duncan228
04-26-2009, 11:02 PM
X factor Josh Howard is why Dallas Mavericks lead series with Spurs (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/042709dnspomoore.3965955.html)
David Moore
Dallas Morning News
If you knew what to expect out of Josh Howard entering these playoffs, raise your hand.
That's what I thought.
Questions about his ankle made it difficult to predict his impact. Memories of his performance in last year's playoffs undercut confidence.
Howard is the X factor for these Dallas Mavericks in more ways than one. But 10 days into this series with San Antonio, a simple truth has emerged.
The Mavericks wouldn't be up 3-1 without him.
Gush all you want about J.J. Barea. Focus on what Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry have been unable to do. Not nearly enough has been said about what Howard has done.
The small forward has been the lone, consistent offensive force for the Mavericks in this series. He's made the Spurs pay for their stubborn attachment to Nowitzki and Terry.
San Antonio has thrown double-teams at Howard along the way, but he's been able to slip through the defensive cracks to average 19.2 points. His 25 points in the team's Game 1 victory help set the tone of this series.
Howard scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half of Saturday's win. He got to the free throw line 13 times, a crucial statistic on an afternoon when the team shot 38.4 percent from the field.
"I thought Josh was great," Jason Kidd said. "He's been huge for us.
"He understands how important he is for us, and you can see it now in the results. He's starting to get it, and that makes the game so much easier for all of us."
What Howard finally gets is that the Mavericks don't have to run as many plays for him as they do for Nowitzki and Terry. His 3-point range and ability to slash to the basket allow him to play off those two and still get his 20 to 25 points.
What Howard gets is that this team needs his versatility, energy and defensive tenacity more than it does his scoring.
Ask Howard why the Mavericks have taken a 3-1 lead in this series, and he will tell you team effort, in capital letters.
"Everyone in this gym, in this locker room, knew they were going to key on Dirk and Jet," Howard said. "Even in that first game, they were coming off of me.
"I don't understand why, but they did it."
Why? Because San Antonio knew what Nowitkzi and Terry would do to them if they weren't part of the defensive focus. Howard was more of a wild card.
A severely sprained ankle and wrist combined to keep him out of 30 games during the regular season. The ankle will require arthroscopic surgery once the season is over.
Sitting on the bench those days and weeks in March, Howard observed what this team needed from him. He was touched when Nowitzki, Terry and others spoke about how much they needed Howard to be successful.
That period laid the groundwork for what you've seen in this series.
"I know my role on this team," Howard said. "They need me, and I need them."
Howard is at ease with his place in the Mavericks hierarchy. He's having fun, something he didn't have this time last year between his poor performances against New Orleans and discussion of his off-season marijuana use.
Oh yeah, and the party. After the team went down 3-1 to the Hornets, fliers were distributed in the Mavericks locker room inviting players to celebrate Howard's birthday. That did not set well with then-coach Avery Johnson.
So, does Howard have any birthday plans for Tuesday, which also happens to be the date of Game 5?
"No, no, no," he said. "You heard what happened last year. They swore up and down that it was my party.
"No. I'm out, dude."
You may not have known what to expect out of Howard entering these playoffs.
But you have to feel pretty good about what you've seen.
David Moore
Dallas Morning News
If you knew what to expect out of Josh Howard entering these playoffs, raise your hand.
That's what I thought.
Questions about his ankle made it difficult to predict his impact. Memories of his performance in last year's playoffs undercut confidence.
Howard is the X factor for these Dallas Mavericks in more ways than one. But 10 days into this series with San Antonio, a simple truth has emerged.
The Mavericks wouldn't be up 3-1 without him.
Gush all you want about J.J. Barea. Focus on what Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry have been unable to do. Not nearly enough has been said about what Howard has done.
The small forward has been the lone, consistent offensive force for the Mavericks in this series. He's made the Spurs pay for their stubborn attachment to Nowitzki and Terry.
San Antonio has thrown double-teams at Howard along the way, but he's been able to slip through the defensive cracks to average 19.2 points. His 25 points in the team's Game 1 victory help set the tone of this series.
Howard scored 19 of his 28 points in the second half of Saturday's win. He got to the free throw line 13 times, a crucial statistic on an afternoon when the team shot 38.4 percent from the field.
"I thought Josh was great," Jason Kidd said. "He's been huge for us.
"He understands how important he is for us, and you can see it now in the results. He's starting to get it, and that makes the game so much easier for all of us."
What Howard finally gets is that the Mavericks don't have to run as many plays for him as they do for Nowitzki and Terry. His 3-point range and ability to slash to the basket allow him to play off those two and still get his 20 to 25 points.
What Howard gets is that this team needs his versatility, energy and defensive tenacity more than it does his scoring.
Ask Howard why the Mavericks have taken a 3-1 lead in this series, and he will tell you team effort, in capital letters.
"Everyone in this gym, in this locker room, knew they were going to key on Dirk and Jet," Howard said. "Even in that first game, they were coming off of me.
"I don't understand why, but they did it."
Why? Because San Antonio knew what Nowitkzi and Terry would do to them if they weren't part of the defensive focus. Howard was more of a wild card.
A severely sprained ankle and wrist combined to keep him out of 30 games during the regular season. The ankle will require arthroscopic surgery once the season is over.
Sitting on the bench those days and weeks in March, Howard observed what this team needed from him. He was touched when Nowitzki, Terry and others spoke about how much they needed Howard to be successful.
That period laid the groundwork for what you've seen in this series.
"I know my role on this team," Howard said. "They need me, and I need them."
Howard is at ease with his place in the Mavericks hierarchy. He's having fun, something he didn't have this time last year between his poor performances against New Orleans and discussion of his off-season marijuana use.
Oh yeah, and the party. After the team went down 3-1 to the Hornets, fliers were distributed in the Mavericks locker room inviting players to celebrate Howard's birthday. That did not set well with then-coach Avery Johnson.
So, does Howard have any birthday plans for Tuesday, which also happens to be the date of Game 5?
"No, no, no," he said. "You heard what happened last year. They swore up and down that it was my party.
"No. I'm out, dude."
You may not have known what to expect out of Howard entering these playoffs.
But you have to feel pretty good about what you've seen.