DWIGHT HOWARD: SUPERMAN OR KRYPTONITE?
The Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games this past week to capture their opening round Eastern Conference playoff series. The Magic picked up the series-clinching win against Philadelphia while playing without their star player, big man Dwight Howard.
Orlando blew out the 76ers 114-89. This led one Magic player to reportedly tell Andre Miller of the Sixers that the team was actually BETTER without Howard,
“They’re actually better without Dwight Howard,” Sixers guard Andre Miller said. “One of their players told me that they were better without Dwight Howard. They said the ball moves quicker. They’re not standing around a lot.”
Howard had missed the game after being suspended by the league for throwing an elbow at Samuel Dalembert. Seldom-used European Marcin Gortat filled in for Howard in Game Six. He had 14 points and 11 rebounds in Orlando’s victory. Howard is the Magic’s leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. It’s ridiculous to presume the team is better without him. Remember, before Howard arrived in Orlando, the team was so awful that they finished with a record bad enough to get the first pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. Orlando used that pick on Howard.
Orlando finished this season with the third best record in the East. The Magic won 59 games. Howard is the NBA’s leading rebounder and shot-blocker. He was averaging 24 points and 13.8 rebounds against Philadelphia before being suspended.
