up is one of the best in the league, his strength and offensive rebounding abilities are un-matched and we can look forward to a lot more pick and rolls this year leading to exciting dunks and alley-oops.

It will be exciting to see how the Lakers turn out.  Its too early to talk about championships (although that didn't stop people 2 years ago with LeBron taking his talents to the Heat) but one thing is for certain; and that is the Lakers are back!

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