Howard and Van Gundy in a conflict?

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

We dont need Dwight to score 20 per game. He ISN'T our best offensive player, and he ISN'T needed to carry us with his scoring.

The Magic need his DEFENSE and REBOUNDING. That is what was winning us so many games early on. Since then, he's gotten lazy.

You cant **** pout and take plays off. Not saying Dwight does this routinely, but it has occured.

SVG is right. Dwight needs to pull his head out of his ass.

[magicmamma]

At the time SVG sat Dwight in the fourth, he had played 34 minutes and made 6 rebounds. Mo had taken 8 rebounds in 27 minutes. Hedo and Jameer each had 4, Cookie had 3, and Rashard, Keith and Adonal each had two. When Dwight got back in the game, he took 3 rebounds in less than 4 minutes. I think he got the message. But here's the good part. In that same 4 minutes, Hedo and Shard each got 2 more rebounds and Keith got one. So it wasn't a matter of Dwight taking rebounds away from his teammates. When he picked up his effort the others followed suit.

I think Dwight wants to do the right thing, but sometimes it takes drastic measures to get his attention. For Dwight, the best attention focusing happens when he is benched -- even for a few minutes.

[craig01]

Howard hit the proverbial "wall" a few weeks ago IMO.

It's not that he is not hustling, or that he does not care.

I think his concentration is lacking, and I think he's physically down.

Remember; He played in the Summer Games, had a preseason that included a long trip to China, a Texas trip, 2 west coast trips, an unbalanced home and away schedule.

All the while playing alone in the box without any help up front.

Add it all up, and it's like a guy working 70 hour weeks for five years in a row without a vacation.

Lack of focus becomes part of the grind.

[lovehoops01]

I just have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach about this whole thing. At this point, I think I'm going to be more anxious about the rest of the season (and into the future) than to be able to enjoy it, even if the Magic do well. Of course, if they had played a few more games like Monday's, I would have felt the same way, I guess.

[Bensational]

It's fair enough. SVG wants him to be Bill Russell, Dwight wants to be Shaq.

Dwight is our most efficient offensive weapon. show me another player on our team that averages 21.7PPG on 60% shooting. granted his TO's eat in to those numbers, but he's still the most reliable and consistent option. and a great deal of those points come from his own hustle, not from entry passes. so Dwight's desire to score shouldn't be met with any argument of "well, we've got other scorers so there's no need for you".

in all honesty i'd like to see Dwight become the next Russell, and dominate the game defensively while his offense just comes to him. i'm sure even in that style he'll get his 20ppg. but, Dwight's got so much talent that if he has his heart set on being a big time scorer like Shaq, then we can't really stop him and we'll just have to embrace his decision.

Dwight's got a good head, and SVG seems to have a good plan. i'm sure they'll get on the same page soon.

[Chubby Chaser]

It's simple. Feed dwight the damn ball. This kids a beast. He should be taking 20-30 shots a game IMO. The more shots He takes the more likely you'll win.

[mhectorgato]

It's simple. Feed dwight the damn ball. This kids a beast. He should be taking 20-30 shots a game IMO. The more shots He takes the more likely you'll win.

He's not yet able to effectively deal with a consistent double team.

We just need to be more consistent with him. Most games we start off early by giving him the ball regularly, but as the game progresses, it's less and less and less.

[craig01]

It's simple. Feed dwight the damn ball. This kids a beast. He should be taking 20-30 shots a game IMO. The more shots He takes the more likely you'll win.

Not true.

Unless he starts shooting 3's to offset the TO's.