Did Dwight Howard really have a terrible Finals series??

After taking time to digest my humble pie and assess what went wrong with the Magic, I went no further than young Dwight Howard initially. Some may say that his game needs more work? That he misses too many free throws? That he is not a leader?

All of the above are relevant questions, but now ask yourself, how many other 23yr olds have taken teams to this position? True Kobe Bryant went but there was the "Big Aristotle" to show him the way along with the "Zen Master" on the sidelines.

Some of the more glaring press slants are Dwight misses two free throws down the stretch in Game 4 and suddenly he is an offensive liability, Kobe misses four free throws down the stretch in Game 3 and he is considered "just tired".

In the Eastern Finals Game 6, LeBron James had a shocker, no one writes about the fact that he had a bad game, just that he needs more help. Howard still gets criticised even though he actually averaged 15.4 points and 15.2 rebounds in the finals. True he shot only 60.3% from the line but other great big men through NBA history--Bill russell and Wilt Chamberlin--have shot worse while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was probably the best foul shooting big man in the finals over the years.

Remember most big men Howard's age are only one year into their NBA careers or 2-3yrs at most if they spent at least one year at college whereas Howard's has been on the job training. He will be back again and the league will have to deal with a more determined, polished young buck the next time around.

NBA Finals are here!!

The finals of the NBA season are upon us with the Orlando set to face Los angeles in the best of seven series starting Thursday June 4. This promises to be an interesting championship series featuring the brute inside force of Orlando's Dwight Howard seemingly pitted against the will to win it all of Kobe Bryant from LA.

After the surface is scratched look for the undertones of the battle to boil down to Orlando's outside shooters and play of point guard Rafer Alston against the role players of LA getting their job done. Throw in a sidebar of the possibility of a big game or series from Derek Fisher of LA and the wisdom of "Zen Master" turned coach Phil Jackson in LA's corner.

Will the Magic be able to frustrate Kobe or will he get his way?? Can the Lakers stop Howard inside?? Hmm...stay tuned.

For opening predictions I'll say look for the Magic to win it all in six games. In finals basketball, I think ultimately the big men decide outcomes and I see Howard as the biggest man stepping up to the challenge.