New Sheridan Hoops: Dwight Howard looking like Dwight Howard

Here’s the Lakers portion of this week’s Cali Report for SheridanHoops.com. Not surprisingly, I focused on Tuesday’s win over Orlando, the performance of Dwight Howard, and what it might mean for the Lakers going forward.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS (34-31)

Wait, hold on a sec. Just want to make sure Jacque Vaughn isn’t sending Dwight Howard to the line one more time before I start writing.

Is it safe?

Ok, then.

You’ll forgive a little wariness after Howard’s long-awaited return to Orlando, which began as a full-throated Howard hatefest devolved into a lather, rinse, repeat parade to the free throw line for the former Orlando star. Vaughn, whose Hack-a-Howard tactics in the first meeting between the teams on December 2nd at Staples meant 21 FTA’s for Dwight, septupled down on the strategy Tuesday at Amway. He fouled Howard early, he fouled Howard late. He fouled him when the game was close, and when the Lakers were up by double digits.

In the end, Howard tied his own NBA record with 39 attempts in L.A.’s 106-97 win.

But more important than the record number of takes were his number of makes. 25 in all, including a 23-for-30 run after a 2-for-9 start. Howard hit eight of the first 10 tries off intentional fouls, and 10-of-12 in the fourth quarter. One of the worst free throw shooters in basketball suddenly morphed into something straight out of a Tom Amberry video (relatively speaking, at least). In a season serving as yet another referendum on Howard’s mental fortitude, for one night at least Howard slayed one of his biggest dragons in a hostile environment en route to 39 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks.

“I missed a lot of free throws, but then I made a lot of free throws,” he told the media following the game. “I think all this stuff was good for me.”

For a guy who has spent most of his career trying to please others, there may have been something cathartic about returning to a city where, no matter what he said or did, most were still going to boo. “I thought that was the best thing for me to come in here and really learn how to block a lot of stuff out and play and not allow it to affect me,” he said. “That’s been big all season to where I would hit a crowd and get up there and brick. It was good for me. I matured as a player and person. I’m happy. I’m happy we won the game.”

There are reasons to harbor skepticism regarding the Lakers, even as they rise into the Western Conference playoff race buoyed by the news Pau Gasol seems likely to return sooner rather than later from the torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Despite a 17-6 record over their last 23 games, the Lakers’ point differential over that stretch still didn’t crack +2. On the season, the Lakers have struggled mightily against the best teams in basketball, and over the last week have needed Kobe-fueled miracles to beat the Hornets and Raptors. To say the least, much is left to prove.

But if ever there was a season where context could skew the data for a team, it’s this one for the Lakers, and those looking for reasons to believe the Lakers are as dangerous a potential playoff team as Kobe Bryant believes can focus squarely on Howard. Since the All-Star break (through Monday), he has averaged 15.5 points, 14.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and more importantly is showing the sort of activity once causing opposing offenses to fear his mere presence. That wasn’t there earlier this season, as injury and attitude hindered his impact. Tuesday, he showed mental strength some weren’t sure he had.

Steve Nash is getting healthy. Mike D’Antoni is finding a rotation. Kobe Bryant discovered the Fountain of Youth. But for the Lakers to have hope not simply of entry into the playoffs but advancement, Howard has to again become the Top 5 force he was before the surgery.

Tuesday night looked like a step along that path.