...Asked why Howard was left in the game -- in the condition he's supposedly in (or not in, depending on who you ask) -- with all other main rotational guys out: "Because I think he needs to get his rhythm," D'Antoni said to the media hoard just outside the Lakers locker room. "He's been out for a week, and surely wasn't tired. So just trying to find him some rhythm."
...
Howard had missed the last three games -- all wins for the Lakers -- but not at the decision of trainers or D'Antoni. According to D'Antoni, Howard could have played.
"Yeah, he's been cleared for a while," he said. "I mean, he's always clear because he has a tear. It's going to be there but he had pain, so obviously he's not going to play with the pain, and he felt better today. That's why he played."
...
D'Antoni echoed that after Thursday's loss, saying, "Well, [Howard] has to [work his way through pain] because we don't have a whole lot of other solutions right now with Pau [Gasol] being out especially."
...
But while the coach said Howard has been cleared to play for a while now, and "his health his fine", Howard was quick to disagree. He's also not taking much stock in what D'Antoni and teammates are putting out for public consumption.
"I can't get involved with what they've been saying to the media," Howard told CSNNE.com. "I understand they've been saying certain things, but I know my health. I haven't been cleared for weeks to play.
...
"Hopefully they'll start supporting me the way they need to," Howard told CSNNE.com. "Until then, I'm going to continue to do whatever I can to help our team win."
You almost feel bad for Dwight the way he's been thrown under the bus by his teammates and his coach. I mean he brought it all on himself but I feel an ounce of sympathy.
Funny how nobody was on Nash's case when he was taking his sweet ass time coming back from an injury initially diagnosed to keep him out a week or two.
D'Antoni has a terrible time valuing big men... that's why he's quick to throw them under the bus. Especially bigs without a jumper.
They don't fit into what he wants to do, but since they're big-name players, he has to play them.
Back in the Suns days, it was Kerr that brought in Shaq. D'Antoni wasn't as keen on the idea at all.
Man up or ship his ass out. That's all.
why would he 'man up' or put on his 'big boy pants' when his teammates or his coach won't do the same?
People don't take him seriously because of all the clowning around he does.
Because he's suppose to be the future of the franchise, not a 7 foot baby that cries to the media when the season doesn't go according to plan and chooses to sit out games even though he was cleared to play.
Dwight says "I know my health", he also said he's not a doctor, if the Lakers medical staff says you're cleared to play go play.
If you want the team to support you, you gotta be there for the team when they need you most.
Laker nation including the media needs to blame someone...first brown then pau now Dwight...never Kobe.
that dude always skates from everything....even rape.
Lol he has no long term contract. And he shouldnt risk it all just to carry Kobe to the playoffs
Didn't D'Antoni miss a bunch of games because of back surgery? You'd think he'd be more sympathetic.
So Dwight speaks his mind its considered crying. I guess Kobe has been the biggest cry baby all season then.
And Dwight is having to defend himself fro what Kobe is throwing out every day.
He missed a bunch of games at the end the Knicks' season last year with a case of unemployment. I think he's more worried about that flaring up again.
I'm not excusing Dwight, who, as Findog said, is a clown.
All I'm saying is why is only him, with this team, the one that needs to man up? All the other guys are talking to the media (Kobe, Pau, D'Antoni) and are being pretty terrible at their jobs.
The whole 'future of the franchise' doesn't matter, because he's clearly not in command of that locker room right now. The day he is, then you can pin it all on him.
It's Dwight's fault, despite the fact that Kobe is the leader and has 3 HOF and 4 All-star teammates on his team. And when Dwight was playing he was getting what, 5-6 touches a game? How the should a guy who isn't getting the ball anyone stop the GREATEST LAKER EVER (tm) from winning games? But yeah, it's Howard's fault. Yeah, ok.
Kirby spent all summer insisting that the Lakers were "still his team".... why doesn't he deserve most of the blame instead for how badly "his team" sucks?
lol "future of the franchise" without a contract
Assuming that D12 can play, which at this point I’m not sure, I’m talking injuries.
If he can play and the Lakers want him to be the next face of the franchise, the Lakers have to do something regarding Kobe now.
If this guy doesn’t play for the Lakers next season, they are doomed.
The Lakers have the same "problem" the Celtics have, do they trade KG, PP?? Would the Spurs trade Manu if they weren’t a playoff team?
At some point a team has to realize they don’t owe any player nothing, they are getting pay to play. Off course if the even the fans are blaming D12 and defending Kobe all the time, the Lakers FO won’t do anything to change that.
I’m not talking about trading Kobe ($!), I’m talking about doing something and showing D12 that he is the next face of the franchise. Kobe has to accept that...actually he doesn’t...lakerfans will defend him regardless of what he does, and that my friends is the key of this problem, he knows that…
Laker fan can't deal with the fact they are being rejected by Dwight. Dude never wanted to play there with Kobe.
What does it say that old Kobe is keeping your Lakers from transitioning to the future. "Its my team!"
Deep down y'all know you can't wait till Kobe retires.
Kobe treating Dwight like a wicked step child is well deserved...if that gonna basically say I'm not giving 100% until I got a max deal then Kobe needs to keep ting on him...For as much as Dwight never wanted to play in LA - Kobe never wanted him...he basically told that long before he even got traded...Defend and Rebound (be my Tyson Chandler) only I don't need you for nothing else..Kobe has stuck to his guns and his word..Dwight's game is at best - rudimentary collegiate Sop re level...Kobe never respected the dude and I for one don't blame him....one thing about Kobe you can never say is that he doesn't earn his paycheck.
If you think he's ting on Dwight now wait till Dwight re-signs next year...(and he will resign) he got too many baby mama's to support...he can't afford to leave money on the table at this point...but wait till next year if it is indeed Kobe's last year he's gonna go all out nuclear on Dwight's soft ass...it will be EPIC!!!
It's almost like they don't want to resign him... Dantoni leaving him out to dry, Kobe not going 2 days without calling him out through the media. If he leaves they're still over the cap and luxury tax threshold
we the Lakers..we don't give a ...either his ass will fall in line or be gone....the mutha er is so gotdam stupid..Kobe's trying to get his silly ass to play to his strengths...he has 3 DPOY's and yet he wants to be the next Kareem..so when Kobe tells his dumb ass to defend and rebound he's motivating him to play to what he does best...of all the big men in Laker history...he's the least polished from an offensive perspective but the best defensive big-man that ever wore the P-n-G..dude is just as clueless as Spurfan
does this clown think the lakers is his team? hahahaha watta fkn clown, get the clown out of there seriously....
this is like gladiator, must win over the crowd, but his doing nothing besides smiling like a clown at every opportunity his on camera
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