Chuck HShaq’s Nickname Still Safe In Orando
May 13th 2009 15:53
Shaquille O’Neal should sue Dwight Howard for copyright infringement. Young Dwight is playing up the whole “Superman” act that Shaq started back in his days with Penny Hardaway in Orlando. Right now unfortunately for the Magic, Howard can’t seem to strip out of his Clark Kent Brooks Brothers suit. OK, maybe that’s a little harsh, he's playing well, maybe all he’s missing is the cape, but my point is he’s not quite ready to take over the role of Superman just yet.
Dwight Howard is an excellent ballplayer. He’s a great rebounder, can reject opponents’ shots into the second row of seats whenever he wants to and overall he is a finely conditioned, sculpted athlete who all NBA teams would love to have. However,his offensive game is really limited and if he can’t pivot and turn his body toward the hoop and out jump you for a monstrous dunk while his opponents look on helplessly, he hasn’t got much else. Now, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t exactly have the post moves of a Robert Parish or the jumper of a Patrick Ewing, but he had the attitude and swagger of a champion. You feared playing against him. Howard doesn’t have these qualities yet. When his opponents see him, are they scared? Is Howard making Kendrick Perkins knees knock together in fear during this playoff series? Well, Chuck Barkley keeps saying that Dwight Howard is the best player playing in this Orlando/Boston series every night on TNT. Chuck Barkley has forgotten more about basketball than I know as simply just a fan of the NBA. He’s a Hall of Famer, one of the best ever to play the game, so I’ll give him that statement that Howard is the best player on the floor in this series. Do I agree? Well, I’m not all that sure about it at all, but that’s not the point here, the point is this….If you don’t have the attitude, swagger and the ability to strap your teammates to your back and step up as a superstar and demand that your voice be heard as the leader and best player on your team, you won’t win many NBA playoff series. Dwight Howard right now needs to knock someone on their rear end and become more of a fear factor here or it’s all over for the Magic. If you’re the best player on the floor like Chuck Barkley says you are, than prove it. The best of the best, the Jordan’s, the Bird’s, the Magic’s of the world, would rally the troops up however they had to depending on the situation. They led, and as a teammate you followed their lead. The joke about those ‘80’s Celtics teams was always, do you think KC Jones was leading the way in the huddles during time outs? Hell no, it was Bird. He earned the right to have his voice heard. It’s time for Howard to demand more out of his team and coaching staff. Why did Van Gundy go away from getting him the ball down low and if the defense collapsed on Howard, kick it back out to the perimeter for some easy jump shots? Was it not working? Were you not up enough in this game? Enough is enough, demand the ball .. and when Rajon Rondo comes down in the lane and takes one of his floating jumpers, or Big Baby Mohawk tries muscling his way inside on you, try letting them know that’s your territory and knock one of them on their ass, Superman Shaq style. Hell, even Kendrick Perkins style. Big Perk doesn’t have half of the talent of Howard but plays with a toughness and grit that Howard doesn’t and right now the whole Orlando team is affected by it. The Magic are a pretty soft team for a playoff team and it has to change, starting with their leader. Find the cape Shaq used to wear around Orlando and find it quick Dwight or this series is over and the team that’s missing their best player moves on to a date with the best player in the world, King James.
Chuck Hanf
Two Cents From Beantown
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