In Today’s NBA Dwight Howard IS Superman

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Analysis, SDC COMMENTARY

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Over the last few days I have found myself involved in a very interesting discussion with some knowledgeable NBA fans over at YardBarker.com. The discussion emanated from the game recap I wrote after game six of the Eastern Conference Semi Final series between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic. Orlando knotted up the series by winning the game and forcing Boston to play a game seven Sunday night. The recap was entitled Superman Has 20-20 Night As Magic Beats Celtics 83-75; Game 7 Sunday.

The discussion centered on the nick-name that the Orlando center Dwight Howard has been given since winning the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Howard as you no doubt remember won the contest by delighting the planet with an awesome dunk while wearing the cape and shield of the “Man Of Steel.” The media including your faithful scribe latched on to the nick-name and D-Howard has been referred to as “Superman” ever since.

Nick-names are supposed to be bestowed upon you by others, not a name you give yourself. Babe Ruth did not wake up one day and go over to Lou Gehrig and ask him to start calling him the “Sultan of Swat.” Red Grange never introduced himself as the “Galloping Ghost.” (I have a good buddy who used to play Division One Football. His sophomore year a teammate decided he wanted to be known by a nick-name and asked people to refer to him by that name. Students at the University instead of embracing the nick-name started rejecting the guy! Needless to say the nick-name never caught on.)

I believe that there is a certain segment of NBA fans who resent Howard being called “Superman” because they feel that he did not earn the name. I do not disagree that he got the name because of a costume at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. However when it comes to centers in the NBA in 2009, name anybody who does what D-Howard does on a nightly basis. Take as long as you want to think of someone who comes close to being as dominant in the middle as Howard is playing in the NBA in 2009. You will not come up with anybody; in 2009 there is Superman, and then there is every body else.

I am not talking about an occasional game by the Diesel I’m talking every night! Yao is on the downside, Oden is a bust, and Amare is now a power forward! And please do not even bring up the name of Andrew Bynum! As the NBA is presently constituted in 2009 there is not another center in the Association that brings what Dwight Howard does.

Dwight Howard is so much better than his competition that the Orlando Magic can afford a luxury no other team in the Association can. The Magic with Rashard Lewis andd Hedo Turkoglu use two small in the starting lineup. D-Howard is such a beast he picks up any slack defensively! Turkoglu and Lewis make up for any defensive deficincies on the offensive end. And the bottom line is the Orlando Magic win a lot of games.

Part of the reason that Howard is a Man among Boys in the NBA in 2009 is the cyclical nature of the sport. We live in an era when we are seeing some of the best collection of point guards in the Association in many years. Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams would have been hands down the best point guard in the NBA had he played ten years earlier. Instead he has the misfortune of playing in the shadow of Chris Paul the best point in the Association in a generation.

There is of course an abundance of great shooting guards starting with “Black Mamba” and D-Wade. At the small forward I will take current NBA MVP LeBron James and allow you anybody else in the Association. And at the power forward position the talent runs the gamut from the grey beards Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett to the very promising Al Horford and Michael Beasley.

But there is not that pipeline of talent at the center position. The dearth of talent in the pivot is truly shocking considering the talent that was once almost taken for granted. Do you realize what Artis Gilmore or Bob Lanier could do if they played today! And although both were great centers there were many they played against who were better!

There is plenty of time to determine where Dwight Howard will end up on the list of the greatest centers of the NBA. Howard has not won a thing so far in his career; he has no MVP Awards or a Championship ring. However he has not even started to scratch the surface yet of what he may be able to accomplish if he stays healthy and motivated! But one thing is for certain; in the current NBA Dwight Howard is “Superman“!

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2 Responses to “In Today’s NBA Dwight Howard IS Superman”

In Today NBA Dwight Howard IS Superman Slam Dunk Central | basketball hoop on June 18th, 2009 2:50 am

[...] In Today NBA Dwight Howard IS Superman Slam Dunk Central Posted by root 23 minutes ago (http://www.slamdunkcentral.com) I do not disagree that he got the name because of a costume at the 2008 nba all star game nbatipoff middot not qualified to comment middot peter robert casey middot philly sports blog abc ticket company carries premium nba basketball tickets including cop Discuss | Bury | News | In Today NBA Dwight Howard IS Superman Slam Dunk Central [...]
The NBA’s Two Step Traveling Rule Debate – Gimme Three Steps « The Sports Debates© on November 11th, 2009 12:33 pm

[...] league needs it to stay fresh. When the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest turns to costumed theatrics (i.e. Dwight Howard) to stay relevant, then a change needs to be made, and adding this extra step is that [...]

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