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He who laughs last, laughs loudest

Authored by Jason Willis - April 3, 2005 - 10:33 pm

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By now if you're an Orlando Magic fan you've seen that Dwight Howard got snubbed for Rookie of the Month for March. Dwight averaged 13.9 points to go along with 11.7 rebounds and 1.63 blocks per game. He started off the month with two big games that had Dwight scoring 20 and grabbing 16 rebounds, and then two nights later he scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. After an average game and then a poor game, Dwight bounced back with two great games again, this time with 17 points and 20 rebounds, and 19 points and 19 rebounds. Then in the middle of March, Dwight would have a season high of 29 points to go along with 12 boards. For the month of March Dwight shot 55% including 77% from the free-throw line. He had 10 double-doubles for the month. Now let's not act like March was the only month Dwight has been playing well. Dwight has his season averages up to 11 points and 10 rebounds per game. He's one of eleven players averaging a double-double (along with fellow rookie Emeka Okafor). He's had three 20 rebound games over the season, and a few times he came close with 18 or 19. And let's not pretend Dwight's only getting dunks. If you watch the Magic, you've seen the breathtaking improvements of Dwight's game since the 2004 draft. When the Magic drafted Dwight, he could bench press 185 lbs once. He wasn't very strong and was pretty thin. He weighed approximately between 225-240 lbs (different sources say different numbers). Dwight is said to now weigh 265 lbs. He bulked up an amazing amount over the summer working with bigman coach Clifford Ray. He can now bench 300 lbs more than 10 times. When the season started in November, Magic fans were instantly blown away with his athleticism, love for the game (does he ever stop smiling?), and his offensive game that was vastly underrated. Dwight immediately showed why the Magic selected him by grabbed double-digit rebounds in most games and swatting shots left and right. However his offensive game mostly focused on put backs, dunks, and olly-oops. Then came December when Ray's work with Dwight started to show offensively. Dwight began calling for the ball and posting up players. He would use his power to back them in to where he could turn on them, then use his big body to get favorable position for an easy shot. However, Dwight still made mistakes such as bulldozing through a player and getting called for the offensive foul. January came and Dwight started showing a little flip/hook shot. It wasn't the best but it would go in a good percentage of the time. Dwight was still making mistakes, but not nearly as noticable, and his backing in became even better. February arrived, and Dwight had that hook shot down to where he could rise up over just about anyone and get a good look at the basket. His offensive game was already so much improved, and it was only the midway point of the season. Dwight also started to shoot the ball more often, hitting a few jumpers now and then. March came and Dwight began to assert himself more than ever, calling for the ball. Sealing off his opponent behind him and getting excellent position, using his power to back people down for an easier shot, and stepping out a few feet for a few jumpshots. Dwight even managed to take two three-pointers in the month, both misses but looking good. Dwight was getting nearly five free throws a game, and shooting a blistering 55% from the field. So much improvements for a 19 year old rookie out of High School, and a Division A basketball school at that! It's not like Dwight went to Mount Zion Christian Academy that is known for their talent, Dwight went to a small school not well known by any means. Dwight's potential is unlimited and he's already improved so much over just one season. HS rookies generally struggle their first seasons, especially big men. The only other bigman to have a good season was Amare Stoudemire who averaged 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and shot 47.2% from the field. And we all know what happened to Amare the seasons that followed, heck it was only two years ago! Amare's scoring has jumped nearly 6 ppg each season, and Amare is now a frontrunner for MVP in only his third season in the league. If Dwight Howard continues his improvements the way he has been all season, he could be an MVP candidate in as little as two years much like Amare, only Dwight has the potential to be even better. Dwight already rebounds and blocks shots better, and shoots a better percentage. This leads me to believe, as well as many others, that even though Dwight got snubbed for Rookie of the Month, and will likely fall short for Rookie of the Year, he and every Magic fan will have the last laugh, when Dwight is contending for Most Valuable Player honors for years to come.