This summer was about the blockbuster deals that sent major talent to L.A.. However, as many have stated before, the chemistry on this Lakers team is going to be the first thing that people watch. Elizabeth Benson of Lakers Nation does a great job of analyzing the Laker chemistry potential. As she puts it, “ultimate success at any level does take great chemistry, commitment and mutual accountability… things need to click on the court at a consistent rate in order for ultimate success to occur.”
The most nervous piece of this possible team bonding is Dwight Howard. His behavior last year was inexcusably childish and has had me nervous from the beginning when sources first started to talk about the center coming to L.A.. Admittedly, the idea of him on the team has grown on me the past month or so, until today when I saw his interview with ESPN. Here, Howard had this to say about his departure from Orlando:
“I don’t have any regrets, you know. I think everything happened the way that it was meant to happen,” Howard told ESPN. “I really just wish some of the lies and some of the things being said didn’t come out the way it did, you know.”
In his defense, things can get blown out of proportion, especially during something as high profile as the fight between Howard and the Magic last year. But, can he admit to any fault? I understand Howard is approaching his departure with a “things happen for a reason” air, and he admits to trying to make so many people happy he lost himself a bit.
My point is, as much as his playing ability is one of the best, his attitude makes me nervous. I want to see a stellar Lakers team this year, as I am sure many of you do. But with all this talk of chemistry and how detrimental it is going to be, is anyone else not nervous that Howard is going to be a problem? The Lakers are a different team, so comparing them straight on with Orlando isn’t fair. But, we all know Kobe is a little hot-headed. His rivalry with Shaq years ago was much about how big both of their egos were. And with other great talent on the team, like Nash, I worry that the smooth season we all hope for is going to be harder to strive for than we think. Maybe if they are winning, constantly, emotions will remain merry and conflict will subside. However, what may happen if the Lakers have a bad couple of games? Who is going to be the diva first?
A quick list of my favorite articles from the past few days:
Kobe was named by Dime Magazine as the Player of the Century. It’s nice to have some ammunition in the age old debate of Lebron vs Kobe, especially from a magazine I like to read.
Good relationships and connections are the theme of today, and with that has been a legacy of talent coming from UCLA to the Los Angeles Lakers. Included in this list is recent Hall of Fame inductee Jamaal Wilkes. And who could forget one of the best players of all time, Kareem Adbul-Jabbar.
Dwight Howard was ranked only 96 in NBA 2K13 rankings. Seeing as he is expected to miss upcoming games as his back is not 100 percent, I can imagine that ranking him higher may have worried some people. Still, the number felt too high. What would you have ranked him?
Lakers Nation News
NBA News: Dwight Howard Ranked 96 in NBA 2K13
Lakers Nation Wishes Happy Birthday to Phil Jackson
Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins: ‘We’re Not Chasing the Lakers’
Why Do Kobe and Dwight Howard Want to Live in Newport Coast?
Lakers Will Need Chemistry in 2012-13 to Achieve Championship Goals
Dwight Howard on Departure From Magic: “I Don’t Have Any Regrets”
Dwight Howard Didn’t Want to be Like LeBron James
Dwight Howard: “I Never Wanted Anybody to Hate Me”
Matt Barnes Might Be Gone But The Lakers/UCLA Connection Continues
Dime Magazine Names Kobe Bryant Player of the Century
Lakers News
Interview with Mike Trudell (Part 1) [Forum Blue and Gold]
Interview with Mike Trudell (Part 2) [Forum Blue and Gold]
Dwight Howard Injury: Lakers C Ruled Out Of Preseason Opener [SB Nation]
Dwight Howard Explains Orlando Magic Contract Fiasco: ‘I Wanted Everybody to Love Me’ [Ball Don’t Lie]
Kobe’s Work with the Homeless in Los Angeles [Hang Time Blog]
Lakers Sign Second-Round Pick Johnson-Odom [ESPN]
Who Will Be The Lakers’ Most Important Bench Player? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Sunday Conversation: Dwight Howard [ESPN]
Dwight Howard Extended Sunday Conversation [ESPN]
Nash, Howard One Voice [NBA]
Kobe is homeless community’s Spider-Man [OC Register]
The Lessons Of Dwight Howard And LeBron James [SB Nation]
Metta: ‘I Don’t See Anybody Getting Past Us’ [ESPN LA]
Dwight Howard (Back) Won’t be Ready for Oct. 7 Exhibition Opener [Lakers Blog]
Rivalry Week — The Clippers-Lakers Rivalry is Just Heating Up [Clips Nation]
Rivalry Day: Who is the Nuggets’ biggest rival? … [Denver Stiffs]
NBARivals: The Phoenix Suns Love to Beat LA [Bright Side of the Sun]
NBA Rivals: Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers [Sactown Royalty]
NBA News
Ball Don’t Lie’s Indispensable Twitter Must-Follows: The Ink-Stained Wretches [Ball Don’t Lie]
LeBron James Switches Agents; Childhood Friend Will Represent Him [Yahoo Sports]
The NHL Lockout Is A 2017 NBA Lockout Preview [SB Nation]
Wade Wrote a Book on Fatherhood [Yahoo Video]
Jeremy Lin is Still Trying to Sleep on his Teammates’ Couches [Ball Don’t Lie]
Celtics Focused on Heat [Hang Time Blog]
Why Players and Their Agents Should Consider a Franchise’s Spending History in Free Agency Decisions [ProBasketballTalk]
Derrick Rose Breaks Down in Tears at a Shoe Company Product Launch as He Discusses His Rehabilitation (VIDEO) [Ball Don’t Lie]
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kendrick Perkins Said Thunder is Chasing a Ring — Not the Lakers [NewsOK]
Luck, Clutch And Noise: Which NBA Teams Win When They Shouldn’t? [SB Nation]
Kevin McHale Blames the Lockout for Not Getting Along With Certain Players [Ball Don’t Lie]
Chris Paul Was Actually Hired As The Clippers’ GM [SB Nation]
