hope this hasn't been posted yet. Jan. 8, 2006, 1:29AM Howard pays for temper Rockets forward draws one-game suspension after dispute with James By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Juwan Howard was livid. He had squared off with Raptors guard Mike James, heard James call him a name he could not accept and would not repeat and shoved the ball in James' face. But before he would be escorted from the Air Canada Centre court, he got in the faces of his Rockets teammates. With his own face scowling and his right finger pointing and jabbing toward them, he demanded they continue to fight the good fight. It was not the first time. Howard's on-court fit earned him an ejection from the Rockets' loss Friday in Toronto and a suspension from tonight's game against the Denver Nuggets. By shoving the ball above James' shoulder, Howard's fit of rage — which he would not discuss — was treated as a blow to the face and an automatic suspension. But to the Rockets, it was another demonstration that the player who had been through a potentially maddening string of terrible seasons had not been numbed by failure and certainly would not accept it. Howard, a 6-9 forward, had decided last month, long before his parting words on the bench Friday, to become more vocal. As with Friday's admonitions, some have been in vain. But whether from the Rockets' struggles through James' strut past them, Howard had made it clear he would not give in. "I learned a lot about this league," Howard said last week. "Yes, I have been on some losing teams before. Usually they say when you've been on losing teams before, it doesn't bother him. It just goes by. It's like this guy doesn't care. 'OK, we hit some more losing. If it happens, it happens.' "I don't approach it that way. I learned you have to stay mentally tough. You have to find ways to get better as a team. I think you have to find ways to improve individually, to do more. That's how I approach it. What can I do more? What can I do to help?" Part of some bad teams Howard was part of the 21-61 Orlando Magic in 2003-04. He played for the 17-65 Denver Nuggets on 2002-03. He finished the previous season with the 27-55 Nuggets. In his last full season with the Washington Wizards, 1999-2000, the Wizards went 29-53. The year before, the lockout season, they went 18-32. In his rookie season, he was welcomed to the NBA with a 21-61 season. That was supposed to end for Howard with his move to the Rockets. The Rockets' 51-31 season was the best of this career. But with the Rockets beset with injuries, they have had eight-game and five-game losing streaks. At 12-19, they are 14th in the Western Conference. But Howard said he has refused to lament his luck or believe it is happening again. "You can't allow that type of attitude to creep in," he said. "As a professional, you can't do that. Once you allow that type of attitude, then of course, you're a loser. No one on this team is a loser." The records of many of Howard's teams do indicate he is not the sort of player, the rare Hakeem Olajuwon or Tim Duncan, who can prevent a team from falling so far. There always have been bigger or more explosive athletes, but since Yao Ming went out with his toe infection, Howard has averaged 14.8 points on 49.5 percent shooting and 7.8 rebounds. He had averaged 20 points, making 17 of 26 shots, in the first two games of the Rockets' road trip before he was ejected 14 minutes into Friday's game. "It's both: They've gone to me more, and I've tried to be more assertive," Howard said. "We need guys like myself, Stromile (Swift) and Dikembe (Mutombo) to step up more." Teammates have considered Howard valuable for contributions that cannot be counted. "Obviously, I've been with a lot of players around the league, and he's one of the most professional guys I've ever played with," Rockets guard Jon Barry said. "That comes with losing, with winning, with any situation. Nobody works harder. He's upbeat. He plays the right way night in and night out." That made his fit of anger more surprising. But Howard does play with an edge of tension that does not have to escalate far to reach anger. Trying to do more He has fought a tendency to get down on himself during games when his shot is off. But that same inclination, he said, led him to decide to be more assertive with his team, as well as his own play. "I'm always my worst critic after a loss, or even after a win," Howard said. "Like when we lost five in a row, since I've been part of this before, I said how about stepping up and being a leader, not only by example, but by being vocal. You try to get a group of people to be leaders. But in a situation like this, I thought, 'Hey, it's important for me to become vocal to help this team try to stay positive, upbeat and work harder and more.' "I know I can do more. I can do better. We can do better as a team." jonathan.feigen@chron.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rockets Summary Lucas to return The Rockets are expected to sign guard John Lucas III to a 10-day contract, five days after releasing him. Lucas played in two games in his brief stay with the team. In Washington last Tuesday, Lucas played 14 solid minutes, getting a pair of assists and hitting a floater in the lane without committing a turnover. He and forward Josh Davis were released the next day so they could clear waivers before their contracts would be guaranteed. With forward Juwan Howard suspended for one game and the Rockets short-handed in the frontcourt with Yao Ming sidelined, the Rockets could consider bringing in Davis or another frontcourt player. But with Howard to return in time to play Tuesday in Charlotte, his suspension might not be too great a factor in the decision. Working way back Jon Barry said Thursday, after his first extended playing time since he was hurt Nov. 25 (he played two minutes Dec. 6), he never felt right. "Do you know what a fish out of water feels like?" Barry said. "I do." He looked much more comfortable Friday, making three of four shots, two of three from 3-point range, and getting two assists without a turnover in 16 minutes. But Barry is still not at full strength after missing 12 games with a strained right calf. "Really the only time it really hurts is when I try to take off," Barry said. "I can slowly jog into a sprint. But when I'm standing still and try to explode, it bothers me. I'm hoping it's scar tissue. ... Hopefully it will get better as the days progress." JONATHAN FEIGEN
I forgive JH for now. I appreciate that losing bothers him and he feels a responsibility to step up and be a leader. Many players in his position would be happy to get his huge paycheck and just mail it in. He's consciously decided he must do more with Yao out. It is very easy to see why teammates speak so highly of him. JH is one of the good guys in the NBA. It was still incredibly moronic to get thrown out and suspended. But this article takes some of the edge off my anger. Some.
I guess I'm one of the few who actually liked what juwon did to james. With Sura out, we need somebody to be that guy that takes no crap from anyone. The one guy that steps up and doesn't let any other opposing team try to "punk" us. This is why i love juwon, he does all that just like sura would have done for the team. I remember the NO/Okla game where mason and yao got into it and juwon basically pushed just about every hornet that stepped up to the rockets in that scuffle. It was hillarious to watch, I'm sure many of you saw it also. And I don't understand why juwon gets suspended and mike jones doesn't get a damn thing for starting the whole incident.
I also feel Juwan Howard did what is needed for the team. I just can't believe NBA suspend him one game for a ball to the face.
I do not think a veteran like Juwan should have done what he did- whatever his good intentions are. In our current situation this may have an impact on the play off chances. ( that said I do understand these things are visceral reactions and we have the benefit of hind sight) Some of you feel that it is justified- one poster even compared it to a bar scene where someone was being obnoxious and you had to stand up- not sure if the same logic holds good here. These guys are supposed to be professionals- and are paid handsomely. A veteran like Juwan should not have succumbed. If Mike James can get under you skin- what would Gary Payton do?
I'll reserve judgement unless I knew exactly what was said. It was OBVIOUS James singled out Howard. Looking at the video, Howard had his back at him and James kept jawing at him. He definitely said something that hit a tender spot. On another note, does anybody else hate it when James runs into the lane and yells "AND 1" in that really squeaky voice of his? I notice that he does that way too much to be productive. I would just ignore him if I was a ref.
I think Juwon did the right thing. I didn't see it, so I'm not sure how bad it was, but I do agree, it might have been good. In the long run, it may intimidate some players from different teams as they may remember the situation so they'll think twice before trying to punk us. At worst, Sto gets to start and show his stuff hopefully. It's just one game, I dont' blame JH one bit for what he did. We'll see how it turns out. Hopefully stro goes for 18/9.
dumb suspension. Kobe got 2 games for elbowing Mike Miller in the throat. and I dont think Juwons action was half as bad as that.
Yeah, I love what Howard did. It teaches the other team some respect. If you don't like it, you get a broken jaw.
no what they learn is they can get him kicked out of a game if they taunt them. most of those guys aren't intimidated by anyone.
This may be a dumb question, but is Lucas' 10 day contract only 10 days? 10 working days? 10 game days? Also will he play tonight vs. Nuggets? Thanks!
Here's a question I really want to know.. How much do think a 10 day contract is? How much is Lucas getting?
