Orlando's Hill praises Howard Rookie might become a regular in All-Star Games BY JOHN DENTON FLORIDA TODAY DENVER - Time will only tell if Grant Hill, the second-oldest All-Star in the Mile High City this weekend, can stay healthy and return to another NBA All-Star Game. But if Hill does get back to this level for an eighth time, he doesn't expect to be coming alone. Having watched rookie Dwight Howard for 52 regular-season games now, Hill fully expects the rookie power forward to be an All-Star fixture for years to come. Magic teammate Steve Francis might be nicknamed "The Franchise," but Hill already has tagged the 19-year-old Howard with "The Future" moniker. Howard competed in the rookie-sophomore challenge this season, but he said he already has his sights set on competing in the Sunday showcase next February in Houston. LeBron James did just that from last year to this one, and Hill said he sees a lot of similarities between the two in their maturity and potential. "It's gonna happen for Dwight and it's not a matter of if, but when," said Hill, whose locker this season was strategically placed next to Howard's. "Everybody saw what LeBron did from one season to the next and while Dwight is a different kind of player, I think he can make a similar jump. I just tell people, 'Just wait because this kid is going to be really special.' I just hope I'm around long enough to play with him." Hill can opt out of his contract this summer, but that isn't about to happen after the Magic have paid him $46 million for four years while he was able to play just 47 games because of a broken ankle. Also, he is owed $15.6 million next year and $16.9 million in 2006-07. And he isn't about to pass up the opportunity to play alongside one of the game's best young big men. "I want to be a part of Grant's comeback, and you know what, he's one of the guys who will give me the ball," Howard said in a not-so-subtle dig at Francis. "Grant keeps telling me that five years from now he's going to be telling his children that he played with me." Reunion weekend. Five of the game's biggest superstars -- Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison -- changed teams during the summer, but still managed to get back to the All-Star Game. And the four-day extravaganza in Denver has made for some interesting reunions -- some good, some bad -- for those players. Nash, now in Phoenix after bolting out of Dallas during the free-agent period, has spent much of his downtime catching up with Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, his close friend. "More than the playing I just miss hanging out with him," Nash said. "Not being around him has been really different for me this season. But the way we're playing has helped keep my mind off of it." Then, there's O'Neal and Kobe Bryant together again after eight acrimonious seasons in Los Angeles. O'Neal has taken great delight in the fact that his Heat have the Eastern Conference's best record, while the Lakers are struggling in the West. "I don't have any feelings at all (about Bryant)," O'Neal said matter-of-factly. Rocket launcher. The Houston Rockets hit the All-Star break as the league's hottest team, winning eight consecutive games. A big reason the Rockets have turned their season around is that McGrady and center Yao Ming are meshing better. McGrady admitted he often deferred too much to Yao in the early going. And, as is his nature, Yao gave way as well. McGrady said playing with a dominant center such as Yao was a big reason why he wanted out of Orlando last summer. But he said people must adjust their thinking when it comes to Yao's production. "People need to leave Yao alone because he's still young and learning our game," McGrady said. "People expect because he's 7-5 that he should be like Shaq. But he's a more finesse guy. He's not a Shaq type that is going to just come take your heart from you. He's more like a (former Indiana center) Rik Smits. But I just stay on him and tell him to be more forceful." Under the radar. Ben Wallace knows a thing or two about being overlooked considering that he is the only All-Star in history to be named a starter after going undrafted upon entering the league. Wallace chuckles now at how the Pistons are being overlooked when it comes to title talk. Detroit, of course, stunned the Lakers last June in the NBA Finals. Wallace said it was somewhat of an insult to the franchise that point guard Chauncey Billups, a Denver native, and shooting guard Richard Hamilton were overlooked as All-Star picks. "All last year we sort of flew under the radar and I guess we'll just do that again this year," said Wallace, a reserve for the East All-Stars. "We started this season off slow because we had some guys banged up, and I had to miss training camp (because of appendicitis). But we never lost that swagger that we have. We know what it takes to win it all." Contact Denton at jd41898@aol.com Link
Ouch. That can't be good for team chemistry. Methinks that in a very short while, the Magic locker room isn't going to be big enough for Steve and Howard.
I dont know what Howard's talking about. Everytime I am watching the Magic Francis is throwing up lob passes for Howard. And Sometimes Howard doesnt go and get them.
The quote is very surprising as well. Anyone who follows Dwight closely will tell you that the guy is articulate and does not speak loosely. He is very very reserved and humble. So this is definitely out of character coming from him. Subtle rumours of tension between him and Francis has be swirling but I never gave it much thought because it came from factional fans. The fact remains that this team could be Dwight Howard's as early as next year. Hill realizes this......the plot tickens.
Hmmm...or maybe it's because they do lockers in alphabetical order? I think Howard is going to be really good - but I think Grant Hill is kind of hyping him a little too much - maybe even putting a little too much pressure on him. And Francis doesn't need to give him the ball - I'd rather Francis take over a game then a teenager.
Don't let his religious convictions fool you. This kid is very cocky about his abilities. I remember before he was drafted that he was talking about how he deserved to go #1, and all the stuff he would do in the league. He's certainly respectful (except towards Steve apparantely), but I wouldn't say that he's humble.
Maybe you are right. I saw him speak on draft night and also interviewed on TNT last week. I have also seen many of his quotes and they all seem to point to the person I described earlier. He came accross a with a little bit of KG and a little bit of Dunca. I must confess I have never seen his cocky side but I will look out for that then.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/magic/2005-02-21-howard-all-star-weekend_x.htm "I'm on a team where the only time I get the ball is when I go get it or when they're tired and they don't feel like shooting any more," said Howard, averaging 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds for the resurgent Magic. seems like Dwight wants the ball a little more...
Who would have thunk that Howard was a DOF. I take back what I said about him being respectful. He sounds just as whiny and spoiled as anyone else in the league.
Me too. Those quotes are really interesting and surprising. If the team was hot and winning consistently would he have said those things?
Is it wrong that he said what he said? I think he should get the ball more, he shooting close to 50% and attempts only 7 FG thats just wrong GIVE DWIGHT THE BALL!
Lottery picks think they're the **** when they're fresh out of college. He probably wants more touches to boost his average and prove that he's the real deal. It's especially hard when the PG isn't a pass first type and doesn't have great court awareness. Nonetheless, the rook should pay his dues and keep his dirty laundry to himself, for this season at least.
i suppose cato should've been taking the most shots for us last year then. howard has been getting the ball more than in the early season and it has been right in line with his offensive development. he started out as a guy who got passes and offensive rebounds for dunks and who if you posted him up, it was basically a turnover or a horrendously off-the-mark shot. lately, he has shown he can occasionally make competent offensive moves in the post and get a dunk or layup out of it. however, unless the move works perfectly and he gets a layup or dunk, he's not going to do anything else. he certainly doesn't have a hook, short turnaround, or a jumper. and even on layups he has the touch of kenny thomas. and there's still always the chance he'll turn it over in the post either just from plain fumbling it or getting it stripped in traffic. he gets 7 shots b/c that's what happens when you can only score on alley oops, tip-ins, and occasional post ups that become dunks (he's not even close to amare in terms of just pure overwhelming people with speed and strength). could he get the ball more and score more? yeah, he can bull his way in well enough he could probably score 15 or 16 a night. would it help the magic win more if he was doing than instead of francis or hill or turkoglu? no. it would've been terrible if he had gotten lots of opportunities early in the season instead of the others.
howard needs to stick to getting rebound, cuz other than dunking he has no moves unless you consider miss lay ups a move.
Screw Howard! Another reason why we need a age limit on the draft. Oakafor would never say crap like that . He's got class. You don't diss an older player, especially YOUR POINT GUARD. That will increase your chances pal for getting the ball.
