Every thing happens for reasons, right?A You had have difficulty convincing Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and the rest of the tired, but nevertheless breathing, La Lakers, who have tripped, tumbled and came via an extremely violent NBA season. Bryant's late-game harm against Golden State Friday night unfortunately felt such as the common nail in the coffin for a staff that's been snake bit all year.A Bryant most likely is done for the growing season and L.A.'s lean playoff dreams have suddenly become that much worse. Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake, Metta World Peace, Jodie Meeks, Earl Clark and Antawn Jamison observed their decreased chief slowly limp to the Lakers' locker room with three full minutes to play and somehow found a method to overcome the Warriors without him, 118-116. With two games left in the regular year and no wiggle room to spare, Howard and the Lakers are on course to put in to the NBA postseason as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. AABut now they have to get it done without fifth leading scorer in the NBA history. With Kobe out, the Lakers are now legally Dwight Howard's team.Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports Notwithstanding the apparent stress and strain the staff has endured as it claws its way in to the playoffs, there is a silver lining that Howard can learn and develop from.A The big center came to La to win titles, so experiencing a of bumps and bruises along the way can only benefit him as he tries to regain his Superman standing on the court. Initially, Howard got the advantage of the question when he remains dealing with major straight back surgery that demonstrably stunted his abilities early in the season.A AAAAtorn labrum did not help either.A Add to that a fast-break, run-and-gun coach who inherited a half-court team and you've the ingredients of a baseball problem waiting to occur. Howard has complained more than once about maybe not getting enough details, about how a team must spread out the crime, help out on security and come together like one big, sort-of-happy family.A It was rather clear that Howard was frequently irritated by the big/little brother relationship he seemingly have with Kobe Bryant. The Orlando Sentinel stopped just lacking calling Howard an immature baby who destroyed the Orlando Magic franchise (haven't we heard that before ).A Well, actually they did and a lot more than once.A Prior to their sport in Orlando last month, columnist George Diaz wrote: I suppose the NBA doesn't record such statistics, but here's one major bit of NBA history in which Dwight Howard usually takes pride: He is was able to damage two clubs in one period. Howard has brought warmth in Orlando and La, where press and critical supporters regularly blasted him for not hustling down the court, not scoring enough items, not clogging the center well enough on defense and not leaping over tall buildings in a single bound. That's not saying a number of the critique wasn't justified. Regardless of changing to a dangerous offense and working through three instructors and numerous injuries, Dwight Howard has had to endure the mental aspect of being on a team of All-Stars that were not winning and looked in peril of not even making the playoffs.A They still may not make the postseason. Howard appears sincere when he says that he has learned a lot this season and it has made him stronger and better as a player, both on and off the court. Then there have been these four days in Houston during the All-Star break, when Howard had a chance to feel and reflect, some thing he admits to doing frequently.AAA I am a large thinker," Howard told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne in a interview last month.A A"So I just stayed in the hotel and considered the first half of the time and how I could do better for our team.A And I just told myself, 'I'm going to commit myself to being better for the 2nd half of the season.'" Since the break, Howard has been far better, averaging 18 points in March and 19.4 this month.A In his last four games, he's put in 25, 19, 20 and 28 points.A He even made 14 free throws against the Warriors in a game title where every point mattered. Howard told L.A. Times writer Mike Bresnahan several days ago that he was confident the Lakers could make the playoffs and make lots of noise once they do. AAThis, obviously, came before Bryant's important harm on Friday. "If we enter the playoffs, there's no doubt in my own head and in virtually any of our minds, that we could win a championship. AIt will be silly of me to remain here and say to you [media] people that when we ensure it is to the playoffs, we'll be out in the initial round. AI have faith in our team." One wonders how Dwight Howard is taking a look at the playoff picture today, understanding that their chief and leading scorer,AKobe Bryant, is almost certainly through for the year (via ESPN). Really unfortunate, bittersweet way, this latest Lakers' setback may, in the long term, serve as another check in the ever-evolving development of Dwight Howard as player and team leader.
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