I have watched generations of championship basketball, since the late 70s and I have never seen a leader of a title contending team, smile and laugh after losing to a rival. Dwight...I'm looking squarely at you. I watched, first hand, as Calvin or Moses glared at those punks from Beantown: Parrish, Johnson, Bird and McHale (ironically) after the Leprechaun found ways to rob us of victories. I watched Akeem fight Olden Polynice and Michael Cage. I watched Hakeem abuse David. And yet, tonight, I see Dwight laughing, though injured, with D'Andre Jordan after losing a game the Rockets were in every position to win. Kevin McHale...I implore you to yank Dwight by his ear in the locker room tonight. Pull him up to your CHAMPIONSHIP level eye and call him a b****. I don't say that lightly. Not at all. But a player with Dwight's talent and credentials should be SEETHING at the sight of his positional counterpart posting a 20-20 game and winning...not yucking it up with Jordan afterwards. Something inside of Dwight should turn sour...rancid, in fact. What I saw tonight further cements what many spout about Dwight. He is soft. Charmin toilet paper soft. And its so ironic, yet apropos that it shines in a game he isnt playing in. He should be champing at the bit, realizing that this knee injury will likely end his high flying days, realizing he will no longer be able to be the most athletic big on the court, knowing that what Jordan just accomplished, be may never be able go do again. Instead, he smile and cajoled with a Houston product on an opposing team, that just handily beat his team...like it was no big deal. That's despicable. Dwight...I'm calling you out. I don't think you have the fire...the anger...the drive to prove the world wrong, that is only fostered in the greats in this world of competition. The NEED to justify your place in the pantheon. Something must speak inside that says "HEY! I'm more than athletic. I'm a true professional and competitor, and before I retire, before my time is through, I will DESTROY any and all men you place before me!" Dwight, do you have that in you? Unfortunately, as a lifelong Rocket fan, I think not. I do believe Harden has it. But in this current Nba, we need more than that. We need Dwight to be not only healthy, but driven and focused. Angry and perturbed with any and all challenges to his place in NBA history. Dwight...do you have that in you??
On a night like this I prefer to go look at yesterday's highlights and the positives...but your post had a lot of fire in it. You need to read this same exact script to Mchale so he can say it to Wight.
Thank you! That really irritated me as well seeing Dwight joking around with Jordan afterwards. I believe he was the only one left fraternizing with the Clippers after the game. Dwight doesn't burn to win.
Personally I don't blame DH, stars of today seems to be TOO friendly with each other on and off the court. We just don't get that kind of 'hatred' between opposing star players anymore like the 80s and 90s. I would love if the NBA had another Miller vs Starks, Jordan vs everyone, Bird vs Magic type of rivalery. It seemed like players were sincerely competitive before, now its just collect the pay check, if we win, good, if we loose, i still go home to millions of $$ type of mentality. No pride in the game anymore. Kobe seems to be the last of the dying breed. I see a little of that competitive fire in Cousins....
Why don't you blame Dwight? Isn't this a very specific, directed problem that applies to him? Why not place the quandary at his personal doorstep?
I don't blame him or any other player, it seems that is how the nba is right now, that is how the nba 'environment' is and is setting the social standard. look at cousins, for the past few seasons he is labeled as a reckless, immature, low iq type player. kobe labeled a douchebag etc......its seems like the mean competitive types are being viewed as a negative aspect.
Ok lemme see here- D12 chats it up with Jordan on the last game before the break --where he is DNP to boot---and that display further cements to you that he is soft? Mmmkay, drugs are bad If you want to question his fire, passion, competive drive, will to succeed and defeat all who stand in his way----- fine. Do that. But not based on your bs comments about chatting with some dip **** from the clips
I don't think Dwight having a 30 second conversation with DeAndre Jordan after a game is an indictment against Dwight Howard, but I guess that's just me.
New generation, new culture. Who knows what they do off the court. I am not necessarily against chatting with opponents in the gym. These guys are professionals. You don't need to SHOW you mean it. ****ty face does not necessarily mean drive. To me, resolve, persistence, poise ... are the qualities that define a winner. There is nothing wrong being friendly with your opponents off plays.
Dwight Howard isn't serious about winning despite what he may say. He's all about singing, dancing, joking around, and having a good time. In short, he doesn't have that fire burning inside him.
You guys gotta be kidding. It's not he does not have drive, he is just bit diminished after multiple injuries. I get we are upset after a loss to Clippers, again. But, com'on now. He didn't even play tonight.
2-3 years too late. Stan Van Gundy called him out too The guy was a defensive superstar who needed an all offense supporting cast. Now he is just a defensive star. Not much better than Pau Gasol. He is just a sidekick not main guy so he can smile IMO.
