maturity
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers...,2756081.story
Dwight Howard apologizes, says he needs to stop complaining
The Lakers center was not happy after getting only five shots in the team's loss to Chicago, but he promised to improve his at ude.
By Mike BresnahanJanuary 23, 2013, 11:37 a.m.
MEMPHIS -- In an almost-empty locker room, Dwight Howard took accountability.
The Lakers center apologized for complaining about not getting enough touches and promised to improve his demeanor on the NBA's most underperforming team this season.
"It starts with me," he said Wednesday after the Lakers' morning shoot-around. "I have to be more of a player out there on the court and not worry about anything, not complain. Just do what I do best."
Howard was not happy after getting only five shots in the Lakers' 95-83 loss Monday to Chicago. He kept telling reporters to "look at the stat sheet" after the game.
"That was immature," he said Wednesday. "I shouldn't have done it.
"I've just got to go out there and dominate defensively and make it tough for teams. I just have to get back to doing that and not worry about the offense."
Some Lakers fans think Howard should be traded before the Feb. 21 deadline. He becomes a free agent July 1.
"I understand why they're saying that because they feel like I have an opportunity to just walk away," Howard said. "That is my choice at the end of the season but right now my focus is tonight and us doing something real special in L.A. We have that opportunity and we can't close the door on the opportunity that we have in front of us. We can turn this thing around."
Howard, however, would not commit to a future with the Lakers.
"We're not discussing that," he said. "Right now, our goal is to win. All I want to do is win. I have to put all my energy into winning and sacrifice whatever I have to do and humble myself."
Howard also tried to reset the team's expectations ahead of Wednesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"I think this will be the start of a new season for us tonight. Hopefully our effort and energy is where it needs to be," he said.
Of course, Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni used similar words in saying the team needed to restart its season last week. The Lakers (17-24) beat Cleveland and Milwaukee but have lost three in a row since then.
Leadership.
apparently:
They held a clear-the-air team meeting before Wednesday morning's shoot-around, with Kobe Bryant very directly asking Dwight Howard if he disliked playing with the long-time Lakers star.
Steve Nash went first.
Kobe went next.Nash, in his first season with the Lakers, said he didn't care how they played, whether it was via pick-and-roll or fastbreak or whatever. He just wanted everybody to be comfortable in the system. It was seen as a sacrifice by Nash, who played four seasons under D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense in Phoenix and won two NBA MVP awards while doing it.
Howard went Last.Bryant also spoke up, acknowledging he could be "hard to play with" and asking Howard if that bothered him.
Howard's answer was unclear, though he did not engage Bryant in nearly as vocal a manner as Bryant engaged him.
"He didn't go back at Kobe," said the person who witnessed the meeting.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers...,5793715.storyHoward was contrite with reporters afterward, saying he was sorry for demanding more touches two days earlier. The meeting seemed to have affected him.
"It starts with me," he said Wednesday. "I have to be more of a player out there on the court and not worry about anything, not complain. Just do what I do best."
Talk is cheap.
He'll be ing again by half time in Memphis
Nash, in his first season with the Lakers, said he didn't care how they played, whether it was via pick-and-roll or fastbreak or whatever. He just wanted everybody to be comfortable in the system. It was seen as a sacrifice by Nash, who played four seasons under D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense in Phoenix and won two NBA MVP awards while doing it.nash just wants to have fun
"It starts with me"
Therein lies the problem. Two egomaniacs who think it starts with them.
I can't get enough of watching this train wreck.
It does start with Dwight...Kobe would acknowledge that..the problem is Dwight's offensive game is bull ...it starts with him on Defense
he also apologized bible in hand to the pornstar after ming on her ass so what?![]()
Desperately trying to deflect blame from Kirby
That's all i read.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)