Dwight Move

                             
 courtesy orlandosentinal.com


"Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go when you still had the feeling that you wanted to stay.  You knew it was right, wasn't wrong.  Still you knew you wouldn't be very long.  It's tough to have the feeling that you wanted to go. Still had the feeling that you wanted to stay.  Started to go.  Changed your mind.  Started to go again but changed your mind again.  It's tough to have the feeling that you wanted to go still have the feeling that you wanted to stay. 
Do Re Mi Fa So La Si Do.  I go!"  - Jimmy Durante 


This weekend was a busy week in basketball circles as Team USA defeated Spain in the Gold Medal game and once again claimed their spot atop the basketball world.  In the midst of this Olympic basketball hysteria one other basketball team made a move to try and once again claim their spot atop the NBA world.

The Los Angeles Lakers.

It also took one of the most talented interior basketball players to finally just make a decision.  Dwight Howard who is the NBA's best center and one of the best interior defenders in the game today will finally put to rest all this trade talks, rumors, and just plain idiocy that has gone on over the past few months. 

He has handled this entire situation poorly to put it lightly.  He has been so wishy washy and unable to truly decide what he wants in his professional basketball life. 

He originally said the only place he would be traded to would be with Jay Z and the new Brooklyn Nets.  Teaming up with Deron Williams and their newly acquired Joe Johnson to form a quality group to rival the Heat in the Eastern Conference.  He was so adamant that he only go to Brooklyn that he was going to play out his year and go into free agency.


Jay Z's dream became a nightmare without Dwight!

This would have left Orlando with virtually nothing and they had to get something for him.  Then he did a backtracking and signed the exemption with Orlando causing himself the inability to sign where ever he wanted and then leaving Orlando thinking he was staying.  Then he wanted traded again. 

Enter the Lakers and Houston who wanted Dwight badly.  Dwight didn't want to go to Houston and really didn't want to "follow in the footsteps" of Shaq by leaving Orlando for L.A.  What a mess this was and it didn't have to get to this point. 

If he really wanted to win games and win NBA titles then the only real destination for him was to be alright with traveling cross country to L.A. and restore the tradition of Showtime Laker basketball.  He wants to be a star and what better place to be a star than Las Angeles.  I can already see Jack Nicholson, sunglasses and all, sitting courtside for another long playoff run by his Lakers.

Or will it???

This was the right choice for Dwight Howard and the Lakers but is it enough for "Superman" to take off and win the championship.  I am not so sure.  The early odds have the Lakers 8-5 and the Heat 8-5 with the Thunder at 7-2 to win the title.  Odds are obviously purely speculation and if championships were won on paper than why play the games.


Is "Superman" ready to take flight for a title? 

The Lakers have added some highly talented pieces this summer with Dwight and also adding Steve Nash to run the point.  Having them with Pau and Kobe makes for a very formidable team.  Howard is the leagues best center with Nash once being at the top of his position.  However, Dwight has history of back problems and Nash is at the end of his career with serious defensive liabilities.

You can't just depend on Howard to control the paint and help on Nash's inability to keep guys like Russel Westbrook in front of him.  Foul trouble will be a major cause for concern.  To be effective you have to be on the court.

The Thunder have everyone back from their trip to the NBA Finals and are younger and hungry to get back to the promise land.  Kevin Durant is a fierce competitor and killer scorer and won't back down to this new challenge.  They are on the rise and should not be forgotten just because the Lakers have made a splash in the summer.


Miami & OKC are still the top dogs in the NBA. 

It hasn't even been mentioned that the Miami Heat just won the NBA title and LeBron is the best player on the planet.  He has been picked apart from every angle over the past several seasons but this year he answered the bell.  It will be hard to see anyone dethroning the Heat going forward.  They still have Wade and Bosh with an addition of Ray Allen.  Ray will only be asked  to do what he does best and that is shoot threes.  I think the Heat will be scary good and probably better than this year.

It will be interesting to see how the season plays out and it will definitely make the playoffs must see TV.  Will it be the NBA Finals for the Lakers? 

Time will tell but we do know this: 

Dwight after all your second guessing and soul searching the answer was clear.  

Stay or Go?

do re mi fa so L.A. si do, you go!