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Posts Tagged ‘Dwight Howard’

Working out with Hakeem “The Dream”

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Heeeeyyyyy worrrrrrrrrlddddd!!! How is everybody out there doing???

I’m good, finally recovering after what happened against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s still tough for me to think about, us losing and falling short of that ‘chip that we wanted to win for all of the Magic fans.

Gotta tell you guys that I haven’t been able to watch one game in the Finals yet. I can’t really watch it at all. Every time I turn on the TV and I see a Celtic or a Laker I kind of get ticked off. Sorry, that’s just the way that I feel.

I wanted to tell you guys about what I was doing last week. I’m not just sitting around and feeling sorry for myself about losing to Boston. I decided to get back to work on my game immediately, so I went to Houston to work out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem “The Dream’’ Olajuwon. We worked three hours a day for five days last week.

Let me tell you, Hakeem is 47 years old, but that guy is still in really good shape. I started to call Otis Smith up and tell him to sign Hakeem to a contract because I really think he could give us 12 to 15 minutes a night off the bench.

He has so much knowledge about playing in the post and I’m just trying to be a sponge and soak up everything that he teaches me. Some of it is stuff that we already work on in practice every day, so it’s just a matter of me working on it more and more.

But Hakeem showed me some things with footwork and shots off fakes to get free. He was always so patient in the post and it was like he had defenders on a string with his moves. So I’m just trying to pick up as much as I can from him.

Hakeem had the Dream Shake, but mine is going to be the Milk Shake. I’ve got a lot of drills and moves from Hakeem to work on all summer, and it’s just about taking them to the game now. Hopefully, I will get to work out with Hakeem again in August when I’m in Africa visiting for Basketball Without Borders. And we might get to see one another in Houston again before training camp.

So I’m doing everything that I can to stay busy this summer and keep my mind off the Finals. We had a really cool event on Sunday at Altamonte Springs for the Special Olympics. I got to bowl my guy, Big Bubba, who I met a few weeks ago when I was bowling at Altamonte Lanes. We had a lot of fun with the kids and of course I rolled a few strikes along the way. I didn’t have my personal bowling balls, but I still showed my bowling skills. And all of the kids laughed a lot and had fun.

Got a lot of trips coming up this summer. I’ll be in LA, China (twice) and Africa. Gonna do a movie in China, gonna make a kids’ album, make an appearance on Suite Life with Zack and Cody and shoot some commercials. So I will try and keep you guys posted on everything that I have going on.

Yuuuuuaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. Take care everybody!!!

DWIGHT

Tags: china, Dwight Howard, Hakeem Olajuwon
Posted in Uncategorized | 41 Comments »

Trying to get over this loss!!!

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Heyyyyy worrrrllldd!!! O-M-G, I still can’t believe it’s all over for us after losing Game 6 in Boston. You’re never ready for a season to come to an end, especially one where you feel like you had the kind of team capable of winning it all. Our only goal this season was to win a championship. We got the silver ball last year in the playoffs and we really wanted that gold this time around. We had all of the right pieces and leadership to get back to the Finals and win it all.

Boston played better and they won. Those guys played like they were trying to win a championship from the very first game. They are a veteran team and they’ve won a championship before and they looked hungry to get another ring.Even falling behind 3-0 in the series, we felt like we could win and advance back to The Finals. We played really hard in Games 4 and 5 by hustling, running and moving the ball to get back in it. If we could have pulled out Game 6, we could have won Game 7 on our home court.

Boston hit big shots on Friday while we got away from our game. Hopefully we will learn our lessons from the way that the Celtics played. We had a really good season, winning 59 games in the regular season and sweeping Charlotte and Atlanta in the first two rounds of the playoffs. But we ran into a buzz saw vs. the Celtics.

I want to thank all of the Magic fans out there for the love that they showed us this season. It used to be that we’d go into arenas on the road and we’d never see Magic jerseys on the fans. Jameer and I vowed to one another a few years back that we were going to make Magic basketball more popular. I feel like we’ve done that, but we still need that championship! We’re not bringing that ‘chip home and I’m sure fans are as disappointed right now as I am. I like to think that things happen for a reason, and I think we’ll learn from this.

It will take me most of the summer to get over this loss. I know the sun will come up tomorrow and life will be just fine. After some time, hopefully I can get my mind off us not getting back to The Finals and not winning that title. I just need some time right now.

Again, thanks for your support this season. Sorry, we couldn’t pull it off, but maybe next year. I’ll update you guys on everything that I have going on this summer and hopefully this pain from losing will fade eventually!!!

Peace out Magic fans!!!
DWIGHT

Tags: 2009 NBA Playoffs, Dwight Howard, Fans, Jameer Nelson
Posted in Uncategorized | 50 Comments »

We’re hanging tough and will be ready for Game 3!!!

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Heyyyyyyy woorrrrrrrrllldddd!!!

Well, the sun came up today and life went on like normal. I know we’re in a really tough spot right now going down 0-2 to the Celtics, but I’m not about doom and gloom at all here. Repeat after me: We can still do this!!! We need to get over the hump. All that matters now is getting our minds and our games right for Game 3 and not worrying about what has happened in the first two games.

Of course, we’re upset about losing a tough game like we did Tuesday. We poured everything we had into that game. We looked at the film today and saw that the game came down to doing all of the little things. In games like this it’s more about having energy, running back on defense, rebounding and scrapping for loose balls. Those are the things that win big games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Right now, Boston is making those plays, but we know we can turn it around and swing things in our favor.

We know those were two winnable games. From here on out, it’s about winning one game. You have to win a game, then you win another and you keep on winning. We’ve been in this situation before and it’s time for us to respond. There’s no need to say that we’re going down fighting because we’re not going down!!! We have to think positive because if we think negative, we are going to lose. Like I told the guys in the locker room, if anybody has doubt, we’re not going to win. But if everybody’s on the same page and believes we’re going to win, then we’re going to win it.

Really, there’s no pressure and we know what we have to do. We’re still the same team that we’ve been all season. Nobody has their head down or is complaining about Tuesday night. We’ve moved on. Why sit and worry about it and stress about what we did to lose the game??? It’s over. We have to go into Game 3 as if the series is 0-0. That’s what we did in the last series going back to Atlanta and we were able to succeed; we have to do that again.

Stick with us Magic fans. We’re going to need you guys when we bring this series back to O-town in a few days. This team has plenty of fight left and we’re not going to quit for one second! Believe me when I tell you this: We can still do this and we will!!!

DWIGHT

Tags: 2009 NBA Playoffs, Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard, Game 2, Game 3, NBA
Posted in Uncategorized | 101 Comments »

We gotta respond in Game 2!!!

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Heeeeeeeyyyy worrrrrrlllllddddd!!!

Well, we lost a tough one on Sunday against the Celtics. Sure, we wanted to go 16-0 in the playoffs, but nobody is perfect. You’re not going to go through the playoffs these days without losing a game; These teams are tough! Losing a game happened, but now it’s all about how we bounce back from it.

Our main goal was to win every quarter and play harder than the other team. The Celtics played harder than us on Sunday and that’s how they won the game.

I know we’ll respond and am not worried one bit. We always find a way to bounce back; I’m confident that we’ll do it again. We understand what we have to do and have already talked about what we need to do to win Game 2. We have to put this game behind us, learn from it, but put it behind us.

Trust me, we knew from experience that this was going to be a really tough series. Boston played great against Cleveland and the Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the league. They are full of vets who know all the little tricks. We had a tough time with them in the playoffs last season and they were tough every time we played them this season, so we knew this series was going to be a dogfight.

To me, this series is a lot like the Charlotte series in the first round. They have a lot of bigs and a lot of bodies to send at me with Perkins, ‘Sheed, Baby and KG. What they are going to try and do is frustrate me and get in my head. I have to stay focused and not get so frustrated.

I’ve been going up against ‘Sheed for years when he was in Detroit and now in Boston, I know what he’s trying to do out there. Perkins is really strong, but I need to avoid getting in those wrestling matches down low and just use my quickness. When I use my quickness and my moves and we swing the ball, we can get easier shots.
Last night, I was out of rhythm. I have to do a better job of getting it back. Boston plays very physical defense so I have to find ways to get the ball and not get into a wrestling match with those guys.

Magic fans, we’ll be fine. We showed great heart in the fourth quarter coming back the way we did. We might lose a game from time to time, but this Magic team will never quit. We’re going to fight to the final horn.

I think we learned some things in the fourth quarter that will enable us to be a lot better on Tuesday night. We talked as a team in the locker room and nobody was down at all. We’re an upbeat group and one loss doesn’t rattle this team.
We’ll bounce back because we always do. I have faith in my team; we’ll be ready to go. We know what kind of nasty, physical series this is going to be, and we’ll be ready for it.

Peace out and Go Magic!!!
DWIGHT

Tags: 2009 NBA Playoffs, Boston Celtics, Dwight Howard
Posted in Uncategorized | 60 Comments »

Another sweep, my movie premier and my auction!!!

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Heyyyyyyy worrrrrrrlllddddd!!!
Well, we took care of business in the A-T-L and now we get some much-needed rest. We won in a sweep, but that was still a very physical series going against Al Horford and Zaza every game.

We had a great flight home after closing out the series. We were messing with Vince Carter in the locker room about being in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time. Because we have such a tight, tight group of guys, we feel like we can say anything to each other. It is that openness which enable us to be better.

I really like how we’re playing like a team on a mission. We’re not going out there and acting like we’ve got a 2-0 or 3-0 cushion in these series. We’re staying hungry and humble and keeping our foot on the throttle every game.

Back in the day, we used to relax in games and relax in series like this and we’d let teams come back on us. I think we’ve come a long way and are not doing that anymore. That’s a sign of maturity for us.

Now, we’re going to get two days off, but ya’ll know I’ll be back in the gym real soon getting my swolle on in the weight room. I also plan on working on my free throws. I’ve already talked to our guys about not losing focus or losing that edge just because we have a break.

I know that Stan will keep us ready. We did A LOT of running between the Charlotte and Atlanta series and we’ll probably do the same again this time. It’s a killer on us, but it’s no time to be resting ‘cause we need to stay sharp and keep that killer instinct up.
Here are some off the court updates: my big movie premier for "Just Wright" is going to be Tonight night at the Altamonte Springs Mall at 6:45 p.m. Not sure whom all is going to be there, but I know some of my teammates will be there to support and see me cheesing on the big screen. It should be a lot of fun. I’m hoping all the Magic fans will come and check it out!!!

One other thing, our e-bay memorabilia auction is cranked back up for this week. The search name is “DwightsStuff12." Most of the profits will go toward funding scholarships to my kids’ basketball camps this summer. Here are some items that we have available this week:
• 2 Jerseys (All Star) and one White
• 4 pair of shoes AST TS commander Howard’s, (2) TS Bounce Commander’s, and AST NBA Bounce’s
• 2 Commander T-shirts

I handed out my shoes to a couple of Magic fans after Monday’s game. I thought they were going to scrap when I threw my jersey into the crowd. It still blows my mind of how many people value my shoes and jersey. I am truly honored and humbled.
Well, I’m going to get out of here. Get some rest Magic fans because we’re going to really need you in the Eastern Conference Finals more than ever. Whether if it’s Cleveland or Boston, it’s going to be a dogfight. But believe me when I tell you this: The Magic will be ready!!! Don’t forget to check out the auction and get some tight gear.

Peace out.
DWIGHT

Tags: 2009 NBA Playoffs, Auction, Dwight Howard, Just Wright, NBA, Sweep
Posted in Uncategorized | 18 Comments »