I told coach and told my guys after the game Wednesday night that was a really tough loss, but I have to give them a better effort. I just didn’t bring it tonight and I’m having trouble understanding it myself.
That’s the worst game I’ve played defensively in a long time. I don’t know why it happened, but it did and I just have to deal with it now.
I know that it all starts with me on both ends of the floor. In the first game of the s eries I was more active on the defensive end, blocking shots and running the floor.
But in Game 2 it just wasn’t there and it starts with me. I understand that the team will follow my lead and if I’m not out there playing Dwight Howard basketball the rest of the guys won’t fall in line.
The ball really wasn’t going in the basket for us and I think we got our heads down. We didn’t really keep fighting and that’s frustrating because we’ve been fighting all year.
But now we have to prove what we’re made of and come back with some real fight in Game 3. We need our home crowd to give us a big lift, but really it’s on us. And in my eyes it’s on me. I have to get my guys going with my play because if I’m playing hard and dominating in the paint the guys will f ollow me.
Let’s hope that was just one bad game. It’s going to be a long, hard series and we’ll be back from this. Yall keep the faith in us because we need the help.
Peace out. – D-12
Fans: Be sure to check out Dwight on Twitter and Facebook.
Bring it back to O-Town brotha, we will be cheering you and the Magic on. We need you guys to play as a team like you did in game 1, and get some of that pick and roll action with Alston and Lewis like in game 6 vs the 6ers. And get Redick to let him do his thing and rain 3’s on House’s head. DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE.
Keep the dunks and blocks comin brotha, lookin forward to seeing a winning performance in game 3.
You can do it Dwight! I know you can… you’re good enough to dominate the ENTIRE game! Dwight Howard, go get ‘em!
DON’T GET DOWN ON YOURSELF. I KNOW YOU GUYS CAN DO IT. YOU ARE THE BEST!!
so true but WE LOVE YOU ANYWAY !!!! MARRY ME
Most of my friends are huge Magic fans and we always find ourselves on this huge roller coaster ride while watching you guys. Huge leads early only to watch it disappear. You guys need to attack the team while they’re down. Keep running the floor, keep pushing in the paint. Our city needs you guys to shine, like we know you can. Go out swinging. We will support you the whole way. We know how good you guys are, show the Celtics that.
It’s ok big guy. We all have a bad game. I think what a lot of us have a hard time understanding is VanGundy’s call to take JJ out of the game when he was clearly on fire and maybe the only one on the floor at the time fighting to keep Orlando in the game.
Tell VanGundy, to leave JJ in the game when he get’s hot like that, and remind him you’re only 23yrs old and you don’t need that much rest time in the 2nd QTR haha.
Dwight man, don’t get too down, you guys are playing an amazing team. And they were firing on all cylinders last night. It’s going to be an incredibly tough series and you guys are gonna have to fight for everything, but it will make you better. O-Town’s proud of you and, win or lose, just wants you to keep fighting, because you never know when the momentum will shift. We’ll be there Friday night cheering loud as hell in the O-rena!
That was the most pathetic effort I’ve ever seen in a game. You and your teammates should be embarrassed and ashamed.
Rich, spoiled brats – all of you.
Dwight, why is it that when you get the ball down low with your back against a defender you always spin in just one direction before making that hook? Can’t you find a way to spin the other way, I mean towards the baseline for an easy dunk? Doing just one move makes you really predictable. Also, please tell your teammates to take the ball to the hole instead of settling for those jump shots.
You really shouldn’t come down on yourself so hard. It’s only one game and we know you’re capable of so much more. That’s why you’re part of a team, so everyone can give their best effort. Get some rest, get your mind, right and come out like the “beast” we expect you to be.
I support you all the time=]
Howard, you are the best=]
It is basketball and we all know there are good nights and bad nights and last night was one of our worst and celtics best and let’s not forget they are defending champion and we knew it was not going to be easy. it is going to be a long series and we all have faith in you guys and we’re sure you’ll bounce back and hey we have the home court advantage now!
Don’t worry about it =]
Losting one game doesn’t mean you would lose the whole series.
I think you and your team can do better in game 3 !!
No one can stop you in the paint !! Just attack the Celtics’ rim as you like=]
Hope 4-1 ^w^
Orlando has your back, Dwight. Amway will be rockin’ Friday, we’re going to protect homecourt and go up 3-1.
The general attitude I saw from Magic players after this game, and that includes this post, has been acceptance of the fact that this is going to be a long series, and hoping things get better. Not good. There should be anger. There should be defiance. The Celts played like it was Game Seven, and the Magic quit. Plain and simple.
Now it’s on you to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The team has to believe that not only are they better than the way they played, but they’re better than the Celtics and can win this series. Get angry at yourselves, get defiant. Just come out with some guts in Game 3 and play hard. Prove that your team is intense. Prove you’re not too nice to win a championship. Bounce back with intensity.
You come out and play Magic basketball, and you’ll be alright. You get very few chances to play on a championship-caliber team. Don’t waste this one. Go Magic!
Dwight, come on man. Its simple, if you’re having a bad game. DO SOMETHING TO GET YOU AND YOURSELF AND TEAMMATES FIRED UP. Make a play, get a block, get a dunk, grab a rebound and put some ferocity behind it. Decide youre not going to take it anymore, show some fight. Dont let them punk you, take pride in your team and your game and your teammates will follow your lead. All the sudden everyone will start playing with more energy and you’ll start making plays and runs will follow. Its all about effort and wanting it more than the other guy. They come out with fire, you have to match and excede that fire. GO GET IT DONE BABY!! I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!! be like IM DWIGHT HOWARD DAMMIT! RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I WILL MURDER YOU IF COME IN MY PAINT!!! AND THROW THAT WEAK JUNK INTO THE 10TH ROW!! LIKE YOU DID IN GAME 1 WHEN RAY ALLEN TRIED TO LOFT IN SOME WEAK LAYUP.
we believe in man, youve been great all year. Get fired up and go get it done. Bring Orlando home a championship.
Its time to come back to home court and play there like they are must win games. All central Florida is behind you guys.
Hey Dwight,
Don’t be so hard on urself. Yes, you guys lost in a fashion that isn’t normal for the team. However, U pulled off a big win in game 1. Look at that loss as motivation to play harder and show not only the Celtics but the entire NBA why you were the Defensive player of the year and one of the best players in the league PERIOD.
It’s admirable that you don’t mind taking the total responsibility for last nights loss, because too many times team leaders want to take responsibility during wins and positive situations but shy away from their part in a loss. All great team leaders learn to delegate responsibilities, but the responsibility of last nights loss is not yours alone.
Don’t carry the burden entirely on your shoulders. Allow the responsibility to be distributed evenly throughout the team for the issues that you guys need to work on as a whole in order to win big consistently. Games are not won in defense alone.
Right now Boston is amped because they didn’t get whipped both home games. They have a little momentum, but match that. And bring em back down Friday; show them that this is your series.
Believe that this is your series, and IT WILL BE.
Be Encouraged ~Yall still have 5 games left, and three of them belong to the Magic.
God Bless & Go Magic!!!
Love
The thing about losing is that you get to reflect back on what you did wrong to make it right the next game…
Even the greatest players had to lose sometime to understand that.
It’s only one game. Three wins and you’re in the next round.
Make it happen, Dwight. You have an amazing supporting cast.
Hey DH it takes a man to admit to something wrong. This post proves that You are becoming the man. Thank you for sharing and good luck tomorrow (although you guys don’t need luck to beat celts, you are much better). And try to be focus , don’t let them make you frustrated. Also say “Czesc ” to Marcin my “brother”.
Dwight, I know you guys can get this done. You just need to play your game. They cannot handle you in the paint. Kendrick is the only threat down low. That is their weakest area. Without Garnett and Powe they rely on Big Baby and if you don’t leave your feet he cannot score over you. Of course you already know all this…:)
Enjoy it.
JKL
Very honest assessment of the performance last night. Just go out and play like its your last game every night and you will get where you want to go. Remember you are fighting for the Championship now. Its not going to be given to you. You have to go take it. So go TAKE IT!
Dwight!
You are the most dominating center in the NBA! I’m glad to see that you’re not making excuses and you’re taking some personal responsibility in the loss. The Celtics are the defending-camps and they aren’t gonna let you guys walk all over them – look for what ever inspiration you need and dig deep within yourself to find the passion and intensity needed to put these guys away. Your team will follow you and the city of Orlando will follow you as well. The city of Orlando is proud of you and your team and we’re excited to see a contending NBA team in our city limits.
We’re confident that you guys will bring the first ever NBA championship to Orlando soon – find your passion, focus and intensity and it will be this year!
GO MAGIC!
Dwight, the only key to winning in the playoffs is to play smart as a group and think as a group. This is why the Celtics were able to tear you guys apart because they think and act as one. Now go out there tomorrow and be cohesive.
Hey, everyone has an off day sometimes, but the goal is to learn from the mistakes and come out stronger and play Magic ball. One game isn’t going to turn us fans away…we still believe in magic and promise to give out full support come friday night….believe it and it shall be done!!!
D12 why are you not trying to bring the goal down every time you get the ball. Whats with the little lay in or tap in. Rock the rim every time you get the ball. Nobody in the NBA can stop you. Why do you act like people can? If I were you I would make it my personal mission to destroy the paint!
Dwight, its AP. I was watching the game. Man, it’s alright. You guys will still win the series. Go get the W in game 3 superman. GO MAGIC!!!
Dwight I dont know you actually read this blog but I hope you do. I just want to point out what happens when you dont bring it every night and go out there to win. Last series you guys were good enough to sweep the sixers but since you didnt, we end up in a game 5 where Lee gets hurt on accident, you end up suspended for the next game and we very well could have gone to a game 7.
Because the team brought little to no effort last night a competitor like Rafer Alston gets frustrated and makes a play based on emotion and frustration and now is suspended for game 3. If that game is close, that would have never happened.
In other words bring it win every night! We cant afford half-assed efforts. Bad things happen when you play soft and no one on the team has the goal to win the game. BRING IT MAN. Get your teamates fired up and get it done as quick as possible. You guys are better than the celtics and should beat them in 5 or 6 games if you go all out every game.
D- We got your back… We can dominate… but your right, it starts with you. It is a big thing to carry, but you know how to get it done. Keep it real… especially down in the paint. Get nasty for those rebounds… Good luck and God bless.
You can’t take all the blame…VanGundy shoulda let JJ keep playing. He was on Fire. We love you no matter what. Just play the game and keep the spirit of loving what you do and the rest will come!
Don’t get down. Use that loss as an example of what not to do, and an inspiration to do better. I know you guys have it in you, and I know that you will come back and be the leader we all know you are. I will be watching and rooting for you. Put that S on your chest and Superman that…YULE!!!
dwight….keep the ball moving
u cant do it all
all season long you guys have had awesome ball movement and finding the open shot
but like reggie miller was saying during the third quarter
it was one dribble and throwin up a hard shot…
and the celtics must be feeling the fatigue from the series against chicago…keep running the ball up and down the floor
and without garnett and powe they arent deep enough to run with you guys
keep ur head up and keep getting those rebounds and u guys will prevail by game 6
Dwight, I know you play smart defensively, no question, but you need to balance that out with your offense. Why are you even attempting to shoot the ball at 12 feet which you know it’s not your range. Be creative and find a way to go around your man and go nearer to that basket. And please when you do so hold onto that ball with a power or super grip so those pesky guards can’t take it away from you. Also, please don’t let those shorter guys box you out…you are quicker and more agile than them…use that to your advantage. Go sweat blood tomorrow, Superman.
I’ve read a lot of the previous comments and for the most part everyone sounded reassuring. But then on the flip side there was a lot of scrutiny from good bit of people as well. The most of them were telling how to play the game and go hard in the paint. But in my opinion there is no “I” nor “U’” in “TEAM”, and it shouldn’t all fall on you as how well the game went, win or lose. I do understand that you are the most superb player on the team, but at the same time you cant play the game by yourself. Don’t get me wrong I do understand how it feels to be a leader and feel like you fail at something; but at the same time many leaders have their off days. And it’s on the off days that you should still give it your best and your teammates contribute the rest. As you mentioned in one of your Addidas commercials, when one is your brothers is in trouble you are in trouble, thats what brotherhood is about. But no matter how you feel, some one has to win and someone has to lose; so please take this loss a wake up call. And I hope the rest your teammates will as well. Because we all know the team is capable of stepping up and putting in the hard work. But anyway as I always say this to shall pass. Good Luck to you and the team for game 8! As they say “go hard or go home”.
Love, Peace, and Blessings
Your biggest fan in ATL, besides your family.
Dwight you had a bad game and the Magic lost. It’s over and done, all you can do now is get ready for game 3 and come out with more intensity. You know what needs to be done to win game 3, so do it. On the TNT Halftime show Charles Barkley said you guys were playing like you wanted to even the series, like game 2 didn’t really matter since Magic was leading the series. I don’t think that was the case at all. What I saw was nobody really in any type of rhythm. The Magic was just missing shot that they needed to make. Anyway game 2 is gone Boston won, game 3 is Friday. Get your head right and lead your team to the win. Go Magic, Go Magic
Well, what’s done is done. But don’t forget, we are 1-1 in the series and now they gotta play us at home. The trip was a success overall. Learn from the loss but there’s no reason to be down. We’re in good shape coming back to the O with home court advantage. Just play the way (you an all of us fans) know you can.
What I want to know is
WHY DO THE MAGIC PLAY SO SLOW?
Dwight is the most athletic 7 footer, maybe since Wilt and yet we do nothing to utilize his quickness.
As soon as he gets a rebound he needs to outlet it and sprint down the floor, and his teammates have to do the same.
Perkins cannot run with Dwight
Davis cannot run with Dwight
Dwight would be a 25 PPG scorer if we played faster
D12,
Don’t worry buddy. We all have so much faith in you. I am so confident you will bounce back and take it to the C’s tonight. GL!
THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT BABY!! GO OUT THERE AND GET IT DONE!!! WHAT A GAME!!!! WHAT AN EFFORT!!!!! WHAT A GREAT GAME FOR ORLANDO!!!!!!! GOOD JOB DWIGHT, GOOD JOB MAGIC. EVERYONE PLAYED GREAT. NOW LETS DO IT FOR GAME 4 DWIGHT!!!!!! LETS GET IT DONE BABY LETS BRING IT HARD, BRING IT HEAVY AND WIN THE GAME!!!!!!! YOU ARE A GREAT PLAYER, LETS GET THE WHOLE TEAM MOTIVATED, LETS WIN GAME 4, LETS PUT THEM DOWN IN A HOLE THEY CANT DIG THEMSELVES OUT OF!!!!!! WTG! NOTHING BUT PRAISE. LETS DO IT 2 MORE TIMES AND WE ARE IN ECF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Im mad about game four. the Magic better beat the celtics! Game three was awesome though
Занятно! Конечно, забавно видеть , когда в считанные часы совершенно практически без повода из пальца высасывается такой вот “новостной сюжет” и начинает широко гулять по всем блогам.
i am a huge fan of yours and would really, really like to meet you! If this could ever be possible e mail me back at my address courtneyc03rn@yahoo.com.Go MAGIC!!!!
i am a huge fan of yours and would really, really like to meet you! If this could ever be possible e mail me back at my address.Go MAGIC!!!!
Hey, I saw game 1 and 2 and 3 last night against the Lakers and I think the first thing you need to do as a big man is stop going to the middle unless your gonna dunk the ball. Take the advantage of being at your own home court and dunk the ball. I truly believe that you guys can beat them, but you gotta turn up the defense and somebody has to be the man at the end in order to win to gain a championship. I know known of you have playoff experience but that can change by proving to everyone and to yourselves that it can be done. Just like Obama said ” YES WE CAN” I believe in you guys and I hope that you guys win.
I really dont want to see Kobe gain another championship, shut him and his ego down!!