[Chron.com] (Howard) Veteran Rocket adjusting to loss of rotation spot

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4324894.html

Howard's role unfamiliar
Veteran Rocket adjusting to loss of rotation spot

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
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Juwan Howard has not been hard to find. He has been on the bench, always in the first seat next to the coaches. He is in the huddles, with his eyes fixed on plays that won't involve him, his head nodding approvingly like an audience member on an infomercial.

He has, however, rarely been on the court.

Howard, who started 80 games last season (17 more than any other Rocket), has been bumped from the rotation entirely so far this season, first by Jeff Van Gundy's plan to use a 3-point shooting power forward and then by the emergence of Chuck Hayes.

In the season's first two games, Howard played three minutes. He did not play at all at power forward until Tuesday in Memphis, then put a charge into the Rockets with a strong second quarter Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Out of the hoop loop
He was not, however, built to be a bit player, stealing a few scenes.

"This is an adjustment for me," Howard said. "This is something I have to get used to — or not. Whatever it is, I just have to keep myself ready, because right now, I don't know if my name is going to be called to play. This is the first time in my career I've experienced something like this."

Van Gundy told Howard in September that his role would be changing, but then it was because of a "philosophical change." For all the roles Howard has played with five teams in his career, he has never been called upon to be a space-the-floor shooter. But Van Gundy inserted the quick screening, cutting and rebounding of Hayes into the starting lineup in the second game, though Hayes has less range than Howard.

"That news that I had taken to Juwan in September can send a veteran of his expertise and experience one of two ways," Van Gundy said. "He can disengage from the team or try to divide the team, or he can do what Juwan's done, which is take bad news through no fault of his own and continue to try to show leadership abilities. He has and it is very uniting and inspiring to see a veteran get bad news and not feel sorry for himself and continue to lead in a positive direction.

"He took terrible news, and I'm sure news he disagrees with and ... he's the same way as when he was playing. I hear him. It's upbeat. It's positive. I watch him. Those are the type of sacrifices you're constantly asking guys to make. Very few are willing to do it. I'm proud of Juwan."

All that would be easier if Howard was comfortable with his seat next to assistant coach Charlie Ward. He's not.

"It's a difficult situation to adjust to," Howard said. "Throughout my career, I averaged 35 minutes. Last year, I averaged 31 minutes. Now to go to not knowing if I will play at all is tough. That's very tough. I want to be out there on the floor. I want to be playing. I constantly have to remind myself that I have to stay ready. That's why I've been working very hard. After games I don't play, I make sure I'm in the weight room, running the treadmill, running the court, just try to keep my conditioning level up to par so that when my chance does come and I do play, I'm ready.

"That's a big reason I sit next to the coaching staff. I'm the first player after the coaches so I'm tuned in to the game, checking out all the action. I don't want to have my mind drifting sitting down at the end of the bench. You're upset you're not playing, you start watching the game instead of studying the game. I want to be in tune to what happens."

Spot may be opening
Howard played 34 minutes on the three-game road trip, still only about a game's worth of playing time throughout his career, but a marked increase. His four points and three rebounds in eight second-quarter minutes Wednesday were season highs.

Van Gundy is still not set on a rotation, but it increasingly appears that Howard might find playing time as a power forward next to Dikembe Mutombo or at center, if opponents go small, with Shane Battier at power forward. At this point, he said he'd be happy with any minutes he gets.

"When I got a chance to play in New Orleans — I got about 13 minutes — I felt like a kid in a candy store, I was so happy to be out there," Howard said.

"It's been a challenge for me mentally. I can't lie to you. So far, I've had limited action on the court. I know the season is early, but coach right now is trying to find the right mix of guys to help us win, Honestly, I'd like to be one of those guys. Right now, I'm just waiting for my name to be called."

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I didn't see this up here, but how can you hate Howard after the way he is handling the lack of playing time.