My first coach in the NBA, Johnny Davis, used to tell me that if I wanted the ball to go get it off the offensive glass. I knew going into this game that if I wanted what I call touches that I had to crash the boards and dominate the game defensively and rebounding.
I know that there are other ways to dominate a game than on scoring. My team needs me to be a beast in the lane for us to win. I tried to go after every ball last night and see if they could stop me.
That was a really good win for us because we had to fight and scrap for every possession. We didn’t shoot it too well and we missed too many free throws (especially me!!!), but we did keep fighting for 48 minutes. We know now that we have to play all 48 against the Celtics because the champs aren’t going to stop fighting.
I guess if I learned anything the past few days after my comments in Game 5 it’s that I need to keep my mouth shut sometimes. Otis had me in his office and we talked about how there are better ways to deal with problems than I did. I’m still young, still learning and I’m going to make mistakes sometimes.
I’ve thought all along that we were going to win this series and I still believe that. If we fight and play as hard as we did in Game 6, I think we’ll come out on top . I’m so excited about playing in my first Game 7, and I just have a feeling that it’s going to be a great night for us up in Boston.
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Tags: 2009 NBA Playoffs, Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard Blog, Johnny Davis, Otis Smith
Dwight, great game last night man! Really appreciate the hustle down low, even when Perkin’s is hacking away at you down there you fought hard. I honestly think we win the game on your offensive rebounds and your defense in the paint. If you play in game 7 like you did in game 6 we win, especially if we can hit our normal amount of shots, then they don’t stand a chance. Play hard and don’t give up!
Good Luck in Game 7 \:D/. im rooting for youu \mmm/
Awesome game last night, so glad you guys won. Life is a learning process so GOOD LUCK and kick butt in game 7.
yeah D-12. in the last like 4 min you looked like a Varsity kid playing with the jv. like you wernt afraid to hurt someone getting the ball. DO THAT ALL THE TIME. no one on that team can guard you. and house n rondo think their better then paul n ray. that will be their demise. they want to prove themselves but their cutting out two of the best shooters in the leage, which is nice. ps, why doesnt courtney play more insted of hedo? i cringe everythime that man touches the ball
How great would that be to beat the Celtics in your first ever game 7!!! do it do it!!
Way to turn a negative into a positive if you ask me. By the way…. thanks for the spin fake, I had been looking for that! Can’t wait for game 7, O-Town’s counting on ya’ll to bring it home.
When you play like that, Dwight, you are the most dominant player in the league. Your efforts on the offensive glass kept you guys in the game despite the poor shooting. Keep it up and there are MVPs and NBA Titles in your future.
HUGE game last night Dwight. That hustle from you trickles down to everyone else and only makes us keep fighting. I am so happy we are going back to Boston for Game 7 and I have no doubt in my mind that we will start celebrating our first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1995. NOT TO MENTION YOUR first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals! Get pumped and get ready to play hard again because we need that stuff from you! PLAY BIG DWIGHT!
GO MAGIC!!!
D-Pat,
‘96 team got swept by the Bulls in the ECF. Since they never showed up for that series, I guess you are still correct in a way
Yes, you gotta get grimey and gulley with these Celtics like you did in Game 6, especially in the upcoming game 7. Good job D. Let’s get this win and get into the Eastern Conference Finals! Let’s Go Magic!
I’m disappointed because I had to miss the game because of a graduation. But I’m proud of you for winning. I will not miss the game seven. GO MAGIC!!!!!!
Dwight,
Way to dominate the game, after all that venting. You know everyone is going to watch you after coming out like that, but you let the game talk for you and that’s what great players do. Game 7, is all about focus and composure. It’s a hostile environment and you can get carried away, you know where you thrive and keep going to it even if you struggle, the game will come to you. I aint no pro adviser, but just trying to tell you what I feel. Yall have a great group out there, and remember there is no one bigger than you on the floor so just do your thang!! Will send up a prayer for yall, Good Luck and God Bless!
Char!iE
I haven’t seen this new magic team play so hard and with so much composure in a long time. I was really proud of you playing your game and not worrying about all those calls they missed inside. If they’re not going to call em just keep bringing it in harder inside till they call it. And to the shooters, a great player once said “you can’t worry about missing, you have to always believe your goin to make It”.
Young Homie,
You played in a Gold medal game this summer, single elimination.
Any pararells in your preperation for This game 7 as opposed to how you prepared with Team USA?
There’s Mr Double Double! Great way to come out and be a leader! Loved the heart everyone had last night. One more game until the Cavs. I know you guys can do it. We are all supporting you. Go out, play hard and win big.
D. Howard, good game 6! Now, game 7 is here, please ask all the player to watch their temper. We do not need for any one to get kick out of the game. Yes I know the Celtics are getting the better of the calls but we can’t win with our best players in the locker room.
Good Luck and God bless!
Chris Chambers
Great game, Dwight! I was so happy to see you doing what you do best. And your humbleness is very inspiring! Keep up the good work and GO BLUE AND WHITE IN GAME 7!!! WE CAN DO IT!
I was on my toes that whole game. What is in the past, will be in the past. We all move on and learn as we make mistakes. I’m so happy to see that you’ve grown from this experience and I am soooo excited to see Magic in Game 7…because I believe!
Dwight, b4 the game I wrote on your facebook fan page that “i smell a 30-20…” and you damn near came close. That’s the kind of effort we need to see from you day in and day out. Defense wins championships! Just keep playing that game and you know we’re not gonna struggle that bad on shooting forever. I have faith in you guys! Let’s make history on sunday!! GO MAGIC!
Dwight,
You played a hell of a game on defense and on the boards. I could see your intensity in every possession and that you were going after every rebound. I think if you keep playing like this, the rest of the team will start hitting their shots (Hedo and Redick especially but I think they will be on for game 7) and you will start finding better looks at the basket. They can’t stop you from getting those rebounds. Good luck in game 7 Magic!
GO DWIGHT! GAME 7 IS YOURS TO DOMINATE! THEN NEXT YOU WILL DOMINATE LEBRON JAMES! WE”RE ROOTING FOR YOU! GOODLUCK! GO MAGIC!
Great game last night . . . you guys really fought to win this game and I couldn’t be happier! For Game 7 if you guys play with the same intensity (and work on those free throws!) I know that we will be unstoppable! Your fans support and believe in you and the team and know that you can do it! Game 7 is ours . . . speaking it into existence right now! So let’s go kick some major ass in Boston on Sunday, and end their Game 7 winning streak! Will be sending up prayers for you guys and cheering loudly from my couch!
First I want to say. Tht block on Glen “Big Baby” Davis was incredible when i was watching the game and saw it i was thinking that I had to mention it on my Comment on your blog. I was hoping tht Celtics would take it but. You guys proved me wrong. Specially you Dwight. You kept your cool and led the Magics to a win. Regardless of me wanting the Celtics to win. I do want to Wish you and your soliders a Good Luck in Game 7 on Sunday.
Best of Luck
Hey DH what would Patric do? I see you in the Easter finals. GO MAGIC!!! WE BELIEVE SO YOU DO TOO!!!!
Your technical foul was funny. You have so much power. His only defense is a flop. But I don’t get it, you were just giving him the ball, right??
Man, you played like a BEAST last night Dwight! Bring that same intensity to Game Seven from the get-go, I’m glad they let you have your way down in the post without dropping some ticky-tack fouls on you. There were a couple questionable ones, but you have to just go out there and be that enforcer in the paint on both ends. Make them more scared of giving up the offensive rebound than of creating the miss in the first place, that will lead to open shots and hopefully your teammates will answer the call. You create so much havoc on both ends, Dwight, you are seriously a game-changer when you are on your game! I saw you nailing free throws in between quarters during last night’s game and we all know you can be clutch when you need to be, so let’s see one of those clutch free throw lines in Game Seven! We know you’ll get to the line a lot, and we know you can drill them in the clutch. Can’t wait for Sunday now, bring some good vibes back to Orlando.
Nice game last night D12. You guys are gonna send Boston packing in Game 7 for sure. We have faith. Give crashing the boards.
Great game D-12. This is now a 1 game series. We all know you will prevai. The whole state is rooting for you. GO MAGIC!l
Very impressive game last night, Howard. You were dangerous out on that court. You dominated, Baby! Your entire demeanor was so much more focused…a new level of maturity, confidence and leadership in your game. .
At the press conference, it was apparent that you were physically, emotionally, and mentally spent from the game. Thanks for stepping up and bringing it.
I know the Magic has a win coming on Sunday.
Man im so proud of the way ya’ll played last night…did a damn good job. You were hungry for it and you went out there gave it your best, and won the game. For all those haters out there who got something to say about the Magics, you can go kick rocks. As long as they got my man Howard on their side, they will go far. Keep it up Super Man…You’ll always be my super man
Went to game 6 with my step dad, been to many season games plus a few playoff to watch you guys but that game was just amazing. I haven’t missed one game this whole season on TV, been watching you guys all season and I am so pumped up for game 7. Bring yourself and your fans back a win, I promise we will all be here to support as you go on, I’m already planning to buy tickets for Cleveland series because I’m that confident in you guys.
Great game last night Dwight. Very impressive. keep fighting, I see them holding you on every play and that has to be frustrating (im frustrated when I watch it) but you kept fighting through it. Came from behind and pulled out a great win.
You’re about to play in the biggest game the magic have played in this decade. With a win I say its on par with, if not above the teams game 7 win against Indiana in 95 to get to the finals. (we had the home court, so a win here would even be more impressive). The Celtics are 17-3 in game 7s at home. 32-0 after being up 3-2 in a series. Great players end streaks like that. You are a great player Dwight. Go out and get it done. We all believe in you!!!!
Its game 7, DO OR DIE, LEAVE IT ALL ON THE COURT. EVERYTHING YOUVE GOT HAS TO GO INTO THIS GAME.
Big D, You guys are going to win this series. In reality you guys have actually won 5 games even though the scoreboard didn’t say so. You guys are the far superior team and played like champions last night. The Boston past numbers mean nothing…it won’t help them score points and I think we’re all tired of seeing KG mouth off on the Beanheads bench.
My only comment on last nights game is if you get Davis/Perkins/Skalabrine in foul trouble keep attacking them, they have to give ground or sit…not much of an option.
Now keep your head clear….leave us wannabe’s to fend for ourselves until after the game…and focus on the upcoming game.
GL and DOMINATE!
That was a great game, it looked like everybody stepped up their game. You did a fantastic job, as I expected after your comments it was either put up or shut up, and you put up big time. Now we have one more game, the most important game of the series, game 7. It’s do or die baby and nobody wants to die. So you and the Magic team have to get out there and fight like this is the championship game, bring everything you got for a full 48 minutes, don’t let up until that clock hit all zeros. When you have that win, then you can breathe easy and relax. That is until we meet the Cavs. Good luck.
Great game Dwight, unbelievable # of Boards only you can do, you can bring same in Boston and I think we play the Cavs on Wednesday, I will be coming to watch you again in the series, keep up the great effort, Go MAGIC.
dwight, another 20-20 game and u guys are on the plane to cleveland to beat the king at his house
d-12… you are absolutely right about the whole season we were an inside-outside team… im glad that u did say what you said be orlando finally needs an agressive vocal star to take charge like shaq did a decade ago… after he left we have alwys been a “soft” team even with tmac… i say enjoy yourself out there… dont let the refs frustrate you PLEASE!… and we will pull it out!! go MAGIC!
Man Dwight living 15 minutes outside of Boston makes this series tough. My favorite team is the C’s but then again my favorite player is yourself. You have been playing great ball during this series. I know there have been blunders by both teams, but I see the Magic advancing. If you guys can knock down your shots and play solid defense all 48 minutes.
I also wanted to say you are the nicest star NBA player there is. I collect autographs for my hobby and have gotten some from you including this series. I know you probably wont see this message but I’m the Boston collector at the hotel , that is taller and bigger than the rest of the collectors there. I will try to be at the hotel for game 7 for shoot around, cause got work later. Good Luck Dwight and stay always true.
Hey DH,
It’s me the game 2 Super-Fan from twitter! Thanks 4 playing strong last game; come back tonight for game 7 and leave it all on the court. But more than that is to make sure as a leader everybody is with you; the refs are gonna call this the home team way and the Celts are the defending champs so a lot is going to go their way. But you guys showed that even when shots aren’t going in you can still win on will and hustle…. the same thing that made the Celts champs; you not only have to outplay them but you have to out will them out of the game… This is your time; respect the champs; but it’s your time. Lets come back to O-own with a W alright? Best wishes to you all and play the game of your lives!
“H”
P.S. needles to say we’ll be cheering you on from Orlando; Godspeed!
Hernan “H” Gonzalez
You got it, now go get it!
hey man,
as game time grows closer i just wanna let u know that as the daughter of a basketball referee (which means i’ve seen like a million games in my lifetime) and natives of orlando my husband and i are soooooo excited about game 7 tonight! we especially loved seeing you kill those offensive rebounds the other night and know that you and your team have everything it’s gonna take to win tonight. just keep perspective on how truly blessed you are to have your job and how talented you all are no matter what anyone else may say!!!!
♥ the Jones’
WE WON!!!!!! YAY!!!!!! IM SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! I want you to beat LeBron Jame!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOO MAGIC and SUPERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!
sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy but ya can not stop LBJ23