lefty
12-13-2012, 03:49 PM
Lakers Now (http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow)
Round-the-clock coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow)
Dwight Howard tells those criticizing him to settle down
http://www.trbimg.com/img-50ca1dab/turbine/la-sp-ln-dwight-howard-20121213-001/600 Dwight Howard wants his critics to relax a little. (Harry How / Getty Images)
By Mike Bresnahan December 13, 2012, 10:34 a.m.
NEW YORK -- Dwight Howard (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/dwight-howard-PESPT008416.topic) has a message for anybody criticizing him.
Settle down.
The Lakers (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/los-angeles-lakers-ORSPT000104.topic) center wanted to remind everybody he was still not 100%.
"I wasn't even supposed to be playing until January and I'm playing now. What do you expect?" he said after the Lakers' shoot-around Thursday afternoon. They play the New York Knicks (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/new-york-knicks-ORSPT000200.topic) tonight.
Howard has been criticized because of his inaccurate free-throw shooting and also for some subpar games on offense, most recently a three-for-nine shooting effort Tuesday in the Lakers' 100-94 loss to Cleveland.
Howard reminded people who "expected me to be high-flying" that he had back surgery last April to repair a herniated disk.
"I'm not in terrific shape," he said. "I'm still working through that. I have a long way to go. Only thing I can do is continue to play as hard as I can."
Meanwhile, the Lakers will be without Pau Gasol (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/pau-gasol-PESPT002503.topic) a sixth consecutive game because of knee tendinitis. They are 1-4 without him and searching for answers.
Two Lakers greats -- Kobe Bryant (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/kobe-bryant-PESPT000948.topic) and Magic Johnson (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/magic-johnson-PEHST001031.topic)-- even had a recent phone conversation, Bryant revealed Thursday. The presumed topic: what to do with the Lakers, who are 9-13 overall, 2-7 on the road.
Johnson has been a vocal critic of Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/mike-dantoni-PESPT0000018596.topic)'s push-the-pace offense. Johnson also wants D'Antoni to create more activity for Gasol near the basket.
Magic Johnson :lmao
When they had to Eddie Jordan : " they need to play pick and rolls and play and a high paced offense "
Now he is saying it sucks ? :lmao
Dwight Howard Says the Lakers Need to Step Up on Defense
The Los Angeles Lakers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-lakers) have been in a bit of a rut as of late and have lost three of their last ten games.
Dwight Howard (http://bleacherreport.com/dwight-howard) knows what the team needs to start winning games.
We caught up with the Lakers during their shoot around in New York City to hear what the big man had to say about the team's recent performance, their defense and what he expects from his teammates. Even though he is averaging over a double-double per game and is a known NBA (http://bleacherreport.com/nba) perennial All-Star, he seemed to speak his mind after practice.
Do you agree with Howard? Let us know in the comments below if you do and what the Lakers need to do to get back in the wins column!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1444057-dwight-howard-says-the-lakers-need-to-step-up-on-defense
Round-the-clock coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow)
Dwight Howard tells those criticizing him to settle down
http://www.trbimg.com/img-50ca1dab/turbine/la-sp-ln-dwight-howard-20121213-001/600 Dwight Howard wants his critics to relax a little. (Harry How / Getty Images)
By Mike Bresnahan December 13, 2012, 10:34 a.m.
NEW YORK -- Dwight Howard (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/dwight-howard-PESPT008416.topic) has a message for anybody criticizing him.
Settle down.
The Lakers (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/los-angeles-lakers-ORSPT000104.topic) center wanted to remind everybody he was still not 100%.
"I wasn't even supposed to be playing until January and I'm playing now. What do you expect?" he said after the Lakers' shoot-around Thursday afternoon. They play the New York Knicks (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/new-york-knicks-ORSPT000200.topic) tonight.
Howard has been criticized because of his inaccurate free-throw shooting and also for some subpar games on offense, most recently a three-for-nine shooting effort Tuesday in the Lakers' 100-94 loss to Cleveland.
Howard reminded people who "expected me to be high-flying" that he had back surgery last April to repair a herniated disk.
"I'm not in terrific shape," he said. "I'm still working through that. I have a long way to go. Only thing I can do is continue to play as hard as I can."
Meanwhile, the Lakers will be without Pau Gasol (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/pau-gasol-PESPT002503.topic) a sixth consecutive game because of knee tendinitis. They are 1-4 without him and searching for answers.
Two Lakers greats -- Kobe Bryant (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/kobe-bryant-PESPT000948.topic) and Magic Johnson (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/magic-johnson-PEHST001031.topic)-- even had a recent phone conversation, Bryant revealed Thursday. The presumed topic: what to do with the Lakers, who are 9-13 overall, 2-7 on the road.
Johnson has been a vocal critic of Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/mike-dantoni-PESPT0000018596.topic)'s push-the-pace offense. Johnson also wants D'Antoni to create more activity for Gasol near the basket.
Magic Johnson :lmao
When they had to Eddie Jordan : " they need to play pick and rolls and play and a high paced offense "
Now he is saying it sucks ? :lmao
Dwight Howard Says the Lakers Need to Step Up on Defense
The Los Angeles Lakers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-lakers) have been in a bit of a rut as of late and have lost three of their last ten games.
Dwight Howard (http://bleacherreport.com/dwight-howard) knows what the team needs to start winning games.
We caught up with the Lakers during their shoot around in New York City to hear what the big man had to say about the team's recent performance, their defense and what he expects from his teammates. Even though he is averaging over a double-double per game and is a known NBA (http://bleacherreport.com/nba) perennial All-Star, he seemed to speak his mind after practice.
Do you agree with Howard? Let us know in the comments below if you do and what the Lakers need to do to get back in the wins column!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1444057-dwight-howard-says-the-lakers-need-to-step-up-on-defense