duncan228
05-26-2009, 01:50 AM
Big obstacle in way of dream Finals (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/46036932.html)
Mike Monroe
Express-News
With home-court advantage regained and lessons apparently learned in the Western Conference finals, the Lakers are back on track to make good on the Kobe Bryant half of the NBA Finals of David Stern's dreams.
It's the LeBron James portion that suddenly looks shaky.
If Stern and ABC miss out on an anticipated TV ratings bonanza greater than anything Michael Jordan produced in any of his Finals, the blame will fall on Dwight Howard. He is using the Eastern Conference finals to remind the world that basketball is a tall man's game.
The Orlando Magic are one LeBron miracle shot shy of an unbeatable 3-0 lead over the Cavaliers because Howard is the most dominant big man in the game.
Just as Tim Duncan made the Spurs the small market team that made Stern grit his teeth, Howard has turned the small-market Magic into Stern's worst playoff nightmare.
Everything the Magic do offensively is predicated on Howard's presence in the low post, and the presumption that opponents must double-team him when he gets the ball near the basket.
If this sounds like the Spurs' approach during the Duncan era, it is no accident. Magic general manager Otis Smith admitted as much during a post-shootaround chat at the AT&T Center when the Magic came to San Antonio in January.
Smith got Rashard Lewis in a sign-and-trade deal with Seattle because he saw bits of both Michael Finley and Robert Horry in him. Howard was the key to allowing Lewis to become a feared 3-point gunner.
Before Howard knew where he would land in the NBA, he told reporters at the 2004 Chicago pre-draft camp that he would judge his career a success if he were to someday elicit comparisons to Duncan, the player whose game he most admired.
With knees that still have thick layers of cartilage, Howard now is more dangerous in the low post than Duncan. What he lacks in Duncan-like finesse from the perimeter, he makes up for with LeBron-like athleticism. Howard's combination of speed and power is unmatched in the league.
The league's coaches have put Duncan on one of the All-Defensive teams every season he has been in the NBA, but he's never led the league in blocked shots or been voted Defensive Player of the Year.
Howard did both this season.
The Cavaliers have a 7-foot-3 center who has been an All-Star, but Howard has 64 points and 40 rebounds in three conference finals games.
How thoroughly can Howard dominate at both ends?
Ask the league's 30 general managers which player they would most like to build around for the next 10 years, and Howard would get plenty of votes. James would win this hypothetical, but the guys who pick the personnel still understand the value of long and talented.
There was a reason Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie were drafted ahead of Jordan.
Bryant? At age 30 and 6-foot-7, he is too old and short for consideration in our “around whom would you build for the next decade?” debate.
He is still the player every sane coach wants if a game is on the line and time is of the essence. But he is six years older than James and seven years older than Howard.
Mike Monroe
Express-News
With home-court advantage regained and lessons apparently learned in the Western Conference finals, the Lakers are back on track to make good on the Kobe Bryant half of the NBA Finals of David Stern's dreams.
It's the LeBron James portion that suddenly looks shaky.
If Stern and ABC miss out on an anticipated TV ratings bonanza greater than anything Michael Jordan produced in any of his Finals, the blame will fall on Dwight Howard. He is using the Eastern Conference finals to remind the world that basketball is a tall man's game.
The Orlando Magic are one LeBron miracle shot shy of an unbeatable 3-0 lead over the Cavaliers because Howard is the most dominant big man in the game.
Just as Tim Duncan made the Spurs the small market team that made Stern grit his teeth, Howard has turned the small-market Magic into Stern's worst playoff nightmare.
Everything the Magic do offensively is predicated on Howard's presence in the low post, and the presumption that opponents must double-team him when he gets the ball near the basket.
If this sounds like the Spurs' approach during the Duncan era, it is no accident. Magic general manager Otis Smith admitted as much during a post-shootaround chat at the AT&T Center when the Magic came to San Antonio in January.
Smith got Rashard Lewis in a sign-and-trade deal with Seattle because he saw bits of both Michael Finley and Robert Horry in him. Howard was the key to allowing Lewis to become a feared 3-point gunner.
Before Howard knew where he would land in the NBA, he told reporters at the 2004 Chicago pre-draft camp that he would judge his career a success if he were to someday elicit comparisons to Duncan, the player whose game he most admired.
With knees that still have thick layers of cartilage, Howard now is more dangerous in the low post than Duncan. What he lacks in Duncan-like finesse from the perimeter, he makes up for with LeBron-like athleticism. Howard's combination of speed and power is unmatched in the league.
The league's coaches have put Duncan on one of the All-Defensive teams every season he has been in the NBA, but he's never led the league in blocked shots or been voted Defensive Player of the Year.
Howard did both this season.
The Cavaliers have a 7-foot-3 center who has been an All-Star, but Howard has 64 points and 40 rebounds in three conference finals games.
How thoroughly can Howard dominate at both ends?
Ask the league's 30 general managers which player they would most like to build around for the next 10 years, and Howard would get plenty of votes. James would win this hypothetical, but the guys who pick the personnel still understand the value of long and talented.
There was a reason Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie were drafted ahead of Jordan.
Bryant? At age 30 and 6-foot-7, he is too old and short for consideration in our “around whom would you build for the next decade?” debate.
He is still the player every sane coach wants if a game is on the line and time is of the essence. But he is six years older than James and seven years older than Howard.