Suuuuuuppppaaaamaaannnnn IS IN DA BUILDIN!!! This game was all about the return of Dwight Howard to his former home. He did not disappoint in his first game back in Orlando, as the Lakers get the 106-97 win.
All eyes were focused on Mr. Howard to see how he would react to a hostile crowd. After the Lakers last game Kobe Bryant was quoted as saying, "Boos don't block dunks." D12 certainly took that advice to heart. He played with energy and intensity all night. The Lakers looked for him every chance they could. The Magic resorted to the Hack-a-Howard tactic several times tonight. Dwight wound up shooting a ridiculous 39 free throws, tying his own NBA record for most attempts in a single game. He responding by making 25 of them, setting a new Lakers record for most free throws made in a single game. D12 made 16 of 20 in Hack-a-Howard situations. That's just outstanding. Bravo sir. Talk about a plan backfiring. Ouch for Orlando head coach Jacque Vaughn.
There's not much to talk about in regards to the starter's offense tonight. With Orlando doing so much hacking the offense never really got into rhythm. However, when the 2nd unit was in the game they really ran the offense well. Blake and Jamison have great chemistry. It shows every time Jamison slips a screen and Blake rewards him with a pretty pass for a layup. Blake had 8 dimes, and he even took it to the rack once. Impressive. Bench play is especially critical on the road. The Lakers bench did their job tonight.
Notables:
The Good:
- Superman game. 39 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks
- Blake & Jamison was a killer 1-2 punch off the bench
- Pau is getting closer to coming back
The Bad:
- Closed quarters poorly
This game should provide closure for Dwight. He can now breathe a sigh of relief. Can't rest too long though, they'll play Atlanta tomorrow night.
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