Dwight Howard News...
Howard Polishes Skills To Aid Magic Transition
By STEVE CARP
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Orlando Magic power forward Dwight Howard, left, slaps hands with Ashleigh Goldstein, 9, of Palm Bay , Fla. , during an autograph signing at the Thomas & Mack Center .
There was plenty of fuss when Dwight Howard, the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, played in last year's inaugural Vegas Summer League.
After the power forward's strong rookie season for the Orlando Magic, it seemed unlikely that Dwight Howard would play in Las Vegas this year.
Instead, Dwight Howard has laced up his high tops and returned to the Summer League at Cox Pavilion to round out his skills alongside various rookies, free agents and roster long shots.
"I'm still paying my dues," Dwight Howard said. "I'm here to work on my game and get accustomed to the new system."
The Magic has a new head coach, with Brian Hill returning to the bench in place of the fired Johnny Davis, and Dwight Howard wants to ensure his development doesn't slacken.
"I'm still 19," Howard said. "I've got a lot of basketball in me."
Dwight Howard's transition from high school ball to the NBA was not as perilous as Dwight Howard probably expected. Playing all 82 games, Dwight Howard averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds and was third in the Rookie of the Year balloting.
Dwight Howard credits playing in Las Vegas last summer for showing him what to expect in his rookie season.
"It helped me a lot," Dwight Howard said. "I got to see the physicality of the NBA. I saw how the pace of the game is different. I don't rush to make a play or shoot the ball the way I did in high school."
Dwight Howard dominated this year's Summer League, leading the Magic in scoring (19.0) and rebounding (7.5). Dwight Howard wrapped up his four-game summer stint with the team Tuesday by compiling 18 points and nine rebounds in a 76-74 loss to Dallas .
Dwight Howard is leaving for Los Angeles to play in Magic Johnson's annual charity game and attend the ESPY Awards this weekend. The next time Dwight Howard plays in Las Vegas might be 2007 if the city is awarded the NBA All-Star Game and Dwight Howard is selected to play.
"I'm still a long way from trying to reach my potential," Dwight Howard said, not wanting to prematurely claim All-Star status. "I want to help our team get to the playoffs. We were close last year and we seemed to give up at the end."
That's largely why the Magic front office has shifted gears, though one of the moves isn't sitting well with Dwight Howard. Along with Davis , management dumped assistant coach Clifford Ray, the former NBA big man who had become Howard's mentor.
"He was like a father to me off the court," Dwight Howard said. "On the court, he taught me so much about playing the game at this level. He gave me a chance to make mistakes, then he would take the time to explain to me what I did wrong and help correct them. I'm still upset they got rid of him, but it's a new staff that's going in a different direction."
Dwight Howard figures prominently in that staff's plans.
"Like all young players, he has a lot to learn, but he's a bright kid and a hard worker," Hill said. "The biggest area Dwight Howard needs to concentrate on is the defensive area. In high school, he could just stand under the basket and block shots. Here, he has a lot of responsibilities on defense.
"I've never had a power forward who has Dwight Howard's offensive potential. I'm looking forward to working with him."
NOTES -- Ex-UNLV forward Odartey Blankson suited up for Cleveland but did not play in the Cavaliers' 71-65 win over Boston on Tuesday. Blankson will probably get some playing time today against Portland at 7 p.m. ... After sitting out Sunday's game with a sore wrist, New Orleans rookie guard Chris Paul returned to action Tuesday and had four assists in the Hornets' 84-67 win over New Jersey . ... Denver Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke was on hand to watch his team play Chicago .
NBA Future:
Adrian Oliver
Adrian Oliver Adrian Oliver is a scholarship freshman guard who should vie for playing time immediately. Adrian Oliver is a versatile combination guard who can play the point and the shooting guard positions. His cousin, Bobby Cole, played college basketball at Texas Southern and another cousin, Tracy Cole, played at Bowie State. Adrian Oliver's college choice came down to Washington and Kentucky after he eliminated Kansas and some Pac-10 schools.
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